Fender Strat Custom Shop 69 Pickups Review

[@guitarguy97]

good lawd, could you get any better of an example of a stratocaster? i think not. superb video indeed!

[@truthfulrobot9295]

JP H right? Dude, that Axe has a nice middy tone to it. I want it lol 😂

[@einfussganger]

I came here for a pickup review. My guitar said to me, “Come back when you can play like this guy and we’ll talk about any changes then.” Much respect, dude.

[@thelegend2645]

I agree I feel like I have to earn those puppies.

[@MADDIIISLAYYYS]

Yet the irony is that you will want to keep playing and learning if your strat sounds like that.

[@stevedixon8567]

Practice is one of the best upgrades

[@jochem420]

damn this comment made me regret spending way too much money on pickups that i cant back up with my playing

[@jordymaas565]

find yr own repetitive sound track. ​@@jochem420

[@Mistergibsonsg1]

The playing starts a 2:40

[@GCCork]

+Mistergibsonsg1 ahah cheers

[@theace7212]

Mistergibsonsg1 Thanx

[@HansJGoldman]

Wish I would have seen this comment sooner...

[@kaizer5572]

Haha thanks man!

[@HeAhaBro]

It's worth listening to why he made the change I think.

[@gabebondoc]

Came for the pickups, stayed for the licks. Fantastic phrasing! Everything just made sense.

[@guitarguy97]

my thoughts exactly

[@MrVegaf]

Nice to see that you're involve with your soun, Gabe I admire your work..

[@SixStringHarmonies]

These are the ones I'm looking for. It's "THAT" Fender sound I've got in my head.

[@hgostos]

One piece of advice for anyone using CS69 pickups. Due to their inherent low output but high inductance and capacitance, I'd say that these need to be set up quite close to the strings to sound at their best. However, be careful with wolf notes as the Alnico 5 magnets are fully charged and can affect sustain and/or introduce odd harmonics. My pickup heights (fretting the last fret) are 2.2 mm (bass side) and 1.5 mm (treble side). For even more quack in positions 2 and 4, drop the middle pickup by half a millimetre on both sides. Enjoy!

[@justinw6670]

Very true,mine are very close to the strings nowadays.Its where they sound best,I'm into the middle pickup a bit more now its closer👍

[@lgrim68]

Right on. With good electronics, the strats of this era really stand up. It's great to hear someone with a good musical sense and good amp play one. Great stuff John. Keep it coming.

[@Jstang182]

best demo for a bluesy strat sound, I literally just learned a new blues chord due to this video!! you rock thanks for the video. This makes me want to buy some custom 69 pickups for a strat project.

[@retrogaming4u865]

That’s the reason why I got into coming up with a custom guitar people want to throw the name around like project guitars is crap what they don’t understand is even if you got all of the parts from one particular company if you assembled it according to many experts is considered a parts caster know I have a problem with that name parts caster because I tend to believe as much that to me it’s a custom-made guitar because I’m custom making it on my own now without that being said I surely have already ordered my set of 69 pick ups which indeed purposefully was the reason behind my creation of a parts caster everything is vintage except for the bridge which I may have to re-purchase another one but in the meantime I still have my American vintage Stratocaster bridge from the 62 era and the only modification I did to it was reroute the holes so that when each string is put in it doesn’t pinch it the very bottom because it looks like the tremolo block won’t fit in the hole . This is the upgrade for which it gives it a better sustain than a steel block but I still I have to reroute the holes on the 6 screw block also make a wider gap for my tremolo arm

[@richshin4522]

Good to see finally someone who knows how to play do a serious demo without being a comedian or a mediocre player and most of them are.. thank you!

[@Gramkan]

Love your poker face while playing, you could be filing out life insurance forms for all we know

[@KingKook]

The hotter the licks the cooler the face.

[@DanielBrophyMusic]

Haha you guys crack me up!

