Hello all - I'm an older guy who has done a few guitar mods but new to this forum. I have a 2006 Strat HSS with Piezo (second tone knob is vol for piezo) that currently has the stock Tex Mex HB and singles. I want to mod this to a HSH and generally would like a fatter "Gibson" sound but also use coil splitting for series/parallel stuff. I have a LP with a JB bridge and 59 neck with P/P for series/parallel that I like very much. I also have a HSS strat with Pearly Gates bridge, Tex sp middle and Lil 59 neck, again with P/P for splitting (and also a blend knob) - also fun. Just looking for something different but still a good HB sound. Thinking about P-Rails but also 59 Hybrid and Jazz neck combo. Any recommendations? Thanks.
Advice for Strat mod - Humbucker recommendations
- Thread starter pfn
- Start date
Mr. B
New member
Re: Advice for Strat mod - Humbucker recommendations
The problem with a lot of bridge pickups in strats is that they don't work well with 250k pots. You already have 2 of the best choices with the JB and Pearly Bridge. I have also had luck with the 59 bridge, and even the CustomCustom, although it works best with at least 300k pots. I also like the stock Atomic Humbucker that comes in some American Fenders. Its like a JB with tighter bass and a more balanced EQ, and it splits well. I'm not a fan of any of the pickups you listed, so you will have to ask others about them.
The problem with a lot of bridge pickups in strats is that they don't work well with 250k pots. You already have 2 of the best choices with the JB and Pearly Bridge. I have also had luck with the 59 bridge, and even the CustomCustom, although it works best with at least 300k pots. I also like the stock Atomic Humbucker that comes in some American Fenders. Its like a JB with tighter bass and a more balanced EQ, and it splits well. I'm not a fan of any of the pickups you listed, so you will have to ask others about them.
Re: Advice for Strat mod - Humbucker recommendations
Thanks for the replies. As for tone, I like the JB/59 variety that I have in the LP but looking for a bit fatter middle range. I have great varieties already with the two guitars I mentioned, but I'm just experimenting with something different. Mr. B - I wondered what was it you DIDN'T like about the 59 Hybrid? I have read that the P-Rails HB tone may not be the best but usually the 59H is well liked.
Thanks for the replies. As for tone, I like the JB/59 variety that I have in the LP but looking for a bit fatter middle range. I have great varieties already with the two guitars I mentioned, but I'm just experimenting with something different. Mr. B - I wondered what was it you DIDN'T like about the 59 Hybrid? I have read that the P-Rails HB tone may not be the best but usually the 59H is well liked.
Re: Advice for Strat mod - Humbucker recommendations
Sorry - forgot to respond about gear. For gigging I use a Boss GT100 (so obviously can manipulate the sounds from this) and also a Fender Hot Rod III amp. As I mentioned - just experimenting with the pickup combos in the strat for a fatter HB sound. Thanks.
Sorry - forgot to respond about gear. For gigging I use a Boss GT100 (so obviously can manipulate the sounds from this) and also a Fender Hot Rod III amp. As I mentioned - just experimenting with the pickup combos in the strat for a fatter HB sound. Thanks.
Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
Re: Advice for Strat mod - Humbucker recommendations
A Brobucker bridge, 5-2 middle, and a Quarter Pound neck has potential to be interesting. If you buy the tappable version of the QP and have it automatically tap in position 4 and you would have quite the tonal arsenal.
A Brobucker bridge, 5-2 middle, and a Quarter Pound neck has potential to be interesting. If you buy the tappable version of the QP and have it automatically tap in position 4 and you would have quite the tonal arsenal.
Jeff_H
Dean Hardtail Fanologist
Re: Advice for Strat mod - Humbucker recommendations
The best sounding pickups I ever had in a double fat strat were a CC bridge and an APH neck. The CC has plenty of output, but still retains some vintage flavor, so it's not a one trick pony. It's very mid present, but it still has decent low end, just not a tight low end like an A5 magnet, but it will do palm muted rock riffs just fine. The highs are smooth and singing. It also splits decently well, especially when combined with the middle single coil.
If your strat has a naturally bright tone, the APH neck will warm it up nicely. It has a nice warm clean tone and a great lead voice.... think Sweet Child of Mine or Knockin' on Heavens Door by GNR. For me, the CC/APH combo did all of the clean, dirty and solo tones of songs like that perfectly. It does equally as well with all rock and blues tunes, with less or more gain as needed.
If you want more clarity and slightly brighter tones in the neck, the PG would be my choice. Less bass and a bit more midrange and brighter high end. It can be sizzling and a bit rude or sweeter if you roll the tone down. The 59' neck can also work, but the somewhat scooped mids can over accentuate the lows and highs. This of course varies with the tone of individual guitars.
The Custom/59' Hybrid bridge would be a good choice if you wanted tighter low end and a more defined crunch tone.... tighter sound all around but it can cover blues to rock very easily too.
For me, the CC/APH gave me that warm, crunchy LP type tone in my strat. I think the Custom/59' Hybrid/PG would work well too, for a slightly crunchier and brighter tone.
Good luck.
