Pickers Parts - Giving the World a Better Tone

Nico’s Vintage USA ~ DeeGee Tribute Stratocaster Pickup Set

pickersparts — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 16:47:05 +0000

Nico’s Vintage USA pickups are on their 3rd year in production and have provided some of the best strat tones for around $100. Players have found that Nico’s provide that true vintage warmth often sought after in instruments from the 50s and 60s.

The DeeGee set has been often sought after for its warm vintage tones but unlike any other it has a very hot bridge at about 13k+. While many pickups tend to get muddy as the resistance increases, this one has a bold tone but with amazing clarity.

As many Pink Floyd fans realize, Gilmour has often used SSL1/SSL5 type pickups. The output of these pickups is quite vintage with a nice hot bridge to give accent his 7 way setup. The DeeGee set is aimed at providing these type of tones without but with its own touch.

The bridge has often been too bright as it gets hotter, the Dee Gee set provides a mellowing of brightness and a touch of grit by changing the traditional wiring type. In addition pushing the output past 13K gives it a humbucker like feel with single coil characteristics. It is definitely a pickup set to be challenged in vintage flair and versatility.

This robust set gives a fatter tone than most and yields amazing tone with 5 or 7 way setups.

Nico's Vintage USA Single Coil Strat Pickup

This set has been calibrated to yield the perfect balance on stratocaster guitars. The middle comes RW/RP to provide hum canceling at the notch positions while providing that famous stratocaster quack.

For versatility and vintage tone, this set has been praised by Floyd fans. These are very inexpensive considering the higher quality craftsmanship and tone you get. Blindfolded, you would expect these to be Fralin’s or Handwound Seymour’s. It’s true, these are on par with the boutique manufacturers and offer a huge price savings. All components are manufactured in the USA and are guaranteed high quality.

A set of Nico's Vintage USA pickups

Pickers Parts, www.pickersparts.com, has been offering the Nico’s line up for about 3 years and provides custom loaded setups too. Customers can choose different color schemes as well as TBX and switching modifications.

Nico’s Vintage USA ~ Overwound 59 Stratocaster Pickup Set

pickersparts — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:50:41 +0000

The Overwound ’59 set in particular offers that robust 50s tone similar to SRVs tone. It is slightly fatter than most pickups of the 50s but still provides that clean warmth and clarity. Crystal like bell tones. With an amp at deafening volumes, you can expect plenty of gain mixed with clarity and sustain. A dangerously beautiful combo in the right hands!

1959 Overwound Single Coil Strat Pickup

This set comes perfectly calibrated with an RW/RP middle pickup. This provides superb quack, in addition to noiseless tone at the notch positions. The neck is wound to 6.0k, the middle 6.5k and the bridge 7.0k. It’s the perfect lethal combination for any strat player.

To date, the 59s have been one of Nico’s most popular sets. These are very inexpensive considering the higher quality craftsmanship and tone you get. Blindfolded, you would expect these to be Fralin’s or Handwound Seymour’s. It’s true, these are on par with the boutique manufacturers and offer a huge price savings. All components are manufactured in the USA and are guaranteed high quality.

A set of 59 Overwound pickups by Nico's Vintage USA

How to wire a Fender Stratocaster Pickguard with 7 Way Switching and TBX Tone Control

pickersparts — Fri, 01 May 2009 04:21:17 +0000

This How to is brought to you by Pickers Parts. You can find all the components used here at www.PickersParts.com.

How to wire:

Loaded Prewired Fender Pickguard with 7 Way Switching and TBX Tone Control

A few notes on this setup.

You’ll find the pickguard switching versatility to be quite useful at obtaining “Tele” or “Gilmour” or “Floyd” like tones via the Neck / Bridge combo provided by the 7 way switching.
The TBX Tone control is wired for control over both the Middle and Bridge pickups. TBX provides for an additional dynamic tonal spectrum increasing both highs and lows. Great for lead work and responds incredibly well with overdrive.

To wire this setup you’ll need patience and a few simple tools.

The Sum is much Greater than the Parts

We also used

Solder Iron – 30 watt or so is fine
Solder
Phillips screwdriver
Wrench

And Followed the Wiring Diagrams provided by Fender and Tonerider for installation.

SO LETS GET STARTED!!

Step 1 – Install the potentiometers and swtich

Here we install the potentiometers and 5 way switch as shown in the Step 1 picture. Use a screw driver and hand tighten the screws for the switch. Using a wrench, tighten the potentiometers securely without much force.

