I think your TH-cam channel is one of best for me,I have learned loads of stuff about the guitar ,I put a blues engine in my tele ,and it sounds wicked mate,anyway thanks for the inspiration 🎸
It's real easy to add the bridge pickup to the middle pickup tone knob (knob closest to input jack is tone for bridge/middle). Just add a jumper wire from where the middle tone wire is to the next spare lug on the 5-way switch (that is the bridge tone lug)...
Bought a new affinity two point strat which I'm modding the hell out of it awaiting many parts for tarting it up, one being the obsidian wireless 7way switch set, brass trem block, brass bridge pieces, and for a bit of variety a metal machine bridge humbucker, smoke stack middle pick up and a Texas loco neck pick up looking forward to see what it plays like when I have all the parts 😁😁😁😁😁😁
After seeing this video I went ahead and bought a set of them...the site was a little misleading (not intentionally I'm sure) but I understood that the price was $24.95 euro for the set... buuuut it was actually $24.95 just for one...no big, I figure there still cheaper than most Fender pups (keep in mind that euro to american money is a couple dollars more). I got these pups at the end of November and because of x-mas I wasn't able to install them till yesterday...I opened the box and was pleasantly surprised as these pups had cloth wire and all the hardware needed to attach them to the pick-guard... oh yeah...bing, bang, boom... took me all of 15 min to install them and I then plugged them in. To be honest these are good pick-ups with a nice growling like tone to them (sound just like my classic player strat with 57/62 pups or my road worn with tex mex pups). But sadly, they do not sound like they do on this site...mostly because Dave's equipment is a lot different than mine (love the strat and amp). Don't get me wrong, for the price (88.88 for the set) these are great pick ups and I like them. But, if you already have tex mex or 57/62's or something similar there is no need to get these.
Love the video Dave, spot on with the tone controls! On a couple of my strats I've swapped a tone control for a volume and removed the volume control from under the bridge pickup - I'm always hitting it and changing the bloody volume! So just one volume, one tone for me. Those pickups you pulled out looked exactly like the ones I had in my first guitar! Years later I don't mind them as they were wound on a thicker bobbin than a standard strat and a little beefier like a tele sound. I'm actually in the process of building a couple of classic strats (a black Dave Murray, a red Knopfler, a white Blackmore). I'll probably get a cheap white Hendrix built in China and sent over because of the reverse heastock and reverse slanted bridge pickup. $250AU including shipping - crazy. I don't play anything like those guitarists, but it's a bit of fun building a cheap guitar up.
hey let us know how you get on with ordering from China, a friend's channel "China Guitar Skeptic" has a whole channel about this. Whats your experience and who do you use? Just listening to Hendrix new album now, thought he was dead LOL.
Yeah I've watched a few of his vids, quite entertaining. I've bought quite a few from Ali-express and different shops on there and really it's a bit hit and miss (even from the same supplier). I reckon it's 1 to 1 (one good, one bad). Generally it's small things but the last one was a disaster (Iommi SG were there's no neck angle and sits too high of the body - major repairs needed when I get around to it). That said, I've actually got some pretty good ones (lennon 325, angus SG) - amazing for the price. As for Hendrix - I heard they dug him up because he still owed the record companies albums ;) I'll PM the companies I've bought from.
BTW My plan for a couple of the strats was to buy cheap local strats off ebay in the colour I wanted ($120) and replace the necks ($40) and electronics ($60 GFS pickups). So each guitar would end up being about $220. Where else could you buy a painted body for $120?
