So fralin vs Van Zandt. Where do we stand?

Billy Batz · Post by **Billy Batz** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 8:23 pm

Now taht Ive finished my strat and I have the ol fender am std pups sittin in it I have yet another pup qstion before me. So Im wondering you guys whov been with me on the strat pickup thing in the past. I have fralins in one and their nice. I wonder should I try the underwound (Im not into the hot thing with strat pups) in this gtr or VZs? You guys (Paul, Bluesguit, SBMonster etc..) youve tried them both. Lets hear it. Id prefer to do it by position. I want a very clear, clear, clear neck pickup. Not as concerned about it being fat as nice, chimey and, did I say, clear. Thats my primary concern since I play 90% on the neck with a strat through my thick 67 marshall which I prefer to keep from being mudy in any way shape or form. Then my focus would be on a really fat bridge pickup. Maybe try those backplates out.

The Warmoth neck is awesome. The thing is a huge hunk of wood. Huge fat maple boatneck, unfinished and with the action so low its like ntohing Ive played before. The mix of low action that doesnt buzz (much) or fret out and huge huge thick neck. Lots of character in the tone of this guitar with a Swamp Ash body. The other warmoth neck I got doesnt seem as good. Maybe Im just used to it? But lots of clarity already. I suspect the mix of all that maple and the ash is giving me a deep tone with lots of chime and clarity. Im very happy with this strat. Now for some pups.

mightymike · Post by **mightymike** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 4:20 am

I've tried the Fralins Blues set with base plate, and that is a very fat warm strat tone in my sons 62 RI.

I have SD Antiquities APS2 single coils in the neck and mid of my
Custom Shop c90. That guitar has aswamps ash body and koa top.
The clean is fucking beautiful. So beautiful that you can almost make it sound like an acoustic if you play with the volume, but sometimes it can get bright so you have to roll of the tone a little sometimes. I'm talking country clean if you turn the volume down enough. so if clean is what you're looking for this might be something you might want to check out Dan.

I'm also looking to change my neck and mid, and am leaning towards the Vanzandt Blues set which is supossedly what SRV used.
This will go in the alder bodied HM Start guitar with the Darburst in the bridge.

Billy Batz · Post by **Billy Batz** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 6:07 am

Not clean so much as true vintage. Not all thgese hot pickups. So that when cranked my amp only adds a bit of drive to the start. That way it can go from very clean to very driven with dynamics. Thats a neck concern. In the bridge I just want something fat and it can be hot I dont care.

BashCoder · Post by **BashCoder** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 8:34 am

No experience with the VZ, but I have yet to hear a Fralin that didn't knock me out. I have three SG's with Fralin buckers instead of the Burstbuckers, two with covers. I also have two Tele's (one Mexi, one American) and a P-90 LP, all with Fralins. I've compared against several types of SD's, but not VZ's. There's a presence to Lindy's sound that I just love. His pickups sound more close-miked, if you know what I mean. More present, more detail, wider frequency response.

mightymike · Post by **mightymike** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 6:24 pm

Jim wagner just emailed me some clips of his SR single coils.
A clip of Castle Made of Sand, and Wind Cries Mary.
Very Vintage sounding Clean.

I could email them to you. if you want.
Or Jim would too I'm sure.

I'd l;ike to brighten up my Fralin Blues set a little.
It was an AMCE preloaded pickguard, But it should arleady has an OD cap on the tone pot.. Aren't those supposed to be bright?

Maybe I'll try a Sozo .

marshman · Post by **marshman** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 3:10 pm

I have a full set of Rio Grande tallboys in my strat and they're very nice. Not too hot, nice and clear. Never had Fralins or VZs, but they're definitely worth a shot in my opinion.

Happy hunting.

bluefuzzguitar · Post by **bluefuzzguitar** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 5:00 pm

Dan,

I'm a VZ user and swear by them. Judging from your description I'd choose a VZ Vintage Plus neck pup and a Rock mid and bridge pup, if I were you. That way you have the clear neck pickup that gives you just that little edge and a very fat middle and bridge pickup. VZ all the way baby!

