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Stephens · January 15th, 2009, 04:46 PM

Hello-
I was wondering of any of you have had a chance to compare any of Don Mare's strat pickups to some of the current Fender Custom Shop pickups that come stock in thier "Time Machine" series? What were your thoughts on the each set and what do you think sounded better and why? Did one sound more "vintage" than the other? Thanks!

twangcaster1 · January 15th, 2009, 04:50 PM

Never tried Don Mares, but I've heard very great things. I like Lindy Fralin pickups much mo betta than Fender Custom Shops and I would bet that Don Mares are probably right up there with Fralins.

JamonHamon · January 15th, 2009, 08:04 PM

Fender Custom Shop Pickups are machine wound not slow hand wound like Don Mares

claudel · January 16th, 2009, 12:59 PM

Don's pickups rule in ways that few other pickups have ever ruled...

EDIT:

I have a set of Don's Strat pickups and to me they make my partscaster sound better and more Stratty than the
real '55 I owned for thirty years which was one of the better vintage ones I've heard or played...

I also have one of his bridge pickups in Froggy the Bender matched up with a CS Nocaster neck pickup
which sounds good enough that I've not felt the need to change it...

The really nifty thing about Don's is that you can call him on the phone and tell him what you want them to sound like and he'll deliver.

I don't think that's possible with the CS unless your name is rather well known.

woodman · January 16th, 2009, 01:12 PM

hard to imagine any factory job comparing to Don's (i'm on my second set).

JamonHamon · January 17th, 2009, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by claudel

Don's pickups rule in ways that few other pickups have ever ruled...

EDIT:

I have a set of Don's Strat pickups and to me they make my partscaster sound better and more Stratty than the
real '55 I owned for thirty years which was one of the better vintage ones I've heard or played...

I also have one of his bridge pickups in Froggy the Bender matched up with a CS Nocaster neck pickup
which sounds good enough that I've not felt the need to change it...

The really nifty thing about Don's is that you can call him on the phone and tell him what you want them to sound like and he'll deliver.

I don't think that's possible with the CS unless your name is rather well known.

Yeah that's are Don

Ricky D. · January 17th, 2009, 05:06 PM

Don Mare Supersports in my partscaster. I don't foresee them ever coming out.

And that's nothing against any other pickup or maker. I'm in no position to buy and try a lot of pickups. I had some Fender OV's in there that sounded good, but I like the Supersports a lot more.

I have a Squier std tele I'm going to convert to an Esquire. I'll probably use the OV bridge there.

January 15th, 2009, 04:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
Stephens TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 94	Has anyone compared Don Mare's strat P/U's to Fender Custom Shop P/U's? Hello- I was wondering of any of you have had a chance to compare any of Don Mare's strat pickups to some of the current Fender Custom Shop pickups that come stock in thier "Time Machine" series? What were your thoughts on the each set and what do you think sounded better and why? Did one sound more "vintage" than the other? Thanks!

January 15th, 2009, 04:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
twangcaster1 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 2,335 21 Photos	Never tried Don Mares, but I've heard very great things. I like Lindy Fralin pickups much mo betta than Fender Custom Shops and I would bet that Don Mares are probably right up there with Fralins. __________________ Louisiana Twangmaker

January 16th, 2009, 12:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
claudel Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cruising the Lincoln Highway Posts: 1,728 32 Photos	Don's pickups rule in ways that few other pickups have ever ruled... EDIT: I have a set of Don's Strat pickups and to me they make my partscaster sound better and more Stratty than the *real* '55 I owned for thirty years which was one of the better vintage ones I've heard or played... I also have one of his bridge pickups in Froggy the Bender matched up with a CS Nocaster neck pickup which sounds good enough that I've not felt the need to change it... The *really* nifty thing about Don's is that you can call him on the phone and tell him what you want them to sound like and he'll deliver. I don't think that's possible with the CS unless your name is rather well known. Last edited by claudel; January 16th, 2009 at 03:04 PM.

January 16th, 2009, 01:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
woodman Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mint Hill, NC Age: 67 Posts: 13,024	hard to imagine any factory job comparing to Don's (i'm on my second set). __________________ Truth is stranger than fact ... It pays to appease all the gods — Gnossos Pappadopoulis Original tunes from the Woodshed

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January 15th, 2009, 08:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
JamonHamon Friend of Leo's Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Covina California Posts: 2,167	Fender Custom Shop Pickups are machine wound not slow hand wound like Don Mares

January 17th, 2009, 05:06 PM	#7 (permalink)
Ricky D. Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Greenville, North Carolina Age: 62 Posts: 5,952	Don Mare Supersports in my partscaster. I don't foresee them ever coming out. And that's nothing against any other pickup or maker. I'm in no position to buy and try a lot of pickups. I had some Fender OV's in there that sounded good, but I like the Supersports a lot more. I have a Squier std tele I'm going to convert to an Esquire. I'll probably use the OV bridge there.

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