Absolutely massive pickup conundrum (a.k.a. why choice can be a bad thing), help!

[Legion216]

Hey folks.

I've been SO indecisive about pickups for ver long now. I recently bought a Stratocaster (Mex) and really enjoy the single coils in the neck and middle.

The bridge however, different story. A lot of people do manage to get great tones out of bridge single coils, but it's simply not my cup of tea. So I recently made a thread over here about the Cool Rails vs Li'l Screamin' Demon and the Li'l 59. After that I began digging a little more and began toying with the idea of going full blown humbucker in the bridge and just getting a new pickguard with an HSS cut. Now I have WAY too many options:

1) Screamin' Demon (full size)
2) Perpetual Burn
3) Pearly Gates
4) 59/Custom Hybrid
5) Custom Custom
6) Suhr Thornbucker
7) Suhr DSH

Not sure what to do.

I'm...looking for a warm pickup with good harmonics and a slightly overwound PAF kinda character. Tight low end (not STUPID tight but just enough that drop D chugging doesn't turn to mush) and good note separation for complex chords with decent amounts of gain (by "decent" I mean just-over -crunch-mid gain, not anywhere near Periphery-like-metal levels of gain).

Point to note: my guitar has the fender mid boost circuit. It's a Fender Deluxe Roadhouse Strat 2016.

Any idea what I should be doing?

Thanks guys.

 

[VinceT]

Re: Absolutely massive pickup conundrum (a.k.a. why choice can be a bad thing), help!

Any idea what I should be doing?

At the risk of sounding like a wise-ass (which isn't my intent), I would suggest just pick one and try it - we can get lost in thinking and thinking and thinking - it's called decision paralysis - and the ONLY solution is to actually do something then be prepared to adjust course at a later date.

With something as subjective as sound, there's really no way any of us can KNOW that we're putting the right PUP in our guitar - and even less chance that anyone else can tell us the definitive answer.

You have to play the guitar with your rig, and trust your ears/soul to do the rest.

And, FWIW, I really enjoy the 59/Custom in S-type guitars.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[SweetClyde99]

Re: Absolutely massive pickup conundrum (a.k.a. why choice can be a bad thing), help!

The 59/Custom sounds like it might be s good match for you if you're looking for an overwound PAF with reasonably tight low end. I'm not sure how well it mixes with singles, but I think it checks a lot of your boxes otherwise.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Absolutely massive pickup conundrum (a.k.a. why choice can be a bad thing), help!

A little trick that really helps Strat single coils in the bridge is to put a baseplate on them.

But, humbuckers are awesome in the bridge position of Strats.

For my playing, the Pearly Gates gets the best harmonics. I like the Screamin Demon but if you are after harmonics I would go with the PG. That being said, harmonics do depend on technique...

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Absolutely massive pickup conundrum (a.k.a. why choice can be a bad thing), help!

Since you said "warm" a Custom Custom might fill the bill. Never heard one with 250k pots though and that's what your guitar probably has. Might be too warm.

I'm a huge fan of the Pearly Gates. And it does sound good with 250k pots. They warm it up some.

Also, you need a tone pot for the bridge pickup (if your guitar is wired like a vintage Strat) to get more of that warmth you're after and to reduce the sizzle of whatever bridge pickup you decide on.

That's a must, IMO, so use the pot that's now attached to the middle pickup and give it to the bridge pickup. Do that and learn how to use it.

Guys like Eric Johnson always have a tone control for the bridge pickup on their Strats and use it constantly. Especially when they're playing through an Overdrive or distortion pedal.

A must for dialing in those violin tones Eric is known for.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Absolutely massive pickup conundrum (a.k.a. why choice can be a bad thing), help!

My first thought was Pearly Gates+, which was made for Strats. Or just Pearly Gates.

 

[Legion216]

Re: Absolutely massive pickup conundrum (a.k.a. why choice can be a bad thing), help!

At the risk of sounding like a wise-ass (which isn't my intent), I would suggest just pick one and try it - we can get lost in thinking and thinking and thinking - it's called decision paralysis - and the ONLY solution is to actually do something then be prepared to adjust course at a later date.

