OC Duff Special Stock Stratocaster

Between 6.0k and 6.8k ohms, in a calibrated fashion. Single coil. No RW/RP middle...

I put these pickups into a stratocaster I finished and constructed myself. 2 piece lightweight alder body with a madagascar rosewood and flame maple neck, both finished in a thin (3-tone sunburst) nitrocellulose lacquer. Bridge is a Callaham tremolo and the electronics came from Mojo musical supply. They aren't replacing any pickups, as they are the first in the guitar - and probably the last. I'm not sure if any "artists" are using these specific wound pickups as I ordered, but I know scotty anderson uses Owen's finely crafted pickups, and he's a heck of a player!

The output is higher in the bridge position than the typical vintage stratocaster pickup was, however the middle and neck are within a good vintage "warm", but not quite "hot", rating.

I'm using these pickups in the guitar mentioned above, into a modded ts-808 clone, runninng into a Fender '57 Twin Amp R.I., testing volume was between 5-7 - right on the verge of breakup.

The tone is well balanced, now that I've finally adjusted the pickups heights to the sweet spots. Bridge is a bit higher than the neck. Bridge is nice and bright, and at breakup, gets a particularly nice "gritty" quality to it, much different than the "1961" pickups Owen wound for me a while ago. Very articulate, and usable. These seem to have more balls, with more "snap" and "pop" to them. The middle pickup is nice and chirpy, with easily had harmonics up and down the neck just like the bridge pickup. The neck pickup is really dark, and very very glassy. The inbetween positions are more on the dark side, as the middle pickup is NOT RW/RP. Dark, but not flabby, and certainly enjoyable. In comparison the Formvar wound pickups within the same readings he wound for me previously, the Formvar doesn't seem to have the snap, or pop to it that the Plain Enamel (these pickups) has. The Formvar also seems to be a bit warmer, and glassy, but not as glassy as these..these are like ice. A bit more of a tighter, higher end. I don't know how else to describe it.

These pickups sound great. Absolutely great.

They wouldn't be stolen. They aren't going out of my site. I've been playing for about 12 years professionally. I own about 13 other electric guitars, Fender Custom Shop, Gibsons, a couple cheapos, and most I've built myself with the best components I could find - 3 others with Owen's pickups. I have a Randall amp, the Fender '57 Twin RI and the Vox AD30VT for when I'm feeling generous in consideration to the neighbors. It's just depressing looking back at the first set I bought several years ago, and the price. If you're considering getting a set of his pickups, you better hurry...The price just keeps climbing. I don't blame Owen for this, but the economy in general. Just depressing.
Anyway, BUY THEM!

3 single coil strat set wound in the "above 8k" range...

These pickups will be put into a strat I complete this summer, they are being test driven in an '04 MIA Stratocaster.

Output is nice and healthy, much snappier and meatier than the '61 calibrated set Owen wound for me a couple years back (which are currently in my #1...) In comparison to the '61 set, they seem to somehow handle the ts808 a bit easier. I usually run the TS-808 into a Fender '57 Twin RI as a boost, with the volume on the Twin set at about 4-5 and the hotplate output leading to a Randall 2x10 with reverb. The 808 has it's gain turned all the way down, with tone at about 3:00 and the volume at about 2:00. TS-808 has also been modded to include a fat switch for the tone circuit. Neck and 4th position seem to be my favorite for right now because the neck pickup is just so fat sounding and lucious. With the boost it's very SRV-like. The 4th position is a bit quieter as the middle pickup is RW/RP, but still very thick. The middle pickup is sparkly, and snappy with a good amount of pop which is very pleasing to the ear. 2nd position is perfect "quack", but not "traditional" quack. The bridge pickup scorches and it's something I'm still getting used to. I'm used to a 5.9k bridge pickup, so having one almost 3k ohms hotter feels a bit odd. But I like it. I like playing blues and rock, and I think these would be best suited for blues. SRV and Mayer tones out the wazoo.

If they were stolen...Well I think the mojo in them would bring them back to me somehow. If they never came, I'd get another set. I've been playing 11 years as a working musician. These pickups rock. Other gear: #1 homebuilt'61 relic Sonic Blue stratocaster "renee" (2-piece alder, 100% nitro, OC duff pickups, callaham bridge, allparts neck), Fender Custom Shop Rory Gallagher Stratocaster, Fender '04 MIA Stratocaster 3-tone sunburst, homebuilt "'66" telecaster olympic white, homebuilt '53 NOS telecaster in Fender Blonde, 1995 Gibson Les Paul Junior Special. 1966 Martin D-35, 1994 Martin 000-16, '05 National Delphi Deluxe. Vox AD30VT.

I love everything about these pickups. I sent Owen sound clips of what I was after, and in 2 weeks I had the pickups at my door. I of course compared them to the pickups he wound for me previously as I wanted to compare great to great to understand the REAL difference in tone. These pickups gave me the tone I was searching for.