Pickups for my Strat to get Surf tone

[therealzeke]

Got a MIM Strat with a maple neck, looking to nail the surf kinda tone.  Was thinking Apache but wondered what you guys thought?

I got a Boss FRV-1 to aid with this tone quest

[lulusg]

Hi and welcome...!! Apaches do sound right on the Surf side.. I like them and use them for that..!!There is an album by The Tritones, called "Requiem for a Mermaid", that was done using Apaches playing Surf music, I think I read about it here. Love surfing too!!

[therealzeke]

Hi, thankyou  :P

Pretty sure the Apaches will do the trick! Heard the track you mentioned and I saw the Hank Marvin video on youtube with him playing a 'Apache' loaded strat which was very cool!

[Telerocker]

Apaches are the way to go, especially with a maple neck.

[38thBeatle]

I think I would also chime in and say Apaches.

[Andrew W]

Yup +1 on the Apaches from me too. I'd also suggest heavier gauge strings too if you don't already use them. Adds some heft and clarity to the tone.

[TheyCallMeVolume]

Apache

[Mr. Air]

One more vote for the Apaches  :D

[AndyR]

NAILBOMBS!!

Nah...

Apaches is where it's at for what you want... :lol:

And welcome to the forum :D

[therealzeke]

Gonna order the apache's, thanks for the welcome guys!

[Elliot]

Being a surf player myself, I don't think Apaches are quite right for Surf - The surf tone is all about Strats made from 1961-63 - and those pickups were Alnico V, heavy formvar wire and wound quite hot - in the 5.9k-6.4k range.  If you actually listen to surf records like Dick Dale's The Wedge, The Bel Airs Mr Moto, the Centurions' Comanche or the Chantays Pipeline the sound is clean but actually quite mid rangey and not the super bright sound that people often associate with surf guitar 'in their heads'.   I have Apaches and I have an old custom set that approximates the 63 Veneer Board.  Through a Fender Brownface amp, the 63s nail the surf tone.  Apaches are still great pickups though.

The FRV1 is a great pedal - turn the tone down all the way....

[Fourth Feline]

Being a surf player myself, I don't think Apaches are quite right for Surf - The surf tone is all about Strats made from 1961-63 - and those pickups were Alnico V, heavy formvar wire and wound quite hot - in the 5.9k-6.4k range.  If you actually listen to surf records like Dick Dale's The Wedge, The Bel Airs Mr Moto, the Centurions' Comanche or the Chantays Pipeline the sound is clean but actually quite mid rangey and not the super bright sound that people often associate with surf guitar 'in their heads'.   I have Apaches and I have an old custom set that approximates the 63 Veneer Board.  Through a Fender Brownface amp, the 63s nail the surf tone.  Apaches are still great pickups though.

The FRV1 is a great pedal - turn the tone down all the way....

Interesting stuff Elliot ( as an ex Strat player who would have loved to have known about B.K.P at the time ).  :D

I was very  taken by the sound clips of the 'New' B.K.P '59 Slab boards - weren't they once called the 63s ?  In any case, they seemed to have a lot of 'Spank' .  8)

I would be genuinely interested to hear what your perceptions of them for this type of style would be. If I had another Strat, that type of sound would be my ideal. I note that you say the "super bright sound they have in their heads" may not be accurate to the style - but confirmation would be interesting.  :)

[FELINEGUITARS]

One big surprise that Elliot and I got was that modifying the strat to take a tele bridge pickup and fitting a BKP Boss resulted in a killer Surf tone

Elliot was the one to discover it although it was a guitar I had built (and is still for sale)
We had  made a pickguard to take a tele bridge pickup and the routing under the plate was correct for this too
Alder bodied with maple neck and rosewood board , but would have been maybe even better with a maple board



The other pickups were Mothers Milk

[Telerocker]

Killer guitar!

[lulusg]

Beautiful Guitar...!!! Interesting pickup combination..