Brahd new M(M black strat coming today - pickup advice?

[Duffy1949]

Yeah. A brand new MIM black strat today. I'm wondering what would be some highly recommended pickups to replace the supposedly mediocre ceramic stock pickups. I want to get some quiet but very musical pickups that put out everything from a smooth mellow low end, up to a shimmering high end.


I don't mind having to "buy" a new set of pickups. In other strats I have available to swap into the new MIM black standard; a set of Seymour Duncan black noiseless single coil sized pickups - JB jr, Little '59, and Hot Rail. I can put these pickups in my new MIM if I want to.


I also have a new set of Fender "Fat Fifties" single coils in another guitar that I could put in the MIM strat.


So, it is a new MIM Black strat coming today and I think I am going to want to swap in some new pick ups.


Have any of you found the stock ceramic pickups to be satisfactory?


Are there some other especially nice strat pickups anyone would suggest swaping into my new strat?


Feedback is appreciated. Thanks for taking a second to reflect on this idea.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Brahd new M(M black strat coming today - pickup advice?

On poplar-bodied MIM Stratocasters, the qualities of the ceramic single coils seem to balance out those of the tonewood.

Current production line Fender MIM Standard Stratocasters are routed for HSS pickups. You could elect to have a regular sized 'bucker nearest the bridge. Obviously, this would involve purchasing a new pickguard. The advantage of this is that, in the event that you need to sell, your modifications would be fully (and easily) reversible.

Since you already have another set of pickups assembled onto a pickguard, it might be worth trying those first. I find that the Fender Fat Fifties set goes better with the vintage-style bent steel saddles.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Brahd new M(M black strat coming today - pickup advice?

I would say play the guitar first and see what you like and don't like about the tone. This way you can tell us what is "wrong"/"needs improvement." Such as, "weak bridge" or "too bright" etc.

Fender Fat 50's are my favorite single coils–I have had them in two Ash Strats and a Mahogany+Spruce Semi Hollow Strat. Bell-like chime with super clear fat tones. They take dirt very well too but are awesome clean! (IMO)

I had a Poplar MIM Strat with a Maple Neck that I upgraded to regular Fender American Standard Pickups–was a very nice improvement (as well as upgraded the pots and switch.)