Fender Strat Pickups - Are they any different?!
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- Опубликовано: 14 окт 2024
- We take four Fender Stratocasters, each with a different set of Fender pickups, to see just how different they sound.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments!
Fender American Performer Stratocaster - bit.ly/3nNRJRk
Fender American Professional II Stratocaster - bit.ly/3IyiCB3
My order of preference:
1: VMOD
2: Yosemite (a VERY close second)
3: VMOD II
4: Fat 60s (and it's a distant fourth, at that!)
The Yosemites sounded best to me, with the most spank and sparkle that I want to hear from a Strat. That's why my Performer is my favorite Strat ever, because the Yosemites are pretty beefy output, but still have the highs I want from a Strat pickup. They are my favorite Strat pickups of all time. As you went through the others, they got darker and darker sounding, with the V-Mod darker than the Yosemite, the V-Mod II darker still, and the Fat 60s the darkest of all. I'm not a fan of the Fat 50s or Fat 60s, or their Vintera equivalents as used on the Vintera Mod Strats. I much prefer the standard Vintera 50s and 60s pickups, which come very close to the PV 59 and PV 65 for less money. I replaced the V-Mods in my Pro with some more vintage spec alnico 5s that have more spank and sparkle than the V-Mods do. After the Yosemites, my favorite Fender Strat pickup is the PV 65.
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Thats what my ears hear too
that's why Texas spcls aren't popular...
For me they all sound very fendery (in a good way) and with a little tweking amp or pedal wise i'd be happy with any of them in my Strat.
It seems that VMod 2 have more midrange particularly in the bridge. Yosemite and VMod are very similar in pos 1 and 2. What is clear to me is that there is no such a big difference in all these pickups, maybe adding some overdriven samples would have been interesting too. I appreciated a lot the quality of all the central pickups. I have built several single coil pickups and I can assure that once you choose the material of the poles (Alnico V) and of the flatwork (vulcanized fiberboard), the only free variables are: wire diameter, how many winds you want to do (the more you do the more output you'll obtain) and the tension of the wire (a tight scatter produces more midrange than a loose). But, back in the 50's Strat pickups were all three identical with AWG42 wire, 5.9KOhm and 2.5/2.8 Henries (SRV pickups were standard Fender pickup of 1954), so all these modern single coil models do not have much sense to me, there is a lot of marketing outside and the revenue on the pickup is very big (producing a pickup is not so exepensive especially if you buy big quantities of wire). The only real innovation made to single coils is the "noiseless" technology created adding a second coil.
Yosemite!
Really great, well produced video -- thank you for posting, liked and subscribed
+1 for the VMODs, love those balanced bell like tones!
Man you should’ve included the American Original in this mix. The Pure Vintage Strat pickups (59 and 65) in those guitars are up there with the best boutique pickups. In terms of modern sounding pickups, the Yosemites win though, hands down
Interesting.
I agree! Bitey quacky bridge and decent jazzy neck sound is what I'm after. For Country and Rock .
I agree. The PV 65 is one of their best pickups, along with the Yosemites. They're my two favorite Fender pickups. I'm not a fan of the Fat 50s or Fat 60s, or the Vintera equivalents. I much prefer the standard Vintera 50s and 60s pickups, and they come very close to the PV 59 and 65 for less money.
Thanks! Shopping.... My opinion: Best sounding Yosemite, American Professional, and than the rest ....
When you play this soft, the pick ups perform basically the same, for me the difference is in edge of breakup diggin in....that said all these sound just really good :)
I do strongly prefer the Yosemites after hearing this, thank you very much for posting, you really helped me out.
Honestly, I like the Gen 1 VMods the best, followed by the CS 60s, then VMOD 2 and Yosemite.
That was my take as well. The Gen 1 VMods have the most "bell-like" clarity that I like in a clean Strat sound. Up to personal taste, I guess.
Man, those Yosemite are impressive.
exactly
no
Yes, they are! I have a 2020 Performer Strat with them. They have a big round bottom end with sweet singing highs and more harmonic overtones. They’re not the classic vintage tone and play much better with high gain while still maintaining clear note definition within a chord. I’ve since retrofitted my other Strats with Yosemite pickups.
