callaham fralin real54s or specialwinds

[jalguitarman]

I am so undecided on which set to buy. I have no real referance point for much of anything other than alnico 5 pick ups in a  strat. I guess i wonder whats going to be the most versital? What would be the best set for a strat palyed through a mesa roadking combo amp?
I have e-mailed Bill Callaham and despite his efforts I end up more confused than what I started out. For instance he said that the H/srv and real 54s are the same in output and frequencey response. That the "main" difference was magnet stagger and that the H/SRV wouldbe better for anything above a 9.5 radius. He said 9.5 or below use the real 54s. Yet the web site says the real 54 specials are the brightest set which leaves me scratching my head.

In a nut shell I want vintage and versital. something that gives me a wonderful clean tone but will also work well with a fuzz pedal ala E.J. and if possible be a good base to nail the Fixxs' clean tone.
I was also wondering if a hybrid set that uses an alnico 5 mag pick up in the bridge with alnico3 pick ups in the middle and neck might be a good compromise. I thought I heard the the pick ups in the E.J. start are some thing like that only the middle single coil is also alnico 5.
Any guidiance would be appreciated

 

[tfarny]

My guess is the differences are tiny and you'll love either set. There are so many great strat pickups out there. If they have the same magnets, same maker, same wind, same wire, sure get the less staggered set for a warmoth 10-16 neck.

 

[tfarny]

Check this if you have high quality monitors or headphones: http://www.acmeguitarworks.com/Strat_Pickup_Sound_Clips_W1.cfm On crappy computer speakers it's a waste of time.

 

[Patrick from Davis]

I have a set of the H/SRV Callaham/Fralins in the strat I built with a compound radius neck.  They are great strat pickups, plain and simple.  They work well with overdrive and they sound like what you expect an idealized strat to sound like when played clean.  Tonar could probably give you a good comparison of the 54's vs the H/SRV's, but for most things strat oriented in the modern world, the H/SRV's are the way to go.
Patrick

 

[Tonar8352]

I have settled on the H/SRV set as my pickups of choice.  I have use all of the different sets Callaham offers plus several stock Fralin sets and I will use the H/SRV in all of my own personal guitars until I hear something better.  I use all vintage Fender amps but I built a guitar for a guy who tested my guitars through his DR Z and he chose the H/SRV over the other Callaham’s through his amp.  That is what we wound up putting in his guitar.  Look through my posts.  I did a thread with some extensive testing on several sets of Strat pickups and it is all there.

In fact I keep a set in stock at all times.  Sounds like I’m on Bill’s payroll but I’m not.

 

[Mor Paul]

He's not on Bills payroll about as much as he's not on some paint store's payroll and that polish (whatever it was) payroll

 

[Rouse]

Lollar Blackface, Google them.

 

[jalguitarman]

I have settled on the H/SRV set as my pickups of choice.  I have use all of the different sets Callaham offers plus several stock Fralin sets and I will use the H/SRV in all of my own personal guitars until I hear something better.  I use all vintage Fender amps but I built a guitar for a guy who tested my guitars through his DR Z and he chose the H/SRV over the other Callaham’s through his amp.  That is what we wound up putting in his guitar.  Look through my posts.  I did a thread with some extensive testing on several sets of Strat pickups and it is all there.

In fact I keep a set in stock at all times.  Sounds like I’m on Bill’s payroll but I’m not. Have you compared them with the regular special winds?? I have seen some of your posts but I don't recall anything about the regular alnico 5 set.

 

[Tonar8352]

Yes I used those in a couple of builds.  They sounded really good!! I think the difference with the H/SRV is they do clean real well but they also like to get loud.  It is almost like they don’t lose anything when you do high volume and the signal starts to compress.  I love them with a Tweed Bassman turned to 12 but I would kill audiences so I use a Super Reverb with a tube screamer and they work well with the pedal.  The others were great too but these have a little something extra. 

 

[jalguitarman]

So Tonar is there that much difference between the H/SRV  and the regular special winds clean?
Also, From what you say it sounds like the regular special winds don't do as well with distortion. Do they get too middy or somthing like that?? Thanks for your help all as I do appreciate it.

 

[Tonar8352]

Both sets are great sounding pickups!  I prefer the H/SRV because they are more dynamic and responsive to the amp, pick attack and use of tone knob.