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Old 08-31-2009, 03:42 AM   #45 (permalink)
Goldtop75
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Re: Strat Pickup Suggestions?

Quote:
Originally Posted by PINKBITS View Post
I have not used these but I would certainly check them out if you could afford it, they certainly look the part.
hahahaha! I see you're really taken in by the Sliders! if I wasn't so satisfied with the 54s, I'd buy a set myself.

You asked for a review of the Fender Custom 54s? For the benefit of the OP, here it is:

They're focused. Very focused. The chime you get on the neck pickup is tight, and it sings. It's very different from the 69s; opposite, in fact. Where the 69s are sweet and mellow, the 54s are bitey, chimey and in-your-face. They get the point across.

They're installed in an ash-bodied, maple neck partsocaster, and I think this is the right set for this guitar. The inbetweens are very bold, and they're definately bigger sounding than the 69s. This is a very "country" sounding set, which is quite punchy. It's got more upper mids while the 69s have more lower mids.

What I was surprised about, was how nice the bridge pickup sounded. i was expecting thin and weedy, which is common with many 50's styled pickups I've tried. it's sitting at 6.5k, which isn't terribly hot. but it's tight and packs quite a punch. I wound't try this for higher gain tones, but for that right amount of aggression without bordering on Rock, this is a good set.

I think this set is great for SRV styled players who enjoy attack more than smoothness. it's not mellow, though played with the right dynamics, they're very sweet. It's a bright set. Pretty much similar to the fat 50s, which is nice, but missing something in the inbetween tones. The 54s cover those tones very well. I can only think of Knopfler when I hear those tones. not quite fat enough for some vintage Pink Floyd, but that's covered by the fat 50s for me.

This set has quite a bit of balls, mainly due to it's punch.
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