I just got a Split Steel Pole Fralin and put it into a very nice playing Mexican Strat I picked up. It’s definitely one of the best sounding Strat bridge pickups I’ve ever tried. Such rich mids. It has some P-90 qualities but retains a unique character all its own. It’s definitely not thin like many Strat bridge pick ups. The #2 position also sounds great. Very classic Strat like. (I have a DiMarzio Area 67 in the middle which is my favorite for that position.)
Thanks! They are closer to a p90 than most strat pickups but definitely more glassy than standard p90. I would say they’re the midway point between classic strat pickup and Gibson p90
Hey Phil, Great demo. From what I'm hearing, the Specials have more bass/girth. Would that be your analysis as well? I want to beef up the bridge tone in my strat. Thanks
they are definitely beefier than a stock strat tone, the difference to my ear is more in compression. The fralins sound tighter and more compressed and the texas sounds more open and airy both great pickups and they would both beef up the bridge tone in my opinion
@@sometimesyoudie12 Yes, that's exactly what I'm hearing too. I read a lot of great reviews on the SP43 but it's Texas for me! Thanks for the comparison.
I just got a Split Steel Pole Fralin and put it into a very nice playing Mexican Strat I picked up. It’s definitely one of the best sounding Strat bridge pickups I’ve ever tried. Such rich mids. It has some P-90 qualities but retains a unique character all its own. It’s definitely not thin like many Strat bridge pick ups. The #2 position also sounds great. Very classic Strat like. (I have a DiMarzio Area 67 in the middle which is my favorite for that position.)
I like them both the fralin is so smooth and toneful
But the Texas special is just full of nuances and great tone , I’d like them both 🤯
Those Fralin pickups rule. So much more clarity and definition. Makes those Texas sound muddy and cheap.
The steel poles are hot and Texas Specials surprised me, Good looking axe BTW
thanks! yeah they both sound great, different but id recommend either
Thanks for an awesome no nonsense comparison!
Great demo! Great strat tone here :)
Awesome video! How close would you say that the SP43s get to not just the sound but the "feel" of a P90?
Thanks! They are closer to a p90 than most strat pickups but definitely more glassy than standard p90. I would say they’re the midway point between classic strat pickup and Gibson p90
Great sound. Really like the steel poles. What bridge humbucker would you pair them with on an HSS Strat?
Just got a pearly gates for the bridge, will post a video soon!
@@sometimesyoudie12 how is the pearly gates with the sp43?
Hey Phil, Great demo. From what I'm hearing, the Specials have more bass/girth. Would that be your analysis as well? I want to beef up the bridge tone in my strat. Thanks
they are definitely beefier than a stock strat tone, the difference to my ear is more in compression. The fralins sound tighter and more compressed and the texas sounds more open and airy
both great pickups and they would both beef up the bridge tone in my opinion
@@sometimesyoudie12
Yes, that's exactly what I'm hearing too. I read a lot of great reviews on the SP43 but it's Texas for me! Thanks for the comparison.
I actually find Tx special bridges always so thin and ice picky
Is is Fralin sp 43 hum cancelling?
I don’t think so
I thought I was playing in 1.5x speed.