Step 1 - Install Switch and Potentiometers

Step 2 – Solder the Capacitors

At Step 2, we solder the orange drop cap to tone 1. We also solder the resistor and capacitors to the TBX Tone control carefully following Fender’s diagrams. (Mods are available for the experienced.)

Step 2 - Solder Capacitors and Resistor

Step 3 – Solder the Switch Grounds to the Volume Pot

We make several solder connections. Be careful to leave the connection to the 7 way open for later use in Step 6 as shown.

Step 3 - Sold Volume to Switch Ground

Step 4 – Solder Volume Pot Hot for Jack Connection

A one solder procedure. We solder the hot wire at the volume pot middle connection. 10″ is a good length to get from your volume pot to your jack in fine fashion.

Step 4 - Solder the Hot at Volume for Jack Lead

Step 5 – Solder in Tone Controls to Switch

We make several solder connections. For Tone 1 we solder the middle position to the switch as shown. This is the neck pickup control.

For Tone 2 we solder the middle position of the lower TBX pot to the switch as shown. We daisy chain the bridge and middle pickup at the switch and make one connection to the TBX pot.

Step 5 - Soldering in the Tone Controls

Step 6 – Soldering in the 7 Way Push / Pull

Here we solder the Push / Pull as shown. We only use the lower left two pins. Be sure to grab the loose wire from Step 3, this goes to the upper pin. The lower wire gets connected to the push / pull. Leave the other end “loose” until step 9.

Step 6 - Soldering in the 7 Way Push / Pull

Step 7 – Soldering the Ground Jumps from Pot Can to Pot Can

Here we solder the Ground jumps from Pot can to Pot can as shown.

: Step 7 – Soldering the Ground Jumps

Step 8 – Soldering the Three Ground Leads

Here we solder the three ground leads from the Volume pot. The three leads are as follows:

- Ground Lead for the Jack
- Ground Lead to the Tremolo Spring Claw
- Optional Body Ground for use on some Stratocaster bodies

Step 8 - Solder the three grounds from volume pot

Step 9 – Install and Solder Pickups

Here we mount the pickups to the pickguard according to the installation instructions provided by Tonerider. We also connect them to the 5 way switch using the loose wire from Step 6 at the Bridge.

Step 9 - Solder the Pickup "Hot" Leads to the 5 Way

Step 10 – Solder the Pickup Grounds to the Volume Can

We Solder the three pickup ground wires to the pickup can. It can save time and frustruation by tinning these wires prior to soldering them to the volume can.

Step 10 - Solder the Pickup Grounds to the Volume Pot

Step 11 – The final product!

Enjoy!

Step 10 - Final Pickguard "Money Shot"

Step 10 - Tonerider Classic Blues 7 Way TBX Loaded Prewired Fender Pickguard

Step 10 - All White Setup Featuring Tonerider Classic Blues

This setup is absolutely awesome and is available either via individual components or prewired from our custom shop. Check out www.PickersParts.com for more info.

Got Questions?

Call us Toll Free at 1-877-577-8728

or Email GuitarParts@PickersParts.com

Prewired Stratocaster Guitar Pickups, Electronics & Pickguards

pickersparts — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:39:52 +0000

Looking for prewired Fender Stratocaster Guitar Electronics?

Check out www.PickersParts.com they not only have pickups but they have prewired loaded setups too! Just drop in and go. They also have a large selection of prewired harnesses – the switch and potentiometers – all wired ready for your pickups – all in a variety of switching configurations including Fender’s TBX Tone Control!

: American 5 Way TBX Stratocaster Harness – $50 at Pickers Parts

We use:

Oak Grigsby Switches
CTS Potentiometers
USA Vishay Sprague Orange Drop Caps
Vitamin T Oil Filled Caps
Modern or Vintage Cloth Wire

At Pickers Parts you’ll find:

Fender Stratocaster Guitar Prewired Electronics / Harnesses
- American 5 or 7 Way Switching
- American 5 or 7 Way with Fender’s TBX Tone Control
- Pickers Parts ToneMaster 10 Way Switching

Lace Chrome Domes Brushed Style Loaded Pickguard - $225 at Pickers Parts

Fender Stratocaster Prewired Loaded Pickguards made with

Nico’s Vintage USA Pickups
Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster Pickups
Seymour Duncan Stratocaster Pickups
Lace Music Products Stratocaster Pickups
Wilkinson
Kent Armstrong

We found the best feature at www.PickersParts.com to be the Custom Prewired Loaded Pickguards from their world famous custom shop. Pickers Parts has been building custom loaded prewired pickguards for years for customers worldwide.

