Any humbucker suggestions for a Stratocaster?

Morior

Morior

New member
Hey people.

I've got a MIM Strat that I've modified pretty much every year since I got it in 2002. Right now it is fitted with two Duncan Alnico Pro II single coils and a DiMarzio Tone Zone. I've fallen out of love with the DiMarzio (to be honest, I never really loved it in the first place), and now I'm looking for a humbucker that would fit the Alnico Pro II's better.

What I'm looking for is something that will be warm enough for the guitar (it's rather bright), and that balances well with the two single coils (which I do love) both output and tone wise, while still retaining the ability to get rather nasty and aggressive when one really digs into the strings.

The music styles I'll be using it for goes from blues, jazz-influenced progressive rock and punk through hard rock and metal. However, I am not looking for something with a really high output, as high gain isn't my style. I'm rather looking for something with a kind of smoky, warm yet aggressive and raunchy sound.

So, any suggestions? The Alnico Pro II humbucker, perhaps? Pearly Gates?
 
Re: Any humbucker suggestions for a Stratocaster?

Pearly Gates Plus. You probably have to buy it through a Fender dealer. IMO, it will balance with your single coils but still provide that bit of extra kick. More importantly, it comes with short elevator screw "legs". No need to remove wood to accommodate full-length "legs".
 
Re: Any humbucker suggestions for a Stratocaster?

Just because it matters soundwise and I forgot to tell: the fretboard is made of rosewood.
 
Re: Any humbucker suggestions for a Stratocaster?

Swap the Tone Zone for an Air Zone.
 
Re: Any humbucker suggestions for a Stratocaster?

59 bridge model sound great in the right strat. You're gonna have to deal with the 250k pots for single coils and 500k for humbuckers problem if you go with most humbuckers though. You'll have to change your wiring around. The Dimarzio Virtual Hot PAF sounds good with 250k pots, and the JB runs well with them, although I don't like it.
 
Re: Any humbucker suggestions for a Stratocaster?

No. None. Nothing at all. No stratocaster suggestions here.
 
Re: Any humbucker suggestions for a Stratocaster?

Mr. B said:
59 bridge model sound great in the right strat. You're gonna have to deal with the 250k pots for single coils and 500k for humbuckers problem if you go with most humbuckers though. You'll have to change your wiring around. The Dimarzio Virtual Hot PAF sounds good with 250k pots, and the JB runs well with them, although I don't like it.
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Ah, another thing I left out because I had forgotten: the volume pot is currently a 250k pot, which made the Tone Zone more likeable, but it's still not where I want it. Eluded by better words for a description, it's too modern sounding. Or too 80's sounding. Something like that. :P

I'm looking for a warm, roaring tone with a vintage quality, while still retaining a fair amount of note clarity and spank. And obviously I'd prefer something that sounds good through a 250k pot, seeing as going for a 250k pot definitely was a step in the right direction for me, and it really made the single coils that I've already got in the guitar go from "almost there" to "holy SH*T, that's what I've been looking for!"

I'm also not completely sold on getting a DiMarzio. I've tried a few of their models over the years (Evolution, PAF Pro, Tone Zone, Breed, Air Norton and some others), and while they were fairly good, they had some sort of nuance to them that never really sat right with me, at least not the same way that most of the Duncan equipped guitars I have tried in music stores have.
 
Re: Any humbucker suggestions for a Stratocaster?

Custom Custom!

I have one in a strat and I love it. Its warm but clear and can do all the styles you listed. Its a great lead pickup as well. Its a hard rocking pickup that can get clean as well as raunchy.
 
Re: Any humbucker suggestions for a Stratocaster?

Regular Pearly Gates. (assuming it's a trem strat)
 
Re: Any humbucker suggestions for a Stratocaster?

Rowan said:
Custom Custom!

I have one in a strat and I love it. Its warm but clear and can do all the styles you listed. Its a great lead pickup as well. Its a hard rocking pickup that can get clean as well as raunchy.
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Yep, CC is awesome in a strat.
 
Re: Any humbucker suggestions for a Stratocaster?

The PG+ with the A5 magnet is still too toppy in a bright strat and not a good choice...The Custom Custom is a great bridge pickup...It's warm but not too dark and still offers good note articulation...You're probably going to want something with a hotter wind than a 59,Seth...The PG might be a good choice?

My favorite bridge pickup in one of my strats,has been the Dimarzio Fred...It's been in this strat ever since the Fred came out.
 
Re: Any humbucker suggestions for a Stratocaster?

Probably a damn hard question to answer, but what would the sound differences between a Pearly Gates and a CC be?

After pouring myself some glasses of fine whisky and thinking about it, I have been considering changing the pickguard and going all single coil, by the way. But if I did, I would need a really thick, raunchy true bridge single coil.

Hm... Dammit, I'm having trouble making up my mind. I knew I picked the wrong week to quit my nicotine habit!
 
Re: Any humbucker suggestions for a Stratocaster?

Morior said:
Probably a damn hard question to answer, but what would the sound differences between a Pearly Gates and a CC be?

After pouring myself some glasses of fine whisky and thinking about it, I have been considering changing the pickguard and going all single coil, by the way. But if I did, I would need a really thick, raunchy true bridge single coil.

Hm... Dammit, I'm having trouble making up my mind. I knew I picked the wrong week to quit my nicotine habit!
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The PG has a bittle of "sizzle" over the notes...The CC is warmer and smoother overall,darker,but not too dark...The PG is going to be a bit brighter and the mids are different..My experience as an avid strat player,would be the CC if you're looking to go Seymour Duncan...The PG is a good choice also,as long as you don't split it...The CC does a pretty decent split/parallel tone at it's 14k rating and 7k split....
 
Re: Any humbucker suggestions for a Stratocaster?

Hm. Definitely looking for something that will split well. Grrr, I'd wish someone could just make the perfect pickup for everyone, the kind of pickup that upon creation would just have angels goin "AAAAAAAAAAAA", opera style and that'd make the pope weep. And then punch him in the face, because it's THAT awesome.
 
Re: Any humbucker suggestions for a Stratocaster?

Morior said:
Hm. Definitely looking for something that will split well. Grrr, I'd wish someone could just make the perfect pickup for everyone, the kind of pickup that upon creation would just have angels goin "AAAAAAAAAAAA", opera style and that'd make the pope weep. And then punch him in the face, because it's THAT awesome.
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No matter what you do,you are never going to "really" nail the tone of a true single coil using a humbucker....You can sought of get close,but close it what you end up with...The CC gives you a pretty decent split/parallel split...

I'm a strat player and prefer Antiquity single coils in most of my strats.
 
Re: Any humbucker suggestions for a Stratocaster?

I certainly wouldn't go all single coil, unless the bridge one was a Hot Rails. :p
 
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