Brad Paisley Secret Agent Tele - Secret Agent Strat Middle Pickup?

[09records]

I recently wrote to the "Contact Us" part of the website to inquire about having the Custom Shop make something for me. Here's what I wrote:

"I'm looking for a special pickup and hope you guys can help out. I need basically the equivalent of the "Brad Paisley Secret Agent Tele - Neck" pickup, but with a twist - I need one for a Strat style guitar but for the middle position. When playing, my picking hand/pick is held in such a position that the pick often gets hung up on the middle pickup when playing any SSS, HSS, of HSH configuration. I would imagine it would need to be RWRP but I'm not sure. The guitar is a 1986 Charvel Model 1A modified with a Floyd Rose bridge, and a Duncan JB Humbucker (full size) in the bridge pickup position. Also, I would need a recommendation for for a good Neck position single coil that would work in combination with this new "Secret Agent Strat Middle Pickup" and the JB output level wise so there's no volume drop across the 5 positions of the switch. The end goal is to have all three b e equally balanced or close in output, and retain the glassy bell like highs that single coils are known for such as Stevie or Jimi. Thanks."

I got a response from a SD Customer Service Agent. He gave some good recommendations for the neck position. And response time was prompt. Ok, good so far. But regarding my inquiry of having the Custom Shop produce for me a middle position like the Secret Agent, here's what was said: "Thank you for reaching out, Yes, We have had quite a few people tell us they've been using the Secret Agent under the pickguard in the middle position with good results." And provided this link:
https://customshop.seymourduncan.com/brad-paisley-secret-agent-tele-neck/​

This doesn't really tell me much other then there are some other people out there who use and like the BP version of the Secret Agent in the middle positions of a Strat. So I'm looking to y'all for some advice. There's not that much on the website for specs on the Secret Agent other than it has a Ceramic magnet. Does anyone know the Output specs or any other pertinent information? Has anyone here had any success in using the Secret Agent in the middle position of either SSS, HSS, or HSH? If so, with other kinds of pickups were you combining it with? Does it not need to be RW/RP in the middle position? Since I don't know the output, and the Secret Agent sits pretty low (at pickguard level or below) is there any volume drop when switching from Bridge to Middle, or Middle to Neck (depending on what you're using)? I felt the response was rather bland, or that The Custom Shop isn't interested making this kind of pickup. That's fine, just say so. Maybe next time I'll either call to talk to someone directly, check here on the forum first, or just reach out to another builder. What say you fellow members? Thanks in advance.

 

[Mincer]

Welcome to the forum!

First, I'd say when asking about a Custom Shop pickup, always use the Custom Shop contact form. The other question about output volumes is a little more complex. Honestly, a JB is a really hot pickup. Single coils won't be as loud unless you get up to the output of a Quarter Pound or Hot Strat, but then you lose some the high chimey thing of a single coil. If the Secret Agent could be built with a lot more output (Brad doesn't use anything like the JB), what neck single coil would match in output to that while still keeping the characteristics of a neck pickup that you like?

If you change the neck pickup, do you want it to be hum-cancelling with the middle? If you do, the neck would have to be rw/rp. You could get the middle that way, but you'd have to change which coil is on when the middle + bridge split is used.

Since the Custom Shop builds custom pickups, they might be able to really bump up the output of the Secret Agent. Sort of a Hot Secret Agent. I'd ask about that.

 

[09records]

Mincer- Thank You. I did not use the Custom Shop Contact Form, so perhaps that would've helped.

I wouldn't be opposed to Quarter Pound or Hot Strat, I'd actually given those two some consideration a while back when selecting pickups for a T-style build I was doing a while back but opted for a set of rails bridge/neck, each with push/pull split to single to get me somewhere close to a pseudo-Strat vibe with both on and split. I just listened to some sound clips and do see what you're saying about loosing some of the high chimey thing of single coils should either of those two be the choice. Ironically, the stock Jackson Import pickups that are currently in place in neck and middle sound rather close to just that, high-output but more midrange. I am going to have to give more careful thought into what the neck choice will be.

And yes, I would likely wind up changing neck as well and would want it to be hum-cancelling with the middle. If I'm interrupting what you're saying correctly, the middle doesn't absolutely have to be the one that is RW/RP because it would be hum-cancelling with the JB, provided the correct coil is split out when in the in-between position (idk anymore to call it 2 or 4, because there's a lot of debate around which is which). Either/or (neck or middle) would serve the purpose. I totally appreciate your insight. Thank you.

 

[Mincer]

Yes! You got it!

The JB is just a hot pickup, and that is the issue...another option is getting the best sounding single coil for the neck and using a Pickup Booster pedal or something similar (an onboard preamp possibly, too) to boost the output but keep the tone. Of course, slamming an amp with a higher output pickup changes how a pickup 'responds'...it adds compression. A more vintage output pickup in the bridge (like a 59, Alnico II Pro, or Seth Lover) would be easier for balance, but you don't get the aggression of the JB.

 

[jeremy]

are you planning on getting a new pickguard with no middle pup hole or are you asking the custom shop to make a secret agent pup that would mount normally and you would just set it very low?

 

[09records]

are you planning on getting a new pickguard with no middle pup hole or are you asking the custom shop to make a secret agent pup that would mount normally and you would just set it very low?

Good question. The current pickup I have set in there is set very low, so I could possibly use the same pickguard. But I'd be open to either. I have another HSS Strat with a Pariah in the bridge position (not sure what model but it doesn't seem super high output it sounds rather vintage). Maybe 10k-12k tops. I'd have to measure. The single coils that are matched with it I believe are Lollars, don't know what model they are either but they balance nicely with the bridge and set pretty low. It's wired with a 3-way switch, so you only get neck, middle, or bridge. No combination. I bought it used, and the guy who I bought it from didn't remember what models they were but said the singles were a "hotter wind from Lollar to get a little more even with the bridge". The guitar does Chili Peppers really good.