BLUE VELVET vs FENDERS 57/62

[Franluthier]

Hi there!
Here in my country Blue velvets are on sale, and the price is very tempting... I was wondering If someone could compare them. I heard the 57/62 and really liked them, but they cost much more here, so If the velvets are near that clean tone it would work for me. I'm not that guy that seeks for output, I really like good tone, not output. Heard that de Blue velvet bridge is a little bit overwound, and I was thinking on putting a regular blue velvet on bridge position, I kinda like that sparkling fender tones, has any body try that? does someone tryed the bridge version? is the bridge model still parkling with that extra turns???
Thanks a lot to everybody who replies!

[J Moose]

I guess your looking at the DiMarzio Velvets? I have a set of those in my '73 hardtail and had them in a '62 reissue for a bit as well... The Velvets have a beefier tone the the Fenders. More low-mid fullness & smoother on top, less jangle & wrangle which could be good or bad... I wouldn't say they're lacking "sparkle" but they don't really have the Fender 'chime' either. On the plus side, the string to string balance is excellent, much better then Fenders staggard magnets...

Oh... the Velvets I have are a blue middle & neck with a red velvet bridge. I dig the bridge pickup. Nice & juicy... slightly higher output so it matches nicely in the set and it's never shrill. A good "rock" strat pickup...

[raistlin]

DiMarzio came out with True Velvets this year. Bet you could check that out too.

[RockStarNick]

J Moose said it pretty much to a T.

I think I actually sold one of those sets to him, but it was years ago, I can't remember. haha.

[Yngwiestein]

J Moose said it pretty much to a T.

I think I actually sold one of those sets to him, but it was years ago, I can't remember. haha.

+1 At the prices they go for they're a great deal.

[Franluthier]

DiMarzio came out with True Velvets this year. Bet you could check that out too.

I know the new versions are the true velvets, that's why the blue velvets are on sale!!!

[Franluthier]

The Velvets have a beefier tone the the Fenders. More low-mid fullness & smoother on top, less jangle & wrangle which could be good or bad...

Would you say their tone is between 57/62s and Texas Specials??? I kinda like the texas too, but sometimes they are agressive to my ears, so I'm looking for something a little less rude.

[Franluthier]

+1 At the prices they go for they're a great deal.

You mean they are not so great but considering the price it would be a good choice?

[Yngwiestein]

You mean they are not so great but considering the price it would be a good choice?

No they are good. I like the Fender pickups better but that's just me. Not that Fender 57/62 are better just my preference. The price only makes them more attractive. Go to Dimarzios website. They sound like they are described. If you buy them you know what to expect.

[J Moose]

Would you say their tone is between 57/62s and Texas Specials??? I kinda like the texas too, but sometimes they are agressive to my ears, so I'm looking for something a little less rude.

Mmmmm...

I'd say neither. The 57/62 & Texas Special are much closer to each other in 'overall' tone then the Velvets which have their own thing happening. I had all three sets (and a few others) in my old green '62 RI strat & I liked the DiMarzios the most. They worked & covered some of the deficiencies in the natural tone of the instrument but they weren't enough to save it for me & I eventually sold that one.

In the hardtail it came down to the Specials & the DiMarzios as the stock greybottoms were WAY too bright. I picked the Velvets because of that different voice & the string balance. The Specials were cool & all but I also have an EJ strat which hits the "classic" fender voicings... and really, the Specials just weren't nailing anything in that guitar. I did love them in my old candy apple Am. Std strat though where they replaced a set of 57/62s.

Try 'em... you'll either love them or hate them. I'd say though, if the guitar they're intended for is naturally dark you may not dig them. On the flip side, I usually don't like DiMarzios, but I like the Velvets & everyone who plays that hardtail loves it.

Hope that helps...

Trying to describe tone is a bit like dancing about architecture.

And yeah... actually I think I got the Velvets from Nick! I got 'em from a guy on here... must've been him!

[RockStarNick]

I re-read your original post, and I have a question:

Are you buying a whole SET, or just a new BRIDGE pickup?

For just a bridge pickup, I think a Blue Velvet would work out well if you want something with a bit less highs, for sure.

For a whole SET, make sure the guitar is naturally bright. My old strat was naturally, just, well, DULL, and the Velvets didnt jive with it. I could see them working great in a bright, ash bodied strat with a maple fretboard.

[J Moose]

For a whole SET, make sure the guitar is naturally bright. My old strat was naturally, just, well, DULL, and the Velvets didnt jive with it. I could see them working great in a bright, ash bodied strat with a maple fretboard.

Which is exactly what I have them in now... hardtail strat with a 9 pound, 3-piece ash body & maple neck.

They sounded good in the alder/rosewood '62 RI as well, not dull... but definitely a darker/smoother Strat tone.

[Franluthier]

Are you buying a whole SET, or just a new BRIDGE pickup?

For a whole SET, make sure the guitar is naturally bright. My old strat was naturally, just, well, DULL, and the Velvets didnt jive with it. I could see them working great in a bright, ash bodied strat with a maple fretboard.

I'm planning to buy a whole set. They are for a new guitar I'm planning to do. Unfortunately I won't know how that guitar will sound till I finish it, but If I don't buy the pickups soon there won't be more...

All I know is that the neck will be maple with rosewood. The body could be CEDAR or a type of wood from here that is similar to alder.

I had installed a blue velvet on a jaguar, on the neck position cause the customer wanted that pickup. It sounded right for me, but I didn't have the chance to listen that in the bridge, middle and combinations.