Guitars have been a popular musical instrument throughout music history. Their versatility, portability, and affordability are some of the many reasons why they are a go-to choice for many musicians.
With such immense popularity, it won’t be far from the truth to call them the king of the music world.
With that out of the way, guitar alone may not give you the best playing experience. Therefore, musicians often use several accessories for improved playability.
A guitar pickup is one of those tools. It is considered the heart of an electric guitar, and there is a good reason for that.
A pickup converts the vibrations produced by guitar strings into electricity. The amp then increases its volume so the audience can hear you. The guitar pickup is found under the guitar strings.
Texas Specials and Fat 50s are two widely used guitar pickups that have been used by thousands of guitarists around the world.
This article intends to discuss everything you need to know about them. Read on to find the winner among these two guitar pickups.
Texas Specials vs Fat 50s
| Features | Texas Special | Fat 50s |
|---|---|---|
| Tone | Smooth | Bright |
| Weight | 3.36 ounces | 9.6 ounces |
| Price | Moderate | Moderate |
| Magnets | Alnico V | Alnico V |
Texas Special
The Texas Special guitar pickup is one of the most popular guitar pickups in the market. It is manufactured by a well-known company, Fender.
As guitars got popular, more and more companies started offering guitar pickups. Many companies rose to prominence, but only a few have managed to retain their spots. Fender is one of them.
The Texas Special guitar pickup was introduced in the late 1980s, and it has been riding on the crest of a wave since then. Talking about its construction first, the Texas Special pickup uses the Alnico V magnets to give an incredible sound output.
Design
Moreover, the Texas Special features enamel-coated magnet wires for improved protection. It will take fewer scratches as compared to other guitars. This guitar pickup can serve you for at least several years if taken care of appropriately.
In addition, the Texas Special comes with black fiber top and bottom plates. The resistance on the bridge, middle, and neck are 6.79k, 6.31k, and 6.12 k, respectively.
The magnets perfectly complement the tone, and it all adds up to deliver a smooth and clear sound quality.
Sound
There are many reasons to choose the Texas Special, and it’s fantastic sound is one of them. It goes without saying that sound quality is the most crucial factor when selecting a pickup.
Thankfully, the Texas Special guitar pickup has a smooth and clear sound for the best playing experience. Furthermore, the pole pieces in the Texas Special pickup have been staggered for balanced output.
The Texas Special pickup tends to be a bit hotter in output than other pickups without being harsh or overaggressive.
You also get a smooth breakup, even when using small guitar amps. The midrange is less-scooped, so this pickup is not for every guitarist.
Apart from that, the Texas Special is highly responsive and has a slight sag to it. It is recommended to try it with your guitar amp before buying so you do not waste your money.
Another cool thing about the Texas Special guitar pickup is that it has a stunning look. It looks great on every guitar, especially light-colored ones, such as surf green or seafoam green guitars.
Price
Now coming to its price, the Texas Special guitar pickup is certainly not the cheapest in the market. But its durability, sound quality, and excellent features give you full value for your money.
Fat 50s
The Fat 50s guitar pickup is also manufactured by Fender, and it is up there as one of the highest-selling guitar pickups by Fender to date. It comes equipped with all the features you need in a guitar pickup.
It is loved for its excellent tone, durability, and sound construction. It was so popular back in the day that it was even used in the American Standard Stratocaster.
Design
Like the Texas Special, the Fat 50s pickup also uses the Alnico V magnets. These magnets have become a standard in the industry, thanks to the clarity they offer.
Moreover, it also has staggered pole pieces for better playability. For those of you who are not familiar with it, staggered pole pieces are designed in a unique way that they are adjusted to a certain height for balanced output.
The magnets in the Fat 50s guitar pickup are also coated. Not only does it impact the sound quality, but it also protects the magnets from wear and tear.
This also gives you peace of mind, and you will be able to focus on your performance without worrying about the magnets.
As far as the resistance is concerned, the Fat 50s guitar pickup has 6.26k in the neck, 6.48k in the middle, and 6.48k in the middle.
Sound
Are you sick and tired of using pathetic guitar pickups with even more pathetic sound quality? Then the Fat 50s is the perfect pickup for you.
It offers an exceptional response without giving you a harsh midrange. It boasts the RWRP feature (reverse-wound, reverse polarity), which ensures a noise-free operation in the 2nd and 4th positions.
As for versatility, the Fat 50s pickup can cover just about every genre. Whether you are into heavy metal or classic songs, this pickup can do it in style.
You may experience a slight harshness in the bridge position, but it’s the case with almost every pickup. All in all, the Fat 50s delivers a great sound like all other Fender pickups.
As for its design, the Fat 50s has a minimalistic look that will undoubtedly add to the charm of your guitar. It looks good on every guitar color and type, be it dreadnought, acoustic, or classical guitar.
Price
The price is one of the best selling points of the Fat 50s guitar pickup. It is priced low so that every guitarist can afford it. With such excellent sound quality, it’s not a bad deal at all.
Final Verdict
The Texas Special and Fat 50s are the most sought-after guitar pickup models in the market. Both are manufactured by Fender and have pretty comparable features.
While the Texas Special has a smooth and clear tone, the Fat 50s sounds bright and glassy. Both use the same set of magnets and have similar construction.
However, the Fat 50s win the battle by a small margin, thanks to their superior tone and more versatility. Overall, both pickups are good, and you can choose any of them depending on your taste.