Mustang vs. Strat

Shivelblah

Hi,

I am considering replacing the pickups on my 1978 Mustang. I want to maintain the tone, but lose the 60cycle hum, so I will be looking at brands other than Fender. (I already discussed shielding in another post...while that is an option, this post is just about pickups). In shopping around, should I be looking for "strat" pickups, or "mustang" pickups?

What makes a Mustang a Mustang? how is it different than a Strat? Does it have to do with the wiring only? Or did Mustangs come stocked with unique pickups?

Has anyone tried Dimarzio Virtual Vintage Blues, or Dimarzio Areas (58, 61, 67)?

Thanks

jacksonjackass

What makes a mustang a mustang is really just the bridge and scale.

They use strat pickups. Just get 6-9k pickups and that will pretty much be it. And can I reccomend http://www.guitarfetish.com for pickups. They are just plain awesome 😎

ng78x

Pretty sure the difference is in how both pickups are wound, the neck pickup is wound one way and the bridge is wound the opposite way. Think that's the only difference. I have a hot wound strat pickup on my stang and it still has some of that mustang sound. So I think the guitar itself is gonna give you alot of the sound. But if you have a japan reissue I would recommend getting new pickups or pots, cause they just seem real weak as is.

Shivelblah

ng78x said: Pretty sure the difference is in how both pickups are wound, the neck pickup is wound one way and the bridge is wound the opposite way. Think that's the only difference. I have a hot wound strat pickup on my stang and it still has some of that mustang sound. So I think the guitar itself is gonna give you alot of the sound. But if you have a japan reissue I would recommend getting new pickups or pots, cause they just seem real weak as is.

Cool, well I just ordered some pickups: Dimarzio Vintage Blues for the neck and Dimarzio Area 61 for the bridge. Both are Strat pickups and apparently dead quiet. No idea how it will sound, but I'm pretty pumped about it. I think it's a good mix.

I hope the pups will fit into the guitar with no problem. Does anyone know what the mustang pickup dimensions are?

jacksonjackass

Same as strat pickups. They'll fit perfectly. Hell, you can even take the covers of the pickups you're getting and put the original covers on the new pickups to preserve the original look

Shivelblah

Nice. Thanks for the info man.

jacksonjackass

Thanks 😁

Oh, and are the new pickups staggered pole?

Shivelblah

They might be, assuming I understand what that means. not all poles are the same height.

Fran

Get some Hot Rails in there dude!

Shivelblah

ng78x said: Pretty sure the difference is in how both pickups are wound, the neck pickup is wound one way and the bridge is wound the opposite way. Think that's the only difference. I have a hot wound strat pickup on my stang and it still has some of that mustang sound. So I think the guitar itself is gonna give you alot of the sound. But if you have a japan reissue I would recommend getting new pickups or pots, cause they just seem real weak as is.

ng78x, did you replace both pickups? Did you install them so they are wound opposite, or going the same way. Or is it the switches that put the pups in and out of phase, no matter how the pups are installed?

No Japan reissue for me... mine's a 1978.

Shivelblah

Fran said: Get some Hot Rails in there dude!

haha... too late!!

Fran

Its never too late to turn to the dark side Luke.

ng78x

Shivelblah said:
ng78x, did you replace both pickups? Did you install them so they are wound opposite, or going the same way. Or is it the switches that put the pups in and out of phase, no matter how the pups are installed?
No Japan reissue for me... mine's a 1978.

I think its both, they are wound opposite and the switches put them in and out of phase. Not exactly sure on it so you might want to look into it. I just thought I read that somewhere. I replaced both pickups and they are not wound different, and trust me you don't want any advice on doing that from me. My Mustang's wiring is a mess. I still get out of phase with both but I don't get in Phase for some reason(although I have my suspicions why).

Shivelblah

Shivelblah said:
ng78x, did you replace both pickups? Did you install them so they are wound opposite, or going the same way. Or is it the switches that put the pups in and out of phase, no matter how the pups are installed?
No Japan reissue for me... mine's a 1978.

So the "In Phase" switch position simply does not work? Hmm.. that's what I'm concerned about. I have heard that Mustang pups are wound opposite, but I also heard they are not.

Nope, I ain't gonna be wiring it myself. no way.

Thanks 😎

JAC

Mustangs are bitchen' just as is however if folks want to mod and hot rod them out, rignt on and so be it! Personally to me a Strat is a thing of one certain kind of feel and beauty and great sounding. The Mustang has a great beautiful sound, feel and style of it's own just as is as well. After having played a Mustang for over 20 years, over ten years ago I started playing a Strat and a Les Paul Special SL. I fee that the Strat and the LP both have a distinctive different sound from the Mighty Mustang. A Strat to me has a bigger sound, I believe it to be not just the 3 pickups but also more wood on a Strat. I'm amazed that the Mustang has become as popular as it is today. I feel a guy named Cobain had something to do with it's popularity, and right on to that!

minho422

personally,

(mustang >= strat) < G&L USA < Tom Anderson drop top classic.

I'd rather get a Tom Anderson guitar than a girlfriend.