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I am in tone heaven with the Surfer neck and bridge. I have the Custom bridge in the guitar now (the slightly hotter one) and it sounds great but I am wondering how much of a difference installing the 'regular' Surfer bridge might make in terms of the bridge/middle position...maybe the regular pickup would make it sound mo' great to my ears.

If anyone has tried both, feedback would be appreciated! I think there are a couple of guys who have experimented with both.

Thanks!


Originally Posted by FalstaffI am in tone heaven with the Surfer neck and bridge. I have the Custom bridge in the guitar now (the slightly hotter one) and it sounds great but I am wondering how much of a difference installing the 'regular' Surfer bridge might make in terms of the bridge/middle position...maybe the regular pickup would make it sound mo' great to my ears.

If anyone has tried both, feedback would be appreciated! I think there are a couple of guys who have experimented with both.

Thanks!

I didn't know there were 2 Surfer bridge pickups? Are you maybe talking about the Texas hot bridge? Is this a new pickup added to the Surfer line? My Surfer set had a 9k or higher bridge pickup and two 6k or so Surfers for the middle and neck....The Custom is the hotter Surfer bridge position pickup,unless I'm missing something?

It's a slightly hotter bridge pickup, like 9.7k.

quot;The ‘60s Surfer™ pickup is a replica of the 1964 Strat® pickup that made plenty of surf music for the Chantays and the Belaires. The detail in this pickup is perfect for restoring old and updating newer instruments for sounds of the past. A Custom Bridge version is also available for those players needing more output from the bridge position. Also, an RW/RP version is available for the middle position.quot;

I gotta say that Duncan should really consider re-writing the description, as this pickup is no one wave pony. But everyone knows that already!

Edit: I guess the difference would be just to use three regular Surfers vs. two and the Custom neck.

I tried searching, but I can't find the posts (I think they were by Jeremy and/or Doc Barlo) about their experiences with both.


Originally Posted by FalstaffIt's a slightly hotter bridge pickup, like 9.7k.

quot;The ‘60s Surfer™ pickup is a replica of the 1964 Strat® pickup that made plenty of surf music for the Chantays and the Belaires. The detail in this pickup is perfect for restoring old and updating newer instruments for sounds of the past. A Custom Bridge version is also available for those players needing more output from the bridge position. Also, an RW/RP version is available for the middle position.quot;

I gotta say that Duncan should really consider re-writing the description, as this pickup is no one wave pony. But everyone knows that already!

Edit: I guess the difference would be just to use three regular Surfers vs. two and the Custom neck.

I tried searching, but I can't find the posts (I think they were by Jeremy and/or Doc Barlo) about their experiences with both.

I had the over 9K Surfer bridge pickup in my blue alder strat and I didn't care for it...I felt it was a bit too toppy and so I opted for the Twangbanger instead...The TB is one of my current fav strat bridge pickups..

Stratcat bought this Surfer pickup off of me and stuck it in the neck on one of his strats..

OK...there are Tesax Hots which is a full set of 3 pickups in the 6.4k range then there is a Texas Hot Custom Bridge which is about 9.7k. There is also a full set of 3 Surfers, again...all in the 6.5k range and there is also a Surfer Custom Bridge that is about 9.7k.

Now...this is where I will get flamed. First I have NOT tried the Surfers, but in my Jimmy Vaughan Strat I have a set of Custom Shop pickups that are quite a bit like Texas Hots...I have a total of 4 of these pickups, one neck, one middle, and 2 bridges...the first one is 10k and the second one is tapped, one tap at 6.4, and the other one at 7.75...I much prefer the tapped one and not because it is tapped but because the 10k Strat bridge pickup is a very cool sound but it is just not a Strat sound to my ears, it has far too much mids to be Stratty. I do like the hotter bridge pickups for some things, but in general I have found that about 8k is the max for me on a Strat bridge. Maybe that will help you a little bit in your search for killer tone. Lew (and others) swear by the Custom Bridges, but they are too much for me...I actually kind of like that almost too bright bridge pickup (but I do have a tone control on my bridge pickup), it's just part of the Strat tone to me.


Originally Posted by STRATDELUXER97I had the over 9K Surfer bridge pickup in my blue alder strat and I didn't care for it...I felt it was a bit too toppy and so I opted for the Twangbanger instead...The TB is one of my current fav strat bridge pickups..

Stratcat bought this Surfer pickup off of me and stuck it in the neck on one of his strats..With a DC of just over 8k and Alnico II magnets I think that the Twangbanger might be next on my list...I really want to try one


Originally Posted by the guy who invented fireWith a DC of just over 8k and Alnico II magnets I think that the Twangbanger might be next on my list...I really want to try one

twangbanger is THEE sh!t


Originally Posted by flanktwangbanger is THEE sh!t

It's a great bridge pickup!

can somebody campare it (the Twangbanger) to the Texas Hot Custom Bridge...my CS 10k bridge is pretty close to it...

Great info so far, guys! Thanks.

To me, the regular Surfer bridge, or any vintage strat bridge is too icey for my taste.
I like the Surfer Custom and Twangbanger the best. I'm just going on memory now, because I turned my Surfer loaded guitar into an HSS with a Jazz bridge/2 Surfers and never looked back. The Jazz was a real surprise because it's still glassy and slightly bright like a single coil, but it's most definitely a humbucker tone. Duncan should really make a TB version Jazz. My single coil strat has custom wound Chubtones, where they're 7.52/6.2/6.2

Thanks guys.

with a 6.6k surfer in the bridge youll get a better position 4 tone, the tone in the bridge by itself wont be as meaty and will be brighter but i think the closer in output the bridge and middle pups are the better the combined tone. also if the middle pup is more than 7k or so i never think the combined tones are quite right.
i use the custom surfer bridge, but i use the bridge for the screaming solos so i like it to push the amp a little more. if i used the pos 4 tone more i might think about using the normal surfer bridge

'62 Strats, which is what the Surfers are designed to emulate, had three identical pickups. So the regular Surfer bridge pickup would be the neck/middle/bridge pickup...same as the neck pickup. It'll sound thin and bright...I like the Surfer Custom Bridge pickup better. Lew

Thanks, guys. I think I'll try the regular pickup.

I think you'd get a brighter more alive bridge/middle tone. Alone the surfer custom bridge is a great pickup, but I think the surfer bridge/middle tone is not that genuine strat bridge/middle tone. That's why I am using a 5.75K fralin vintage hot in the middle with the surfer bridge. It makes the bridge/middle tone a little more vintage than that with my 6.40K surfer middle pickup.

And remembering that you too like that vintage bright bridge/middle tone I think it is defenitely worth for you to try a regular surfer in the bridge of your strat. Or you could order a %3 underwound fralin vintage hot as I did. I could check for the polarity if you want me to.

B

Thanks, Doc...I was hoping you'd chime in, so to speak. I am waiting for the 'regular' Surfer to arrive.

It's in and it's perfect.


Originally Posted by FalstaffIt's in and it's perfect.

I knew you'd like it!


B


Originally Posted by dr.barloI knew you'd like it!


BYou was right!