5-2 Blues

[Chistopher malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator Find all posts View Profile Close Chistopher]

So I got off the phone with MJ at the Custom Shop and she confirmed to me that the 5-2 Stack is just an STK-S4 with A2 under the treble, similar to how the normal 5-2 is just a SSL-1 with A2.

She also mentioned that she likely won't have A4 Strat rods for the foreseeable future. So now I'm debating getting them wound closer to more popular sets, but I don't have enough experience with the 5-2 and STK sets to make a real good call with it.

The one a lot of people seem to like would be S4n/S4m/S6b, which is the noiseless version of the ssl1/ssl1/ssl5 set that David Gilmour used. I like it, but don't know how much an overwound bridge would benefit from A2 mags under the treble string.

Which leads me to S4n/S4m/S7b which is a less overwound bridge pickup, but still beefier than a S6b.

Or maybe S7n/S4m/S6b which is a standard middle pickup with a slightly overwound neck and a reasonably overwound bridge.

Or am I possibly overthrowing this and should just go with a normal version of the last set, which is what I was thinking anyway before the user reviews of the 5-2 convinced me they were the bees knees?

[jeremy LoveMachineologist Find all posts View Profile Close jeremy]

i like the 5/2 strat pups but i havent tried a stack version of them. i love the stks4 neck and middle with the vintage hot bridge. i have another strat with an stks4b in the neck with a stks9 bridge thats great too. the stack plus series of pups is a winner in my book so pick your flavor

[Chistopher malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator Find all posts View Profile Close Chistopher]

Yeah, that's what I'm leaning towards right now. Neck and middle will be standard CS 5-2 Stacks, and the bridge will be a 5-2 based off the vintage hot (S7). Maybe a tad bit of an overwind on the neck too.

[Mincer Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Mincer]

If that's what the Five Two Stack is, I bet it is amazing. I would probably love that pickup.

But in the end here, what sound are you going for with your Strat?

[Chistopher malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator Find all posts View Profile Close Chistopher]

Really I'm just trying to go for the most flexible Strat sounding Strat I can get. I don't need any amount of high gain tones, as the highest gain I'll be using is the lower gain modes on my King of Tone. I'm looking for round hollow neck (maybe a bit warm) bright chimey middle, bell-like neck and middle, quacky bridge and middle. In most cases I would go for a humbucker in the bridge, but as an exercise I want to keep this SSS, so maybe a Vintage Hot (StkS7) bridge or Custom Stack Plus (StkS6) in the bridge, with A2 under the treble strings.

[Mincer Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Mincer]

I think the STK S6 & S7 wouldn't need a different magnet under the treble strings...they are fairly dark compared to the S4.

[Chistopher malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator Find all posts View Profile Close Chistopher]

Hmm... just buying a normal S7 would save a little bit of money. Any other good options for the bridge? Maybe a StraBro90?

[Chistopher malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator Find all posts View Profile Close Chistopher]

Honestly I might not even get them noiseless. Is there a non-noiseless version of the Vintage Hot Stack?

[jeremy LoveMachineologist Find all posts View Profile Close jeremy]

no, there isnt. it would be an overwound ssl1 which doesnt exist in the normal line up

[Chistopher malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator Find all posts View Profile Close Chistopher]

Hmm maybe I'll just do a Surfer II set. How's the bridge on that?

[jeremy LoveMachineologist Find all posts View Profile Close jeremy]

the normal surfer or the custom surfer bridge? the normal surfer is the same as the neck pup. the custom bridge is a bit hotter and warmer and id say most people would prefer it over the vintage correct setup of all three pups being the same. the surfer set is fantastic either way, three "neck" pups to be vintage correct or the neck, rw/rp mid, and custom bridge for a more friendly set

[Chistopher malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator Find all posts View Profile Close Chistopher]

Yeah, I was thinking of the custom bridge. How's it compare to the ssl-5 or Twangbanger? 9.8k sounds like right about where I'm looking for.

Also how does the aged cover look? I'm thinking about using it with a white pickguard on an ice blue strat.

[Chistopher malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator Find all posts View Profile Close Chistopher]

Actually just watching clips, I think the Custom Surfer bridge is exactly what I want. The neck and middle too.