At risk of repeating.....upgrading a Jap Strat...

[SimonHK]

Hi all, first post. I have recently returned to playing my 1983 "SQ" Japanese Squier strat - I don't know what the body is made of - edit: I think it's ash, according to a few other sources - rosewood fret board - Floyd Rose locking trem - hot rails all round.
I just bought a Vox AC4 and a Celestion Gold Alnico speaker (and cab) and want to get back to the classic Strat sound, but with a bit more edge/bite/chime.
I don't want the full on hot rails experience anymore...
I am into U2, Foo Fighters, John Mayer, KT Tunstall, Muse, Paramore (first album!)
I see that the SSL-5/1/1 suite is popular. Is that suitable for my guitar?
How about the STK-4 set? Hum cancelling useful? Still sounds like a strat?
Do I need staggered or flat poles?
Or something more powerful?
I have been combing through the site, studying pickups, but there are waaay too many, it's too confusing, I'd need to take a week off work...

Your considered opinion would be appreciated.

S.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: At risk of repeating.....upgrading a Jap Strat...

Welcome to the forum.

The body of your 1983 Squier Stratocaster is probably made from basswood. Failing that, poplar.

My JV series Squier Stratocaster wears APS-1L, APS-1 and Twangbanger pickups.

 

[Dr.J4ckal]

Re: At risk of repeating.....upgrading a Jap Strat...

I have just installed APS1/APS1/twang banger in my japanese ri54 strat. Definitely the best tone I ever got from this guitar.

I suggest to check if your string is spaced at 52mm or 50mm at the neck position. My strat measured at 52/52/50mm, when I tried normal (52mm) aps-1 in the neck, the sound is a bit thin/ice picky especially on the high e string.
Lucky I found a 50mm one (it's labeled APS-1m on the back and it's RWRP).

 

[SimonHK]

Re: At risk of repeating.....upgrading a Jap Strat...

Thanks for the speedy response guys...
I thought the Twang banger APST-1 is for more of a Telecaster sound? Teles' do sound great. I like the desciption of the APST-1/2, sounds like what I'm after, and hell if it's good enough for Britney Spears, well....

My strings measure 52/50/48mm

 

[SimonHK]

Re: At risk of repeating.....upgrading a Jap Strat...

My strings measure 52/50/48mm, is that going to be a problem? I understand that the strings should line up with the pup poles....How accurate should it be?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: At risk of repeating.....upgrading a Jap Strat...

Look at photographs of original vintage Fender Stratocasters. The polepieces have NEVER aligned perfectly with the strings.

Yes. The Twangbanger pickup is meant to sound more like a Telecaster lead/Treble position pickup. It does not entirely succeed in this aim but still manages to sound beefy when matched with two vintage output single coil pickups in the middle and neck positions. Installing a Fender No-Load Tone control helps to improve the illusion of Tele twang slightly.