Strat Pups: Tex Mex vs. Texas Specials

[JohnK24]

I have a wonderful JV Strat. with the stock Tex Mex Pups...I've been toying with a change for a "new" sound.
I've thought about the Fender Texas Specials...can anyone compare these to the Tex Mex pups ?

I have Fender's Texas Tele Specials in my MIM Standard and really like what they sound like (especially the neck).

Thanks,

John

[Kelsey]

To my ears, the Texas Specials are darker and richer sounding than the Tex Mex. The TX SPL uses vintage materials and construction, whereas the Tex Mex uses the same materials/construction as the American Series Strat pickups, although I think the Tex Mex sound brighter and more raw than the "Deltatones". I found the Tex Mex a bit too bright and flat sounding in my California Series Strat, so I replaced them with a RWRP set of SD SSL-1 vintage staggered pickups. The SSL-1s are just as rich and multidimensional sounding as the TX SPLs, but a lot brighter. I also like the Fat 50s, but the TX SPL bridge pickup wins hands down over the Fat 50s bridge pickup. It depends to some degree on whether you prefer single pickup tones or the quack tones, as these sets have different strengths along those lines. All have nice neck pickups, but the quack tones and bridge pickups differ significantly.

[JohnK24]

Originally Posted by Kelsey

To my ears, the Texas Specials are darker and richer sounding than the Tex Mex. The TX SPL uses vintage materials and construction, whereas the Tex Mex uses the same materials/construction as the American Series Strat pickups, although I think the Tex Mex sound brighter and more raw than the "Deltatones". I found the Tex Mex a bit too bright and flat sounding in my California Series Strat, so I replaced them with a RWRP set of SD SSL-1 vintage staggered pickups. The SSL-1s are just as rich and multidimensional sounding as the TX SPLs, but a lot brighter. I also like the Fat 50s, but the TX SPL bridge pickup wins hands down over the Fat 50s bridge pickup. It depends to some degree on whether you prefer single pickup tones or the quack tones, as these sets have different strengths along those lines. All have nice neck pickups, but the quack tones and bridge pickups differ significantly.

I typically play the the neck and "quack tones"...bridge along almost never. So what's better the Fat 50s or TX Specials for those positions (1, 2 and 4)...I'm interested to hear that the TX specials are richer sounds.

JK

[Kelsey]

Although they sound a bit different, the Texas Specials, Fat 50s, and Duncan SSL-1s all sound richer with more dimensional depth than the Tex Mex. All 3 sets have very nice neck pickups, with the TX SPL having the darkest sound and the SSL-1 the brightest and glassiest sound. The TX SPL set might actually make you like the bridge position of the Strat, although it's still no Tele-killer. If the quack positions are more important to you than the bridge position, then I would recommend the SSL-1 RWRP set up or the Fat 50s set. Both provide classic and distinct quack tones (the TX SPL quack, too, just not quite so distinctly).