Blues Saraceno Humbucker

wickedmartini

wickedmartini

New member
Anybody have some clips of this pickup to share? I have been considering it for a current Strat project that I have been working on but it's been tough to find samples. Also, can you recommend a good complimentary single coil neck pickup for the Blues model?

Thanks!
 
Re: Blues Saraceno Humbucker

The PATB single coil would be a great choice.


What sort of sound are you looking for out of the bridge exactly?

Clips are overrated and they are not worth anything unless you have something to compare it to that you are familiar with. Plus, clips never capture the pure mojo and personality of a pickup. Just an FYI.
 
Re: Blues Saraceno Humbucker

I guess the key is versatility. I want a well balanced, articulate bridge PU that can do it all. Something that can play dirty but still clean up well. I play everything from blues to rock. My latest Strat project is setup for a humbucker in the bridge and a single in the neck. No middle pickup. This is that last decision I have to make as far as what PU's to drop in and it's been tough. For a while I was thinking about a JB but I have heard a lot of good things about the Blue Saraceno model. Output is not so much an issue as is versatility and tone. I want something with good bottom end thump but overall balance if that makes any sense. And any suggestions on a good matching single for the neck would be appreciated too. Most of my other Strats have PAF's in them.
 
Re: Blues Saraceno Humbucker

It is similar the the '59 but I think it has a tad bit less high end, you can read the specs on the main site. Seems to me like a good choice for what you are going after;)
 
Re: Blues Saraceno Humbucker

I have the PATB-STK1 pup in the neck right now. It does not really sound all that stratty to me. Sort of a strat crossed with a P-90 tone I think. This guitar also has the PATB-3 in the bridge. I love the bridge pickup, but I am still debating on the neck pup.
 
Re: Blues Saraceno Humbucker

I'm looking for a matching PU too...I was wondering about the little '59 and/or the SSL-4 Quarter-Pound
 
Re: Blues Saraceno Humbucker

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKCJ5fLaWzc

Its the only recording I have of me playing the guitar, sorry.

I have classic stacks in the neck and middle.. they don't sound too stratty to my ears. I find they don't have quite enough character for the bridge pickup.. I'm looking to change them out.
 
Re: Blues Saraceno Humbucker

I have my PATB-3 in a Samick TV-20 Blues SAraceno model.
The pickup is fantastic. Sounds more "Gibsony" than most strat/bucker combos.
You will like the bridge pup. I replaced the neck PASTK-1 with a Bill LAwrence L-45.
I am much happier with the L-45 bucause I want a "real" strat tone on the neck pup.
I am selling the PASTK-1 if anyone want's it.....
 
Re: Blues Saraceno Humbucker

I am not sure that there is a "Problem" with the PASTK-1.
I am sure it does what it was designed for.
However I want a neck put that sounds like a vintage strat pup but with higher output.
The PASTK-1 sounds more P-90ish than stratty to me.
It just depends on what you want. The PASTK-1 didn't sound bad, it just didn't do what I wanted.
What I am trying to create with the pickup swaps is vintage LEs PAul Bridge tone (which the PATB-3 pretty much does)
with vintage strat tones in the neck and middle that are loiud enough to keep up with the PATB-3.
 
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Re: Blues Saraceno Humbucker

Well,I still haven't found the answer.I was considering the SSL-4 but I think it's not very "vintage",although it seems to have a good output.
 
Re: Blues Saraceno Humbucker

Well, I wanted a guitar that would do Billy G and SRV.
The PATB-3 does the Billy G, the Bill Lawrence L-45 does the SRV for me with my setup.....A custom tube amp (think 30 watt deluxe reverb) and pedals - TS-9, HAO Rumble Mod, and Boss Blues Driver.
I highly recomend the PATB-3 for any strat type that has a bridge bucker.....
YMMV
 
Re: Blues Saraceno Humbucker

Cob85 said:
But the Bill Laurence L-45 is quite "vintage"?
Click to expand...

Well, to me it sounds like a good sparkly, ringing strat pickup.
If you A/Bed it to a real '54 strat, I am sure you could hear a difference.
If you listen to Bill himself playing the strat on Youtube, it sounds different than what they sound like through my amp. Bill must be playing throught some sort of squeeky clean Jazz amp.
IMHO the amp is a hugely underated component of tone.
 
Re: Blues Saraceno Humbucker

Yes,I know the amp is very important for tone,anyway since I can't change amp,the pickup is the second thing that changes tone (at least,I think!)
 
Re: Blues Saraceno Humbucker

I ended up getting the PATB-1 for my project Strat. Kind of stuck on the neck pickup. I like the PASTK-1 but it's not quite what I was looking for. I'd like to retain some of that classic Strat vibe and given the fact that my new setup is going to be a humbucker in the bridge and a single in the neck the choice is kind of critical. The PASTK-1 is nice but it doesn't give me that classic feel.
 
Re: Blues Saraceno Humbucker

I didn't have much luck finding any but even that doesn't tell you the whole story. I finally found a buddy of mine that had a few installed and checked them out. To me, the PATB line doesn't get half the talk or credit that it deserves. So many other SD pickups get all the attention. The more research I have done the more I am loving the PATB line. I liked the PA-STK but it just lacked some of the old school Strat character that I was looking for. I can definitely see it fitting into another project somewhere down the line.
 
Re: Blues Saraceno Humbucker

wickedmartini said:
Anybody have some clips of this pickup to share? I have been considering it for a current Strat project that I have been working on but it's been tough to find samples. Also, can you recommend a good complimentary single coil neck pickup for the Blues model?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

hello martini, i have some clips to share... its used on a alder-bodied with maple+rosewood bolt-on neck, so its probably relevant to you

sample of the blues trembucker (inner coil) mixed with SSL1 in the middle, known as the "4th position" to some
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guLbG-vaxyw&feature=channel_page

sample of the blues trembucker itself
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8aLlVtD2Uw&feature=channel_page

hope it helps cheers
 
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