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.
@@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.
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!
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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!
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 🙏 👍😀
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.
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!
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
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!
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.
@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.
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!
meatwad2222 That’s why I’m here too. Ex owner of my ‘84 MIJ Strat has changed the original PUPs to Texas Specials. Don’t like the aggression of that set. 69s are just fine I think.
I bought a set of texas specials a few weeks because they were the only full set of strat pickups available on the second hand market. I had them put in a week ago and it's totally destroyed my sound and what I hoped to get out of it. As a professional guitarist that has to do a LOT of different recording or musical theater jobs, everything now sounds like Stevie Ray, they are very bitey and sharp and any overdrive is a fizzy kind of texas blues sound. It's great for texas blues but awful for what I have to do which ranges from jazz/fusion to R&B soul and general pop touring.
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.
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.
great review. i think im sold. my Fullerton 62 RI pickups suck basically. For all their notarity (and they are worth about $200 a piece now) -- they suck.
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...
I think that you were duped! That Strat is NOT a genuine 1979! The headstock sticker is ALL wrong...it's misplaced! It looks like a cheap knockoff..............
though your mex strat likely already has overwound ceramic pickups in it that are already pretty fat sounding. more so than the 69, texas, and american standard pickups. so just know that and choose wisely if you havent already. i know its been a month since youve posted that. :D
I'm looking for fat sounding pickups for heavy blues and rock to put in my mexican made stratocaster.. What the difference between the 54s and these? which sound the fattest? greetings, laurent (great playing and lessons btw!)
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.
@johntuggle A natural overdrive is not equivalent to cleanliness. It's still dirty, just naturally so. I'd like to hear it actually clean. Maybe about 4 on the amp. Something pristine.
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!
That sounds awesome! Of course, you are playing through an incredible amp. I wonder how this would sound through my Fender HRD amp. I am very unhappy with my current Fender N2 pick ups. They sound dull and lifeless. These pick ups would definitely be an improvement.
Excellent video review, and great tone. And heard all these late 70's Strats were boat anchor Ash, not swamp Ash..very bright hard sounding, but yours now sounds great.
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
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 ...
good lawd, could you get any better of an example of a stratocaster? i think not. superb video indeed!
JP H right? Dude, that Axe has a nice middy tone to it. I want it lol 😂
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.
I agree I feel like I have to earn those puppies.
Yet the irony is that you will want to keep playing and learning if your strat sounds like that.
Practice is one of the best upgrades
damn this comment made me regret spending way too much money on pickups that i cant back up with my playing
find yr own repetitive sound track. @@jochem420
Came for the pickups, stayed for the licks. Fantastic phrasing! Everything just made sense.
my thoughts exactly
Nice to see that you're involve with your soun, Gabe I admire your work..
The playing starts a 2:40
+Mistergibsonsg1 ahah cheers
Mistergibsonsg1 Thanx
Wish I would have seen this comment sooner...
Haha thanks man!
It's worth listening to why he made the change I think.
These are the ones I'm looking for. It's "THAT" Fender sound I've got in my head.
Love your poker face while playing, you could be filing out life insurance forms for all we know
The hotter the licks the cooler the face.
Haha you guys crack me up!
The Vibrolux isn't hurting anything either ....
My dad always said it's all about amps... people are worried about guitars and pickups but it's all in the amps.
@@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.
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!
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👍
holy shit, this guys good
I taught him
You look a little bit like John C Reilly from Step Brothers
Really nice! Nod to Jimi appreciated! These are good pickups! Thanks!
Still a good demo of good pickups!
i´d love to hear a comparison with the '57/'62 pickups... by the way, killer tone and playing!
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
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.
@geetarNL All tone setting can be found by clicking the link below the video. Thanks!
very nice start nice fuckin sound awsome i love strats their the best
I LOVE THE NECK PICKUP ITS SOUNDS GREAT
Hale yea
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.
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.
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
Definately John Mayer inspired playing. Love it love it
Thanks. All the settings are at the link below the video. The strings are .011s
2:44, for those impatient like myself.
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!
Just bought a set of these this morning so happy can't wait to install them
SOLD. Just what I needed to hear.
Great sound!! can you help me out with the pickups hight? Thanks a lot!
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.
True strat hendrix sound!! got my big toe standing up in my boot
Lol little Richard said that about Hendrix.
2011 maybe. They were brand new from Amazon I think. There's more to my sound than the pickups.
John Mayer's "Slow Dancing In A Burning Room" is the song you're thinking of.
What marketing are you talking about? I've had it for 15 years and the first time I played it I knew it was a magical guitar.
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!
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 🙏 👍😀
Hey, are these great? I want to change my pickups you find them worth it?
@@jerembismuth8200 yeah they’re awesome. I also like the sound of the Fat 50’s too 👍
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.
When I think "Strat tone", thats the sound I hear in my head. I think you may have just sold me on a set.
just got a 2018 mim players strat with these pickups....absolute joy to play and HEAR! and yes, this guy freakin rips it...:)
Not really sure as I'm not a guitar technician at all. Something is not connected somewhere.
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!
@cochise83 I haven't used the Fralins, but after installing these it's the sound I've been looking for. They're a lot cheaper too.
You sold me those pickups
Tuning a strat down a half step to Eb makes all the difference in achieving tone like this.
Heisenberg do you know what guage would work for a half step down Eb. Is 10s ok or do you recommend thicker?
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
Although this a simple tip, this helped me a ton! Thanks man :)!
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!
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.
One of the very best sounding Strats I've ever heard! Lovely playing too.