With something as subjective as sound, there's really no way any of us can KNOW that we're putting the right PUP in our guitar - and even less chance that anyone else can tell us the definitive answer.

You have to play the guitar with your rig, and trust your ears/soul to do the rest.

And, FWIW, I really enjoy the 59/Custom in S-type guitars.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Hey! You might have a point.
The 59/C Hybrid is certainly a strong contender.

The 59/Custom sounds like it might be s good match for you if you're looking for an overwound PAF with reasonably tight low end. I'm not sure how well it mixes with singles, but I think it checks a lot of your boxes otherwise.

Yep, considering that strongly.

A little trick that really helps Strat single coils in the bridge is to put a baseplate on them.

But, humbuckers are awesome in the bridge position of Strats.

For my playing, the Pearly Gates gets the best harmonics. I like the Screamin Demon but if you are after harmonics I would go with the PG. That being said, harmonics do depend on technique...

Yeah Harmonics are ONE of the many things I am looking at. Cheers! It’s between the Pearly Gates and the 59/C Hybrid.

Since you said "warm" a Custom Custom might fill the bill. Never heard one with 250k pots though and that's what your guitar probably has. Might be too warm.

I'm a huge fan of the Pearly Gates. And it does sound good with 250k pots. They warm it up some.

Also, you need a tone pot for the bridge pickup (if your guitar is wired like a vintage Strat) to get more of that warmth you're after and to reduce the sizzle of whatever bridge pickup you decide on.

That's a must, IMO, so use the pot that's now attached to the middle pickup and give it to the bridge pickup. Do that and learn how to use it.

Guys like Eric Johnson always have a tone control for the bridge pickup on their Strats and use it constantly. Especially when they're playing through an Overdrive or distortion pedal.

A must for dialing in those violin tones Eric is known for.

Hey man! Yeah I am going to be switching out the pot to a 500K anyway: one of my issues with the stock noiseless singles is that they are not spanky enough. So right now it’s between the Pearly Gates and the 59/C Hybrid. Not particularly a fan of Eric Johnson's tones, though.

My first thought was Pearly Gates+, which was made for Strats. Or just Pearly Gates.

Pearly Gates Plus? Never heard of this one...is it custom shop only?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Absolutely massive pickup conundrum (a.k.a. why choice can be a bad thing), help!

I just want to add that the Fralin SP43 is my favorite bridge pickup in a Strat and I use it with Duncan Antiquity Surfers.

But it's a hot, Strat size, single coil with a lot of the voice of a P90. Not a paf style humbucker.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Absolutely massive pickup conundrum (a.k.a. why choice can be a bad thing), help!

Yeah Harmonics are ONE of the many things I am looking at. Cheers! It’s between the Pearly Gates and the 59/C Hybrid.

Pearly Gates and the JB are probably the 2 best pickups for Harmonics that I've used...but the JB is not a warm pickup at all. I've had good luck with the Dimebucker/Bill Lawrence L500s for harmonics...but again, those are not warm pickups.

I've not tried that Hybrid, so I will leave that up for those who have.

Best of luck!

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Absolutely massive pickup conundrum (a.k.a. why choice can be a bad thing), help!

Pearly Gates is a bit loose from my experience?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Absolutely massive pickup conundrum (a.k.a. why choice can be a bad thing), help!

Pearly Gates is a bit loose from my experience?

Not mine.

People claim it's too bright too but that has not been my experience. But I use the guitar's tone control with all bridge pickups to reduce the sizzle. Some players don't for some reason and then complain about the bridge pickup being too bright.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Absolutely massive pickup conundrum (a.k.a. why choice can be a bad thing), help!

I love the Custom Custom, but it isn't tight, and not a good choice for chuggy stuff. The Hybrid is a much better choice, but it is somewhat scooped. It blends well with singles and splits well. It doesn't have the mids of the CC, though. The Demon is also scooped, but the bass is a fraction of the treble. It works well with singles, but it isn't what you are describing.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Absolutely massive pickup conundrum (a.k.a. why choice can be a bad thing), help!

Not mine.

