Best pickups for a "LesStrat" HSH build?

[GibStrat_UK]

I've got a nice gold metallic Fender Stratocaster American Standard body and I'm looking to turn it into a 'LP gold top' StratoGib! :scratchch
I'm buying a rosewood Strat neck and cream scratch plate for starters, plus Gibson-type hat box knobs. I want a HSH pickup configuration, i.e. humbucker in the neck position, single coil middle and humbucker in the bridge. I envisage a mellow humbucker sound but with a bit if Straty-ness from the body. I'd love to have your SD pickup suggestions! (I think to match with the two humbuckers the middle pup ought to be a SD mini-humbucker?)

Thanks in advance for all and any contributions!

John

 

[gregory]

Re: HSH Stratolester

Re: HSH Stratolester

Two humbuckers in a Strat will still sound like two humbuckers in a Strat. Alder Strat body, bolt-on neck, Strat bridge and 25.5" scale: there is no getting around that.

That out of the way, I'd look into either an Antiquity or Slash Bridge and a Pearly Gates Neck. I'd go with an Antiquity Texas Hot Strat Middle RW/RP for the single.

Switching:
1: Bridge Series
2: Bridge Series + Neck Series
3: Middle
4: Middle + Neck
5: Neck

I'd install a push/pull pot to split the neck pickup, which I install with the slug coil closest to the neck. The magnet would also need to be flipped so that position 4 will be hum cancelling when the neck is split.

500k volume
250k tone for the bridge and middle to share
500k tone for the neck

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Best pickups for a "LesStrat" HSH build?

My Les Strat has Seth neck, Phat Cat middle, JB bridge. I love it, it's my #1. The PC in the middle helps add LPness to it and it still quacks wonderfully with the HBs. Mine's metallic silver with a cream pickguard, ha.

I have another with a 59 neck, cool rails middle, Distortion bridge. It's pretty good but the other has the classiest LesStrat tone, especially with the PC in the middle.

I like a hotter bridge pickup, but I'm sure Greg's suggestion of a PG neck and Ant mid would be good if you want to alternate from fat humbucker sounds to more true single coil sounds.

 

[gregory]

Re: HSH Stratolester

Re: HSH Stratolester

All three pickups in the Ant. Texas Hot set have different strengths. Depending on what he wants to do with switching and splitting (or not splitting), I could see choosing any of the three.

Anyhow, my focus is on which Duncan pickups would make an HSH Strat behave most like a traditional Les Paul. To me that means something that will sound and feel like a PAF in a Les Paul.

Using lighter gauge strings and/or tuning down a half step can help too.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Best pickups for a "LesStrat" HSH build?

Yup, all 3 of my favorite vintage PAFs in 1 guitar. Seth/Ant hybrid, and PC. Don't know if Gibstrat wants a PC in the middle but it's outstanding for LesStrat tone. Plus you don't have to worry about getting a true single coil to balance.

 

[thegummy]

Re: HSH Stratolester

Re: HSH Stratolester

Two humbuckers in a Strat will still sound like two humbuckers in a Strat. Alder Strat body, bolt-on neck, Strat bridge and 25.5" scale: there is no getting around that.

I've very recently tried an HSS Strat for the first time by putting a humbucker from another guitar into a Strat and was quite surprised at how much it still sounded like a Strat and totally different from when the same pickup was in the other guitar.

 

[gregory]

Re: Best pickups for a "LesStrat" HSH build?

Yup, all 3 of my favorite vintage PAFs in 1 guitar. Seth/Ant hybrid, and PC. Don't know if Gibstrat wants a PC in the middle but it's outstanding for LesStrat tone. Plus you don't have to worry about getting a true single coil to balance.

I don't mind the imbalance. In some cases it can be beneficial.

 

[Synapsys]

Re: Best pickups for a "LesStrat" HSH build?

PATB set.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Best pickups for a "LesStrat" HSH build?

Hey, I'd just go all old school- 2 Antiquity humbuckers and a Classic Strat Stack in the middle. I wouldn't worry about splitting or anything. It would sound classic, and not have any hum at all. Just use a regular 5 way switch. Tune down 12 step and use 10s.