@@264boresteve … how do they compare to the Texas Specials in the Am. Special Strats?
Really? I've had a bunch of strats through the years and just got one with Yosemite's and they're so dull and boring, I don't hear any of the hype.
I like the V Mod II pickups though in my new Pro II but the Yosemite in my Performer.. not so keen.
Extremely interesting! Thanks for sharing this!
Just picked up a new set of Yosemite's, on the cheap ($90). Have not figured out what guitar to put them in or how the wire them up ( might do a blender mod with these as they have a nice high end to play with). I hear there noise on the 60 cycle hum is very low near to what the noiseless are. Thanks for demo
It would be nice to compare these authentic tones with contemporary takes like rail pickups
Great video thanks. Yes please do a comparison video of the mexican range
Thanks for this video. Just what I needed.
Great!! Each guitar has different tone even the same model. In this case I prefer performer.
Coming from a guy that has most of all the Custom shop sets in a variety of Strats I own... I recently got a strat with the Yosemites in it. I was convinced after hearing them that they were some of the best Fender pups period. Best "strat" sound in all positions. Then I watched this and pretty much felt the same. I did like the V-Mod original as well. Then I read the comments and Yosemite had the best responses. I say this because if someone was looking for an unbiased view besides yours, you can take it from me. I've spent a lot on Fender CS pups only to find these Yosemites the best. Try a set out!
Are the pickup heights as out of the box, or were they dialed in?
😎✌👍❤🖖
number 4th has the most classic sound of Fender Strat. Im going for it
Thanks for the detailed video. It's true, more than 90% of the sounds are the pickups, than your fingers, the amp and maybe a tiny left over will be the type of wood and neck. All the pickups sounded the same to me more or less and I am sure no one will notice any difference within a band construct.
I put a strat pickup on an SG and it did not sound like a strat. Sounded like a single coil but not a strat.
I thought the Yosemite's sounded similar to the V Mods and the V Mod 2's sounded similar to the Fat 60’s. For me I'd go for the Fat 60’s which to my ears were a little deeper, a little clearer and less spangly.
I listened w/out looking a and I liked the Custom Shop Fat 60's a lot. Probably because of the maple neck. :) :) Seriously ... I did like them just slightly better but I like a dark, chocolate sound. They all have their good points, though.
After countless pickup changes in my strat including Mark Foley lowinds , 57/62s , CM Daugherty's , Bareknuckles , Domingers , I finally hopefully settled on Zexcoils which sound amazing ........ For now !!!!!
Any difference between pickups is neutralized by a tiny twist of the treble knob on your amp. Concentrate on buying the Strat that feels the best under your hands.
Of these I'd definitely go for a Yosemite bridge pickup, a V-mod 1 middle & a fat 60s neck. Sorry, but the V-mod 2 pickups sound horrible, the tone is muddy to my ears & lacks all warmth.
They all sound great! Damn!
No matter the pickups, you sound good dude.
My fav vmod1 then vmod2, yosemite and 60’s.
Are you this green in person?
All good. Fat 60s and V-mod II are more 3D.
American Professional V-Mod = BEST (in my opinion)
I was underwhelmed by the Fat 60s, I thought they were gonna sound better! But yeah the cheapest guitar has the best sounding pickups imo the Yosemites!
Agree on both counts!
By far true
@@joejohnson8966 by far not true
@@milankotevski1663 by far the most wrong. 🙂 The Fat 60’s were too poky in the mids, the Vmod2’s sounded a little dead to me, but I really liked the Vmod1’s and the Yosemite’s - I’d be happy with either of those sets.
@@adriansperling5012 I'm not to sure about that, the 60 sounded snappy in the neck position. 10:36 (60's) 9:41 (Yosemite’s) 10:01 (vmod1)
Tim Shaw Vintera pickups are crazy good for Strat or Tele 50’s or 60’s
Didnt notice a significant difference til the Vmod2s
Yosemite make most sense to me. If I wanted humbucker sound I would go for a superstrat right away. Schecter, Ibanez, Jackson, etc.
