Don Mare Junior Watson 1957 Swingin Aces

The Swingin Aces set made by Don Mare are passive single coil pickups. The specs for this pickup set is 6.36k(neck made with enamel wire),6.5k(middle),7.3k(bridge). The middle and bridge pickup are wound with a heavy build Formvar. Each pick is wound with the Josie wrap/wind pattern. The magnet set in general is slightly taller than normal. This pickup set is copy of the pickups in Junior Watson's white 1957 strat.

The guitar I put this set in was a 1994 40th Anniversary Fender Strat made out of ash. The guitar was completely rewired with NOS 1957 cloth wire, a Late 50's NOS Sprague .01uf cap and miltary grade 250k pots with a bleed network on the volume, if you were wondering I got all this from check out SingleCoil.com. The Don Mare Swingin Aces replaced a Lollar Vintage Blonde set. I need to confess this is the 4th time I switched out the pickups in this guitar, I previously tried the Kinnman's Blues set and Stephen Design 59 set. From the beginning I replaced the stock pickups with the Kinnman Blues the reason I switched them out was the zero hum effected the tone kinda like if I had cotton in my ears, I than went to the Stephen Design 59 set I switched this out because they were way to clean and a bit on the sterile side, I than went Lollar Blonde and was really happy with the pickups they sounded great but after running across the Swingin Aces set I didn't feel the Lollar Blonde set was organic enough for my taste.

The output level is less than the Kinnmans and right around the SD 59 and Lollar Blonde level. I am using this guitar with a Victoria 5112 with a 12" Weber 12A125. Add a set of Curt Mangan Pure Nickel 12's and it doesn't get any creamier than this. Soundwise this set is hands down my favorite, super organic and touch sensitive with great quack and no harsh icepicking. I typically disliked the bridge pickup on previous pickup sets in my opinion there always seems to be a lack of soul and body with the bridge pickup, with the Swingin Aces bridge there is great clarity and bite with tons of soul and body. These pickups in short blew me away if you think the video clips sound good wait to you hear them in person. I play blues and soul if you are going the vintage 50's route you should definitely check this set out.

If the pickups were destroyed or stolen I would contact Don Mare and get another set immediately. I have been playing a little over 18 years and own a few boutique pedals such as the Analogman Juicer, the Analogman Silver Modded Maxon OD-9 w/ Bad Bob Booster, Bill Whizzer Modded Big Muff, Keeley Modded Vox V847-A MELLO WAH. I love the organic totally alive-living breathing mojo this pickup set puts out. The only thing I dislike about the Swingin Aces was the 8 week wait to get the pickups since they are handmade by Don himself, I can understand how the wait time is necessary. Don was super cool and very informative answering emails and responding within a day. I am totally satisfied with this pickup set and the quest for a organic 50's mojo strat set is over for me. I just order a Don Mare 3-way Stingray pickup for my Fender Esquire so I can't wait for that!