Adventures in Stratland: The Search for the One 'Bucker (a novel)

Nacho8807

New member
I am on the proverbial "quest for tone" here, friends. It's been a long journey thus far, and I've learned quite a lot. I'm here to share my experiences, and ask for guidance along the way. Hopefully this thread will be able to pass on some wisdom to others on a similar journey to mine.

The guitar: A year 2000-something MIM Stratocaster. Formerly SSS, currently single humbucker configuration. It's a naturally bright guitar, and could use some help (more) in the midrange department.

The amp: I had many amps until recently. I have since sold them off and am now exclusively using a Marshall DSL40C with a WGS Liberator speaker. It's a good base tone for everything except modern metal tones, but I will rarely go there.

I am more interested in a hard rock tone, a-la Volbeat or Mastodon. Things that are important to me are a full, yet firm low-end. Power chords that are punchy and authorative, without mushing or flubbing out. I like midrange; the growlier, the better. I want an aggressive, thick tone with a good deal of bite. The treble should be present, but due to the amp I'm using, I want to avoid any brittle, or harsh treble response. As long as my clean tone isn't sterile or overly dark or bright, I'm happy. Just nicely balanced.

When I first made the switch, I did not buy a new pickup for this guitar, I had a few lying around, so I tried those. The first was an Epiphone from a Les Paul Junior my girlfriend had from years ago. In the LP it wasn't a bad pickup at all. It was medium-hot, had a nice growly midrange and a punchy low-end. However, there was no clarity at all, and it was too compressed to be dynamic. In the Strat, the punchy low end turned muddy, and it was readily apparent that this was a cheaply-made, entry-level pickup. It came out after two days.

Luckily I also had a set of Gibson Burstbucker Pros also. These came stock in my Les Paul, and are an overwound PAF type humbucker with with mismatched coils, and A5 magnets. The bridge model gave me the first real idea of how this guitar sounds and feels with a humbucker. It still had Strat-like qualities in the attack and clarity, but it had more girth and growl to it. Cleans were deep and woody, and crunch tones gave a near dead-on ACDC impression. The heavily distorted stuff was lacking for me though. Mids were nice and open, but I would like to have thick, chewy, growling mids. The high end also seemed a bit anemic, no matter what the amp setting or gain level. The bass response was ok, but lacked punch and tightness. I decided to try my very first magnet swap, to an Alnico 8.

In retrospect I should not have expected anything but the results I got, but I did. The A8 essentially made the Burstbucker Pro a louder version of itself. The lows were fuller, but no punchier or tighter. The mids filled out slightly, but not to the extent I had hoped. And the once anemic high-end was now bright, and somewhat harsh. I didn't hate it, but I was disappointed. It was time to go shopping.

Fret not! The pickup gods are a mercyful lot. Thine local list of Craig did bestow uponst me a humbucker of legendary greatness. An EVH Frankenstein was thrust into my arms at the fair price of 85 USD. I have toyed with the idea of the IM1 humbucker from the SD Custom Shop, and according to Evan in another thread (here) the Frankenstein and IM1 are designed to sound as alike as possible using different construction. Needless to say, I was stoked. This pickup really is great. The clarity is amazing for being such a thick, harmonically rich pickup. It definitely beefs up this guitar the way I've always wanted, without being muddy or overly compressed. The midrange is everything I could ever want. It is however my first A2 based pickup, and Blueman's words echo in my head:

A2 - Lots of mids, not much treble, loose low end, low end, and lots of vintage dynamics. Used in the bridge and neck.

This could not be more true of the Frankenstein. The treble side is great, it works perfectly with the DSL's sometimes harsh high end, and weird buzzy upper-mids. The fluid, singing quality to my leads makes me kiss my fingertips and exclaim, "Mama-mia! Fantastico!" But the bass response does not fit my playing style at all. It lacks the tightness, and authority I have come to love in my Les Paul's Distortion set. It is no doubt, an excellent pickup, it just misses the mark for my playing style in enough ways to leave me wanting more.

So the simple answer may appear to be to get an SH-6 for my Strat, but I don't really want that. I feel the Distortion is much too hot, and compressed for this guitar, and I am worried the treble might kill me with this amp. One of my initial plans for this guitar was to use a JB or Perpetual Burn, and I will likely pick one up in the next week or so. However should I not be satisfied, I will be making full use of SD's 30-day return policy, and be turning here, to you all for advice on where I should go next. Sorry for this ridiculously long post, and I know it seems a little pointless right now, but I figure if any group of folks would care its some of the guys on here. I'll update as it happens.
 
