Fender Strat Pickups With Gain! Custom Shop Fat 50s, CS69s, Texas Specials. Wampler Paisley Drive.

Hi Folks,
Heres a look at 3 of the more popular Fender Custom Shop Pickups. Further to my other video where the pickups were played 'clean,' this video uses a moderate (and 'sensible' amount of gain to emulate what we might use in either a live or recording environment with single coils.
I used a Wampler Paisley Drive pedal at a 'mid' level to see how each guitar compares at eack of the 5 pickup positions on these SSS configured Strats.
Let me know what you prefer, and whether your favourite is the same compared to the clean video.
Please like, subscribe if you are new to the channel - and remember to turn on notifications to help my small channel reach more guitar fans.
Thank you!

[@jamieb7799]

The Texas Specials with gain sound so much like a Tele. I have a Tele with Texas Specials and it Rocks. I just bought a 2nd hand Strat with CS69’s upgraded and I can’t wait to hear them. Funny I think they all sound better in different positions clean & with gain. I couldn’t pick a clear winner to be honest.

[@dylansmithguitarist3843]

Thanks for watching! I agree - the TS are very versatile, especially for live performance. And yes - it's amazing how the switch position varies so much between sets. My favourite pups definitely depend on switch position and clean vs gain. Enjoy your new guitar!🎸👍

[@vladimirmilic918]

CS '69s hands down.

[@nocaster5120]

I’ve been in love with the neck pickup cs 69s. But now I’m thinking the fat 50s might be a better pick for me. I would be interested to here how they clean up rolling the volume down when using drive and fuzz, Specifically a fuzz face. Both your comparison demos were helpful. Just watched part 1 and came here after.

[@dylansmithguitarist3843]

Thanks for watching! I find the Fat 50's better for live performance than the 69's - but I think that stems from the 50's being more 'Stratty' in general, and more intuitive to work with. I find the 69's can be great in the studio if you have time to find a sweet spot (although everyone has a different view of what that is of course)! I actually tried the 69's live again recently just to give them a trial (it has been a while). I found them clinical and hard to bond with - clean or driven. It's weird, because I used to love them. I guess our flavours change with time! 🎸

[@TheUlesifah701]

I just ordered the fat 60’s , thanks for the video and all the info! I just started playing again for first time since I was a teenager, got my first real Strat and I love it but it just doesn’t have that Fender strat spank to it …. Definitely excited for the CS fat 60s pups !! Awesome videos bro and that red Strat is gorgeous!! Rock on 🤘🏼

[@dylansmithguitarist3843]

Thanks so much for watching! Welcome back to playing, and I hope you love your new setup 😁👍🎸

[@TheGBs1972]

I personally have the 69’s but really like the 50’s with some drive. Not so keen on the Texas as they are a bit hot for my taste. Great vid cheers

[@dylansmithguitarist3843]

Thanks very much for watching! Much appreciated 👍🎸

[@feds27]

I liked the CS69’s in Part 1, they are more articulate when clean but, I liked them least with distortion, sounded muffled in neck+middle. Surprised how well the Texas Specials take to distortion.

[@dylansmithguitarist3843]

Thanks for watching. I agree, the CS69's just don't 'take' as well with distortion. The TS are great with drive - I used them on literally hundreds of gigs and they are very versatile.

[@ClassicVibes_69]

Hey Dylan, many thanks for this wonderful PU shoot out. Combining this comparison with the previous Clean one, makes it obvious that you need more guitars, now I finally have the evidence and proof to the misses here. For Clean, my ranking would be Fat50-Texas-69. For Gain, I’d say Fat 50-69-Texas. One exception, the Gain mid PU on the Texas really stands out, that’s my overall favourite. Considering the fact that I just equipped my Strat Plus with ‘57-‘62 PU’s, I’m gonna have to consider another 🎸to the collection. Many thanks & all best, Michael

[@dylansmithguitarist3843]

Hi Michael, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment! We can never have too many guitars, eh! Yes, I think the Fat 50s are more Stratty and have a transparency with the gain. The 69's are definitely creamier and darker (although not so much to my personal taste). I must give some 57-62s a try on the channel - they are highly regarded, especially with some blues player friends of mine. I'm guessing the Lace Sensors in your Plus weren't the best then? Thanks again, Dylan