With pickguards from the custom shop you choose:

Pickups
Pickguard Color
Pickup Cover Color
Knob / Switch Tip Color
Electronics / Harness / Switching
Vintage or Modern Wire
Traditonal Steel, Black or Gold Hardware

You also get:

Expert solder work
Labeled Lead Wires
Easy to follow installation diagram
Toll Free Customer Support

You’ll find tons of incredible setup with the industries best solder work and electronic components. And if you don’t see what you want ask the custom Shop…They will build it for you!

You can visit Pickers Part at

www.PickersParts.com

or Email GuitarParts@PickersParts.com

or call toll free in the US and Canada at 1-877-577-8728

Wilkinson WVS Vintage 60s Fender Stratocaster Replacement Pickup Review

pickersparts — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:50:23 +0000

Trev Wilkinson has long been licensing his quality designs on guitar equipment for decades. Wilkinson has established himself as a reputable parts designer yielding quality parts for custom projects without leaving a dent on your pocket book. We’ll focus this review on his WVS or Wilkinson Vintage Stratocaster pickups which are a steal for $75 at www.PickersParts.com.

The tone on this is incredible. Manufactured with Alnico V chamfered magnets and Heavy Formvar wire, and cloth wire, these pickups offer amazing vintage warmth and tone…price aside. The chamfered magnets focus the magnetic field on your strings while the vintage stagger give it the traditional bell tone. This calibrated set offers a rw/rp or reverse wound/reverse polarity middle pickup with a hotter bridge. Its truly a well designed set for vintage tone.

Wilkinson WVS Stratocaster Pickups Available at www.PickersParts.com

Overall, you’ll notice complete Alnico V warmth. The set responds very well clean and when pushed with overdrive, offers a smooth creamy tone. The set is slightly hotter than most Fender pickups but still provide vintage Fender Stratocaster bell tone with sweet quack in positions 2 and 4.

The neck pickup is wound to a resistance of 6.3k which is a slightly hot but good output resistance for a neck. Many Fender pickups tend to be between 5.5 and 6k while comparatively and SSL-1 by Seymour Duncan is at 6.5k. So as you can see its not dainty and won’t yield super bright tone providing just enough umph without being over the top. The pickup retains amazing quality when played clean. You’ll instantly hear that vintage Alnico warmth.

The middle pickup is reverse wound to 6.5k yielding beautiful strat “quack” in the positions 2 and 4. The fact that its slightly hotter than the middle lends to the tonal balance across the three pickup settings.

The bridge is hotter at 7k and offers great tone for lead work. Not too bright with a great balance from a tight bottom end.

You won’t find this set to be too hot offering a truly calibrated stratocaster tone, which many other manufacturers charge twice as much for. So at $75 its a great bargain that won’t compromise tone.

The set only comes in white covers, stamped with the Wilkinson logo. The magnetic spacing is different than Fenders 52mm and their covers won’t work and neither do the 50mm import covers. They are truly unique, so we hope you like white. This is the only draw back….honest.

Wilkinson Custom Loaded Prewired Pickguards at www.PickersParts.com

Incredible set of pickups at a stunning price. Loaded setups are available starting at $100 from Pickers Parts. Check out www.PickersParts.com for a complete selection of Wilkinson stratocaster pickups and loaded prewired pickguards.

Lace Sensor Emerald ~ Silver ~ Purple Stratocaster Pickup Set Review

pickersparts — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 15:16:34 +0000

The newest members to the Lace Music Products family are the Lace Sensor Emerald ~ Silver ~ Purple stratocaster pickup set and are available in Sensor packs or in loaded prewired setups at www.PickersParts.com.

A nicely calibrated set designed to offer the player complete “hot rod” tone absent of the 60 HZ cycle hum. The set is designed with most blues, heavy blues and rock applications in mind. This new set also features an improvement to the famous Silver Sensor, this sensor pack offers a RW Silver Sensor to aid with that that traditional “quack” hum cancelling tone in positions 2 and 4.

Lace Emerald Silver Purple Stratocaster Pickups at Pickers Parts

I’ve played the dickens out of this set in a custom strat made by Svizzero Guitars. The setup was installed according to specs in a traditional 5 way setup. I noticed immediate characteristics about the tone emited by these pickups. They played nice, clean with proper calibration across the positions. The middle’s RW characteristics were also noticed immediately, which is quite different that past Lace setups. In addition, I found the bridge to have proper output for this “hot rod” type setup. Not thin or bright with just enough bass response for the often shrilly bridge pickup. The pickups lack of alnico warmth in clean tones is balanced by the incredible tone when hit with strong doses of overdrive. They responded very well without “muddying” up, retaining clean distorted tones.