[@jeashleyiii]

this video was the deciding factor for placing an order for CS69s about a year ago and i'll be damned if it doesn't make me want to play some guitar - cheers mate, well done

[@Usernameorsomedamnth]

The Vibrolux isn't hurting anything either ....

[@MrJoshburry]

My dad always said it's all about amps... people are worried about guitars and pickups but it's all in the amps.

[@fr3ak1shh]

@@MrJoshburry Well, my Player series Strat sounds very dull and quiet vs my PRS CE 24 and American Tele plugged into the same amp. I think pickups are incredibly important if you're used to playing expensive instruments.

[@mattmanley7118]

Just bought a set of these this morning so happy can't wait to install them

[@spanky10940]

I bought a set of these for my strat solely based on this review and I have not been disappointed at all!!! I'm a crap player, hack at best, and the guys I jam with were amazed at the tone! thanks for the review.

[@lassej.nordvik163]

One of the very best sounding Strats I've ever heard! Lovely playing too.

[@Learningguitarnow]

Thanks. All the settings are at the link below the video. The strings are .011s

[@jamieb7799]

Your review was the best one by far to showcase these pickups. You made my mind up to buy a 2nd hand Players Series Strat with upgraded CS69 pickups. I get it tomorrow 👍 Thank you 🙏 👍😀

[@jerembismuth8200]

Hey, are these great? I want to change my pickups you find them worth it?

[@jamieb7799]

@@jerembismuth8200 yeah they’re awesome. I also like the sound of the Fat 50’s too 👍

[@zanelli9273]

i´d love to hear a comparison with the '57/'62 pickups... by the way, killer tone and playing!

[@Teachering]

Thank you, Johntuggle, for the '69 Fender Pickups demonstration. I've heard a lot about these pickups and am happy to finally get the chance to hear them. I happened upon your video by accident. I've heard, also, that these pickups were wound by Abigail Ybarra and was anxious to obtain a set. Seems, however, that she is now retired. By the way, you have a fine tone coming out of that strat. All the best!

[@Peter64AD]

Hey thanks for your honest review. It sounds like you're totally honest about what you're hearing and I can hear what you're talking about. Honesty best policy.

[@dapperdanman1956]

A very clean player, great with instruction, explanation, and encouraging words. Everyone sounds like someone,and all the notes are still the same. No new bars have been added. The offerings this dude brings are great, I would bet my left foot that the man Could go easily! From flat pickin country, to outrageous heavy metal. At 60 yrs now i'v Seen no better. These custom shop 69s are great sounding, with great volume controle. You can pull out all kinds of great players.

[@Learningguitarnow]

This is the guitar I learned on and played lots of gigs with so the sentimental value cannot be assigned a price tag. similar Strat years usually go for around $2500 I believe.

[@harleyhexxe9806]

Thank you for probably the best demo of these pickups I've heard on YT! I've been interested in these for a long time, but wouldn't pull the trigger on them from all the lame sound demos I've been hearing. If more people who demo pickups would just play like they mean it, it would make the choice easier. I also have a vintage Vibrolux Reverb, so now, I know how they will sound. These are going to go into a couple of my vintage as well as a couple of my newer Strats. Great playing AND great tone!

[@dapperdanman1956]

I love these 69z. The sound is easy controlled vol' 7to8, neck and middle, rolling back to 5/6 these pickups pull a sweet controlled tone in any position.

[@juanmanuelperez5684]

Great video !! I have a 79 ( 25th anniv ) and I loaded the same pickups , placed a white pickguard and replaced frets with jumbo .. now she is a good guitar indeed !

[@MKMousanz]

None of the other demos do these fantastic pickups any justice. You nailed it. Getting these for my $150 guitar. Hope I can make them sound as good as you do!

[@johnadams1248]

Just bought a set of these and plan on putting them in the middle and neck with a DiMarzio FS1 in the bridge but after hearing this I’m having second thoughts about the FS1. Great demo.

