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ThePerfectBeard · . Joined: 03 Apr 2017 Posts: 3

Longtime lurker, first time post. I just got my first Mustang and I love the way this guitar feels and plays, but I'm thinking about replacing the pickups. It's a Japanese '65 reissue and it came with aftermarket single coil shaped, humbucker pickups. The neck pickup isn't bad, but the bridge is pretty lifeless and I'm thinking about going back to single coils.

Just curious to see what other Mustang users are playing and what they'd recommend.

Dillon · . Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 1347 Location: Colorado

Welcome! Any Strat pickup will fit. You can get covers without holes pretty much anywhere (including Guitar Center). Personally, I'm a fan of the Fender Texas Special set. For noiseless, IMO the DiMarzio Area series are great for the price. Lots of people rave about Fralin and Kinman, but I've never felt the need to spend that much money on Strat pickups when there are so many cheaper options out there.

robroe · Bon Jovi Fan Club!!1 Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 44635

Check out the Seymour Duncan SJAG. Jaguar pickup series. They come in 3 varieties...regular, hot, and quarter pounder. Reverse wound for him canceling when both on
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Dillon · . Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 1347 Location: Colorado

ThePerfectBeard · . Joined: 03 Apr 2017 Posts: 3

Shaguar · Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2017 8:51 pm Post subject:

Dillon · . Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 1347 Location: Colorado

I don't think Jaguar pickups will properly fit a Mustang without routing the body, hence my last post. Because, IIRC, the Jaguar pickup is physically wider and taller than a Strat pickup. I don't have a Mustang anymore to verify, though.

As for the screws, you could probably use a tap and die to thread the existing holes, then use a larger screw. Or maybe glue some small nuts on the back. But unless you just really want the look of a Jag pickup, there's not much point to it considering the pickups aren't a huge part of what make the sound of a Jaguar. More the trem and wiring / 1M pots.

BTW, I'd say you can easily find Strat pickups that sound like that Saltcaster demo, for not-boutique prices. Duncan SSL-4 (quarter pounder) comes to mind.

Link

honeyiscool · Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2017 8:48 pm Post subject:

I have a pair of DiMarzio Areas with custom flat poles that I keep hidden under standard Mustang pickup covers (they kind of fit) and then I have another guitar with Fralin Blues Hot Mustang pickups in it. So both look completely stock. The Fralins sound really, really good, but the Areas are what I use when I need variety of sounds. Still, I think the Fralins at their best beat the Areas at their best. The Fralins aren't that expensive if you find the right deal, plus Mustang pickups, you only need two instead of three so that's nice.
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Kicking and squealing Gucci little piggy.

Groovy Tunes · . Joined: 28 Apr 2017 Posts: 5

I'm about to order some mustang pickups for my 1975 'stang from Curtis Novak who, in my opinion, makes the best offset pickups I've ever played. Check him out and send him and email. Curtis is a great guy to work with and he will be happy to help make you the perfect pickup. I've used his pickups in my Jazzmaster for quite a few years and they are the bomb. http://curtisnovak.com/pickups/mustang.shtml

Lumpy Waters · . Joined: 12 Oct 2013 Posts: 14 Location: California

I use Bill Lawrence L45s in both positions. These pickups are open, wide range, hifi, ring like a bell (neck especially). Probably not the tone most people associate with the classic Mustang pickups, I guess. I briefly had pickups from a 70's pawnshop basket case Mustang I own in my MIJ/CIJ parts-stang, got a really fun, kinda rude tone out of them, but they were noisy AF. With the BL L45s and the right pedals and/or amp, you get just about any sound you want. Price is a bargain if you're willing to wait a while to get them.

ThePerfectBeard · . Joined: 03 Apr 2017 Posts: 3