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Re: Adventures in Stratland: The Search for the One 'Bucker (a novel)

I'm on that journey and have been many times. I've been through almost the entire Seymour Duncan, Dimarzio, and EMG line up along with some Gibsons and stock pickups from many other guitar manufactures. I most certainly with you the best of luck with the JB and/or perpetual burn.

Of course trying some different pot values or wiring mods to the pickups may always be something to consider as well, such as the invader with 500k and treble bleed mod. I'm confident there's something in the SD line up that can get you the tone you want.


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Re: Adventures in Stratland: The Search for the One 'Bucker (a novel)

Sounds like a perfect candidate for a Dimarzio Gravity Storm. Everything you are saying you want is exactly how I would describe it
 
Re: Adventures in Stratland: The Search for the One 'Bucker (a novel)

I'm on that journey and have been many times. I've been through almost the entire Seymour Duncan, Dimarzio, and EMG line up along with some Gibsons and stock pickups from many other guitar manufactures. I most certainly with you the best of luck with the JB and/or perpetual burn.

Of course trying some different pot values or wiring mods to the pickups may always be something to consider as well, such as the invader with 500k and treble bleed mod. I'm confident there's something in the SD line up that can get you the tone you want.

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Thanks! I actually did try the treble bleed mod when I put the Frankenstein in, and I'm glad I did as its got a very dark quality with a clean tone. I'd hate to think how much treble I'd lose when turning down the volume otherwise (it's a single volume setup, a-la VH).

Sounds like a perfect candidate for a Dimarzio Gravity Storm. Everything you are saying you want is exactly how I would describe it

Funny you mention that, because I was playing the other day and all I could think was "This sounds a bit like For the Love of God. Man, I love that tone". Maybe if the JB or PB don't go well I'll check it out.
 
Re: Adventures in Stratland: The Search for the One 'Bucker (a novel)

Tom Anderson H2+.
I just fitted a new one in my Anderson and all day I've been constantly thinking how great it sounds.
Absolutely fabulous pickup.
 
Re: Adventures in Stratland: The Search for the One 'Bucker (a novel)

I am on the proverbial "quest for tone" here, friends.
I like midrange; the growlier, the better. I want an aggressive, thick tone with a good deal of bite. The treble should be present, but due to the amp I'm using, I want to avoid any brittle, or harsh treble response.
This thread is seriously lacking in one particular area.
You have not installed a JB.
If that doesn't do it for you, then you need to look at changing the wood its mounted in.
 
Re: Adventures in Stratland: The Search for the One 'Bucker (a novel)

This thread is seriously lacking in one particular area.
You have not installed a JB.
If that doesn't do it for you, then you need to look at changing the wood its mounted in.
Lol Yes, I know. I am working on that (see last paragraph). My only reservation is that sometimes I hear a nasal quality in in the JB's mids that I have never liked. I am hopeful that it just works the way I want it to in this guitar.
 
Re: Adventures in Stratland: The Search for the One 'Bucker (a novel)

Lol Yes, I know. I am working on that (see last paragraph). My only reservation is that sometimes I hear a nasal quality in in the JB's mids that I have never liked. I am hopeful that it just works the way I want it to in this guitar.
nasal schmazal.
it rips.
The main deal is the amp. Thats the real make or break part of your sound. What amp are you using?
 
Re: Adventures in Stratland: The Search for the One 'Bucker (a novel)

nasal schmazal.
it rips.
The main deal is the amp. Thats the real make or break part of your sound. What amp are you using?
It's listed up there (chapter 3). I know it's quite the read, but don't let it scare you. [emoji6]
 
Re: Adventures in Stratland: The Search for the One 'Bucker (a novel)

oh yeah. dsl. i read that the first time the other day, duh. that and a jb would rip.
 
Re: Adventures in Stratland: The Search for the One 'Bucker (a novel)

I had a MIM strat that I struggled with pickup-wise. I loved the guitar, liked playing it, liked how it sounded. But something was always just a bit "off"

I bought a USA Deluxe strat on a whim and immediately detested the MIM interminably! It was a huge difference.