People claim it's too bright too but that has not been my experience. But I use the guitar's tone control with all bridge pickups to reduce the sizzle. Some players don't for some reason and then complain about the bridge pickup being too bright.

I found the Pearly Gates to be warmer compared to pickups like the JB.

I would not call the Pearly Gates loose at all.

 

[Legion216]

Re: Absolutely massive pickup conundrum (a.k.a. why choice can be a bad thing), help!

Thanks for the responses so far, it certainly looks like the Pearly Gates is winning this race.

As far as tightness goes, the lowest I'll be going on my strat is Drop D. And the chugging isn't like...super prominent either, some songs on the project that I will record with this guitar have a few chugged sections. Mostly it's big, huge, complex chords with a bunch of colour tones.

If the Pearly Gates is tight enough for a couple of chugs through a very respectably tight amp, and has a good bit of clarity in big-ass chords, then I think my decision will have been made.

 

[Legion216]

Re: Absolutely massive pickup conundrum (a.k.a. why choice can be a bad thing), help!

OH
Apologies: a point that I missed is that my guitar has the Fender mid boost circuit in it. I plan to be use this with the Humbucker as well.

I hope that isn't going to be an issue?

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Absolutely massive pickup conundrum (a.k.a. why choice can be a bad thing), help!

OH
Apologies: a point that I missed is that my guitar has the Fender mid boost circuit in it. I plan to be use this with the Humbucker as well.

I hope that isn't going to be an issue?

Is probably not a great idea to use a circuit to mimick a humbucker with a humbucker. But i can't say for sure.
What i can say is a PG is on the briter side and a PG+ even more so. I couldnt rip it out of my Les Paul fast enough. Be sure to use it only with 250k pots.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Absolutely massive pickup conundrum (a.k.a. why choice can be a bad thing), help!

Is probably not a great idea to use a circuit to mimick a humbucker with a humbucker. But i can't say for sure.
What i can say is a PG is on the briter side and a PG+ even more so. I couldnt rip it out of my Les Paul fast enough. Be sure to use it only with 250k pots.

Interesting experience you had–my PG was on the warmer side compared to a Gibson 500T and a JB.

And the pickup was made from the pickups in Billy Gibbons' '59 LP, which does not sound overly bright...the originals in the '59 LP had more output than most contemporaries, but was not icepicky.

The OP probably won't want the mid boost circuit with a change to a humbucker in the bridge–but experimenting only gains knowledge so it is worth a shot.

EDIT: From my experience it is definitely tight enough for some drop D "chugging"

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Absolutely massive pickup conundrum (a.k.a. why choice can be a bad thing), help!

It is overwhelming, isn't it? I have spent the last few months scouring YouTube and forums trying to find the ideal humbucker for a Tele I'm building. Yesterday I realized that I have accumulated SIX different pickups to try once I bolt it together. All because each one of them supposedly has some quality that I am seeking. And there are a couple more that were on my "to try" list but I never found a deal on!
The only good news is that come September or so I am going to have 5 pickups to sell. (Sorry, none of them are what you are looking for as far as I can tell.)

It's enough to make me long for the days when there were a couple companies making a few models each and that was IT. 1978, best I can figure.

Good luck in your search.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Absolutely massive pickup conundrum (a.k.a. why choice can be a bad thing), help!

I didn't read all the replies, but from the OP's initial list, I'd go with the Pearly Gates all the way.

Slightly "rude" PAF, clear but not overly bright, highly expressive, great harmonics and crunchy where it counts...very versatile!

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Absolutely massive pickup conundrum (a.k.a. why choice can be a bad thing), help!

"Overchoice takes place when the advantages of diversity and individualization are canceled by the complexity of a buyer's decision-making process." -- Alvin Toffler

From the original list, I'd lean towards the 59/C Hybrid myself. Can do both vintage & modern flavors, nice singing lead voice, good definition, and slightly scooped- enough so that the midboost might still be of some use. Wire it for autosplit and you could still get a pretty nice semi-Stratlike sound in position 2.

There's certainly nothing wrong with a Pearly Gates. Excellent bridge pickup. Plenty of attitude. Definitely vintage feel though.