Fat 50's

[strat197]

Evening all ..

I have a 7 year old Mexican Strat using a Vox AC15C1and Q2, and If im honest not too bad of a shads sound

My question is would my Strat benefit from having fat 50's pups fitted to them...if so, has anybody else a similar set up that can advise whether you would or would not recommend this?

Infact has anybody put any uploaded tracks using a similar set up with fat 50's to let me listen to...

I really dont know whether to get them ? If you do insist on getting them, who would you recommend...

Regards

Tony

[loujones12]

Hi Tony. i put the fat 50's on my strat about ayear ago. and Yes They are Good. ive tried lots of different ones but they give me the best allround sound. However whats good for one guy might not be good for others.. ie guitar !! yes i would buy. regards Lou

[strat197]

Thanks Lou -

Around a year ago, I started to get back into setting up again and to be honest at the time my budget only allowed me to start cheap...ie mexican strat...but I have since traded my zoom g2 and crate 30 watt amp and replaced with the Vox and Q2...maybe its time to start saving for a usa strat .. or invest in the fat 50's.

Regards Tony

[Deleted]

HI TONY , The ''FAT-FIFTIES are great , but Check-out our esident P/up builder ''JC-VINTAGE'' who makes a great set that's very very similar but better pricing, no real noticable sound difference..
Also check-out JOHAN's great P/up selection [ I also have a couple of these ] . A PM to these guy's will be worth-while ..Both these guy's produce top Quality scatter-wound units ..
CHEERS BARRY..

[strat197]

Hi Barry - Many thanks for your advice ..

I will look into this and pm to JC...

Cheers Tony

[martyn]

Hi Tony,

Been down this road - and still travelling along it . . .

So many variables here but I have a Mex strat (sunburst one in my avatar) and removed the original fit (US) standard pickups to fit 57/62s some while back and love the sound. This particular strat has a very bright sound and is ideal for early Shads material - not all Mex strats sound as bright so, rather unhelpfully, it does depend upon the individual guitar.

I once owned a US Corona strat fitted with Fat50s and thought they sounded very woolly, so I sold the pickups, bought and fitted 57/62s - it still sounded woolly, just slightly less so. That was a 'Doh!' moment asided from the added wasted expense. I flogged the guitar realising it wasn't the pickups causing the problems. Others have fitted Fat50s to their guitars and absolutely love their sound - each guitar will sound different and you'll never know how well or indifferent any pickups will sound in your guitar without fitting a set, which is a real pain in the wotsits if it sounds dull and not as you'd hoped. However it may sound great.

I tried a guitar fitted with Tonerider City Limits in my local guitar shop recently and was most impressed with the sound in that guitar. They also do 'Vintage' pickups - either set isn't expensive.

More food for thought and probably more confusion . . .

Cheers,
Martyn

[strat197]

Hi Martin,

I took my guitar into our local music shop and they said they could fit the fat50's for £250 which I thought was quite dear..so thats when I thought I would ask opinions on here, Its as you say its down to the guitar to see how they turn out after being fitted. Ive not heard of tonerider city before, I have heard of the Vintage...it may be worth trying the vintage before the fat 50s.

Thanks again pal..

Tony

[rogerbayliss]

I recently installed a Wikinson WVS strat bridge pickup on my 57 Vintage reissue as the bridge in my view was underpowered and it only cost me £11 +pp and it is not far away from the 57/62 but lots more output . It has DC 6.1kOhms and a metal plate on bottom to boost bottom end a bit. I recommend them as a cheaper alternative for these sounds

[strat197]

Well theres a few to think about - the weekends here and its time to have a butchers about ..

I will let you know what I opt for shortly ..thanks all for the replies ..much appreciated..

Tony