Trying to make my '62 Strat more authentic

[fox5150]

Hi All,

I have recently acquired a Fender '62 Deluxe Vintage Player '62 Stratocaster, which plays beautifully. It's an alder body with a flame maple cap, 9.5" rosewood neck and it comes stock with Texas Specials. I've tried lots of different strats to find "the one" and this one really spoke to me. I really enjoyed the sound of the guitar but am now finding the Texas Specials to be quite one dimensional and also rather brittle. To that end, I'd like to return this guitar to a much more authentic vintage sound. I have had the privilege to play an original '62 strat, and it is something truly spectacular. I realise that I will never recreate that sound, but would like to get close. Somebody lent me John Mayer's "Where The Light Is" DVD and have been blown away with the sound of one of his guitars, which looks like a relic black strat of some description. It can go from that smooth, glassy sound, right through to the more Hendrixy kind of vibe. This is probably sacriligeous, but apart from the odd track, I find SRV's sound to be too jangly and "in your face", so I would like a set of pickups that don't go as far as that.

I've spent a lot of time looking through this forum and it seems to be that The Apaches or Mother's Milk would probably fit the bill. I found a post where a kind chap has posted comparisons between the two (and the Irish Tours) and I do like them both very much. I think the Apache's sound a little fuller, possibly a tad sweeter as well. The Mother's Milk set seem to have more "space" in the sound, if that makes sense.

I also have a 50th anniversary strat (ash body, maple neck) which has a specially wound set of Fender CS54 pups in them and that guitar sounds amazing. By comparison my '62 is not in the same ball park.

I have a set of Mules in my Les Paul, which I am thoroughly satisifed with, so would like to return to BareKnuckle for my strat. I would appreciate some input to help make a decision.

Thank you all,

Simon

[FELINEGUITARS]

Welcome to the forum

I would suggest trying the Mothers Milk as they are based on a 60s strat sound .
They have a slinky kind of tone that epitomises hat 60s strat tone

Obviously - named after the Chilli Peppers album , you already know they will do funky stuff, and they do a good hendrix sound too.

But they have that classic strat sound - smooth and sophisticated
Sounds great through a Fender twin or through a Marshall.

[fox5150]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply and the Welcome!

I play in to a Mesa Boogie LoneStar Special, through an assortment of pedals, rather than a Marshall - not sure how that affects things.

I'm really not sure about how to pick between the two sets. I know what I want to hear, which is pretty much the sound John Mayer gets out of his black strat. I like the smooth, sweet focussed sound, rather than the airy, spacy sound that you can get with strats. I'm not sure how to liken it to the 50s or 60s vibe.

As the Mother's Milk are based on Frusciante, I'm busy listening to that album. I think maybe that tone falls into the airy. spacy sound, rather than smooth, sweet and focussed that I refer to above.

For those of you who are familiar with Mayer's tone, I like Gravity, Slow Dancing in a Burning room from that Where the Light is DVD. Also the trio stuff (with the same guitar) sounds amazing. That's the feel I'm going for with this guitar. I've subsequently tried to find out more about that black strat which, typically, there isn't much info about. What I have found is that Mayer prefers underwound pickups and that the ones in the relic aren't the "Big Dipper" pickups from his signature strat.

I'm leaning towards the Apaches, but then I read a description/hear a clip that further confuses me!

Thanks for your help,

Simon

[38thBeatle]

When I was reading your post I was thinking Mothers Milks too. I don't have a set -I have Apaches though conventional wisdom is Apaches for maple board and MM's for rosewood type. My Strat is a 1970's with a rosewood board however and it sounds wonderful and I have no intention of changing though sometimes I am curious to hear what it would be like with MM's .Welcome to the forum. 

[fox5150]

And I think that's my dilemma. I'm paranoid with this sort of thing that I'll end up picking the wrong one. Ideally, I'd get both and sell on the set I didn't like. Unfortunately, I've never been that good at soldering and don't trust myself to do a proper job. I have to take any guitars to my luthier for him to do the work. Apart from the round trip to go and see him I'd like to avoid paying twice!

