FrankenStrat - Pickup Advice

[Rusthawk]

Hello all!!!! I have a few questions about selecting a "versatile" set of guitar pickups.

After playing everything under then sun for a number of years I've finally decided to create my own "FrankenStrat" from scratch.

My inspiration came when my Strat's pickups finally crapped out. It's been pulled apart so many times, patched and rebuilt that I think (for the time being) I am just going to retire the old girl. I've always wanted a guitar built and put together to my own spec.

Warmoth.com has given me a wealth of information as well as this site. I am going to take an unfinished body and have my Fiance' paint,draw, etc. and than a local Luthier is going to put it all together. My problem is Pickups!!!!

The sky is the limit, since the body will be made to my specs. I could go with any configuration.

I play in a progressive rock band that focuses allot on tone and intricacies. I related to Jeff Beck and Mark Knopfler simply because I do not use a pick. And for me this is key when dealing with tone & pickups.

David Gilmour and his late 60's to mid 70's (non Wall era) sound is one I adore. But....my own sound is a bit more organic, plus I use allot of different delays - almost like early U2 with more of a punch

Versatility is key. I'd like to go with a Strat Body that would except a Humbucker pickup at the Bridge. ("S-S-H") For me, the idea of having the ability to switch between a Single Coil Melody and chord play with a Humbucker in the Bridge position would really be a huge step in the right direction. Plus it would fatten my sound when driving chords.

Here's a short list of the Pickups I've found and shown interest in. Someone told me to just go out and buy the EMG DG20 package. I'd like a bit more versatility. The EMG Expander and individual boosts/Presence Control sound interesting but I was concerned that it would limit my sound.

Bridge:

Lace Sensor PS-905
P90 Humbucker
SD SSL-5



Neck/Middle
Dimarzio Air Norton / Pro Track

A very short list indeed. Ideas???? Are sets better? I've heard great things about Seymour Duncan, but have had success in the past with certain Dimarzio pickups. Duncan's should be incorporated into the mix but what to blend with it?
Thanks!

 

[Rusthawk]

Re: FrankenStrat - Pickup Advice

Hello all!!!! I have a few questions about selecting a "versatile" set of guitar pickups.

After playing everything under then sun for a number of years I've finally decided to create my own "FrankenStrat" from scratch.

My inspiration came when my Strat's pickups finally crapped out. It's been pulled apart so many times, patched and rebuilt that I think (for the time being) I am just going to retire the old girl. I've always wanted a guitar built and put together to my own spec.

Warmoth.com has given me a wealth of information as well as this site. I am going to take an unfinished body and have my Fiance' paint,draw, etc. and than a local Luthier is going to put it all together. My problem is Pickups!!!!

The sky is the limit, since the body will be made to my specs. I could go with any configuration.

I play in a progressive rock band that focuses allot on tone and intricacies. I related to Jeff Beck and Mark Knopfler simply because I do not use a pick. And for me this is key when dealing with tone & pickups.

David Gilmour and his late 60's to mid 70's (non Wall era) sound is one I adore. But....my own sound is a bit more organic, plus I use allot of different delays - almost like early U2 with more of a punch

Versatility is key. I'd like to go with a Strat Body that would except a Humbucker pickup at the Bridge. ("S-S-H") For me, the idea of having the ability to switch between a Single Coil Melody and chord play with a Humbucker in the Bridge position would really be a huge step in the right direction. Plus it would fatten my sound when driving chords.

Here's a short list of the Pickups I've found and shown interest in. Someone told me to just go out and buy the EMG DG20 package. I'd like a bit more versatility. The EMG Expander and individual boosts/Presence Control sound interesting but I was concerned that it would limit my sound.

Bridge:

Lace Sensor PS-905
P90 Humbucker
SD SSL-5



Neck/Middle
Dimarzio Air Norton / Pro Track

A very short list indeed. Ideas???? Are sets better? I've heard great things about Seymour Duncan, but have had success in the past with certain Dimarzio pickups. Duncan's should be incorporated into the mix but what to blend with it?
Thanks!

BTW- SD Trembucker was recommended but was told it may be to thin and glassy for my application. Hot Rails and Pearly Gates as well.

 

[devastone]

Re: FrankenStrat - Pickup Advice

Which trembucker? There are 3 versions of the Parallel Axis Trembucker, and most, if not all, of the standard humbuckers are available in trembucker spacing.

The PATB Distortion is neither thin or glassy, but is probably too hot for you. The Hot Rails is definitely not glassy. The PG may be considered a little bright for a humbucker, but not single coil "glass".



Other than that, can you give a little more detail on what kind of tone you want to achieve? What woods in the guitar? Bridge? Or even some artists that are close to what you are shooting for...

 

[Rusthawk]

Re: FrankenStrat - Pickup Advice

Which trembucker? There are 3 versions of the Parallel Axis Trembucker, and most, if not all, of the standard humbuckers are available in trembucker spacing.

The PATB Distortion is neither thin or glassy, but is probably too hot for you. The Hot Rails is definitely not glassy. The PG may be considered a little bright for a humbucker, but not single coil "glass".



Other than that, can you give a little more detail on what kind of tone you want to achieve? What woods in the guitar? Bridge? Or even some artists that are close to what you are shooting for...

Devastone, thanks for your response and input. I just should have defined Versatile just a bit more:1: In no way do I want this setup to be so versatile that I could handle everything from Rockabilly all the way up to Slayer.