[@ClassicVibes_69]

@@dylansmithguitarist3843 Hey Dylan, fully go with you. Being a Mark Knopfler geek myself, I must admit that the Fat50's actually sound more MK than the Texas Specials. And you're right about the Lace Sensors, they kind of did their work while playing in a band and looking for some humbucker overdrive tone, therefore I used the Red laces. Nowadyas days I'm more on the vintage Shadows style stuff, these Laces are just too "clinical", and the 57'-'62 really do the job for me. The swap with a pre-wired Fender kit was amazingly easy, and it blend nicely in with the 1992 Strat Plus, which on it's own is a great guitar. Thanks again for your great video's and comments, love it. Michael

[@dylansmithguitarist3843]

​ @Classic Vibes Yes, I love the Laces for live playing - especially the Golds for all-round stuff. But as you say, tastes and requirements change - but the Plus is such a great guitar, it makes sense to keep it but swap out the innards to suit your current requirements. Thanks again! p.s. I feature some laces for MK and Clapton on my channel - check out Dire Straits' Ride Across The River I made during lockdown - no effects, just a sofa, Strat Plus and my little Artisan AE

[@dylansmithguitarist3843]

@@ClassicVibes_69 kzbin.info/www/bejne/rIOuc2Sohp2NnbM

[@ClassicVibes_69]

@@dylansmithguitarist3843 Man, I just love all that stuff. It's the core reason why we're doing all of this, it's the love for the music, beautifull melodies and great guitars. Just can't help myself, that trigger comes naturally, gotta play! Stay tuned Dylan, I'll be looking for you!

[@ncoyouth]

Hello Dylan What is your favourite bridge pickups (not harsh..) please for the "Fuzzface Hendrix vibes".. = Spanish Castle Magic solo Thanks Nicolas

[@iancurrie8844]

Came from the clean video. In that one I prefered the fat 50s but with gain I prefer the texas specials. 69s are good for nothin'. Muffled and without any brightness or high end. They must be for people who play a strat but wish they were playing something else.

[@nizodizo9549]

What's weird is that all pickups sound how I thought they would.

[@dylansmithguitarist3843]

Thanks for watching. And that must mean the video makes sense too, which is a bonus!

[@GaryArmstrongmacgh]

So far from all the videos...TXSPs. Now to find the $!

[@dylansmithguitarist3843]

They are great pickups. Powerful for live use, and Statty when you need them to be. Check out some of my Knopfler Strat videos and it's quite an eye opener for a lot of people. Thanks for watching 👍🎸

[@froosh4561]

hi, im looking for pickups to my strat (maple neck) i like fat 50s or 69s, but i dont know which is the best option to me, i need better bass response (better low end) and more body, less mids, and Clear highs without being overly shrill. i play cleans, mostly edge of breakup tones and high gain leads too, i'm actually using a modeler with JTM45 Bright Channel. Help me please, nice video

[@dylansmithguitarist3843]

Hi, apologies for the delay in response. I'd normally say the 50's, but it sounds like you don't really want those 'Stratty' mids. In which case the 69's might be better for you with the break-up on moderate drive with a JCM45. I'm personally a fan of the CS Texas Specials - check out my Knopfler and SRV vids (factory fitted with TS pickups). Also, I made a 'clean' video shootout without gain, which may be useful if you didn't see it yet. Thanks again 🎸

[@froosh4561]

thank u so much! @@dylansmithguitarist3843

[@richardgreen8677]

Fat 50,s for mè , dylan

[@dylansmithguitarist3843]

They do seem to be very popular 'all-rounders' - quite Stratty, with transparent gain, so keeping their flavour when used with higher gain levels. Thanks for watching!

[@duck_5150]

Your pickup specs are different from the fender site...

[@dylansmithguitarist3843]

Thanks for watching. These are the measurements of the actual pickups in the guitars on the day of the test. Also, these pickups are not new, so the spec may have changed since release.

[@duck_5150]

@@dylansmithguitarist3843 interesting..I just sold a set of fat 50s that are 10 yrs old and matched up with fender specs