Big fat full sounding strat pickups?

[dsguitar1]

So i'm in search of some big fat bluesy sounding single coil strat pickups that clean up nice and can get all Hendrix and are also very articulate and smooth and don't sound harsh or shrill if you throw some gain at them, low output wise I hear a lot of good things about 'Fender custom shop 69's' (although not sure the bridge pup would be what I want) High output wise the 'Bare Knuckle trilogy suite' seems pretty solid, Bare knuckle pickups haven't let me down yet but what would you guys suggest?

At the moment in the guitar I have got an HSS set up consisting of the stock fender american standard alnico v in the neck and middle which don't sound bad but are just not full and fat enough for me, in the bridge there is a JB which I don't like in there really, its to compressed and and not what I like in a humbucker (In my Pauls I go for Mules or Duncan 59s) but I thought I would give that pickup combo a try.

So SSS with an even fuller sounding bridge pup or a good HSS combo that will get me the sound i'm after.

(The guitar is a 2009 Fender American standard, alder body and a rosewood fingerboard.)

Some thing with not much string pull is a big plus!

Gary Moore
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjUZ0amX4EI

Gary Moore
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFISurEKf5E

Robin Trower
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xos5c4GQyHA

Joe Bonamassa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOdyo7PSF0M

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Big fat full sounding strat pickups?

So i'm in search of some big fat bluesy sounding single coil strat pickups that clean up nice and can get all Hendrix and are also very articulate and smooth and don't sound harsh or shrill if you throw some gain at them,

ssl-1 ssl-1 ssl-5
or
ssl2 ssl2 ssl 6 if you prefer flat pole pieces

 

[JeffB]

Re: Big fat full sounding strat pickups?

I love cs69s, but they are not all that full in the midrange.

I would suggest a set of fralin blues specials with a baseplate on the bridge pickup. Great set.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Big fat full sounding strat pickups?

Antiquity Texas Hots with the Custom Hot Bridge. I use the RW/RP middle. I have two G&L Legacys with these sets, and I love them. FAT!

Bill

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Big fat full sounding strat pickups?

Ant II Surfer - neck/middle. Something hotter - bridge.

Much depends on your amplification.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Big fat full sounding strat pickups?

all these sets would kick ass.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Big fat full sounding strat pickups?

I would also add the Fender Fat 50s in the Neck and Mid, awesome pickups!...bridge can kinda be thin.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Big fat full sounding strat pickups?

I don't think you could go wrong with any of these. My favorites for that tone are the Antiquity Texas Hots. They sound like a giant, bold Strat to me.

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: Big fat full sounding strat pickups?

BKP Apaches.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Big fat full sounding strat pickups?

Wot? Not the BKP Irish Tour set, Neil?

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: Big fat full sounding strat pickups?

Wot? Not the BKP Irish Tour set, Neil?

No, not in this case (I have both sets, plus the Mother's Milk set, all installed in Strats).

Seems to me that the OP wants 'fat', and something that works well with gain, and that's the territory for Alnico 3. (Keep in mind that Alnico 3 pickups need to be set closer to the strings than Alnico 5s due to their weaker magnetic field). The Apaches are kinda more in the ballpark for Gilmour, Trower, Blackmore tones when used with some dirt ... more girth in the middle perhaps ... the ITs are more of a biting '62 sound, more jangle, clatter and sting.

I'd also strongly suggest having a baseplate on whatever bridge single-coil you use.

If money is an issue, try the 'Fender Hot Alnico 3' pickups as used in the post-2007 Highway One Strats.

I'd recommend against using very hot pickups, as you'll lose the great clean tones that can do the beautful Hendrix-y clean stuff. Stay with low to moderate output units and let the amp do some of the work.

 

[Stratman]

Re: Big fat full sounding strat pickups?

Zexcoils!

Best there is out there!