@@peterschmidt9942 Guitar fetish for bodies but get the necks from all parts or warmouth and buy some water slide decals and a can of nitro laquer and off of ebay and you can build a 1000 dollar playing guitar for 300 ish US Dollars. Idk what that is in other currency Im a self centered American after all! Lol
@@Johnny1.0 Thanks for the tip John. Unfortunately I'm in Oz, so anything that comes from the US comes with a hefty conversion rate and postage. I just got a few tools and wire from stewmac and the shipping was $45 AUD on $100 items! Normally, I'll buy a shit tone of pickups from GFS/hardware and it's not too bad offsetting shipping if you pack the box full (same with Thomann). Unfortunately with bulking items, that $50 guitar body soon turns into a $150 guitar body once you add in shipping, conversion from US to AUD and 10% rape tax. Hence, why I'll buy a cheap strat over here for $100 and comes with some hardware as well. The chinese necks I haven't had too trouble with other than needing a setup. Can't get a new painted body for any less unless you buy a second hander.
I emailed Fender recently to ask them why they always slant the bridge position pickups and they said that Lo Fender's idea was because amps back in th 1940s and 1950s didn't have alot of treble in them so the slanted stuff was for a purpose. BTW: I always have my strats rewired so the volume pot is at the bottom. My pinky on my right hand was always knocking with the volume pots when they were in the top position so my solution was to either cut off my pinky or move the pot.
haha i have the same problem, i unwire the first volume and use pots 2 and 3 for master volume and tone. i leave the 1st pot for aesthetics so its my secret.
Your right Dave, the original pickups didn't sound that bad. Knowing those Iron's are in it though has got to boost your confidence when you go to play it live, sounds awesome! Appreciate you doing the swap out vid. You and I have the same luck when it comes to this type of stuff, Lol. Peace!
I bought a blues engine/dirty torque set to replace the EMG’s in a ESP/LTD V500 on the basis of one of your videos.. I’m sure they’ll sound amazing when I get round to putting them in lol But my point is I love your enthusiasm for what you do and your honesty and you should know that from what I see in the comments people really respect your opinion.
Surprised at just how varied the tone can be! Makes me want to pick up a cheap Strat... yet knowing my luck it'd probably disintegrate the moment I work on it.
Great video man, as usual. Loaded my Epi goth with a Blues Engine on the neck and dirty Torque on the bridge. Sounds amazing! Now will follow you video and change the frets of my first guitar, it better turns out well.... Wil let you know!
I too have always thought it's dumb as fook that most Strats have no tone control fot the bright bridge pickup. I've got 3 Strats and a few years ago i did a bit wire work on two of them to give the bridge p.up a tone control......(it's so easy so christ knows why Fender don't do it as standard). Great video Dave. Cheers🍺
PUT THESE IN MY GUITAR THE OTHER DAY.......and yes they are awesome, yes you sound like jimi! lol yes they do what they say on the tin. 9/10 if your a stevie/jimi fan yes these are for you. Thanks for the review i am please to say i was not ripped off but plesently surprised then I grew to love em very quickly. Not used FX with these pups as they sound so good clean. 9/10. You get country chicken plucking with bridge and it then gets warmer and thicker as you switch 1-5. And the low E is lovely and thick! like a bass.
Just installed a set of regular (ie non-over wound) Iron Gear Pig Irons in my Frankencaster but got to wait on the unfinished neck drying out from being Tung Oiled :-(
And a neck pickup has 50mm spacing (pole pieces) but the bridge (and sometimes the middle) have 52mm pole spacing. Maybe you tried the wrong size cover in the neck slot...
I always wondered why no tone control on the bridge pickups on a strat. I end up putting a humbucker in all of my strat style guitars and wiring the tone to my bridge pickup anyway. I like strat body's, but not the electronics. Prob why I prefer an Ibanez guitar.
Late reply, but primarily because Leo didn't care about bridge sounding too brittle, as he was a radio guy. And since people don't have big enough balls to push changes, Strats tend to come without tone controls for the bridge. I do think they have master tone for American Profesiional or something along those lines, not sure.
