Fender custom Shop Series

Custom Shop Texas Special

STYLE: Hot Output
DC: Neck:6.2k | Middle: 6.5k | Bridge: 6.7k
INDUCTANCE: Neck: 2.4 | Middle: 2.6 | Bridge: 3.6h
RWRP: Yes
MAGNETS: Non-Beveled Alnico 5 | Staggered
FLATWORK: Black Vulcanised Fibre
WIRE: Enamel
LEADS: Cloth
COVER: White

MARKINGS: red dot on bridge magnet, Blue dot on neck magnet. Orange lead on middle pickup.

One of Fender's oldest retail set wound for a hotter output The bridge is wound more and cranked up with heavier bass response.. Can sound harsh on high volumes.
Cuts out on more emphasis on G/D strings due to high stagger.
Sort of Controversial pickup set discussed on various forums that never seem to agree on how these sound.

They where designed by Michael Stevens who was to give them to Stevie Ray Vaughan, but he died before that happened. It ended up in the SRV Signature Stratocaster as an ode and ended up being sold in the early 90's up til today.

Custom Shop Custom '69

STYLE: Low Output Pickups
DC: Around 5.4k on each
INDUCTANCE: 2.1 Henries
RWRP: No
MAGNETS: Non Beveled Alnico 5 | Staggered
FLATWORK: Grey Fibre Bobbins
WIRE: Enamel
LEADS: Cloth
COVER: White

Markings: Signed: AY+Date in blue/black pen until 2011. After that they only had silver Custom Shop stickers, sometimes none

The CS69 is the lowest vintage output pickup and has a glassy clear top end, Scooped mids and punchy lows. Sounds absolutely best on clean.

Probably the first model in this line as the early ones up until 2011 was dated and signed (but not wound) by Abigail Ybarra. Raise them high enough and they are getting close to Seymour Duncan SSL-1. Needs plenty gain to break them into distortion Think SRV on these ones if you aim for that. Suitable for Pop and jazz if you play them low and clean. Versatile pickups that find favours in som many players but they are NOT for everyone.

Custom Shop Custom '54

STYLE: Low Output Pickups
DC: Neck & Middle 5.9k / Bridge 6.5k
INDUCTANCE: Neck & Middle 2.4h / Bridge: 2.75h
RWRP: NO
MAGNETS: Non-Beveled Alnico 5 | Staggered
FLATWORK: Black Vulcanised Fibre
WIRE: Formvar
LEADS: Cloth wire with Tube height spacers
COVERS: White

MARKINGS: One red dot on magnet bridge pickup

Vintage sounding. they replicate the pure glassy bright vintage tones. Low mids.
These are basically perfect for those who enjoy to play clean. Although not true 54's as the real 54's have Alnico 3. Can safely say they are not vintage correct pickups but a modern build to aim for that 54 voicing.
Nice bass level on Neck and middle, while the more wound bridge cuts back on it for more flatter response.
This will give you good SRV tone if you crank your amp and is suitable for proper Dick Dale surf rock.

Custom Shop Fat 50's

STYLE: Medium Output Pickups
DC: Neck 6.0k / Middle: 6.3k / Bridge: 6.2k
INDUCTANCE: Neck: 2.4h /Middle 2.7h / Bridge: 2.8h
RWRP: Yes
FLATWORK: Black Vulcanised Fibre
MAGNETS: Beveled or Non-Beveled Alnico 5 | Staggered
WIRE: Formvar
LEADS: Cloth wire white/yellow/white
COVERS: White

Markings: CS Sticker + Blue dot on neck polepiece. Red dot on bridge polepiece (But not always)

The "Fat" models are usually souped up vintage 50´s pickups.
These are bold, punchy with lot of chime and less aggressive mids. Overall they have a flat response.
Crank up the gain for real fat tones.. These are greasy like bacon and work for almost every style of music. Very versatile pickups and well regarded. I rarely see any negative comments on these.

Keep in mind that the magnets on the Fat 50´s can come in both beveled and non-beveled versions.

Custom Shop Fat 60's

STYLE: High Output Pickups
DC: 6.7k on All
INDUCTANCE: 2.8h on All
RWRP: Yes
MAGNETS: Beveled Alnico 2 | Staggered
FLATWORK: Black Vulcanised Fibre
WIRE: Formvar
LEADS: Cloth wire
COVERS: White

MARKINGS: Each pickup should have one blue dot on magnet polepieces Some sets have two.

Compared to Fat 50´s, these are more meatier with less chime. More hotter and perhaps darker as well.. Flat dynamic response.
Less harsh than Fat 50s, so these are suitable for rock music.

Handwound Ltd Custom Shop 60/63

STYLE: Vintage Output
DC: Neck: 6.20k |Middle: 6.45k | Bridge: 6.47k
INDUCTANCE:?
MAGNETS: Alnico 5
RWRP: Yes
WIRE: Formvar
Polepieces: Staggered, Non Beveled
Bobbins: Black Bobbins Fiber
Wire: Cloth wire

Throaty sound is what knocks around when trying to classify these.
Released in few quantities in 2020-2021-ish

Handwound Ancho Poblano

STYLE: Medium/High Output
DC: Neck: 6.25k |Middle: 6.47k | Bridge: 6.27k
INDUCTANCE:?
MAGNETS: Alnico 5 Bridge / Alnico 3 Neck, Middle
RWRP: Yes
WIRE: Formvar on Mid, Neck, Enamel on Bridge
SLUGS: Flush Bridge, Light Stagger on Mid, Neck, Non Beveled
BOBBINS: Black vulcanized fiber
WIRE: Cloth wire

Released in 300 sets only around 2015. Most, if not all were wound by Josephina Campos.
The neck pickups is the crown in this set, while the Bridge is not offering that much. Not as hot as people claim to think.

Handwound Tomatillo

STYLE: Vintage Output
DC: Neck: 6.0k |Middle: 6.0k | Bridge: 6.27k
INDUCTANCE: ?
MAGNETS: Alnico 2
RWRP: Yes
WIRE: Formvar
Polepieces: Beveled, Staggered, Shellack dipped
Bobbins: Black Bobbins Fiber
Wire: Cloth wire

Released in 200 sets only around 2015. Most, if not all were wound by Josephina Campos.
The Tomatillo are aiming more for the 50's sound. With Alnico 2 to tame the output more.

Handwound Troposphere

STYLE: Vintage Output
DC: Neck: 5.4k |Middle: 5.5k | Bridge: 5.4k
INDUCTANCE:?
MAGNETS: Alnico 5
RWRP: Yes
WIRE: Formvar (Bridge, Middle) Enamel (Neck)
Polepieces: Beveled, Staggered, Wax Potted
Bobbins: Black Bobbins Fiber
Wire: Cloth wire

Limited Sets designed by Paul Waller and handwound by Josephina Campos.
Low wound 50´s Style middle and Bridge with Formvar
60's style neck wound with Enamel wire.

Released in Oct 2024 at $499