Tokai E stamped Strat pickups?

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Mark Abbott

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I don't know a whole lot about these pickups and I've heard conflicting reports. I've heard some say they are Dimarzo pickups and yet I saw a thread here where Dimarzio pickups were called VS-1's and only fitted to ST-100's and up.

I've heard they are low output 5.6K, though the charge on the magnets will effect things.

Some clips sound great like this one;

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=esqY_sIuTj8

Other sound more like this one;

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uMPIZMAycl8

What are the facts on these pickups?
 
Mark Abbott said:
I've heard some say they are Dimarzo pickups

In good TF tradition opinions differ. :D

Mark Abbott said:
Some clips sound great like this one;

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=esqY_sIuTj8

Other sound more like this one;

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uMPIZMAycl8

No comparison because of the way in which it is recorded, played and amplified, different circumstances.

Only thing I can add is this, I'm sorry if this isn't great info to go on, but it's all I have. :wink:
 
I think mine has Es. They sound more like the first clip. They are low output, though. And that second vid is using an HRD which isn't the best amp for dirt (and also the recording might not be as good as it was from one of those meet-ups). However... it's also possible that they can sound a bit like both clips, since the first is clean and the second is distorted. I'd be a lot keener on the clean tones out of them than the dirty.

Other thing is, stock wiring is no tone knob on the bridge pickup. If you wire it up to the bridge that'd likely help a bit too.
 
That is definitely in the pipeline, though I'm wondering if I should Install one of Deaf Eddie's Fatcaster kits through the guitar, it would offer a lot more sonic possiblities from a ST-80.

A notch filter is another possibility.
 
The E pickups are very "not bad!"

In their day, they were probably right up there with the better vintage-style strat pickups around in that time period.

Nowadays, of course, we live in a very good era as far as vintage-style pickups are concerned; lots of great winders all making great stuff-- many of them are probably capable of doing even better than the old E pickups (DiMarzio or no!)

But again, the E pickups are certainly not bad!
 
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