The best sounding pickups I ever had in a double fat strat were a CC bridge and an APH neck. The CC has plenty of output, but still retains some vintage flavor, so it's not a one trick pony. It's very mid present, but it still has decent low end, just not a tight low end like an A5 magnet, but it will do palm muted rock riffs just fine. The highs are smooth and singing. It also splits decently well, especially when combined with the middle single coil.
If your strat has a naturally bright tone, the APH neck will warm it up nicely. It has a nice warm clean tone and a great lead voice.... think Sweet Child of Mine or Knockin' on Heavens Door by GNR. For me, the CC/APH combo did all of the clean, dirty and solo tones of songs like that perfectly. It does equally as well with all rock and blues tunes, with less or more gain as needed.
If you want more clarity and slightly brighter tones in the neck, the PG would be my choice. Less bass and a bit more midrange and brighter high end. It can be sizzling and a bit rude or sweeter if you roll the tone down. The 59' neck can also work, but the somewhat scooped mids can over accentuate the lows and highs. This of course varies with the tone of individual guitars.
The Custom/59' Hybrid bridge would be a good choice if you wanted tighter low end and a more defined crunch tone.... tighter sound all around but it can cover blues to rock very easily too.
For me, the CC/APH gave me that warm, crunchy LP type tone in my strat. I think the Custom/59' Hybrid/PG would work well too, for a slightly crunchier and brighter tone.
Good luck.
Re: Advice for Strat mod - Humbucker recommendations
Well, the 59/Custom Hybrid will do it, and also sounds great split. A full Custom is a bit hotter still, but still has the PAF-type EQ-profile. Those would be different than the pickups you currently have. Also, remember that mixing Fender and (most) SD pickups will put them out-of-phase. You have to swap the hot and ground on the SD pickup.
Mostly a blues/classic rock tone. Sort of SRV with just a bit more distortion. Of course I'm one of those idiots that wants it all!!
Well, the 59/Custom Hybrid will do it, and also sounds great split. A full Custom is a bit hotter still, but still has the PAF-type EQ-profile. Those would be different than the pickups you currently have. Also, remember that mixing Fender and (most) SD pickups will put them out-of-phase. You have to swap the hot and ground on the SD pickup.
Re: Advice for Strat mod - Humbucker recommendations
You could try a Dimarzio bucker (their takes on PAFs are niice) or, hey, maybe a Gibson pickup.... some are pretty sad, but others are quite fun
If you've never tried the Fender CS line of singles, might be a good time to try at least 1x CS69 in there
You could try a Dimarzio bucker (their takes on PAFs are niice) or, hey, maybe a Gibson pickup.... some are pretty sad, but others are quite fun
If you've never tried the Fender CS line of singles, might be a good time to try at least 1x CS69 in there
Re: Advice for Strat mod - Humbucker recommendations
It's been a while since I was on this thread - took me a L...O...N...G time to get the pickups up here in Canada, but I wanted to again thank everyone for their suggestions and give an update on how this ended up. For my HSH project I ended up using a 59 Hybrid trembucker in the bridge and an APH1 in the neck. The middle was a Texas special (oddly, I did NOT have to reverse the SD Hot/Gnd as was mentioned - it was out-of-phase when I tried reversing them). As I mentioned at the beginning, this was a 2006 Fender Power strat with a piezo bridge and the third knob was the piezo volume. This was left intact and continues to work very well. Interestingly, the wiring for the magnetic pups actually had to go to the piezo volume control (a fishman powerchip) before going to the output jack. I wired push-push pots in the volume and tone position. The P/P tone pot does a coil split for the humbuckers and the P/P volume pot turns on the neck humbucker when the 5 way switch is in the bridge position. When the switch is in position 2, all three pickups are on. I am truly thrilled first with the tone of the humbuckers (thanks for the great recommendations) and also with the flexibility of the P/P pots which allows nice single coil sounds and also a good strat quack in positions 2 and 4. I just played my second gig with this guitar and my bandmates have been raving about the tone. Only trouble is - this has been so much fun that I'll probably have to try another project! Thanks again!
It's been a while since I was on this thread - took me a L...O...N...G time to get the pickups up here in Canada, but I wanted to again thank everyone for their suggestions and give an update on how this ended up. For my HSH project I ended up using a 59 Hybrid trembucker in the bridge and an APH1 in the neck. The middle was a Texas special (oddly, I did NOT have to reverse the SD Hot/Gnd as was mentioned - it was out-of-phase when I tried reversing them). As I mentioned at the beginning, this was a 2006 Fender Power strat with a piezo bridge and the third knob was the piezo volume. This was left intact and continues to work very well. Interestingly, the wiring for the magnetic pups actually had to go to the piezo volume control (a fishman powerchip) before going to the output jack. I wired push-push pots in the volume and tone position. The P/P tone pot does a coil split for the humbuckers and the P/P volume pot turns on the neck humbucker when the 5 way switch is in the bridge position. When the switch is in position 2, all three pickups are on. I am truly thrilled first with the tone of the humbuckers (thanks for the great recommendations) and also with the flexibility of the P/P pots which allows nice single coil sounds and also a good strat quack in positions 2 and 4. I just played my second gig with this guitar and my bandmates have been raving about the tone. Only trouble is - this has been so much fun that I'll probably have to try another project! Thanks again!