I think it's stupid to not have a tone control on the bridge too! Gonna rewire mine! Hey, if ya wanna make that exposed wood look really old, put some steel wool in some apple cider vinager for a couple days. Rub the juice on the bare spots. Ages em and makes it look more realistic. Looks badass when your done!👍😎🎸🎶
9wen Wilson I'm not sure. I think the oxidation of the steel is that may add the color to the vinegar. It works great. Smells a little funky for a while, but wears off. It really makes the wood look old! So cool!👍😎
74dart man probally, will get red-ish from the steel, actually rusting, cool idea, but seems could go wrong easily, - get rust stains on finish, just seems iffy.
9wen Wilson oh no! It's so cool. The mixture actually turns a dark sort of charcoal grey. I've had some in a jar since December and recently tested it on a piece of scrap wood. Worked great! Took a new board and made it look all weathered...no rust at all. I think the steel wool actually disolves in the vinegar. I showed a neighbor who is into woodworking and she loved it! There are videos about it. That's how I found out about it. I plan on using it again...probably the nasty jar full that's been sitting for 6 months! Lol😀
Interesting video, I'm thinking about those for my Vantage strat clone, that said, it's easier for viewers to compare each pickup old vs new back to back instead of three old then three new ;)
hello dave ,nice video and talk i enjoyed it, errrm i’ve got the pig iron overwound in neck and seymour d ssl6 on bridge, do you think texas middle would work great with them?
In this video I am using the Thomas Blug Amp 1. I also use a Plexi that was built for me using my specs, we are hoping to build more as many people have asked to buy one, we thnk we can sell them for alot less than everyone else, see my later video about The Blues Engine pickup with raw nickel covers I do some AC/DC stuff using the amp. :)
Have you tried the Smokestacks? Looking for something a bit different in the neck and middle, not big on the classic strat sound but I do love my strat.
Cheers man. Thinking about putting a mid/high output humbucker in the bridge and the Smokestacks in the neck and middle. I could go with a rail in one of them though.
Dave Barlow - About the no tone Knob on the bridge pickup, I emailed fender and asked them about why they slant the bridge pickups and the reason why is because the amps back in the early days had no treble on them so the slanted pickups without a tone pot was to compensate for the lack of treble. Leo Fenders idea. I like it myself.
I disagree, for a set that puts $10 per pup on the price, thats still way cheaper than any SD, and these pups are as good as any named brand out there. I know because I have used them :)
For someone who doesn't have strats as a first choice you sound like you're really enjoying this cool cheap-o project strat. Fun to watch.
Those are tasty tasty tasty.. Different amp settings could probably get some Blackmore and Hughie Thomason tones too. Thanks.
I think your TH-cam channel is one of best for me,I have learned loads of stuff about the guitar ,I put a blues engine in my tele ,and it sounds wicked mate,anyway thanks for the inspiration 🎸
You are so excited about playing a strat you cant get the word out dave!! Nice playing man. play a strat more often.
Thanks! Will do!
I was just looking at these today, lol. This must be a sign, I'll need to buy them now.
It's real easy to add the bridge pickup to the middle pickup tone knob (knob closest to input jack is tone for bridge/middle). Just add a jumper wire from where the middle tone wire is to the next spare lug on the 5-way switch (that is the bridge tone lug)...
NG One Seven Will that affect the resistance or amperage?
Bought a new affinity two point strat which I'm modding the hell out of it awaiting many parts for tarting it up, one being the obsidian wireless 7way switch set, brass trem block, brass bridge pieces, and for a bit of variety a metal machine bridge humbucker, smoke stack middle pick up and a Texas loco neck pick up looking forward to see what it plays like when I have all the parts 😁😁😁😁😁😁
After seeing this video I went ahead and bought a set of them...the site was a little misleading (not intentionally I'm sure) but I understood that the price was $24.95 euro for the set... buuuut it was actually $24.95 just for one...no big, I figure there still cheaper than most Fender pups (keep in mind that euro to american money is a couple dollars more). I got these pups at the end of November and because of x-mas I wasn't able to install them till yesterday...I opened the box and was pleasantly surprised as these pups had cloth wire and all the hardware needed to attach them to the pick-guard... oh yeah...bing, bang, boom... took me all of 15 min to install them and I then plugged them in. To be honest these are good pick-ups with a nice growling like tone to them (sound just like my classic player strat with 57/62 pups or my road worn with tex mex pups). But sadly, they do not sound like they do on this site...mostly because Dave's equipment is a lot different than mine (love the strat and amp). Don't get me wrong, for the price (88.88 for the set) these are great pick ups and I like them. But, if you already have tex mex or 57/62's or something similar there is no need to get these.