The Emerald Sensor neck pickup provides 5.7k output and is designed to provide the player with SRV tones from this position. The attempt at slightly overwound 50s tone is great especially when overdriven but does not provide adequate warmth when clean due to the design and composition of the pickups. The lack of Alnico magnets is most evident in clean tones. The pickup, however, offers a great balance of treble, mids and bass frequencies without being to bright or bassy. It is perfect for the neck.

The Silver Sensor RW middle is wound to 7.1k in and is RW from the neck and bridge pickups. You’ll find this to deliver decent pop or output in a Ritchie Blackmore or fat 70s single coil type fashion. The RW provides much desired quack and is a very good compliment to the Emerald at the Neck. A bit more umph than the neck with more bass response without being muddy. This pickup has been in the Lace arsenal for 2 or more decades and has been a long favorite of many players wanting jus a bit more from their strat.

Lace Emeralds Setup with TBX at Pickers Parts

The Purple Sensor bridge is a sweet P-90 sounding pickup wound to 10.5k and is aimed at providing the player with the “Jimi Star Spangled Tone”. Its a fun pickup offering strong presence for lead work, not bright but not muddy or bassy either. When used with a wah wah pedal it responded quite well going from shrill tones ala “voodoo” blues in fine fashion. It also sounded great with heavy overdrive. However I found it difficult to get the feedback at these settings when it was no problem with traditional Alnico pickups.

Overall the set responded well and the intent of Lace was fulfilled. They offer the player a true array or rock / blues tones without the hum from the 60 HZ sources. If you are an alinco enthusiast they may be a touch “sterile” for your tastes. However, they provide a player great calibrated tone if Alnico is not your bag. Well recommended for the player who gigs under the lights frequently and desires true blues tone output. Definitely one of Lace’s better Sensor setups for the Blues / Rock enthusiast.

Fender Custom Shop Fat 50s Strat Stratocaster Pickup Review

pickersparts — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 02:52:57 +0000

Perhaps your thinking about new pickups for your strat. Maybe you heard about Fat 50s from a friend, a forum or went to a local jam session and are after something more out of your Stratocaster. No mater you reason for considering Fender Custom Shop Fat 50s Stratocaster Pickups here are a few things to consider. Hopefully you’ll find this review by Pickers Parts of Fender’s modified 50s pickups to some benefit.

Fender’s Custom Shop Fat 50s offer the player that incredible 50s tone but with a little more bite. The increased windings on these pickups provide the player with a tone that has increased mid range presence via a tighter bass response unlike their Original ’57/62 which is a close replica to a vintage Fender pickup. You may not notice much out of the neck but you’ll see an immediate difference in the higher output of the middle pickup, which is rewound and has reverse polarity (rw/rp), and offer the player hum cancelling in positions 2 and 4. Another immediate difference is the bridge pickup which holds its own in output.

Unfortunately for the price, the pickups are machine wound. (Check out http://pickersparts.auctivacommerce.com/Nicos-Vintage-Pickups-C32949.aspx for Hand Wound Pickups for your stratocaster by Nico’s Vintage Pickups for $140 per set.) It is commonly known that hand wound pickups offer a little more in dynamic fullness and yield a warmth just cannot be matched by machines. Even Leo Fender himself preferred hand wound pickups to the much more “efficient and cost effective machines”.

That being said, they are unmistakable Fender in tone and provide the player trademark “50s bell tone” and “quack” in the notch positions. The uniquely calibrated set is as follows:

Neck 6.0k

Middle Rw/Rp 6.3k

Bridge 6.2k

How does this pickup set compare with others on the market? There are none others calibrated quite like it. Most pickup sets which are calibrated offer either equal resistance in the neck and middle, with the middle rw/rp OR have an increasing resistance from Neck to Middle to Bridge. Seymour Duncan SSL-1 vintage stratocaster pickup is wound to 6.5 and is noticeably hotter than just about any Fender pickup.

The Fender Custom Shop Fat 50s is truly a Fender pickup with a “little bit” more attitude. A really little, little, little bit which is not necessarily a bad thing for true vintage Strat enthusiasts.

You can find Fender Custom Shop Fat 50s Strat pickups at www.PickersParts.com where they offer these and other Fender pickups in a variety of custom setups wired to your electronics switching desires with the looks you want.

