Texas Special - MIM vs Custom Shop

I recently got a MIM FSR Tele with Texas Special pickups (NGD thread here - http://www.tdpri.com/forum/telecaster-discussion-forum/325630-new-fsr-day.html). The pole pieces are definitely not staggered. When researching these I found some info. stating that they are really not Texas Specials, because the real McCoy are staggered. Has anybody figured out the straight scoop on this? Are they some kind of Mexican production pups based on the Custom Shop version?

I will say that I'm really happy with the sound and that these are not normal MIM ceramics. It's mostly just curiosity at this point.

Not the same animal as the custom shop for sure but if you like them that is all that matters.

They starting exploiting that pickup model name ( with a "copy" ??) in the American Specials. I hadn't heard of them in a FSR yet. I did find that model on the MF site. Not a bad price either.


Guitar looks fantastic !!
HNGD !!

Just push out the poles from the back and voila !!!!!!.i did it in reverse and flattened them as I had a flatter radius neck.Mine had cloth wiring /white rope .

Custom Shop Texas Specials also have a separate ground wire for the cover on the neck pickup to allow for easy installation of a 4 way switch.

Just push out the poles from the back and voila !!!!!!.i did it in reverse and flattened them as I had a flatter radius neck.Mine had cloth wiring /white rope .

That can be risky with coils wound directly around polepieces as the coil wire has been known to snag and break.

I prefer non-staggered pole pieces. Just my opinion.

Thanks guys!

Like I said, I'm really happy with the sound, so this is pure curiosity at this point.

I have a Wilkinson vintage style bridge that may get installed at the first string change. Still very much on the fence on it. If it does I'll get pics of the back of the bridge pup.