Love the video Dave, spot on with the tone controls! On a couple of my strats I've swapped a tone control for a volume and removed the volume control from under the bridge pickup - I'm always hitting it and changing the bloody volume! So just one volume, one tone for me. Those pickups you pulled out looked exactly like the ones I had in my first guitar! Years later I don't mind them as they were wound on a thicker bobbin than a standard strat and a little beefier like a tele sound.
I'm actually in the process of building a couple of classic strats (a black Dave Murray, a red Knopfler, a white Blackmore). I'll probably get a cheap white Hendrix built in China and sent over because of the reverse heastock and reverse slanted bridge pickup. $250AU including shipping - crazy. I don't play anything like those guitarists, but it's a bit of fun building a cheap guitar up.
hey let us know how you get on with ordering from China, a friend's channel "China Guitar Skeptic" has a whole channel about this. Whats your experience and who do you use? Just listening to Hendrix new album now, thought he was dead LOL.
Yeah I've watched a few of his vids, quite entertaining. I've bought quite a few from Ali-express and different shops on there and really it's a bit hit and miss (even from the same supplier). I reckon it's 1 to 1 (one good, one bad). Generally it's small things but the last one was a disaster (Iommi SG were there's no neck angle and sits too high of the body - major repairs needed when I get around to it). That said, I've actually got some pretty good ones (lennon 325, angus SG) - amazing for the price. As for Hendrix - I heard they dug him up because he still owed the record companies albums ;) I'll PM the companies I've bought from.
BTW My plan for a couple of the strats was to buy cheap local strats off ebay in the colour I wanted ($120) and replace the necks ($40) and electronics ($60 GFS pickups). So each guitar would end up being about $220. Where else could you buy a painted body for $120?
@@peterschmidt9942 Guitar fetish for bodies but get the necks from all parts or warmouth and buy some water slide decals and a can of nitro laquer and off of ebay and you can build a 1000 dollar playing guitar for 300 ish US Dollars. Idk what that is in other currency Im a self centered American after all! Lol
@@Johnny1.0 Thanks for the tip John. Unfortunately I'm in Oz, so anything that comes from the US comes with a hefty conversion rate and postage. I just got a few tools and wire from stewmac and the shipping was $45 AUD on $100 items!
Normally, I'll buy a shit tone of pickups from GFS/hardware and it's not too bad offsetting shipping if you pack the box full (same with Thomann). Unfortunately with bulking items, that $50 guitar body soon turns into a $150 guitar body once you add in shipping, conversion from US to AUD and 10% rape tax. Hence, why I'll buy a cheap strat over here for $100 and comes with some hardware as well. The chinese necks I haven't had too trouble with other than needing a setup. Can't get a new painted body for any less unless you buy a second hander.
07:28 - those Fire by Hendrix licks sounded the business, dude! That's when I heard THE tone!
I emailed Fender recently to ask them why they always slant the bridge position pickups and they said that Lo Fender's idea was because amps back in th 1940s and 1950s didn't have alot of treble in them so the slanted stuff was for a purpose. BTW: I always have my strats rewired so the volume pot is at the bottom. My pinky on my right hand was always knocking with the volume pots when they were in the top position so my solution was to either cut off my pinky or move the pot.
haha i have the same problem, i unwire the first volume and use pots 2 and 3 for master volume and tone. i leave the 1st pot for aesthetics so its my secret.
