Fender Custom Shop '69

Pickup features: Single coil
Impedence or other specs: DC resistance 5.8k inductance 2.2 henries

Model of guitar or bass: Japanese 57 vintage Stratocaster RI
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Stock Japanese ceramic bar pickups
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s):
Reason for pickup change: Stock pickups were not at all focused and they didn't get the right sound but look like they are supposed to.

Perceived output level: Medium output
Tone: Very balanced with uniform output from pickup to pickup
Sonic evaluation: Stratocaster with vintage Fender blackface amps and Dr. Z.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Rock and blues style is what I play. These pickups are a very good match as they are clean but have more than enough output for most styles. Pickups sound fine in all positions.

Comments: I would buy these pickups again. I have been playing guitar for over thirty years. I like the Custom 69's better than the 57/62 reissues, the Texas Specials and the Custom 54's.
The reason being that the other Fender pickups vary in output level from pickup to pickup and they do not have the clarity that these AY signed pickups have.
The pickups work well with fuzz, distortion and booster boxes and they can take the heat and provide clarity that is essential for the sound to cut through without being muddy.
Highly recommended for Stratocaster players who are looking for a balanced and clean sound without being thin harmonically.

Pickup features: Single Coil
Impedence or other specs: 5.8k

Model of guitar or bass: 1999 American Standard with Maple Neck
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: CS '54
Other pickups on guitar: Fender CS 54's
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Wide range - blues, rock, jazz
Reason for pickup change: Wanted less mid's and more dynamics on the neck pup

Perceived output level: Vintage strat output (5.8k) slightly less than the '54 (5.9k)
Tone: Clear and dynamic (more presence than the '54)
Sonic evaluation:
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Great for everything but metal

Comments: It was just what I needed for the neck position. I still love my CS 54's in the bridge and middle. The 54 in the neck was a little too smooth (mids), but that could be my guitar. The '69 has great lows and clean highs...very woody sounding...and cuts through better now.

Pickup features: single coil passive
Impedence or other specs: ?

Model of guitar or bass: custom 54 strat copy
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: all
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: ??
You musical style(s): blues rock
Reason for pickup change: only had some crappy jap pickups before

Perceived output level: relatively quiet
Tone: balanced
Sonic evaluation: strat through Trace Elliot Trident (100w valve combo)

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Eric Johnson, SRV stuff, not enough power in any position

Comments: I do actually like the sound of these pickups, BUT i then compared them to my Dads Seymour Duncan alnico 2 pros, and i thought H'MM. There was more edge which i prefer in the SD's. Anyway, im trading them in for some fat 50's, ill give them a chance otherwise i think ill be having some seymours. However for a nice glassy clean tone they are a good pickup.

Pickup features: Single Coil, passive
Impedence or other specs: 6.0K?

Model of guitar or bass: MIM 60's Classic Stratocaster
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Stock MIM pickups
Other pickups on guitar: N/A
Artists using this pickup: Hendrix (the originals of course)
You musical style(s): Blues, Classic Rock, Top 40 type alternative
Reason for pickup change: Stock ones too bland. Only good for squeaky clean tone. Abigail Ybarra winds the 69's in Fender's Custom Shop (with Fender since '58).

Perceived output level: A little less than most Custom shop pickups out there
Tone: Very clean vintage Strat tone that can still cut it when overdriven. Plenty of thumpin' lows, clear highs (more like presence instead of trebly.
Sonic evaluation: I'm running this through a 94 Blues Deluxe and/or '66 Fender Princeton Reverb. Better used with a Tube Screamer pedal instead of your usual Distortion pedal. I think the tone is better when also used with any Fender Blackface amp like the Princeton, Twin, Deluxe, you know.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Good match for old Hendrix, Cream, anything from the 60's. Get Delta Tone pickups if your looking for a more modern sound.

Comments: Very good pickups. I nice in between sound, not quite Fender 70's, not all 60's. I'd use this for all Classic Rock stuff. Even Country or Surf. Forget Metal. Remember, 1969 had never heard of Metallica or Rob Zombie and Fender was not making pickups for high output shread. It's like having a stock pickup but just a little better made that doesn't crap out on you when using overdrive. Threshold of overdrive would be to the level of lets say Richie Blackmore. It's nice to think that the same person who made pickups back then is the same person making these pickups now. Seems more authenic to me. Gives me an idea of what was coming out of Fullerton back in the late 60's.