Best noiseless pickups for SRV tone?

Lightnin’

New member
Kinda wanting a pickup to have a thick, “rubbery” sound in the neck positions. Lots of SRV’s lead tones, for example, whenever he used overdrive/gain. Not sure if that makes sense. Lol.

I was wondering if anyone could recommend me the best noiseless/Hum-cancelling pickups, that could give me an SRV, or Kenny Wayne Shepherd overdriven lead tone. Always liked SRV’s neck pickup tones on songs like Texas Flood, Tightrope, The Sky is Crying, Little Wing, Tin Pan Alley.

I was recommended the Seymour Duncan Classic Stack Plus, by another guitar player on a forum, but wanted to see if anyone here thought that would be the best fit, or if anyone had any more recommendations.
 
Re: Best noiseless pickups for SRV tone?

Maybe a dimarzio HS3 set ? I remember having some and they had a really good vintage Strat sound.

As far as what Duncan makes I'd say classic stack plus, though I don't really have personal experience with them, all my research has led me to the classic stack plus and I plan on purchasing one soon myself

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Re: Best noiseless pickups for SRV tone?

The Classic Stack Plus is what you want. They are the noiseless version of the SSL-1, which is as close as you're going to get to what SRV actually used from the Seymour Duncan line. They are the classic vintage Strat tone. I've used the Classic Strat Plus in the neck and middle and they do not disappoint.
 
Re: Best noiseless pickups for SRV tone?

I've been down this road.

DiMarzio: Area set (try the 61 in the neck!)

Kinman: Impersonator E56 neck/middle and Texas Jalapeno in bridge

Duncan: Classic Stack Plus

Fender: Gen 4 Noiseless
 
Re: Best noiseless pickups for SRV tone?

EMG SAs always sounded great and "Stratty" to me, but with added versatility and zero audible noise. I've had a set for nearly 30 years now, in and out of several guitars over the years. They came in my first electric guitar, which I got in my youth (an '85 MIJ '50s Strat reissue). They are the only active guitar pickups I own. I am a passive pickups guy, but I like having one guitar that is dead quiet, with very tonally neutral pickups – for certain situations. As long as you know how to e.q. an amp, you can get anything from them, including classic Strat tones.
 
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Re: Best noiseless pickups for SRV tone?

Maybe a dimarzio HS3 set ? I remember having some and they had a really good vintage Strat sound.

As far as what Duncan makes I'd say classic stack plus, though I don't really have personal experience with them, all my research has led me to the classic stack plus and I plan on purchasing one soon myself

Sent from my SM-G965W using Tapatalk

Did you ever get a set of the Classic Stack Plus?
 
Re: Best noiseless pickups for SRV tone?

Lightnin’;4384830 said:
Did you ever get a set of the Classic Stack Plus?

Did YOU?

It's been a month, man...pull the trigger already! ;)

Seriously, though, you won't get better advice than has been suggested already. Both of the artists you are interested in used vintage early '60s single coils for their signature tone. The rest is in the effects, amp, and hands. Don't overthink it
 
Re: Best noiseless pickups for SRV tone?

Just installed a Classic Stack on my Fender Strat. Really nice but IMO a bit different than classic vintage strat sound because of the flat poles and wax poted. Will do an SRV tone no problem.
I also installed a Vintage Hot Stack STK-S7 in the bridge, a very well balanced match, tone and volume wise.
 
Re: Best noiseless pickups for SRV tone?

Just installed a Classic Stack on my Fender Strat. Really nice but IMO a bit different than classic vintage strat sound because of the flat poles and wax poted. Will do an SRV tone no problem.
I also installed a Vintage Hot Stack STK-S7 in the bridge, a very well balanced match, tone and volume wise.

I think the Classic Stack is better for most modern instruments with the flat poles. It does hit the amp differently than a traditional single, but in a very good way.
 
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