Dave your 💯 right. Those Texas Locos just have that TwangBang tone. I’ll take a set in black.😎🤘🏼🎸⚡️⚡️
yes, they sound really good through a vintage Marshall :)
Your right Dave, the original pickups didn't sound that bad. Knowing those Iron's are in it though has got to boost your confidence when you go to play it live, sounds awesome! Appreciate you doing the swap out vid. You and I have the same luck when it comes to this type of stuff, Lol.
Peace!
I bought a blues engine/dirty torque set to replace the EMG’s in a ESP/LTD V500 on the basis of one of your videos.. I’m sure they’ll sound amazing when I get round to putting them in lol
But my point is I love your enthusiasm for what you do and your honesty and you should know that from what I see in the comments people really respect your opinion.
Just comparing old with old I found the bridge much better than the neck, once again great video
Surprised at just how varied the tone can be! Makes me want to pick up a cheap Strat... yet knowing my luck it'd probably disintegrate the moment I work on it.
Great video man, as usual. Loaded my Epi goth with a Blues Engine on the neck and dirty Torque on the bridge. Sounds amazing! Now will follow you video and change the frets of my first guitar, it better turns out well.... Wil let you know!
They sound pretty good. I might have to pick a set up.
I too have always thought it's dumb as fook that most Strats have no tone control fot the bright bridge pickup. I've got 3 Strats and a few years ago i did a bit wire work on two of them to give the bridge p.up a tone control......(it's so easy so christ knows why Fender don't do it as standard). Great video Dave. Cheers🍺
The MiM player series strat came stock with orange drops and bridge tone control. Mine is ssh so theres really no need in my case lol.
PUT THESE IN MY GUITAR THE OTHER DAY.......and yes they are awesome, yes you sound like jimi! lol yes they do what they say on the tin. 9/10 if your a stevie/jimi fan yes these are for you. Thanks for the review i am please to say i was not ripped off but plesently surprised then I grew to love em very quickly. Not used FX with these pups as they sound so good clean. 9/10. You get country chicken plucking with bridge and it then gets warmer and thicker as you switch 1-5. And the low E is lovely and thick! like a bass.
Sweet I'm looking for some single coils to put in a guitar project, these could be them 😁
Go for it!
Not a strat player ? You'll be playing that next gig hahaha ,great video man , as always x
Just installed a set of regular (ie non-over wound) Iron Gear Pig Irons in my Frankencaster but got to wait on the unfinished neck drying out from being Tung Oiled :-(
And a neck pickup has 50mm spacing (pole pieces) but the bridge (and sometimes the middle) have 52mm pole spacing. Maybe you tried the wrong size cover in the neck slot...
Yes, I checked that.
I always wondered why no tone control on the bridge pickups on a strat. I end up putting a humbucker in all of my strat style guitars and wiring the tone to my bridge pickup anyway. I like strat body's, but not the electronics. Prob why I prefer an Ibanez guitar.
Late reply, but primarily because Leo didn't care about bridge sounding too brittle, as he was a radio guy. And since people don't have big enough balls to push changes, Strats tend to come without tone controls for the bridge. I do think they have master tone for American Profesiional or something along those lines, not sure.
damn, maybe ya should play a Strat more often, ha! sounded great!
Iron Gear pickups are cool, and cost not a lot
Dave I love your vids!
i bought em based on this....hope ur right
I think it's stupid to not have a tone control on the bridge too! Gonna rewire mine! Hey, if ya wanna make that exposed wood look really old, put some steel wool in some apple cider vinager for a couple days. Rub the juice on the bare spots. Ages em and makes it look more realistic. Looks badass when your done!👍😎🎸🎶
74dart man cool idea, maybe w bronze wool so that it doesn't oxidize might work a lil better,
9wen Wilson I'm not sure. I think the oxidation of the steel is that may add the color to the vinegar. It works great. Smells a little funky for a while, but wears off. It really makes the wood look old! So cool!👍😎
74dart man probally, will get red-ish from the steel, actually rusting, cool idea, but seems could go wrong easily, - get rust stains on finish, just seems iffy.
