Seymour Duncan or Fender

[zephseven]

I'm doing a big electrics swap of my strat copy and i cant decide which pickups to go with. I'm looking for a good vintage Fender Tone, Rory Gallagher kind of sound. But I can't decide between Seymour Duncan's SSL-1s Vintage or Fender's 57/62 Vintage pickups.

I'm guessing at the end of day it's six of one half dozen of the other but I was wondering if anyone had any opinions.

Cheers
-zeph

[cynical1]

zeph -

Asking for opinions on pickups is a tough thing. Everyone's taste and perception is subjective. (Sort of like cigars...

Rory had a 1961 Strat, which had the pickups rewound...so it's anyone's guess on replicating those.

Either pickup will give you a similar sound...HOWEVER, the wood in the body & fretboard, your strings, your amp and your hands will all have effect on the tone. And based on recent postings to this board, current Fender QC issues might play a role in your decision.

That being said, I was looking for a vintage SC pickup for the neck on one of my current projects. After much research (and many hours losing on eBay) I went with the SSL-1. (Only because I couldn't afford the Rio Grande Tallboy) Once it's put together I can give you a much better review.

Probably not a lot of help, but my 2 cents regardless...your mileage may vary...

Happy Trails

Cynical1

[andy]

Yup, as Cynical said, it's all down to what you think when you have the things in there-

However, if I had to tie myself to an answer, I've always prefered the tone of guitars with a Seymour Duncan replacement pickup to those with stock pickups, on my own and other peoples.

[bluesjunior]

I would highly recommend a set of Kent Armstrong STV4 Tweed Tone single coil pickups if you want that Rory sound. When I built my partscaster a few years back I checked out several vintage type pickups and have never regretted installing the Tweedtones. Also at £114 a set or £38 each they are a lot cheaper than the ones you mentioned. You can get them from www.wdmusic.co. and don't be put off if you don't know who Kent Armstrong is, he is the son of Dan Armstrong, of Ampeg, Plexiglass guitars lipsticktube pickups etc and a top class pickup maker in his own right.

Check them out you won't regret it.

[andy]

I'll second that- I've not used the Kent Armstrong Fender style single coils, but I have some very cool sounding humbuckers in different styles by them, plus a very good P-Bass pickup.

In my experience Kent Armstrongs are fine quality and well priced.

[zephseven]

Cheers for the input lads, certainly gave me something to consider.

I've been looking at Bare Knuckle Irish Tours recently too (well they are named after the album i'm trying to emulate!) Just have to make the purse strings stretch that far.