Pickup Question

[asimmd]

Hi Gang

Cliff bought Hank his 34346 Strat in 1959,my question is,which pickups would it have,and are there any modern day equivalents.

I have tried most Fender pickups,57/62 etc,but I wonder what the originals would have been.

Thanks

Alan

[Charlie Hall]

It would have had the stock pickups at the time. The problem now is that because Fender gradually changed the specs continually, there is not an easy way to know what the nearest would be now. I would go for something like the ones off the 56NOS if you can find any that have been taken off the guitar as I don't think Fender supply them separately, or maybe CS Fat 50s.
Regards,
Charlie

[asimmd]

Hello Charlie

Many thanks for the reply.

I do have an NOS56 with original pickups in it.

It's nice to know they are the closest I can get.

I tried Fat 50's but found they to be very toppy.

Alan

[somebodyelseuk]

Add in the fact that back in the 50s they were wound by relatively inexperienced workers, there was a fair bit of variation between pickups. Without having the readings for the actual pickups on the guitar there's no way of knowing what is actually closest - you've just got to trust your hearing.
Cheers, Julian

[jetblack69]

Hi Allan,

watch this video..............your answer is HERE.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=En9_bkXuAi8

Steve

[piotrek]

Hi Steve,

I can certainly confirm that Slider's Vintage '59 "Shadows" pickups are definitely up for the job. I currently play a Mexican Standard Strat and having tried the guitar's stock pickups, Fender's 57/62s, CS Fat 50s in the bridge position, DiMarzio FS-1 also in the bridge position and a set of Kinman FV-HMS, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that Slider's pickups are the best I've ever had hands down. The sound they produce is often very, very close to the sound of early Hank even without using any echo unit at all.

regards,
piotrek

[somebodyelseuk]

Of course, it also depends on how the guitar you put them on compares materially with the original.