@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.
@bigdaddyjay85 Click the link below the video for all the tone setting. Thanks.
I like that Skinny neck and Fat Headstock!
It sounds amazing too!
@Lebluez The same hum as any normal single coil I guess. Strats can be noisy sometimes.
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!
@zgen41 I don't see why not as long as they fit the pickup cavity.
@Laurentvb92 I've never tried the 54s so I can't help you there. Thanks for the kind words.
At least I'm not the only one who can't stand Texas Specials. XD
meatwad2222 hotter ain’t always better. That’s why I play a 52’ reissue.
Prolly because your playing got in the way ;P
meatwad2222 That’s why I’m here too. Ex owner of my ‘84 MIJ Strat has changed the original PUPs to Texas Specials. Don’t like the aggression of that set. 69s are just fine I think.
I used to have a mij 60s reissue with Texas specials, very ice picky to my ears. Especially the bridge pickup, basically useless.
I bought a set of texas specials a few weeks because they were the only full set of strat pickups available on the second hand market. I had them put in a week ago and it's totally destroyed my sound and what I hoped to get out of it. As a professional guitarist that has to do a LOT of different recording or musical theater jobs, everything now sounds like Stevie Ray, they are very bitey and sharp and any overdrive is a fizzy kind of texas blues sound. It's great for texas blues but awful for what I have to do which ranges from jazz/fusion to R&B soul and general pop touring.
It's the same input jack. You just need to solder the proper connections.
you are so amazing.
When i buy a Road Worn Strat i also buy some of your lessons!
Im inspired of you
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.
Just ordered mine
@@AnthonyElsetinow nice mine came in a few days ago just gotta install them hope u enjoy em.
They're quiet enough for me. There is some noise.
@MarvelousLight10 The overdrive you hear is from the amp. So yes it was totally clean.
Thanks. I don't know what that is. Whatever comes with it.
That may very well be the best-sounding Strat I've ever heard! :-D
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.
I would say so. They have a bell like tone if you play totally clean.
These make me think of "The Wind Cries Mary!"
@ssab45 Thanks. About 21 years now. Man, time flies. :)
Sweet👍💪😁
great review. i think im sold. my Fullerton 62 RI pickups suck basically. For all their notarity (and they are worth about $200 a piece now) -- they suck.
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...
I've combined them in the same strat. Tx in the bridge 🤘🏻
@Bernz67 Thanks. Maybe at some point I will.
@hilroyman It's similar to John Mayer's Slow Dancing.
in position 2 and 4 do not cancel noise right?
Thanks. Yes it's a 3 bolt neck.
I would think so.
@montify Thanks. I appreciate it.
Great pups, beautiful sound
@ddq078 It's just me improvising.
It's similar to a John Mayer song. Thanks.
Fucking good player. Nevermind the PUs...
I think that you were duped!
That Strat is NOT a genuine 1979!
The headstock sticker is ALL wrong...it's misplaced!
It looks like a cheap knockoff..............
These new age guitarists that hear a colored boosted clean tone on a strat and think John Mayer invented them... you guys need to chill
Thanks. 66 Vibrolux
though your mex strat likely already has overwound ceramic pickups in it that are already pretty fat sounding. more so than the 69, texas, and american standard pickups. so just know that and choose wisely if you havent already. i know its been a month since youve posted that. :D
@bbnatedogg I haven't.
I'm looking for fat sounding pickups for heavy blues and rock to put in my mexican made stratocaster.. What the difference between the 54s and these? which sound the fattest?
greetings, laurent
(great playing and lessons btw!)
Excellent. I put the same pickups in my strat and it sounds great but you play better. Congratulations!
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.
That's exactly the sound i am looking for, thank you! Now if I could only play as well.
@johntuggle A natural overdrive is not equivalent to cleanliness. It's still dirty, just naturally so. I'd like to hear it actually clean. Maybe about 4 on the amp. Something pristine.
hes a john mayer fan
Dan Garber
He is an SRV fan!!!!
Who gives a shit about Mayer!!
Lmao guitar geeks 😂😂😂
MrPutanginaka Mayer is a phenomenal player
Oyodoz So what if he is? Dont mean he can jump the queue.
MrPutanginaka you could and should definitely say the same thing about srv
They sound like there going to explode when you get on them
. In a good way. Sounds sweat and mean
Never tried them.
Get it, man! Awesome sounding Strat and incredible playing! Love those pickups!
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!
That sounds awesome! Of course, you are playing through an incredible amp. I wonder how this would sound through my Fender HRD amp. I am very unhappy with my current Fender N2 pick ups. They sound dull and lifeless. These pick ups would definitely be an improvement.
Do the neck, bridge and mid position have the same PU, i mean is there any difference among those PU or just different in the position in guitar ??
Does it have a lot of hum problems?
Because I've heard that there is no hum canceling in position 2&4 right?
If so how did you fix it?
Thanks a lot
Excellent video review, and great tone. And heard all these late 70's Strats were boat anchor Ash, not swamp Ash..very bright hard sounding, but yours now sounds great.
This guy Shredding to hard ! :D
wait did he say he had to roll down the tone on the bridge pick up with texas specials? On strats the tone isn't wired to the bridge pup...
lets say you would sell this guitar(unlikely), how much would you ask? just curious, still saving up for a mexican standard lol
so i notice that you didnt play in any between positions. is there any reason? related to the middle non rwrp pickup?
Mine arrived today
This video helped a lot in deciding
I am SO putting these in my Mex Strat!!!
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
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 ...