[@JSmith-mu3fq]

SOLD. Just what I needed to hear.

[@PeterBalletta]

great playing & nice tones out of that Strat....I've got Texas Specials in mine but my next Strat will have the '69 pickups...will be interesting to play them side by side...

[@diegollamazares674]

I've combined them in the same strat. Tx in the bridge 🤘🏻

[@TheChromaDrone]

Get it, man! Awesome sounding Strat and incredible playing! Love those pickups!

[@philthemustardtiger]

Tuning a strat down a half step to Eb makes all the difference in achieving tone like this.

[@truthfulrobot9295]

Heisenberg do you know what guage would work for a half step down Eb. Is 10s ok or do you recommend thicker?

[@Trey-jl9ru]

Mr. Chihuahua Whatever the shit you want. Billy gibbons played .07 guage. Trust me, the guage isnt affecting your sound if you know how to dial in the tone

[@thorkmunch]

Although this a simple tip, this helped me a ton! Thanks man :)!

[@azabuvsobelo5687]

BootyBleach damn right.. I wish more guitarists realized this.... Billy is spot on... you dont hear a string, you 'hear' magnetic lines of flux.. tone comes from... YOU!

[@BeefNEggs057]

Johnny Dogg There is one reason to go heavier on the thick strings. If you like hitting the big strings hard the small gauge strings will go out of tune and sound like ass. I like the Ernie ball fat top skinny bottom strings. Has normal 10 gauge strings on the smaller 3 and the thicker 3 are a little heavier than normal for a beefier sound and strings that wont hit out of tune when you go all out. No reason to go lighter than 10s. Just build a little strength by playing. Funnest workout I can think of.

[@brianl5172]

Sweet sounds for sure. I like the parchment on black too. Really nice and way better than plain white. Just got a black strat body from Stratosphere. Might have to do mine like that too!

[@subzero308]

Ordered these pickups waiting for them to come in also ordering a 70s head stock maple I'm a lefty so its impossible to find a lefty 70s headstock so I just ordered a righty and gonna play it upside down.

[@AnthonyElsetinow]

Just ordered mine

[@subzero308]

@@AnthonyElsetinow nice mine came in a few days ago just gotta install them hope u enjoy em.

[@Pegasus4213]

Really nice! Nod to Jimi appreciated! These are good pickups! Thanks!

[@Pegasus4213]

Still a good demo of good pickups!

[@zzHackedTutorialzz]

You look a little bit like John C Reilly from Step Brothers

[@michaelhooks3644]

just got a 2018 mim players strat with these pickups....absolute joy to play and HEAR! and yes, this guy freakin rips it...:)

[@dannyoneal4166]

These are definitely the pups for the strat i'm building. Your video sold me. Very nice playing!

[@coffeewaldo]

Nicely done. Weird that I've never seen this before its 2yrs ago that u posted this video. Gonna check out your other videos now. Sounds good and so does your playing. That's my style too. Love it.

[@frederikthaysen6931]

Your tone is so smooth and amazing!!

[@RobertAdams-k5t]

What a humble guy and fantastic player and Wow what a tone

[@Learningguitarnow]

2011 maybe. They were brand new from Amazon I think. There's more to my sound than the pickups.

[@truthfulrobot9295]

That tone is sooo eargasmic. Awesome tone brother

[@Learningguitarnow]

@Laurentvb92 I've never tried the 54s so I can't help you there. Thanks for the kind words.

[@MartinLutherMcCoy]

heres a question..your tuning style for the strat? you are a gifted player! amazing. the albert king bends... no tuning issues. how? thx in advance

[@norwester7018]

Once your nuts dialed in, even with the trem, I never have tuning issues and I bend very much the same way he does. If you're tuning a Strat (or anything with a tremolo), try doing it "from the outside in" meaning you do the High and low E strings first then alternate your way back and forth to the center (Ex: Low E, High E, A, B, D, G). I also find it helps to have the trem springs "paralell" to one another Not like / \ or \ / from the block to the claw. Some guitars are just gonna go out of tune more though, that's life.