At the beginning of the video, all the Strats sounded the same. As it went on I heard subtle differences between the guitars & the V Mod pups became my favorites from the selection. I own a Pawn Shop with Grease Bucket humbuckers, a MIMs one with '69 vintage pups, a Warmouth I built with Tex-Mex pups, a American Strat Deluxe with Alnico V pups & a G&L Comanche Tribute with "Z" pups. They all have distinctive voices of their own. My 2 favorites to play are the Am Deluxe & the Comanche, some about it, it won't let you put it down. FYI. others who have tried have said the same thing. One thing, you didn't say what the body wood was. My Walmouth Strat & Comanche are Swamp Ash, which to me has a "woody" sound plugged in or not. The rest are Alda. IMH opinion the body wood does add to the guitar's voice. All thru a early 2000s Hotrod Deluxe. At 67 memory is not the greatest much more about dates.
I've been thinking about getting a comanche, looks wise the z pups are a turnoff but damn they sound great to me from the videos I've been seeing. I've been between that and the 57 or 61 american vintage ii. Think I'm leaning more towards the 61
@@e.k.izzle32 The "Z" pups are fuller sounding, I like that. But there's something about the G&L that won't let you put it down. It's also slightly longer than a strat overall. My Warmouth also has a boat shaped neck, definitely adds to it's woody sound, not great for shredders but adds to a bluesy sound. I have big hands so a thicker neck doesn't bother me. If you want to play it for a long time, that's the guitar for you. Enjoy!!
Performer just sound like honey
You should make a video of how they sit in the mix ;)
yeah, that´s most important for making music! Single sound is countless, if it is not heard in the mix!
The Performer beat them all
i have a original chinese CV 50's and the same chinese CV 50's complet pickguard set, in a 2009 bullet, and it's sounding different. The original is clearer. Even unplugged. So there is something that is not pickups ^^ for sure. Wood of the body or of the neck ? Cavities ? bridge ? strings...?
@stirange Thank you for your answer. I think, as its sound different unplugged, it's "normal" that its sound different when plugged, even with the same pickup set...
Sharing your honest opinion is welcomed.
proi , proii , 75th which one should I choose?
I know that playing with just your fingers is your style, but everything I'm hearing sounds muted, so much so that you've lost all the "sparkle" that I know these pickups can deliver.
Thank you for sharing this. But I just can’t tell the different. Haha.. 😅😅😅
Everyone will laugh but I prefer the stock pickups in my 2024 Squier CV 50 Strat to any of these.
More quack in positions 2 and 4 and a lot like the 57/62’s.
I still prefer my Lace Sensor Pickups!!!
I think the Yosemite ones are more open than the others.
And I think the V Mods are more open than the V Mods II.
Fat 60s definitely sounds most vintage. Rounded treble and not as spikey in the highs as the others.
3:35
I'm hearing fret on sizzle on the vmods.
Yosemite made ALL the others sound nasal, sorry. What are they? Were do I get them, how much are they, how soon can you post them.
120 on the fender website!
the v-mod are clearer than Yosemite....
I love when u say doodoo ❤️
i think it's only market ... at the end are very very similar
Hello (and others);)) I have a question for you. I have a korean squire strat 1997. I am thinkin abt buying a noisless 4 th gen fender pickup set or buying a mexican strat (with usal pickups on it). What would u suggest chnging pu or buyin usual mexican, ı am new on electr guitar. Thnx
If you’re new to guitar - I’d suggest none of your suggested options and instead, invest in a really good set up on your Squier (action, fret level and polish, nut slot upgrade etc) - playability is the most important I think.
Custom Shop 65 son good.
liked the Yosemite
All are great but I especially like the Professional II.
A lot of tone comes from how you use a plectrum
Bruv... maple neck will make a difference in brightness
the v mod IIs are dead silent compared to the rest. no noise
1. yosemite
2. v mod
3 . v mod2
4 Cs 60s
my personal prefernce
ive got a custom shop strat and have to say in all honesty ive had cheaper strats tonewisen/ pups that blow it out the park
are you going to sell the performer?
