Legacy of Tone: Tim Shaw Talks Fender Designs, CuNiFe Pickups & More

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As Fender’s reigning chief engineer for guitars, Tim Shaw has masterminded an entire era of iconic tones, nearly defining the distinctive Fender output we know and love. Sweetwater’s Mitch Gallagher recently caught up with TIm to talk all things tone: his latest designs, CuNiFe pickups, the future of Fender, and his own legacy with the rock ‘n’ roll staple. Check it out!
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#Sweetwater #TimShaw #Fender #Pickups #MitchGallagher

[@Hesohi]

I am happy this video exists. I am completely interested in these pick ups, and they are very under demoed on the internet, compared to other product releases in the guitar space.

[@BoyAditya]

No way! Finally seeing Tim Shaw, after decades only know his name😅

[@robchrystal]

Fascinating Interview. Great to listen to the man behind the pickups .👍

[@tomrockwell6630]

Great interview - thanks for doing this.

[@michaeleaster1815]

Really great to hear from such respected veteran on the inside... this perspective is fabulous

[@hoboroadie4623]

I thought that the Wright Brothers patented the warping wing. They had a few patents in aviation from others since. Good thing they kept the office open.

[@jacobdehollander6465]

I’ve known Tim since the 70’s when he worked at Sunshine guitars. He’s a great bass player. I took his place in the Kalamazoo band, The Lonestar Statesmen. He is incredibly intelligent. Great guy. You can see the Sunrise pickup on 100’s of acoustic guitars. Kudos Tim!!

[@musicman4christjesus]

I had a '73 Tele Custom that I no longer have😢 I truly miss the tasty tone and pure chime this neck WRHB pickup gave me. I played it a church and everyone loved that chime! Especially playing it with an Morgan AC20 Deluxe on an AX8! Pure tasty tone that I miss. I am going to buy this pickup again. I miss it so much!!! ❤

[@classicaxe1]

Tim Shaw is a excellent pick-up innovator ! Have to try these pick-ups in my american strat !

[@jfinester]

Great interview! The best-sounding Les Paul I’ve ever had was a Heritage series 80 Elite that I bought new in 1981; it had Tim Shaw humbuckers in it. I’d still have it today, but it was a heavy sucker, and I got to where my back couldn’t take it any more. I sure would like to hear a good demo on these new CuNiFe pickups in a Tele or a Strat.

[@halohat2286]

Interesting 🤔
Side note... Sweetwater is undoubtedly the best retail seller of gear. But the reason I spend all my money at American Musical is their payment structure and no questions asked return policy and fast shipping. Sweetwater has two of the three and a better selection of gear. Match American Musicals payment structure and id buy all my gear from Sweetwater

[@WTF-Cubing]

I love the sound of my new Strat CuNiFe pickups… but I’m on my 3rd set because every set had dead pickups.
Even now, the last set I got had the bridge pickup die on installation. Got a full refund as the tech price for installation 3 different times was getting expensive… plus having a guitar that was unusable for months.
Hopefully they get the production process down, because when they work, man… they’re amazing.

[@andrewsun4385]

Awesome!!!❤❤💯💯

[@hoboroadie4623]

I have been thinking that the Cobalt-Chrome would be good to try out in the Wierdocaster. Pretty reasonably priced, imo. 🎸

[@musicman4christjesus]

At minute 10:45 Mike asked if these Wide Range Humbucker Pickups are available to purchase, Tim said only after market. What did he mean? These are not made in the USA? Or the ones at Sweetwater are not really made by Fender? Can someone please explain? ❤

[@carmelosalgado9530]

He means that they are selling as just pickups rather than getting the pickups from a series of guitars

[@sr60030]

There's no way this is not coming to p&j basses right?
P.S: Tim I love your work

[@khatzathang6031]

Which Fender Strat has the Cunife pickups preinstalled (as a stock pickup)?
It seems the pickups are only sold separately

[@officialWWM]

This interview is almost a clone of the Andertons video!

[@docdaytona108]

And I thought Paul (Reed Smith) was fun to listen to!

[@retepmo6534]

I can’t wait for the guy in the audience to yell out to me , “Hey, you can’t fool me, I know those are CuNiFe pickups, I can tell!” Ahh… I’m not buying it all, more marketing. Just another reason for Fender to jack up their prices. Recent quote I just recently heard from Phil McNight via Jeff Kiesel “ Guitar pickups are not magic, it’s just math”. I did enjoy a Strat I had with Shawbuckers though.

[@obgatson1275]

funder parallel jaguarstratocadter is an amazing guitar. hope you guys are well. in the holy spirit in jesus name amen.