[@GenteelCretin]

2:44, for those impatient like myself.

[@doubleuseven]

Had a CS-69 a while back, recognise the sound. Especially on the bridge pickup with that little smoother tone. It's really the Hendrix vibe about these -69's.

[@Learningguitarnow]

@MarvelousLight10 The overdrive you hear is from the amp. So yes it was totally clean.

[@stevestone07]

why didnt you play switch number 2 up?? the only one i use??

[@SoundAlchemyRock]

Great sound!! can you help me out with the pickups hight? Thanks a lot!

[@riseofthefallen301]

nice 100th video john, thanx a million, keep'em coming if you can and god bless you!

[@andreapasillas5803]

Well now........after such a superb demonstration of the Custom 69 pickups, I guess I'm going to have to order a set.

[@josephdimalante7023]

I'm a Strat player but play Teles also. In my Tele I use a Strat pickup, I had a Fender Custom Texas neck in the neck, it sounded very nice but died, dead. So first was going to add a custom Fender 54 then looked here and checked out a Fender Fat 60. Then I came here and you had me sold on the 69, so going to buy one now I saw on EBay for $55.95 free shipping so I'm going now to Buy it. Thanks!

[@surfstrat59]

That '69 in the neck is just perfection...Middle and neck quack is beyond description. I have a Duncan Antiquity II Surf set in one of my strats, the other two have Fender '69 sets in them. I used to mix and match, but that does not work out too well.

[@stephengarvey1077]

Fender Custom Shop 69 Pickups are my favorite Strat Pickups. They have the nicest chime of any pickups I've ever played. I don't remember you demoing positions 2 and 4 which are some of my favorite tones.

[@LesliePaulFarkas]

That's exactly the sound i am looking for, thank you! Now if I could only play as well.

[@travismiller77]

Definately John Mayer inspired playing. Love it love it

[@FUNKSTER67]

hey John, mate u made me smile so much.. I stumbled across this video and u are awesome bro

[@johnny4blues]

Awesome playing as usual, John...!! Really inspired me to practise some of your chords (The wind cries Mary) and licks. And btw, I've got a Classic Player 60's with the same pu (CS 69). They sound great as you said in the vid, even if I normally tend to use the neck a bit more. However, you showed how good they can sound in the bridge position too...Thank you so much and best regards from Italy:)

[@Learningguitarnow]

I would say so. They have a bell like tone if you play totally clean.

[@frigyesforgo]

Just bought these for a guitar and I spent two evenings trying to figure out why I have fret buzz on the D and G. The factory setup for the pickguard they came in was way too high. Didn't measure but I set it as low as yours in this video. Probably not an issue if you use heavier gauge strings though, because I tried them with a set of 9s. Other than that, sound absolutely fantastic!

[@zekesspindoctor3566]

But how much of that great sound is coming from the Vibrolux amp - that sexy breakup! Sweet!

[@Learningguitarnow]

Other than your playing style, your amp will have a dramatic effect on your tone. Get the best you can afford in whatever type of amp you like whether it be digital or analog. An amp that doesn't inspire you to play is not a good amp.

[@jaredhunt1160]

my uncle has this same strat (early 80s and Tex Mex pickups). Will definitely recommend these great video

I'm a bonafide certified Fender Stratocaster nut Your Stratocaster Sounds Awesome Amazing tone I have been practicing and studying and playing Blues Your Strat has that Bluesy Gritty Sound Great tone and sound and playing Thanks

[@Learningguitarnow]

@superreverbfreak I just bought a plane ticket and a pair of boots so here I come. :) Thanks for the kind words. Email me if you would like some help setting your goals or creating a practice regimen.

