Antiquity II Surfers

[Venetti]

Hello forum!

This is my 1st post in these parts.

So, I got a MIM Fender '60s Classic Strat which I love
to death. It's one of these mexican models that somehow
sounded ridiculously good out of the box. Anyways, I've
decided to upgrade it. What I'm looking for is a distinctive
true-single-coil Stratocaster tone, preferably a vintage
one. After a careful research I'm currently considering
SD AII Surfers as my primary candidate.
What do you think?

And now to the actual question.
The neck pickup comes as is, but middle and bridge
pickups sport two variations - either a standard one
or rw/rp & extra output for the middle and bridge respectively.
Given the fact that besides blues, surf and classic rock I also
play heavier stuff, the custom bridge seems like a no-brainer.

Which middle pickup variation I want to have and in what cases?
All explanations will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers!

[Curly]

I would get a set with the custom bridge, and RWRP middle. RWRP will give you less noise in the notch positions.

I'd suggest finding a dealer who stocks these as a set.

[Venetti]

Thx for replying.

Yea, sure RW/RP will give me less noise.
But is there a price for that? Like, maybe I'll lose some "quack"?

Cheers!

[John Wymore]

But is there a price for that? Like, maybe I'll lose some "quack"?

I really don't think that loss of "quack" will be a problem .... although I have never done a direct A/B comparison between a standard and RW/RP Surf to see if there is a noticable difference. Maybe one of our super Strat experts can verify this!!

I would also agree that getting the Custom bridge is a good choice ...

[Boogie Bill]

I have the Texas Hot Antiquitys in one of my G&L Legacys, with the RW/RP middle, and the Texas Hot Custom Bridge. I love it, a little smoky and dark with a complex midrange tone--not glassy at all.

FYI, the RW/RP does not diminish quack.

Bill

[Venetti]

Thx for replies.

Well, smoky and dark sounds with a complex midrange are
certainly a good thing. However, glass is also very desirable,
at least by me. After all, glass is the most recognized
stratocaster tone, isn't it?

So, will the neck Surfer pickup give me some glass?

[John Wymore]

If you want the true vintage Strat glass you might want to consider the SSL-1.

[Frankly]

Thx for replies.

Well, smoky and dark sounds with a complex midrange are
certainly a good thing. However, glass is also very desirable,
at least by me. After all, glass is the most recognized
stratocaster tone, isn't it?

So, will the neck Surfer pickup give me some glass?

I think he's talking about the Ant I pickups, not the Surfers. The Surfers will give you plenty of glass. They aren't midrangey in the least. You might find the tone quite scooped.

[Shibby]

Hi , i've upgraded my MIM strat with Surfers the set with rw/rp middle pup nd custom hotter bridge. all i can tell that everyone was floored with its sound , and it beat up wevery single guitar in stores in my city. even MIA Strats were poor compared to my strat (same as yours in the terms of quality , i abolutely love it) with crappy stock pups it sounded amazing , but with surfers the tone is sooo pefect :gasp:
Go with the surfers and you won't regret.

[Bloozinay]

I set up my ash American Strat with the matched set of Antiquity Texas Hots, and they are great sounding. A bit hotter and not as trebly as my '75 stock strat, and not as growly as my newest strat I equipped with a matched set of SSL-5's. I'm thinking of using a SSL-5 in the neck only and the T.hots in the other two positions. I don't get enough high end with just the SSL-5's.

[JohnK24]

I have the Texas Hot Antiquitys in one of my G&L Legacys, with the RW/RP middle, and the Texas Hot Custom Bridge. I love it, a little smoky and dark with a complex midrange tone--not glassy at all.

FYI, the RW/RP does not diminish quack.

Bill

Bill,

What capacitor value are you using in your Legacy with the Ant. 1 set ? I've got them in my 62 RI strat with a .047. I've been toying with trying a .022 to see if I can add more "glass" or perhaps going to the .1 for a really smokey tone.

Thanks

[Lewguitar]

I'd go for the the best of both worlds and a combination of Antiquity Surfers and Tex Hots. My favorite set of Duncan Strat pickups is:

Ant Surfer neck and middle and Ant Texas Hot Custom Bridge.

You'll get the glassy but deep tone of a vintage '62 Strat from the neck and middle pickups and the less glassy but more midrangey tone of the Texas Hot for the bridge pickup.

Here's the catch: order a RW/RP middle pickup but use it as the neck pickup and then use the Surfer neck for the middle pickup. When you install the Tex Hot bridge pickup reverse the black and white wires: black to the switch and white to ground.

That's what cha need to do to make that set work together in phase and to have humcancelling when you combine the middle pickup with the bridge or neck pickup.

Lew

[modophoto]

the loss of quack is very little when using humless notch positions, but for alot of us, the classic quack we know from those vintage strats IS an RW RWP middle pup, unless of course one of us is lucky enough to own one of the late 60's models without the noiseless positions. after that, its no different then buying a duck.

[Venetti]

Thank you very much for your kind insight. :-)