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When I went to set up for tonight's gig, I took the camcorder to record some sounds with my Japanese Strat with it's original pickups and electrics after over 22 years of using it with Kinmans then Sliders. I was amazed that the supposedly 'useless' stock pickups sound every bit as good as the Kinmans & Sliders, leading me to believe there was a lot of bad advice being bandied around back in the early days on this very site.
Anybody tempted to ditch their stock pickups should investigate other stuff before assuming they need to spend a fortune on over-priced replacements.
Because I wanted gold hardware, the only tremolo bridge I could find was a Wilkinson brand, which comes with a heavy steel block. I think that's where any improvement may have come from if there is any, it certainly wasn't the expensive pickups.
We live and learn.

Find Me A Golden Street, using Zoom G5n for echo, through my Fender Tone Master Deluxe Reverb. One Take, wharts and all - I'll add two more then let me know if you are hearing inferior pickups.

.https://youtu.be/Jcdtp9CCqfM Find Me A Golden Street

https://youtu.be/__Ww_m1qb7M The Frightened City

https://youtu.be/QlV6ImkI2UU. Wonderful Land

Wonderful Land is sounding good to my ears, but the first 2 videos are coming up as "private", so can't be viewed. No doubt just a setting in Youtube somewhere.

I should add, your post is also a great advert for the Tone Master- it really does do a terrific job! It just shows how easy it is to get hung up expensive equipment when there is plenty of other gear around that will do the job 95% as well.

Great post

Cliff

Thanks Cliff, I think I've sorted it out now and they're viewable.
When I rested the guitar in my studio I used the Vox MV50 with the TVS3 and it does sound even more like the original tone, but you're
right, the Tone Master is a great sounding amp.
I just hope this helps people to not jump into spending unneccessary cash on stuff they don't need.

A great comparison Dave - and completely true that people try to find the answer / secret in the 'gear' - it is not there... The biggest thing to me - watching these videos - is something I have said, for a long time, and something that people just don't do or recognise.

Your string attack is fantastic - and actually is a really underestimated feature of 'that sound'. Remember - Hank was a teenager, still learning his instrument and not the 'elegant' player we have come to know down the years - he was young and on top of the world. Your plectrum technique - and the way you hit the string is a huge part of the sound. I would even say that H himself has not attacked the song like that for many, many years - preferring to use his later (softer?) techniques on the older tracks - actually sounding like a tribute act to himself in the process! Sure, the heavier strings are a part - but not the biggest part - it is the attitude and youth that is key.

Maybe it was the routine, maybe it is the repetition of playing those tracks over and over down the years - but the energy and vibrancy was just not there, quite understandably - he is no longer 17. Of course - the legions of H fans then do the same thing and post track of these classics of H playing them like a 50 / 60 / 70 year old instead of a 17 / 18 / 19 year old. You caught that energy here.

Spot on.

Just watched the other 2 videos and just love that tone. It really does have that vintage vibe going on - very authentic sounding. I suspect, as Tony says above, your playing style plays an important part in getting close to "that" sound. I don't doubt that a Vox amp and a TVS3 would sound even better, but what you've demo'd here is certainly close enough for my ears . very well done,

Cliff

Thanks for that Tony, TBH I was blissfully unaware about my picking attack, it's something I do unwittingly and more of a reaction to what I'm hearing coming back from the guitar when I'm playing, you know that 'bell like' pinging sound that comes back in the tone.
I wasn't aware I was as aggressive as you say, but upon listening close I understand what you are saying and thank you for pointing it out and I appreciate your comments.
Cliff you are 100% right about the TVS3 & Vox amp combination being even more satisfying, I'll record a couple of tracks down in my studio where that kit is currently set up so that you can hear it. The Fender ToneMaster Deluxe Reverb does a great job but with a slightly different sound, but equally appealing. I can't tell you how much easier it makes life for lugging around doing gigs, compared to the Vox AC30 and similar amps I've used over the years.
I gigged the guitar last night and purposely used it on a few Cliff & Shadows hits and it sounded terrific and put me in two minds whether or not I should really put it up for sale, but I have at least twenty other Strats' that sound almost identical and I'm trying to thin out my collection. I was just shocked when I discovered that this modestly price guitar sounded just as good as guitars costing almost ten times the price, which prompted my original post.

Terrific demonstration Dave - like me I'm sure that you have heard many players using very expensive gear but achieving a very disappointing sound.
Your performance on these excellent videos just proves to me that technique and careful adjustment of equipment can produce very good results indeed.
I completely agree with Tony regarding your picking technique.

Thank you Roger, I have listed that guitar for sale at a very reasonable price, considering the birds eye neck.