Fender 50s Vintage Strat

Pickup features: passive single coil (vintage/Jap)
Impedence or other specs: staggered pole pieces

Model of guitar or bass: 50's vintage re-issue, Japanese Mfg. Fender, 1997
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: came stock on guitar
Other pickups on guitar: neck, middle, bridge
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Blues , Rock, some jazz
Reason for pickup change: these are the stock pickups on this instrument

Perceived output level: Output is medium, perhaps slightly weak....A/B comparison with American Standard strat show vintage pickups to be lower in volume, with more twang, and more noise (hum) than the modern counterpart. The American standard sounds richer, more powerful, with more drive and distortion, the vingage pickups are twangy, even plucky, sweet, and warmer sounding, with more highend, and less overall drive.
Tone: Overall bright, plucky tone, on the warm side, very clean, classic Strat sound, especially with the maple fingerboard. The neck position is my favorite, with a smooth slightly bright tone that picks up just enuf sustain at high volume to be a good blues Pickup..at low volume , clean enuf for jazz, always with plenty of high end...so far the middle position doesnt' do anything for me, and the dual pick up positions seem to loose an apparent amount of high end, so so far its straight neck or bridge that I'm using. the neck seems a bit louder than the bridge, even after adjustment. The bridge is bright, and ballsy on the lower strings, but not really enuf sustain for solos...at lower volumes the bridge is sweet for finger picked chords and arpeggios, a nice country sound....the neck can almost do it all when you come right down to it. There is slight e-string droppoff on all pickups.
Sonic evaluation: Currently using a Peavey Solid state, occasionally use a Deville......the Deville is obviously a better choice for straight ahead blues, but I can get sustain that goes on forever with the Peavey distortion channel. Like most solid states, the clean channel is TOO clean.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play mostly blues, softer classic rock (Clapton, the Dead etc...), and for this sort of music, these pickups do very well , especially at the price....I paid $330 for the 50's reissue Strat from Guitar center, a sale price, but still well below the $599 SRP, and less than the $525 that the local Portland stores were asking...in fact, the blue book price for a USED one in mint condition was higher than what I pain new!! at that price , it almost pays to buy several, which believe me, I have considered!! While these pickups are not as hot and full bodied as the American Standards or Texas specials, they still have a sweet singing tone that is quite vintage in character, and can be very satisfying....play them LOUD with a good tube amp, and you will find a great classic Strat rock or blues tone. If you can score one of these Jap strats for around $300, You might also consider getting more than one, and customising the pickups on one with hotter pickups, and keeping another stock, for that vintage sound. By the way, the Jap strat necks are SWEET, with wire frets that take a bit of getting used to, but fast and comfortable and LIGHT (the guitar weights in at about 7.5 lbs). They come in some cool vintage colors....my sonic blue strat reminds me of my dads '54 Ford Fairlane...pretty cool , especially for the money....ask around, you will find a lot more people play these cool guitars than you may have realised.

Comments: Overall, I would rate the item a nine, shortcommings being only the lack of output and slight lack of richness......but after all, like I said in my Carvin review, these are vintage, not modern pickups.....If you want crunch, get a ceramic magnet, not an Alnico.....considering the money, this axe is a real steal, and with the right amp, you can in essence get any strat sound you may wish to get with this setup. If you want a more modern sound stay with the American Standard, but for a Vintage sound at a great price, the 50's reissue model is a great purchase, and will yield great Blues, country`, classic rock and even jazz tones. If you like that classic Strat "pluck", you will love this one...

Pickup features: Single coil
Impedence or other specs: Scatter wound in Fender custom shop - matched set of 3

Model of guitar or bass: Strat - rosewood neck
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: none - assembled the guitar from parts
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: Stock on Fender American Vintalge 50s Strat (I believe)
You musical style(s): Rock, blues
Reason for pickup change: Just trying them out to see how they sounded.

Perceived output level: normal
Tone: clear and distinct
Sonic evaluation: Early 50s sound. (Buddy Holly, Ventures, etc.) Clear highs - should be used with a maple neck. 2 and 4 positions aren't as jangly as the Fender 57/62's. If you're playing guitar in Lawrence Welk's band or REALLY require early authenticity then OK, otherwise these pickups are too clean.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Anything other than instrumentals, Weezer covers, etc.

Comments: Personally, I would pass a second time - however these pickups deliver what they claim to - the early 50s sound.
If that's the sound you're after, you'll be happy with these.