[@jaredpurdy2164]

Nice picking!! I came just to check out the PUS's, but stuck around of the picking.

[@HeAhaBro]

Great to hear a real personal perspective on why you made the change because so many can relate to that. Your previous set up didn't sound appealing at all. Now it sounds and looks amazing bro and is all pure Fender sound and what you would expect from a Strat.

[@AnthonyElsetinow]

I know this is an old video, but thanks. I been researching for about a month for pickups to upgrade my 2000 MIM. I was close to getting the texas specials and 54’s. Also, considered the SD texas and JH. 69’s weren’t on my radar as I reviewed the 65’s and was not impressed. But all samples of the 69’s sound great and this one put it over the top for me... Just ordered mine.

[@bryanwilliams3665]

Great Tone !! These are probably the pickups to get the distinctive Ritchie Blackmore tone if played through a treble booster and Marshall?

[@SuperEd1992]

These pickups are amazing. I've been looking for this sound for a while. Also, you play very well. I hope to play as well as you someday.

[@ImGeckoh]

holy shit, this guys good

[@JD-rv7sf]

I taught him

[@rickslammintone9173]

Been thinking 69 set or SSL1 set for 70s Classic Stratocaster MIM I just got which is superb except for the harsh brittle pickups. SSL1s seem to solve the harsh brittle but they don’t sound Fendery enough IMO. The 69s seem spot on the money like what I want. Great demonstration and I’m glad I watched it again before I pull the trigger on a set of pickups for my axe.

[@nathanbeasley1234]

Beautiful playing mate, I'm diggin everything about that strat!

[@bluez1981]

i've wanted to buy a Fender 50's Road Worn Strat. but i did not like the Tex-Mex pickups that are standard in them at all.. i've wanted to find something better suited for the guitar.. fat 50's, 69's ... what i love about real mid 50's pickups ( only ever played one real one) the the pickups all had their own voice.. neck was very dark and creamy. middle was less dark...probably a good balanced mid range.. and the bridge was bright.. but not over the top.they were all pleasing. i'd love to find that... the 60's sound very very good

[@PatrickTodd2]

was choosing between 69s, Texas Specials and Bare Knuckles. This vid tipped me over the edge to order 69s - cheers!

[@hippiebrother3]

I was about to ask how it would sound for Mayer stuff, but I see you've got that covered. And the guitar sounds amazing.

[@aussie_philosopher8079]

Beautiful play and really great texas blues tone. Well done. The cs 69 pickups sound like a thicker version of my fender pure vintage 59 pickups but with some midrange sizzle.

[@pjmuck]

Awesome! To me, that's what a Strat should sound like. Glassy top end clarity with warmth and body.

[@Learningguitarnow]

It's the same input jack. You just need to solder the proper connections.

[@danielpecheny]

Excellent. I put the same pickups in my strat and it sounds great but you play better. Congratulations!

[@VegetasCorndog]

This is a great video, im trying to choose a genuine set of fender pickups and i just need to see people demonstrate and articulate their opinions a bit

[@MADDIIISLAYYYS]

Absolutely sick tone. That is the sound of a strat.

[@nickf9392]

Strats are prone to be thin and glassy, just back off the volume to 8 or so and see if that improves the sound for you.

[@charalampospap5309]

Try the mint green pickguard it has more vintage look(color) than the parchment

[@johnspringer8196]

Jonn Doe good call ref

[@dezionlion]

Yeah but the parchment has a more jimi look to it? Green always looks good too! I got black on mine.

[@Elimnio]

Thanks so much for the video and the explanation! I was just about to buy the texas special PUs, but I think you convinced me to get the less mean and aggressive 69s! And then you even mentioning the great Albert King!

[@nixonsbrain]

That tone is incredible. I'm about to put the '69s in my 78 strat

[@oldgoattheantichrist3468]

Been trying to decide between the CS 69, PV 65 and Fat 60 …. Then I saw this video….sold thanks dude! \m/ \m/

[@Fitzliputzli23]

I'm thinking of a mixture of TX specs (neck only) and CS 69 in middle and bridge position. Wonder if there will be much of an output gap between these two types.