9wen Wilson oh no! It's so cool. The mixture actually turns a dark sort of charcoal grey. I've had some in a jar since December and recently tested it on a piece of scrap wood. Worked great! Took a new board and made it look all weathered...no rust at all. I think the steel wool actually disolves in the vinegar. I showed a neighbor who is into woodworking and she loved it! There are videos about it. That's how I found out about it. I plan on using it again...probably the nasty jar full that's been sitting for 6 months! Lol😀
Love the comment about fender haha. I have to mod all my guitars.
Interesting video, I'm thinking about those for my Vantage strat clone, that said, it's easier for viewers to compare each pickup old vs new back to back instead of three old then three new ;)
Well, gotta be honest the new pups blew me away.
That headstock looks very vintage-esque. Vintage guitars by wilkinson and JHS.
could be
That's either an Indian made Encore or Sunn Mustang, actually really good copies
hello dave ,nice video and talk i enjoyed it, errrm i’ve got the pig iron overwound in neck and seymour d ssl6 on bridge, do you think texas middle would work great with them?
yes, cant see why not, to be honest I have never been a middle pickup lover so I may not be the best person to ask :)
@@DaveBarlowGuitar thanks
hi dave what amp are you using? really sounds good btw
In this video I am using the Thomas Blug Amp 1. I also use a Plexi that was built for me using my specs, we are hoping to build more as many people have asked to buy one, we thnk we can sell them for alot less than everyone else, see my later video about The Blues Engine pickup with raw nickel covers I do some AC/DC stuff using the amp. :)
Damn, that's a goood tone. SHUT YO MOUTH!!! Awesome review
I’m in Canada , any idea where I can order these from ?
no mate, must be a similar company in your area
Have you tried the Smokestacks? Looking for something a bit different in the neck and middle, not big on the classic strat sound but I do love my strat.
Garrett Rodgers the smokestacks are great. Basically bright and vintage sounding tapped and really ballsy and powerful with the full coil.
Cheers man. Thinking about putting a mid/high output humbucker in the bridge and the Smokestacks in the neck and middle. I could go with a rail in one of them though.
I think that would work well you d get a lot of tone options.
I need to change my daks...... Damn son!! need those pickups
Yea-Like them.-Cool geetar.
I'm number one! You are number 2 😅
Meaning ???? :)
Dave Barlow - Nothing, really. I disagree with your feelings on Stratoblasters. I prefer them over anything else.
I dont have a problem with them, they are just not my usual axe, however I do have a newfound fondness for them now :)
Dave Barlow - About the no tone Knob on the bridge pickup, I emailed fender and asked them about why they slant the bridge pickups and the reason why is because the amps back in the early days had no treble on them so the slanted pickups without a tone pot was to compensate for the lack of treble. Leo Fenders idea. I like it myself.
......and those Texas Loco pickups are pretty damn good.
How much in Canadian? lol
£20 is about $25-$27.
yeah: backwards conversion ;)
we have to pay $20 shiping in the USA for IronGear stuff, so its not that cheap.
I disagree, for a set that puts $10 per pup on the price, thats still way cheaper than any SD, and these pups are as good as any named brand out there. I know because I have used them :)
For the price of ONE Seymour Duncan pickup, you're getting a set of excellent pickups sent from Blighty and still up on the deal!
What are you on, and can I have some .
life, its free :)
Plectrum sustain :)
....................oh you’re a Strat player now
NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
That Strat looks like it was attacked by a belt sander..
not what happened, my son built the guitar.
I see you're very picky about your guitars.
I think that road worn is the thing, nowadays if you play an immaculate looking guitar you are wack
so yeah, so yeah uh.. dammit man i like your info but slow the hell down my goodies havent kicked in yet..
was drinking lots of coffee that day :)