Considering new pickup combos for two Strats

[Kelsey]

I've got a few new Strat pickups waiting to be installed and I'm considering a few different combinations. One set will go into my Hotrodded American Series Texas Special Strat and the other will go into my American Deluxe V-neck Strat. Both of these Strats have medium weight alder bodies and 1-piece maple necks with modern hardware.

I have at my disposal:

1. a set of SSL-1 Strat pickups
2. a 5/2 Strat neck pickup and RWRP middle
3. a Twangbanger Strat bridge pickup
3. an Antiquity Texas Hot
4. two Antiquity I Custom bridge pickups
5. a set of Fender CS Texas Specials

Here are the options I'm considering so far:

Set A:
1. 5/2 neck, 5/2 RWRP middle, Twangbanger bridge
2. 5/2 neck, SSL-1 RWRP middle, Twangbanger bridge
3. SSL-1 neck, SSL-1 RWRP middle, Twangbanger bridge

Set B:
1. 5/2 RWRP neck, SSL-1 middle, Antiquity Custom bridge
2. SSL-1 RWRP neck, SSL-1 middle, Antiquity Custom bridge
3. Antiquity Texas Hot neck, SSL-1 middle, Antiquity Custom bridge
4. Antiquity Texas Hot neck, Antiquity Custom bridge middle, Antiquity Custom bridge.

Which pair of options would you choose for these two Strats?
Thanks for sharing your opinions!

 

[Artie]

Re: Considering new pickup combos for two Strats

Looking over the pieces/parts you have available to you, I think I'd approach this from a slightly different perspective than you are. Mind you, this is just my 2-cents worth.

You've got the makings for two "classic" Stratocasters that will be, (in the spirit of good-better-best), the "better" and "best", with the Antiquity's probably being the "best".

Why not just assemble one killer Strat, then evaluate whether or not you need one more thats "almost as good". Maybe go a whole 'nother direction with the other. Like P-90's, or single-sized hums. Full-sized hums, or whatever. You could always sell the singles you didn't use to finance the ones for axe #2.

Just a thought.

Artie

 

[Kelsey]

Re: Considering new pickup combos for two Strats

Artie,

I did consider putting a Phat Cat bridge and the 5/2 neck and middle in one Strat, but I've been pretty happy with the beefy tone of the Twangbanger and Antiquity Custom bridge, so I'm putting Phat Cats in my PRS McCarty. I've gotten to the point where I prefer single coil pickups overall, especially at the neck; I prefer a Strat neck pickup over any other neck pickup at this point. I will keep the stock American Deluxe SCN pickguard assembly intact so I can swap it back in whenever I absolutely need a noiseless Strat option.

I also have 3 CS Strats, so I'm just looking to improve the overall tone of these two very nice standard production Strats, using pickups I have at hand. I would consider saving one of the Antiquity Strat pickups to put in the bridge of my CS 56 Strat, but the rest of the CS pickups are staying put.

Thanks for the suggestion. Any others?

Has anyone tried an Antiquity Custom bridge pickup in the middle position?

 

[Artie]

Re: Considering new pickup combos for two Strats

Ah . . . cool. I understand. You've got the makings there for two cool Strats. Hopefully, others will chime in soon with more suggestions.

 

[Kelsey]

Re: Considering new pickup combos for two Strats

OK, I think I've figured it out. I'm going to start by wiring up the 5/2 neck, 5/2 RWRP middle, and Twangbanger in one Strat, and the Texas Hot neck, standard SSL-1 middle, and Antiquity Custom bridge in the other. That way I can A/B the Texas Hot and 5/2 neck and the SSL-1 and 5/2 middle pickups. I've also recorded samples with SSL-1 neck and middle, so I should be able to reach a best case decision sooner or later. Maybe I'll hit it right the first time...

THanks for the suggestions Artie.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Considering new pickup combos for two Strats

Well, even though you look to have it sorted out, I'd most likely end up doing this if I had all that at my disposal (I'm jealous, BTW...lol).

1 - Fender CS Texas Specials - I LOVE these pickups and they're my favorite single-coils. I actually have a set in one of my Strats and love playing the thing.

2 - Start with the SSL-1 in the neck/middle and a Twangbanger in the bridge or an Antiquity Custom Hot in the bridge or 3 X Antiquities (your set B, #4) <----- that would rock.

 

[Kelsey]

Re: Considering new pickup combos for two Strats

I may eventually wind my way back to the Texas Specials, but I like the tone of the SSL-1's a little better at the neck and middle. I had thought about Texas Specials at neck and middle with an Antiquity Custom bridge, and I have used the Ant Texas Hot neck with a Texas Special middle and Ant Custom bridge. Overall, however, I think the SSL-1's sound a bit smoother and richer in the neck and middle.

I currently have the SSL-1 neck and middle paired with the Twangbanger. It sounds pretty nice, but there sometimes seems to be a little bit too much high end on the plain strings with the SSL-1's, especially at the neck. That's why I picked up the 5/2 neck and middle in the first place.

Do you really think an Antiquity Custom bridge pickup would sound good in the middle slot with the Antiquity Texas Hot at the neck and the other Antiquity Custom Bridge in the bridge slot? Do you know of anyone who has tried it? I have to admit that it sounds intriguing.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Considering new pickup combos for two Strats

I personally have very little experience with Duncan singles. The only ones I used are the SSL-1/2's, AP-1/2's and the SSL-5/6. Hence why I began number 2, "Start with...". LOL. For a little more beef in the neck and middle, I'd try the Ants and Texas hot there for kicks. It just might work.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Considering new pickup combos for two Strats

Being that I'm getting more and more into country styled things, I would set one up to be my "Nashville twang-o-caster", i.e. 5/2's in the neck and mid with a twangbanger in the bridge and a push/pull pot to allow me to turn on the bridge pickup at any time and a set of 9's.

The other would get a classic blues/rock strat treatment. SSL-1's in the neck and middle and the Antiquity Custom in the bridge, all strung up with 10's or 11's.

 

[Kelsey]

Re: Considering new pickup combos for two Strats

Benjy,

That sounds like a good approach. The countrified version is what I originally had in mind when I bought the 5/2's. For the other one, I have to see whether there is enough lead length to switch the RWRP middle SSL-1 to the neck. I suspect that the guy who pre-wired that assembly dressed them off for keeps. That's why I may start with the Texas Hot neck, standard SSL-1 in the middle, and the Ant Custom bridge. The issue with the Texas Hot neck is whether I'll like the response on the wound strings, which was a concern when I had it wired up before -- I'll try it in a different guitar this time around.

I'm still intrigued about how one of the Ant Custom bridge pickups would sound in the middle. The Texas Hot neck is about 6.4 K, and the Custom bridge pickups are 9.89 K and 10.18 K ohms. Of course, there would be no RWRP hum killing option in that setup, but I tend to use each pickup alone 95% of the time anyway.