Apache's or Mother's Milk, mmmm.......

I'm sure I'll be stoked, which ever set I end up with.

Simon

[Prawnik]

I have a Fender rewind (similar to an Apache) in a maple-board hardtail Strat and I love it. I have two MM in a rosewood board Strat and I love them.

You'll not go wrong with either set.

And don't be afraid of soldering. It's not rocket science. If even I can do it, you can too.

[Mr. Air]

And don't be afraid of soldering. It's not rocket science. If even I can do it, you can too.

Having never tried to solder before I managed to get my Apache/Stormy Monday set installed without too much hassle and I'm a totally ten thumbs kinda guy, so I'll say you should go for the soldering yourself as well. Practice never harms.

I guess I should comment on the Apaches as well, but I really can't add that much. I haven't had a chance to play the guitar through my amp yet and this is the first strat I've ever owned so I can't really compare it to others. But apart from all this I really like the Apaches. The're just sweet sounding.

[yellowv]

Well as much as I love BKP's and have put them in several of my guitars when I recenty did my Strat project I strayed from BKP. I wanted a true American hot vintage tone from the Strat. I decided to go with a set of Lindy Fralin Blues Specials. They are fantastic. I am sure the Mothers Milk set is great too, but just throwing out another option that I feel would suit your needs.

[fox5150]

Well, decision made!

I spoke with Tim via email, and he suggested a custom set that he's been making that is a reproduction of a set of original '62 pickups that he's got. To quote Tim, when comparing them with the Apaches,  "the '62s are more woody and hollow with more cut in the highs and a tighter bottom end. They're both similar in output."

I ordered them with a stock middle mickup and a zinc baseplate on the bridge pickup. I found some samples on line of another pickup manufacturer that a reseller was demoing the differences between with and without the baseplate. I much preferred the tone with, so that's what I've gone for.

Will be a couple of weeks until I am able to get them fitted - the guitar needs a setup as well so I might as well get it all done in one hit.

I'll post my thoughts when I get it back.

Thanks to you all for your input.

Simon

[yellowv]

Yeah the baseplate is definately a must IMO. I run one on my Fralin setup.

[Philly Q]

I spoke with Tim via email, and he suggested a custom set that he's been making that is a reproduction of a set of original '62 pickups that he's got. To quote Tim, when comparing them with the Apaches,  "the '62s are more woody and hollow with more cut in the highs and a tighter bottom end. They're both similar in output."

Well well, is this an all-new BKP Strat set in the making?  :)

Sounds like it was a good decision to contact Tim direct!

[MrBump]

I spoke with Tim via email, and he suggested a custom set that he's been making that is a reproduction of a set of original '62 pickups that he's got. To quote Tim, when comparing them with the Apaches,  "the '62s are more woody and hollow with more cut in the highs and a tighter bottom end. They're both similar in output."

Well well, is this an all-new BKP Strat set in the making?  :)

Sounds like it was a good decision to contact Tim direct!

I was asking Tim about this the othere week - what would be best for nailing that Hendrix/SRV tone.  He mentioned a new "62 Custom" set that he was working on...

[fox5150]

I spoke with Tim via email, and he suggested a custom set that he's been making that is a reproduction of a set of original '62 pickups that he's got. To quote Tim, when comparing them with the Apaches,  "the '62s are more woody and hollow with more cut in the highs and a tighter bottom end. They're both similar in output."

Well well, is this an all-new BKP Strat set in the making?  :)

Sounds like it was a good decision to contact Tim direct!

Tim certainly knows his pickups. He was so helpful when I was selecting new pups for my Les Paul last year - mules by the way - I thought I would get in contact with him again. I love forums for the real world people using the things, but I do value Tim's opinion highly as they are his pride and joy! If anyone knows what will get you where you want to be, he will.

[fox5150]

Well the pickups arrived this morning, which is an unbelievable turn around for a custom wind!

I'm taking the lot to my luthier next weekend so will report back with how it all sounds.

[AndyR]

I'm looking forward to hearing about these pickups (my wallet isn't :lol:)