I have EMG SA pickups in there right now, but I do see that changing. Interesting chronicle you've written here, certainly food for thought. But I think I'll keep this one SSS.
 
Re: Adventures in Stratland: The Search for the One 'Bucker (a novel)

oh yeah. dsl. i read that the first time the other day, duh. that and a jb would rip.

I'm optimistic of that. I really look up to guys like Jake E. Lee and Jerry Cantrell and their tones, so I'm hoping I wont be disappointed.

I had a MIM strat that I struggled with pickup-wise. I loved the guitar, liked playing it, liked how it sounded. But something was always just a bit "off"

I bought a USA Deluxe strat on a whim and immediately detested the MIM interminably! It was a huge difference.

I have EMG SA pickups in there right now, but I do see that changing. Interesting chronicle you've written here, certainly food for thought. But I think I'll keep this one SSS.

Before I got into this whole Strat-makeover thing, I considered just buying another guitar that fit my wants and needs. But I like tinkering and I'm learning a lot by doing this myself. To be fair though, pretty soon here the only original thing on this guitar will be the body itself, as I'm about to order a new neck for it. So when all is said and done, it will be more new than old.
 
Re: Adventures in Stratland: The Search for the One 'Bucker (a novel)

Just read the story. Sounds like you would like either the PATB-1, or the Alt 8 humbucker. Outside of Duncan I'd say try a Bill Lawrence (Wilde) L500 model and the reason I say try is because 1 it's cheap to buy even new and if you don't like it you won't have a issue selling it and also you may just love it.

Also i'm sure you already know this but many of the qualities you seek can also come from a speaker change as well so just take that into consideration if you don't like the JB after you play it.
 
Re: Adventures in Stratland: The Search for the One 'Bucker (a novel)

Just read the story. Sounds like you would like either the PATB-1, or the Alt 8 humbucker. Outside of Duncan I'd say try a Bill Lawrence (Wilde) L500 model and the reason I say try is because 1 it's cheap to buy even new and if you don't like it you won't have a issue selling it and also you may just love it.

Also i'm sure you already know this but many of the qualities you seek can also come from a speaker change as well so just take that into consideration if you don't like the JB after you play it.
Both the PATB-2 and Alt 8 were serious considerations, but the JB is much more readily available to me, and I'm not sure I want something as hot as either of those quite yet. I did decide that I should throw my Distortion in it this weekend just to see what happens. I'd hate to assume I don't like it without trying it.
 
Re: Adventures in Stratland: The Search for the One 'Bucker (a novel)

So I'm here swapping out the pickup, and I'm going through the motions while talking to my gf, and I'm wondering why this screw won't thread in easily...

Yep. I had the spring on the wrong side. I'd claim that it's past my bedtime, but it's not even that late yet. Gotta love those brain dead moments...
 

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Re: Adventures in Stratland: The Search for the One 'Bucker (a novel)

JB without the nasal mids = Patb1
 
Re: Adventures in Stratland: The Search for the One 'Bucker (a novel)

i love this thread, i love strats. and I love changing stuff around on them! More updates!!
 
Re: Adventures in Stratland: The Search for the One 'Bucker (a novel)

I'm glad someone's enjoying it!

So it turns out maybe the answer was right in front of me all along. After putting the Distortion from my Les Paul into the Strat I played it for about an hour and a half before I was yelled at to come to bed already. I was playing at a very low volume, but I could tell that I found what I was looking for. That chunky low end, thick, cutting mids, singing highs. They were all there. I had completely misjudged this pickup.

First thing this morning I cranked my amp and let it rip. I'm afraid I don't want to take it back out. It's hot and compressed, but maybe I was wrong about not wanting that, because I wouldn't change a thing about it. Truth be told it really doesn't feel that hot anyway, it drives the amp hard but the cleans aren't compromised at all, and it is still very dynamic. I really, really, love this pickup.

I still need to buy a new pickup, because My LP is sitting without guts until this one returns to it. I may still try the JB just to see how I like it, and if it doesn't sweep me off my feet I can always come back to the Distortion. So far it doesn't leave me wanting anything more, but I'll leave it this way for maybe a week just to be sure. She looks darn good with that white pickup on a black guard anyway.
 

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Re: Adventures in Stratland: The Search for the One 'Bucker (a novel)

That strat is beautiful. I love maple fretboards. :-)


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