Adding Beef to Strat Pickups?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Falstaff
  • Start date Start date
F

Falstaff

Guest
The pickups in my Strat are just a little bit too scooped in the mids for my tastes, especially the middle pickup. Other than buying a new pickup (or set), is there anything I could do in terms of pots/caps/etc. to boost the mids just a bit?

Thanks!
 
Re: Adding Beef to Strat Pickups?

Are they stock? What are the specs, e.g., DC resistance, kind of mags, etc?

For me the best combo has been big strings (11's or 11.5's) and Fender Fat 50's pickups, though I'm looking at getting something a little stronger for the bridge, like a Twangbanger or something.

Torres Engineering has something called the "Blueskaster" rig that's supposed to add some beef but I've never tried it and can't say whether it's any good or not.

Still I just say big strings, big (thick) pick, big neck-strangling attitude should get you there, even without overwound pickups.
 
Re: Adding Beef to Strat Pickups?

Use an all tube amp with the bass on 10 and the mids at 7.

Use 10's or higher.

Don't set your action too low.

Use a heavy pick.

Buy Antiquities, Fralins, Rio, Fat 50's, Chubtone, or other high end pickups.
 
Re: Adding Beef to Strat Pickups?

I heard about this Fralin Bassplate. It's a metal plate made to go on the bottom side of a SC pickup to generate a Tele-like effect. Which really means that it adds mids a bass to your pickups. It's $10 bucks sound like a simple and effective mod.

Check out this thread where it was discussed: https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=35061

See what you think.
 
Last edited:
Re: Adding Beef to Strat Pickups?

I use an xotic effects AC booster to punch up the bass, and because it is footswitchable I can get more versatility. I had used an old boss graphic eq to boost the mids and it was inexpensive and ok sounding.
 
Re: Adding Beef to Strat Pickups?

The advice above is all good.

Changing to alnico 2 pickups would do the trick too: Antiquity Texas Hots or APS-1 or 2 pickups all have alot more mids than alnico 5 pickups like vintage Fenders or the Duncan SSL-1's.

Lew
 
Re: Adding Beef to Strat Pickups?

Don't do the Fralin baseplate on the Fat 50's mod...I tryed it and it made the Fat 50 bridge pickup pretty harsh and shrill and brought the mids upfront more but in the wrong way...Reminded me of the CS Strat Texas Special pickup.... ;o)
 
Re: Adding Beef to Strat Pickups?

Thanks, guys. Lots of good advice.

In a zen-like moment, I stopped thinking about what I expected the guitar to sound like and actually listened to what the guitar *does* sound like. And it sounds really, really good.

So I should say I'm sorry to waste everyone's time! :laugh2:
 
Re: Adding Beef to Strat Pickups?

You can't actually boost any frequency without resorting to active electronics. There are systems out there that can trick your ears into thinking that you are boosting the midrange, but you need a battery to be able to do any actual boosting. Two things I would try: first, the easiest way to beef up any pickup on a Strat is to use a blender pot to blend in a small amount of the neck pickup when you have other pickups selected. This is great for getting a thicker sound and getting rid of any ice-pick treble from the bridge pickup. A more drastic method is to install an active preamp, like the Clapton midboost kit.

Ryan
 
Re: Adding Beef to Strat Pickups?

Update, if anyone is interested:

I installed an Ant II Surfer middle and it sounds exactly like I wanted it to sound. I was afraid that I would need an Ant I to do the trick for me, but the Surfer has the beef I wanted with all of the 60's vibe intact. The other pickup was wound on a mid/late 60's model, and I think that more early 60's thing that the Surfer has matches the guitar better. Great stuff. I'll probably get the bridge and neck Surfers, too. :)
 
Re: Adding Beef to Strat Pickups?

Surfers are wonderful pickups!!!!! They have some serious mojo!!!
 
Re: Adding Beef to Strat Pickups?

Good report Falstaff. What other pups are in there now in the neck and bridge?
 
Re: Adding Beef to Strat Pickups?

Falstaff said:
Update, if anyone is interested:

I installed an Ant II Surfer middle and it sounds exactly like I wanted it to sound. I was afraid that I would need an Ant I to do the trick for me, but the Surfer has the beef I wanted with all of the 60's vibe intact. The other pickup was wound on a mid/late 60's model, and I think that more early 60's thing that the Surfer has matches the guitar better. Great stuff. I'll probably get the bridge and neck Surfers, too. :)
Click to expand...

No surprise there. The Surfers sound exactly like I want a Strat pickup to sound too. Lew
 
Re: Adding Beef to Strat Pickups?

They were wound by OC Duff, who winds his own based on what customers want. To reiterate, the guitar sounded darn good, it just didn't sound how I wanted it to sound. If I had asked him for an "early 60's" type of vibe for the entire set I probably would have been thrilled with them; the neck is wound on that model and it sounds really nice. I think I'll keep the guitar as is (for now), as it sounds great. I'm past the point of returning the pickup to Duff...it usually takes me a while to figure out if I *really* like or dislike something, so I inevitably lose out on any sort of 21-day return window. I also had to sort of forget how great my Esquire sounds, as it sounds so freakin' good that it kind of makes my other Fender-type guitars sound a bit wimpy in comparision. I think Esquires have a way of doing that. :)

I was tempted to order the Ant I just to make sure that the beef would be there but I'm glad I went with the II. :) Good times.
 
Last edited:
Re: Adding Beef to Strat Pickups?

Falstaff said:
They were wound by OC Duff, who winds his own based on what customers want. To reiterate, the guitar sounded darn good, it just didn't sound how I wanted it to sound. If I had asked him for an "early 60's" type of vibe for the entire set I probably would have been thrilled with them; the neck is wound on that model and it sounds really nice. I think I'll keep the guitar as is (for now), as it sounds great. I'm past the point of returning the pickup to Duff...it usually takes me a while to figure out if I *really* like or dislike something, so I inevitably lose out on any sort of 21-day return window. I also had to sort of forget how great my Esquire sounds, as it sounds so freakin' good that it kind of makes my other Fender-type guitars sound a bit wimpy in comparision. I think Esquires have a way of doing that. :)

I was tempted to order the Ant I just to make sure that the beef would be there but I'm glad I went with the II. :) Good times.
Click to expand...

I haven't heard a bad thing about the Surfers yet. I'm sure they'll be an excellent choice. I really like the Texas Hot that I have and Surfers are different and reportedly better over all.

Rock on, Mr. Falstaff.
BTW did you get your user ID from Shakespeare or the beer?
 
Last edited:
Re: Adding Beef to Strat Pickups?

Guitar Toad said:
I haven't heard a bad thing about the Surfers yet. I'm sure they'll be an excellent choice. I really like the Texas Hot that I have and Surfers are different and reportedly better over all.

Rock, Mr. Falstaff.
BTW did you get your user ID from Shakespeare or the beer?
Click to expand...


Both! :) If only the beer was as good as the character.... :laugh2:
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Ascension
Scooped Strat set review.
Replies
5
Views
170
Mincer
Mincer
Ascension
Who here has used the 22 day exchange?
Replies
6
Views
256
Ascension
Ascension
patchworkman
Pickups for [?]SS Strat
Replies
3
Views
334
playas
playas
Ascension
Tell me about the Twang Banger
Replies
6
Views
363
Mincer
Mincer
R
Problems matching Gibson 498T and SD 59N
Replies
3
Views
185
RowRowRowsYourBoat
R
Back
Top