Texas Special Pickups

[jumpnblues]

Is there just one kind of Telecaster Texas Special pickup or two kinds? Some of the Fender Texas Special custom shop pickups are referred to as "hand wound." Are there two models of Texas Special pickups...standard and hand wound? Or, are they all the same?

 

[Geo]

The only thing likely hand wound is the initial connection of the wire by "hand" before turning on the winding machine.
I guess also turning on the winder by hand is a loose interpretation.

 

[uriah1]

I have found many versions of the same fender pickups.
Japan,Mex, OEM, Custom shop, and general..

 

[HaWE]

Two of my Telecaster guitars have Texas Special pickups.Both guitars were made in the US.
My Am Special Tele Vintage Blonde has a bridge pickup with staggered pole pieces,
while my Thomann 60th anniversary model (which is also based on the specifications of an Am Special Tele ) has a bridge pickup with flat pole pieces.

 

[GuitarGeorge]

You got yourself some damn good ears if you can hear the difference between hand wound and machine wound.

 

[rdjones]

Is there just one kind of Telecaster Texas Special pickup or two kinds? Some of the Fender Texas Special custom shop pickups are referred to as "hand wound." Are there two models of Texas Special pickups...standard and hand wound? Or, are they all the same?

All pickups are machine wound.
The only difference is hand guided, which is more labour intensive, hence the higher cost and exclusivity.
I have several so-called "hand wound" Strat pickups.
Other than the appearance of the coil stack, there isn't any discernable difference in tone.

 

[Rokdogguy49]

Perhaps Rob DiStefano of Cavalier pickups will jump in on this.
My recollection is that the “ scatter wound” hand wound pickups being better sounding was at best, wishful thinking.
I may be wrong on this.
Calling Rob!

 

[FortuneTele]

Factory handwinding is when the wire is guided by hand while the bobbin assembly is turning.

This allows the winder to vary the tension of the wire, and vary the amount of turns to go up and down the coil.

It's sort of like the difference between level wind and non-level wind casting reels as far as the amount of turns to left to right to left...

 

[Killing Floor]

The tricky part about pickups is the maker can account for the gauge of wire, the permeability of core and the number of turns while marketing accounts for the alignment within the coil.

 

[rigatele]

Is there just one kind of Telecaster Texas Special pickup or two kinds? Some of the Fender Texas Special custom shop pickups are referred to as "hand wound."

Are you sure? The main Fender site doesn't mention it.

 

[schmee]

There are some differences, in Strat pickups anyway. Not sure 'hand wound' is one of them! But maybe an employee putting parts in the winder means "hand wound"

 

[sjtalon]

Are you sure? The main Fender site doesn't mention it.

I've never heard of that myself either. Looked through specs (several through the years) I've saved and no mention of it.

>Some of the Fender Texas Special custom shop pickups are referred to as "hand wound."<

After Fenderbaum post, I add this: I'm talking over-the-counter sets, ones that are available for separate purchase. Yes with Custom Shop guitars there could be anything they would want to claim as the mfc. process. I just don't recall CSTS as such, not that they wouldn't/didn't exist at some time.

Would be like the hype of Abby CS 69's

Ops, that may be kickin' a harness nest

 

[Fenderbaum]

There is always a Handwound Custom Shop model wound for CS guitars by Josephina and those that bear the same name as the machine wound retail pickups you can buy over the counter at Sweetwater, Guitarshops.

Not ALL the models. But Texas Special, CS69, Fat 50´s, Fat 60´s and a few others you can find in handwound Custom Shop issues. These mostly comes out of CS guitars if you see them for sale. But every blue moon, Fender actually releases a limited selection of the said pickups that they sell trough their site. Those sell out pretty fast.

 

[jumpnblues]

Are you sure? The main Fender site doesn't mention it.

Morgan Music Service - FENDER CUSTOM SHOP 1964 TELECASTER RELIC- AGED SEAFOAM GREEN

FENDER CUSTOM SHOP 1964 TELECASTER RELIC- AGED SEAFOAM GREEN

www.morganmusic.com

 

[jumpnblues]

As of yesterday I own the fiesta red one (has been pulled from the website since yesterday). I chose between the red and sea foam green. Other than colors the guitars were identical. Both sound killer!

 

[bobio]

I have just the plane old CS Texas Special set that I got off of Fender.com.
They are by far my favorite single coils for Tele
I have had multiple T-Style partscaster that I have used them in.
I also have had a couple of American Special Teles that come from Fender with them.

Custom Shop Texas Special™ Tele® Pickup Set

Custom Shop Texas Special Telecaster pickups are over-wound for increased output, and are made with alnico 5 magnets and enamel-coated magnet wire for outstanding presence and midrange. Nickel/silver neck pickup cover produces clear, warm Telecaster tone; bridge pickup features height-staggered...

www.fender.com

 

[Sax-son]

My suggestion, Fender Custom shop Texas Tele with a 4 way switch. Incredible!

 

[Blackmore Fan]

You got yourself some damn good ears if you can hear the difference between hand wound and machine wound.

I think that as well.

 

[Blackmore Fan]

As of yesterday I own the fiesta red one (has been pulled from the website since yesterday). I chose between the red and sea foam green. Other than colors the guitars were identical. Both sound killer!

Fiesta Red is an amazing color.

 

[Blackmore Fan]

There are some differences, in Strat pickups anyway. Not sure 'hand wound' is one of them! But maybe an employee putting parts in the winder means "hand wound"

Yeah, I think you nailed it!