Rio Grande ASAT Replacements?

[cacibi]

Anyone have experience with these? Have an ASAT that is just not doing it for me with the stock pickups. Looking at the Big Bottom set (Vintage Tallboy Neck, Muy Grande Bridge)

Thanks

[dhdfoster]

I used to own a couple ASATs and at times I thought the pickups weren't doing it for me, either. I tried some of the Rios in two different ASATs and went back to the original pickups both times. I've read accounts of many others doing this, as well. MFDs really are awesome pickups. People say they are sterile, but I think some of that is the power of suggestion after reading it on the internet. I love my Tele, but I really do miss that sound.

The Rios are good pickups, but I just found them a little dull or dark or something for the sound I wanted. When I put the original pickups back in it was like "Whoa! What didn't I like about these?"

If memory serves, I got the same set you're looking at.

[Kelsey]

I used to own an '87 ASAT, and I really like the jumbo MFDs. I didn't find them sterile, but thought they sounded pretty hi-fi -- like a hi-fi P90 of sorts. I ended up trading away that guitar because I couldn't get along with the skinny neck, but it looked and sounded great.

[johnny guitar]

I am totally digging the MFD pups on the ASAT Tribute I just bought. I have been A/B'ing it with my American Tele w/Fralins for a few hours through both my Bassman and Super Reverb, and am shocked at how the MFD's are more than holding their own in the comparison. I had just assumed I would naturally find higher quality in the Fralins. The Fralins have more pronounced treble, and possibly jangle, and capture the "vintage" sound with a touch of reverb better; but the MFDs have a more muscular mid-range crunch, clearer string-to-string articulation in chords, and better adaptability to overdrive. They are wonderfully sensitive to pick attack. I am finding they are warm and clean enough to get nice jazzy tones as well. I can't say enough about how much I like these pups--and this guitar--so far.

[dhdfoster]

Yep, those big MFDs still do a good country-ish twang, but they absolutely rip with overdrive. Amazing clarity, even with a lot of gain. Also, the middle position setting with two big MFDs is a fantastic sound. I'm feeling nostalgic for my old G&Ls all of a sudden.

[cacibi]

The previous owner put in a 4-way switch and I'm wondering if they wired it up incorrectly and if this might be what's sucking some of the tone. The bridge pup especially just seems really thin. Think I'll put it back to standard 3-way and see how it sounds before I think about swapping the pups.

Thanks

[Sqwerl]

I have a 96 ASAT Special and agree with all the MFD lovers here. Very clean when you want clean and just as hot as I care to have them. Just watch for the "Sweet spot". If you raise them to high , they get distorted sounding on you.