The ShadowMusic Web Community

Are the 'ironstone vintage' pickups I read about in this forum a while ago, the same as the current Ironstone vintage strat Gold alnico V?
At the Ironstone site they mention this pu especially for Shadows/HM tones.
Has anyone used them? Are they any good?
I want to try them in my 1989 Strat plus.

I've had a set of Ironstone Golds in my MIM strat for about four years, sound good to me.

I have a set of those on one of the Strats and they are good.

Thanks Ken and Dave,
Dave, are they the best sounding pickups that you have?
I'm also considering Fender CS54' s, although I think Marvins sound with them is a fraction too round or warm.
Anyone have the experience of putting Shadows'-like pickups in a (early) Strat Plus?
I am under the the impression that the sound of e.g. the low E could be somewhat more direct/open (or even aggressive if you want).
I won't change pickups if the difference is minimal to the lace sensors of the Strat plus.

negninegaw wrote:Thanks Ken and Dave,
Dave, are they the best sounding pickups that you have?
I'm also considering Fender CS54' s, although I think Marvins sound with them is a fraction too round or warm.
Anyone have the experience of putting Shadows'-like pickups in a (early) Strat Plus?
I am under the the impression that the sound of e.g. the low E could be somewhat more direct/open (or even aggressive if you want).
I won't change pickups if the difference is minimal to the lace sensors of the Strat plus.

In my experience the best aftermarket pickups I have are Sliders Vintage but at £200 per set they should be, however the Seymour Duncan Alnico Pro II, ToneRider Vintage and Ironstone Vintage are all in the ballpark too and give all the desired tones and attitude, dependant on how well the guitar is set up. Custom Shop 54s are too ‘spiky’ for me, every set I have tried has been OTT on the treble. Fender 57/62, Custom Shop 69 all good, but the best for me are the pickups on my AVRI USA ‘62 Strat - and this is my second one. It’s the guitar used by Colin Pryce Jones of The Rapiers and I just can’t fault them. I don’t know what they are but they deliver the exact tone that is required for early Shadows lead guitar sounds.
It turns out that my new ‘Warmoth’ Strat had CS54 pickups and I didn’t like some of what I heard and switched them for CS69s. It now sounds great.
If your Strat Plus has gold Lace Sensors, I’d leave them alone as they are the best. I had one f those and regret selling it.

I tried Ironstones on my MIM Classic 60s Strat a few years back but found they lacked a certain something, indeed when I put the standard ones back on, it actually sounded better!

I still have the guitar which is now fitted with Fender 57/62s and I don't think I'll ever change.

Well I'm with Dave...regarding the mentioned pickups...
However there is a Dutch bloke, who makes excellent pu's by hand...and they blow Sliders and lots of fame name brand out of the water.
Look at his website https://www.tonespinner.com

Cheers Rob

Thanks everyone, you are very helpful. You saved me from a few mistakes already.

Rob, is there a specific pick up from Tonespinner that you use ?

Just the most vintage correct ones he makes!
You can arrange your pu's yourself on his site as you may know by now, because I reckon you've visit his website.


Cheers Rob