Mike

P.S.: Oh, and the VZ Blues are actually the worst-sounding pickups in the VZ range and they will NOT give you the SRV sound. Go with the V+ and Rock mix.

Billy Batz · Post by **Billy Batz** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 6:03 pm

I just dont want any more output from the pickup. Already the Fralins are pushing the amp (at around

into moderate Trower levels. Not as soupy without an OD but in the ballpark, just not quite as gainy. I dont want that. I dont want clean but clarity above all else and so that I can crank the amp without having to back off the volume. The Fralins are OK as far as that goes but I think I should have gotten the underwound set. Like I said the perfect strat sounds for me sound driven when you play hard but also sound clean when you play soft like only a strat can do. With a LP I dont care about that as much. I can plug in the LP with the same settings as the strat and grind. I can now but Id like to be able to push the volume up a bit more for the LP without having to work the strats volume to compensate.

JCM8874 · Post by **JCM8874** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 7:33 pm

I agree with bluefuzzguitar; Vanzandt all the way. Ive had fralin blues (good), vintage hot (yuck), sp43's (?????) and 54's (nice); the fralins seem to sound better playing by oneself, but with a band the Vanzandts (much better) are clearer with more pressense, they cut through without being harsh and clean up alot better. In my frankenstrat I currently have a VZ blues in the neck and a seymour alnico pro HB in the bridge, but Im probably going to try out the rock pickup in the neck soon and maybe a darkburst in the bridge. Ive played a strat with the VZ vintage set and they are KILLER, as close as Ive heard to real (good) vintage fender pu's.

For what its worth,

Guitar Adjuster · Post by **Guitar Adjuster** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 11:45 pm

Dan forget about both of those and check out these--you won't be disappointed!

http://www.wolfetone.com/

Billy Batz · Post by **Billy Batz** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 4:17 pm

Im all for checking into something new. But have you tried either or both of the Fralins and VZs?

Guitar Adjuster · Post by **Guitar Adjuster** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 4:24 pm

I had a set of Fralins in a strat some years ago and they were very nice. I have listened to some Wolfe Tones in a friends guitar and though they sounded better. The main thing about Wolfe Tone is he will voice them the way you want them. And after you install them if you want them tweaked---he will do it for free till you are satified with the tone you seek. Who else will do that?

mightymike · Post by **mightymike** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 4:34 pm

bluefuzzguitar wrote:Dan,

I'm a VZ user and swear by them. Judging from your description I'd choose a VZ Vintage Plus neck pup and a Rock mid and bridge pup, if I were you. That way you have the clear neck pickup that gives you just that little edge and a very fat middle and bridge pickup. VZ all the way baby!

Mike

P.S.: Oh, and the VZ Blues are actually the worst-sounding pickups in the VZ range and they will NOT give you the SRV sound. Go with the V+ and Rock mix.

I'm gonna upgrade my sons 62 reissue strat with a HSS pick guard loaded with a A2 MAgnet Darkburst in the bridge angled, and your suggestion on neck and mid. I'm going to pull a trick on him and borrow his guitar right before Christmas, and suprise him with the upgrades when he wakes up christmans day.

Before this I was leaning towards the quaterpound single coil that SD makes taht's supposed to be like a P90,

BrianH · Post by **BrianH** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 8:48 pm

Another Van Zandt Strat pickup fan. I've used lots of Fralins and liked them all, but the Van Zandt Vintage Plus have a nicer warmth to them. A little less shrill than the Fralins.

mightymike · Post by **mightymike** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 9:37 am

I didn't find the Fralins Baseplate Blues set shrill at all. I found it too warm if anything. I'm actually hoping the VZ will be a little brighter/open sounding than the Fralins blues set with base plate. Trying to get the top end sparkle like on my APS2 Duncans.

I'm thinking of changing the cap to Hovland on my Fralin equiped. I'm sure it has a Ornage drop from ACME Guitar Pre Loaded Pickguard.