@@JSlikbeer-ni6xfnever asked this question. Corrupted account 😂
With all the respect to a great video - comparing the pickups on different guitars does not make sense. There will be some sound changes present not related to the pickups. I know, it's a lot o work to do, soldering etc. but there is no other way to make a real test. One guitar, different pickups.
You may hear more of a difference if you use a pick.
The body material has less than 99 percent if any in affecting the sound of the pickups
No doubt Fender appreciate this piece of advertising. Thank you.
Yosemite sounds the best. Am pro sounds better than the pro II.
You should state your doing modern pickups, and modern guitars.
He did like 4 times
highly picky review, hard to tell, all sound great, the thing here is nuances, for me V mod ii sound more clear... more airy'' maybe.... but whatever.... it is just taste .... and of course Price hehe
Man V-Mods 2 suck bad. They sound almost like ceramics at times...
Yes ! lol. in that category, better go to good old ceramic mex pickups.
Have you actually. . . played them?
Yosemite all the way
The Custom Shop pups don't sound as good as the others.
I think if people👆👇👉 actually focused on playing the guitar they would probably realize just how ridiculously petty it is to concern themselves with such minor differences. Keep obsessing about it, the manufacturers love you for it. In the meantime the people that really know how to play spend their time actually playing.. you know.. the thing that actually makes the guitar sound good
I actually think it’s the people who play the most who really care about the subtle differences. The more you play the better your ear gets. A tiny difference can make all the difference when you’re trying to get a certain sound.
@@kendallfrombensoniteproduc7113 Yeah, you're probably right
I didn't care about tone until I had been playing consistently for like 5 years. I couldn't even hear a difference until I had been playing for two. I think you've got it backwards.
@@enochbird3862 I think you're probably right
I think Strats pickups are the worst at having really noticeable differences in tones. I can hear the differences more in different humbuckers and even Jazzmasters. I don’t know… you’d think the differences would be more apparent with Strats… especially since they’re often played clean where the differences should really jump out at you. Maybe I’m just going deaf?
And now i cant backout of your youtube vid, so ill close it down and put in 'Original Strat alnico pickups' again.
The "tone-woods" is purely a marketing strategy, people hear what they want to hear.
Exactly. The concept of tonewood works ONLY for acoustic instruments.
Should ditch those second camera shots. It looks like he's speaking to someone behind me. 2 camera set up is intended for use in interviews where it's clear the subject is speaking to an interviewer. It is far more engaging to have the subject looking at the camera when speaking to the audience.
A pickup does not sound ( Garbage in-garbage out )and a tire on a car has no speed even if the car is buildt in 1954😘perhaps they have differnt magnets and windings but they have no Sound in General Fender Strat Pickups are really cool in a Stratocaster and if you chance them your Strat likes you more and does not show the middle Finger hahaha she can cause she´s a perfect construction and not boring.
I will 'fight you' on the whole rosewood v maple thing! Pickups are not 90% in my experience and I can usually pick the maple and rosewood on a blind test.
Tone wood has been proven to mean nothing on solid bday guitars. Pickups and pots generate the tone.
I think the wood has less to do with tone and more about how it resonates by carrying the vibration throughout the guitar from strings through the woods and back. But yeah you're spot on, tone is how the electromagnetic pickups detect metal vibrations, not wood
Proven by whom? I've seen proof to the contrary
How about the amps/speakers/PA?
Yeah and of course that is the reason, why premium E-guitars manufacturers use the best woods they can get and why guitarist of all world ruin their back with heavy Les Pauls!
V-mods sound a hair duller than the Yosemite
You seem more 8nspired with the performer.
Man those tattoes are depressing.
cant tell
"Fender do-do..." 💩 Okay... that was childish, I'll admit.
Nope
Too many options for EVERYTHING.Too many pedals,pups,amps,speakets etc. Shoukd be a tele, strat, sg, les Paul, 335 the rest is in your hands. Billions of dollars spent chasing tone. I have contributed to the nonsense. Lol
Talking too much