Fender Custom Shop ’69 Strat Stratocaster Pickups ~ Review

pickersparts — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 22:54:31 +0000

Fender has done a fantastic job at providing a production set for the working guitar player at a fair price. The set comes in a cool gray bobbin with each set initialed by Fender legendary pickup guru, Abigail Ybarra.

Fender’s approach to this set is simple. Let’s get as close to that late 60s tone as possible yet make it very affordable for the average guitar player. They nailed it. This set offers pure ’69 Fender tone, bell sounding with a slight grit and dirt. This set is perfect for that legendary Hendrix tone found on classics like ”Little Wing”.

The set can often be found for about $180USD. www.PickersParts.com offers the set as well as prewired or custom prewired setups.

Pickers Parts, www.PickersParts.com, is a full service international electric guitar parts dealer specializing in the best pickups in the world. You can call for personal service at 1-877-577-8728 in US and Canada or direct at 303-954-8819. Pickers Parts is an international dealer and ships worldwide.

Seymour Duncan Loaded Prewired Pickguards at www.PickersParts.com

pickersparts — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 15:55:47 +0000

Seymour Duncan is King in pickups. No one can match his quality, personal touch, experience or value.

One of the best online webstores to get Seymour Duncan pickups for your Stratocaster or Les Paul is at www.PickersParts.com

They have a full line of Seymour Duncan pickups at the best prices and will beat anyone’s price on these pickups.

What makes www.PickersParts.com so unique is that they have a custom loaded pickguard menu where you can completely design your own Seymour Duncan setup. You can choose pickup types, pickguard colors, knob/tip color, pickup cover color (in most cases) and the best part is you can choose 5 way or 7 way switching with or without Fender TBX Tone control installed.

This is an exceptional value since most hate to solder and they do a great job too! Everything is prewired, comes with installation instructions with all leads labeled for easy installation.

Check out the Seymour Duncan Loaded Prewired Pickguards at www.PickersParts.com Your Strat will love you for it!

How to Build Your Own Custom Fender Stratocaster Electric Guitar

pickersparts — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 23:05:16 +0000

If your reading this blog, chances are you’re considering or have started building your own Custom Fender Stratocaster. A great choice for guitar because the part selection, both 100% Authentic Fender or aftermarket, is in extreme abundance. This blog is a long work in progress and will continually add to it as time permits.

For the most part the components which make up a Fender Stratocaster or Stratocopy for that matter are quite similar and go togethery intuitively. You’ll find that if you have moderat ability with your hands it, you should have no worries building your own custom stratocaster.

To start you’ll need the following components to complete a stratocaster:

Guitar Neck
Guitar Body
Guitar Loaded Pickguard
Tremolo
Tuning Keys
Jack Plate & Socket
Neck Plate
Tremolo Cover
Strap Knobs / Pins
Guitar Strings

1. Stratocaster Necks by Fender, Licensed Manufacturers or Strat Varieties

Fender necks are great, high quality and offer great playability. They may look similar but have many nuances from model to model. The important thing here is to buy one that is the same heel dimensions as your Fender Stratocaster body. The two common dimensions are 2-3/16″ or 2-1/4″. Most modern Fender American or Mexican issued necks are of 2-3/16″. For more info on neck specifications visit www.Fender.com, click your favorite product, then click specifications. All specs for the neck as well as other guitar characteristics will be displayed here.

You can buy 100% Authentic Fender Replacement Necks at www.PickersParts.com

2. Fender Stratocaster Bodies

Most are constructed of 2-3 piece Alder or Ash. Traditionally alder has been the choice through the years with many in recent years finding Ash to be comparable tone wood with a gorgeous grain pattern. Again, it is important to note the neck pocket dimensions, specifically the width ~ 2-3/16″ or 2-1/4″. The pickguard patterns can vary, most are 11 hole. However, the 50s models have 8 hole and the 60s have a unique 11 hole pattern called ’62 RI. Incidentally its the only year Fender made this pickguard pattern. Fender bodies come routed for several different pickup configurations with SSS (single/single/single) or HSS (humucker/single/single) being the most common. Its also important to note the tremolo requirements. Here Fender uses several types with the most common being the vintage 6 hole mount traditional style. These also come in two primary spacings of 2-1/16″ and 2-3/16″. Most import bodies use 2-1/16″ while American and vintage style tend to use 2-3/16″ tremolo kits. Of late Fender has started using the 2 point style with mixed reviews.

You can find a large selection of 100% Authentic Fender Stratocaster bodies at www.PickersParts.com