OC Duff Traditional Series Strat

Pickup features: single coil, staggered, calibrated Alnico V, slightly overwound
Impedence or other specs: 6k Neck, 6k Middle & 6.6k Bridge

Model of guitar or bass: 1994 American Strat Plus
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: stock lace sensors
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: anyone who can hear
You musical style(s): blues, blues rock, classic rock...etc.
Reason for pickup change: "The Tone Quest", same as everyone else....

Perceived output level: these can drive the front end of the amp(s) noticeably more than anything stock
Tone: ooh, ahh...ooh, ahh....there just aint words....
Sonic evaluation: i have used these thru various amps and boxes...1995 Fender Blues Deluxe (main amp), 1970 Marshall Mk-2 50 watt w/2x12, 30 watt Doctor Z w/4x10, Fender Virbo-King to name a few, and for pedals 1970's MXR Dia-comp, Phase 45, and 1980's Rats and a late 80's Marshall Guv-nor....

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: for blues, blues rock, classic rock....its unbelievable, but you really need to get these out on a gig and open them up a bit. other players will come right up to you and say "where the heck did you get those???" i am not joking!

Comments: first, it they were stolen, i would hunt down the low life and beat him like the dog he is. Seriously, i would stop driving the car and ride the bus to save for another set...i want more sets, some with different variations, but i dont see me ever buying strat pickups from anyone else ever again. i've tried virtually everything out there (having been a guitar tech at one of the biggest local music stores for years), so i've played and worked on everyone's stuff here in N.W. Ohio, and all the new guitars that came in i played before they were hung on the wall.....these pickups are the end to "THE QUEST"...STOP SEARCHING, just email Owen and see what he can do for you. (www.ocduffpickups.com) he is very prompt about replying.

Pickup features: three handwound single coil pickups
Impedence or other specs: 5.7k neck, 5.7k middle, 6.3k bridge (thereabouts)

Model of guitar or bass: Japanese Fender Strat
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: crap stock
Other pickups on guitar: n/a
Artists using this pickup: me baby
You musical style(s): alternative, indy, garage rock
Reason for pickup change: The stock pickups sucked and did not cut through with a band playing.

Perceived output level: They are brighter than stock, not so much a quantity gain, but a quality one.
Tone: The tone of these pickups cover everything I want to hear out of strat pickups. They can be bright or dark, too much of one or the other. That's what I like, the ability to dial in a useable and pleasing tone in all situations.
Sonic evaluation: I run this through a rangemaster clone, a nick greer sweetback driver, into a modded silver face bassman which pushes two 30 watt alnico jensens in a close back cabinet. I love these pickups! I got them about eight months ago and purposely didn't review them then. I wanted to live with them a while and get used to what they offer. I was looking to finish my strat. I'm not the kind to swap gear constantly just for the sake of getting the latest thing to come down the pike. I just wanted quality pickups that give me the chime and clarity for which strats are known. These O.C. Duff pickups deliver in spades. I've grown to rely on them and friends of mine who've played this guitar all find something they really like about the tone. Owen emphasizes the balance throughout the three pickups and he's not lying. I find all three respond equally and it's truly just a matter of flavor when selecting your pickup(s.)

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I think it's not so much a question of style of music as much as a quintessential stratocaster sound. These produce that, and if your style of music wants a strat, these pickups will help you create that sound.

Comments: I would definitely buy these pickups again. I've sent a jaguar pickup to Owen and had him rewind it with excellent results. I had tried some cheap alnico pickups trying to understand what it is about alnico that sounds special. They put me in the ballpark, but the O.C. Duffs perfected that sound for me.

Pickup features: Passive, Single Coil for Stratocaster (Complete set)
Impedence or other specs: Basically a set of '62 Vintage Style

Model of guitar or bass: 1986 Strat ('62 reissue, made in Japan)
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: 1 Original (Neck), 1 Lace Sensor (Mid), 1 Humbucker (Bridge)
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Blues, Soul, Funk
Reason for pickup change: Bought this guitar in pretty poor and non-original condition. I restored it and then decided to put vintage sounding pickups on it.

Perceived output level: Fine vintage sound
Tone: Balanced, bridge PU not too bright but a little bit louder - Exactly what I asked for.
Sonic evaluation: A Fender Blues Jr. and a vintage '62 Fender Super Amp (Brown Super).
FX: H&K Tube Factor, Carlsbro Wah, Boss Pedals CH2, AW2, PH2, DD3, BF2, PSM5, MEK Treble Booster.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable:

Comments: After restoring this guitar I looked for pickups and found a couple of interesting items on Ebay. I finally won an auction for a custom build set for Stratocaster OC Duff pickups.
I told Owen what I wanted and he satisfied my wishes - 100% - I basically asked for '62 style pickups but wanted a bridge pu not too bright but a little bit louder, instead. I received them after only two weeks and this is very fast beeing an overseas shipment. They looked great with all the vintage material. I especially like the tweed shielded cables.... He's a master of his trade.
Also I have to say that Owen is a very nice and helpful guy. Had some questions regarding another project I'm working on an he helped me a lot via email. This is what lot's of shops are missing today - REAL GOOD SERVICE.
Yes, if I ever need pickups again, I'll buy OC Duffs !

Pickup features: Single Coils - calibrated set of 3
Impedence or other specs: 5,78/5,78/6,30 kOhms

Model of guitar or bass: 1987 '54 RI JV series Squier Stratocaster
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Stock Squier Strat SC's
Other pickups on guitar: N/A
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Blues and rock style music
Reason for pickup change: The search for "the ultimate guitar tone of yesterdays Stratocasters"

Perceived output level: Slightly hotter that the stock PU's
Tone: Very clear and balanced with a undiscribeable warmth to it.
Sonic evaluation: 1987 '54RI Squier JV series with Warmoth replacement body - the neck on this particular guiutar is "to kill for". #INTO# homemade PB consisting of: KLON Centaur - AnalogMan TS-9 KWS mod - AnalogMan Clone Chorus - BOSS RV-5 all powered by Voodoo Lab PP2 #INTO# Victoria 50212-T

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play mostly blues and rock style music and for this the PU's are the perfect match. PU very useable in all positions. I'd like to underline how good this calibrated set sound.

Comments: I couldn't believe my own ears when I played them for the first time last night. These are the sweetest-sounding PU's I've ever played. My refrences in this matter being stock Fender and Tom Anderson SC's + Fender CS and Kinman PU's.
>In addition to the Squier Strat I own a "Johansen Guitars" norwegian custom made Strat with "Magic Coils" which also
>sounds amazing.
>
>I played the PU's through my Victoria 50212-T which doesn't cut neither the player nor the guitar any slack if you all know what I mean...
>
>I specially fell in love with how good the PU's sound as a calibrated set and how clear and dynamic they sounded. I acctually have a hard time decribing how great it is as I lack the proper words in english, but I like you all to know that I'm x-tremely satisfied with my new PU's. They are the best PU's around at ANY price as far as I'm concerned.
>I'll recomend these excellent PU's to everyone at anytime, that's for sure!
The quest for "vintage Start sound" is over for me!
If stolen - I'd get another set as fast as possible!