[@Learningguitarnow]

Ah but the CS 69 is killer in the neck

[@Fitzliputzli23]

Yea, I know. I've A-B-tested two strats one with TX specs the other one with CS 69. The CS 69 was very "Hendrixish" in the neck and "Blackmoorish" on bridge position. They really do well with all kinds of distortion peds. The TX spec got muddy with too much distortion. Yet the TX-spec guitar nailed the SRV-sound better, especially in neck position. I don't know, a little more treble I think. Or maybe it's just the wood, you never can tell...

[@ptrisonic]

Agree totally with your assessment of Texas Specials, particularly the Bridge which always sounded way to shrill to me.... Best, Pete.

[@eduardsiger1860]

Nice review, I would haves liked to hear how they sound clean though

[@SubCultureMEDIAHilbert]

I have always disliked bridge position. But I’ve come to learn to use it for rhythms while recording because it cuts the mix. Then neck for solos or lead/rhythms

[@Auxend]

hey John I just got some 69's for my neck and mid and I'm running GHS boomer 10-48's - curious what strings you're running and if you know what your pickup heights are? btw this vid helped me decide to go with the 69s over the fats

[@awesomejohnnet]

To be able to relate and compare the sound of your cool demo please tell us the gauge of strings your using.. and the make and model of the amp your cranking

[@DashEnglish]

this is probably a very non credible guess but I'm gonna say 9 or 10 gauge strings look pretty thick

[@awesomejohnnet]

DasEnglish tes you may be right... its a great demo from a fine player either way..

[@Learningguitarnow]

Click the link on the video to learn more abut all the gear

[@rohadtanyad8908]

Learning Guitar Now what do you mean by jumbo frets? 6105? 6100? 6000? or the silly little ones fender calls jumbo? jumbo is 6000 and medium jumbo is 6100, but a lot of people are confused on this, and that is why it's good to be specific.

[@Learningguitarnow]

Jumbo frets are what came on it when I got it in 1995. I don't know what they are

[@Bernz67]

Sounds like a proper Strat. Are you planning on swapping out the pickups on your Squier Classic Vibe Tele? I picked one up recently, and although the stock pickups sound good, I'm contemplating an upgrade - maybe a mini humbucker in the neck.

[@detodounpokoOficial]

Friend, what measure do you use the potentiometers, 250K ?, I just bought the texas special and I have 500K potentiometers, and it sounds too crystalline, bright, and I have to lower the tone a bit, I plan to change to 250K to lower the brightness, even so I think you have reason, maybe if the Texas Specials are very sharp, I'll see if I change to the CS69, I hope I don't miss the power of the Texas ...

[@saby8765]

Minor blues dials up the sexiness of this jam to 11

[@marcosvivanco2433]

Mine arrived today This video helped a lot in deciding

[@bernardboulanger898]

Do you have a demo of the clean sound of these pickups, really clean, maybe playing something chord based.

[@mattmanley7118]

I've been wanting a set of these for years it's time Best pick up fenders made other than the vintage 59s

[@jimcastillo8950]

I have a question regarding the capacitor inside the guitar. What value is the cap inside the guitar ? .1 uf, .47uf, .22uf ???? Thank you

[@dangarber6627]

hes a john mayer fan

[@MrFrankFurter]

Dan Garber He is an SRV fan!!!! Who gives a shit about Mayer!!

[@abraaonaumrosado7270]

Lmao guitar geeks 😂😂😂

[@Tieumatt]

MrPutanginaka Mayer is a phenomenal player

[@MrFrankFurter]

Oyodoz So what if he is? Dont mean he can jump the queue.

[@danielkelleyhoward]

MrPutanginaka you could and should definitely say the same thing about srv