Curtis Novak Strat-TB Cojones Bridge & Strat-V High Wind Pickup Set — Fender Stratocaster Upgrade

Curtis Novak Pickups returns — this time with the Strat-TB Cojones in the bridge, paired with Strat-V High Wind neck and middle. The most powerful bridge pickup configuration in the Journeyman Strat series yet. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.

In this episode the Curtis Novak Strat-TB Cojones Bridge + Strat-V High Wind (Neck + Middle) take center stage — installed in the Fender Custom Shop 1960 Journeyman Relic Stratocaster with Emerson Custom S5B Blender 5-Way Wiring Kit and Treble Bleed, into the Benson Amps Monarch 2x12" via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander. Effectrode Tube Vibe, R2R Electric Rangemaster OC44, and Origin Effects Revival Drive Compact all feature.

Get the Strat-TB Cojones bridge: https://www.curtisnovak.com/shop/strat-tb/ Get the Strat-V High Wind neck and middle: https://www.curtisnovak.com/shop/strat-v/

This is the fourth bridge pickup configuration explored on the Journeyman Strat in this pickup series: Strat-V High Wind (all three positions), Strat-TB standard, Strat-V Cojones, and now the Strat-TB Cojones — Curtis's most powerful bridge pickup option in a Strat form factor.

Two variables are in play here simultaneously. The Strat-TB format puts a Telecaster bridge pickup coil geometry into a Strat bridge routing — the Telecaster construction adds midrange body and thickness that a conventional Strat bridge single coil doesn't produce. The Cojones wind then adds output on top of that, making the Strat-TB Cojones the highest-output and thickest-sounding option Curtis offers for the bridge position in a Stratocaster.

The practical result: the bridge position no longer sounds like a Strat bridge pickup. It sounds like a Telecaster bridge pickup with more output — full, present, thick, capable of driving an amp hard without the thin or brittle quality that makes conventional Strat bridge pickups difficult at higher gain settings. The bridge/middle position (02:59, 08:36) with the Strat-V Middle's vintage character next to the Strat-TB Cojones is the combination that makes this configuration most versatile across all five positions.

Get the Emerson Custom Strat Blender Kit: https://emersoncustom.com/products/s5b-blender-5-way-strat-prewired-kit?sca_ref=6282128.5O9h8BhMpG Treble Bleed: https://emersoncustom.com/products/2017-treble-bleed-circuit-volume-mod?sca_ref=6282128.5O9h8BhMpG

🎸 Curtis Novak Pickups: https://www.curtisnovak.com 🔊 Benson Amps: https://www.bensonamps.com/guitar-amplifiers

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🎸 Fender Custom Shop '60 Journeyman Relic Strat | Curtis Novak Strat-V High Wind (Neck + Middle) + Strat-TB Cojones (Bridge) | Emerson Custom S5B Blender + Treble Bleed 🎛️ R2R Electric Rangemaster OC44 | Origin Effects Revival Drive Compact | Effectrode Tube Vibe 🔊 Benson Amps Monarch 2x12" | Boss Waza TAE

Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Ohma Ribbon | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R10 & R121 | Ableton Live 12