Customize My Fender?

[nobleheart]

Hey folks,
I own a late model 5-string fender. It is completely stock--not real impressive on the tone end of the pool. action and all around playability are fair to middlin'. Since you folks appear to be the authority on emandos, I thought I would request a roll call of your experiences and general ideas on upgrades for this mando or similar models. I was eventually planning on replacing the two single coils with Ryder models; as it has been dificult to find many mando specific pickup(I have never heard one with bass pickups?).
Any feedback would be great.
Thanks,

[dlwillms]

Although I haven't gotten around to doing it yet, the Ryder pickup is what was originally recommended to me when I bought my Fender 5 string.

[mandroid]

I fitted an EMG select [stacked strat format humbucker] in place of the original one on my fm61se. I put it in a replacement pickguard I made, sawn out of blank sheet from stew mac,[jewlers saw mostly]
Also, my Custom 4 string has a fender lace sensor. bill lawrence is another blade cored non individual polepiece pickup to use,more output mV than the others mentioned. for the hardrocker in you. also hotter; Blue and Red type of lace-sensors.
if its set in askew (at an angle ) it looks as if it were made for the purpose, too. [an EMG is what that Rigelcaster used,square to the strings, I note.]
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blues.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blues.gif

[Jaminn]

Hmmm, I might have to try that. So, did you replace the original 2 pickup configuration with a single EMG? Those PUs seem to be pretty reasonably priced too. One big problem I have with the orignal PU on the Fender is there is that the output for the e string is really low compared to the other strings. Doesn't matter which PU I have selected. Don't know if it is the PU or the string... I wonder if a "dead" string would cause that? Maybe I'll try some new strings... It's past time to change them anyway.

[johnwalser]

I had a Fender 5 string. I now play a Schwab 4 string with dual pickups. You only live once, GO FOR THE GOLD!!!!
John

[Jaminn]

Yeah, I hear you John. I just don't play it enough to justify replacing it with something more expensive. I was looking at a Ryder for a while. I play my Rigel A+ most of the time. But, we are trying to get together a little group to play some Irish Punk for St. Paddy's day... Flogging Molly, Pogues, sort of stuff. Thought it might be good to break out the Fender with distortion pedal. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif