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I've been playing Strats a different levels since the early '80s and like them a lot.I've tried many bridge pickups. I dont want to list them here. I have three Strats currently they are all eminently usable, but it bugs me that I can't get it exactly what I want inthe bridge.
the current line up:
1) CS Texas Special - Just too nasal. Too much string pull. Needs a lot of EQing to sound right.
2) A custom wound A3 flat pole. A little hotter than vintage (like a nine or ten DC or something). It's close. But I do miss the A5 cut. The mids are just a bit too prominent. I get nearly there with EQ, but do miss that top cut.
3) SD SSL-1. Also close. A little bit hard and brittle. The SSL-5 was of course too hot and middy the SSL-3 way way too hot and middy.
I keep giving up and I've mostly stopped playing strats because I need the bridge pickup 90% of the time for what I'm playing.
I can mostly get there but have to have to fiddle with settings to get the bridge sounding good. Too much bother as I use different guitars in the set and the Strat always sounds the worst. Compared to a great Tele bridge pickup, it doesn't cut it without lots of tweaking.
I have a Strat bridge sound in my head that is a vintage-ish classic Strat bridge pickup sound. From Ritchie Blackmore and Hendrix to Mark Knopfler. They all used stock pickups.
The bridge pickup in my head:
- competes with the neck and middle pickup for volume and blends beautiful in the 2 position.
- does not require a tone pot (ideally).
- has some bottom end.
- top end cuts through but is not harsh or brittle.
- It is not nasal.
- is not too weak and pathetic requiring three pedals to boost it.
- sounds great both clean and dirty.
- is not a humbucker or P90s wannabe.
- has even string volume with a regular set of 9s or 10s.
- magnets do not pull a lot when raised a little to compete with neck pickup.
- is not overwound so that it sounds middly and loses the top cut and twang.
I overall prefer the tone and response of a Tele bridge such as the Original vintage pickup want it more like that.... but still Stratty!
Do I just need a base plate? I have not tried the Twangbanger which many Tele players like. Should I buy one?
If you wanted the same as me. What did you settle on?
the current line up:
1) CS Texas Special - Just too nasal. Too much string pull. Needs a lot of EQing to sound right.
2) A custom wound A3 flat pole. A little hotter than vintage (like a nine or ten DC or something). It's close. But I do miss the A5 cut. The mids are just a bit too prominent. I get nearly there with EQ, but do miss that top cut.
3) SD SSL-1. Also close. A little bit hard and brittle. The SSL-5 was of course too hot and middy the SSL-3 way way too hot and middy.
I keep giving up and I've mostly stopped playing strats because I need the bridge pickup 90% of the time for what I'm playing.
I can mostly get there but have to have to fiddle with settings to get the bridge sounding good. Too much bother as I use different guitars in the set and the Strat always sounds the worst. Compared to a great Tele bridge pickup, it doesn't cut it without lots of tweaking.
I have a Strat bridge sound in my head that is a vintage-ish classic Strat bridge pickup sound. From Ritchie Blackmore and Hendrix to Mark Knopfler. They all used stock pickups.
The bridge pickup in my head:
- competes with the neck and middle pickup for volume and blends beautiful in the 2 position.
- does not require a tone pot (ideally).
- has some bottom end.
- top end cuts through but is not harsh or brittle.
- It is not nasal.
- is not too weak and pathetic requiring three pedals to boost it.
- sounds great both clean and dirty.
- is not a humbucker or P90s wannabe.
- has even string volume with a regular set of 9s or 10s.
- magnets do not pull a lot when raised a little to compete with neck pickup.
- is not overwound so that it sounds middly and loses the top cut and twang.
I overall prefer the tone and response of a Tele bridge such as the Original vintage pickup want it more like that.... but still Stratty!
Do I just need a base plate? I have not tried the Twangbanger which many Tele players like. Should I buy one?
If you wanted the same as me. What did you settle on?
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