I'm going to go with a Warmoth Strat just because of the options and personalization aspects. I'm only now becoming familiar with all of the different Stock Body & Neck Woods. I can say that I'm not a fan of Stock Les Paul Studio Necks, that Urethan feeling seems to be more trouble than it's worth when playing outside w/humidity. The Strat is a step above. I forget the neck wood but I played a guitar that a very natural finish to the neck, you could lightly feel the grain but there was no heavy Urethan, Lacquer type coating to it. Rosewood?

For the body some have told me to go with Swamp Ash for a brighter Tone, Alder was said to possibly fit my needs a bit better and Basswood for a good blend. BTW I really like the finish on your guitar (Avatar).

Playing in a band everyone always asks, "Who do you guys sounds like". To be honest, my answer is always "Like, us". Our genre would definitely be considered Alt/Indie (Modern) but way more Progressive. Chord play for me is normally very Led Zeppelin - Achilles Last Stand, Circa Survive - The Difference....(google the song and listen to just a snippet of the main chord structure) Since I do not use a pick most of my chord play is heavily phrased. Radiohead comes to mind. The Strat that I use is entirely too thin. Chord melodies mirror the solo from Another Brick in the wall a bit too much.

I drive a Pro Co Rat 3/4 of the way, we do a good job with Pink Floyd (Dark Side of the Moon era) and Led Zeppelin covers. The Strat (as you guys know) can be hard to thicken up on the bottom end to really drive chord play. Hence the reason I would really like to see what can be done with a Humbucking Pickup on the Bridge. What I lose with my PRS and Les Paul is that perfect sounding melody that my Strat can produce (in the Bridge position with the Mids and Treb at a neutral position). Delay and Reverb and allot of handwork are all I need. I keep the pedal erray and effects to a minimum.

I love Jimi Hendrix and Robin Trower but have no need for a "Little Wing","Bridge of Sighs" sound. Radiohead with a bit more versatility for chord play and Pink Floyd (I do the solo work in the band) is as hard as I'd like to go.

Thanks!!!!

 

[Despair]

Re: FrankenStrat - Pickup Advice

Hard choices. If you really want to nail Knopfler tones, you want some good low output single coils in neck and especially middle. A lot of people find slightly hotter pickups easier to get Gilmour tones out of without excessive EQ sculpting.

Balancing that against a humbucker bridge can be tricky (though not as bad as HSH configs).

A lot depends on what you want out of the bridge, and whether you want the pickup to push the amp/distortion pedal, or for the amp to do the work. As close to a classic Les Paul tone as is possible in a strat? Or something that blazes a bit more?

You might check out the PATB-1b or PATB-3, I think they are woefully underused. PATB-1 kinda sounds in between a Custom Custom and a Custom 5, only a bit hotter and more open. Paradoxical, really inspiring to play. The PATB-3 is more like a beefier, hotter '59. Both of them respond nicely to the volume control. PATB-3 might be easier to balance against lowish output single coils, if you aren't using separate volume knobs for bridge vs middle/neck.

The Parallel Axis series really does nice things to thicken up a superstrat with a floating vibrato bridge, and they're wonderfully articulate.

You might look at the STK-S4 Classic Stack Plus for the middle. For the neck, the STK-S7 Vintage Hot Stack Plus is a slight bump in output without darkening things/changing the standard single coil tone. Solos slightly better, without changing the notch position tone excessively. Or for thicker neck solo tones, check out the STK-S6 Custom Stack Plus.

If you prefer your single coils in all their humming glory, how about SSL-2 (or SSL-1 if you prefer the vintage stagger) middle and neck. Or you could go with an SSL-6 (or SSL-5 for vintage stagger) in the neck for thicker neck solo tone.

Those pickup recommendations may be focusing too much on your Knopfler mention, but if you want hotter single coils, there's plenty of options there as well.

 

[AudioWonderland]

Re: FrankenStrat - Pickup Advice

It doesn't sound to me like you necessarily want/need a humbucker in the bridge, just something thicker and punchier. That being the case, I would recommend a cool rail bridge with vintage rail neck and middle. The cool rail is punchy and fat sounding but not humbucker big and loud.

 

[marcello252]

Re: FrankenStrat - Pickup Advice

ii would recommend a cool rail bridge with vintage rail neck and middle. The cool rail is punchy and fat sounding but not humbucker big and loud.

+1

 

[Rusthawk]

Re: FrankenStrat - Pickup Advice

Hard choices. If you really want to nail Knopfler tones, you want some good low output single coils in neck and especially middle. A lot of people find slightly hotter pickups easier to get Gilmour tones out of without excessive EQ sculpting.

Balancing that against a humbucker bridge can be tricky (though not as bad as HSH configs).

A lot depends on what you want out of the bridge, and whether you want the pickup to push the amp/distortion pedal, or for the amp to do the work. As close to a classic Les Paul tone as is possible in a strat? Or something that blazes a bit more?

You might check out the PATB-1b or PATB-3, I think they are woefully underused. PATB-1 kinda sounds in between a Custom Custom and a Custom 5, only a bit hotter and more open. Paradoxical, really inspiring to play. The PATB-3 is more like a beefier, hotter '59. Both of them respond nicely to the volume control. PATB-3 might be easier to balance against lowish output single coils, if you aren't using separate volume knobs for bridge vs middle/neck.

The Parallel Axis series really does nice things to thicken up a superstrat with a floating vibrato bridge, and they're wonderfully articulate.

You might look at the STK-S4 Classic Stack Plus for the middle. For the neck, the STK-S7 Vintage Hot Stack Plus is a slight bump in output without darkening things/changing the standard single coil tone. Solos slightly better, without changing the notch position tone excessively. Or for thicker neck solo tones, check out the STK-S6 Custom Stack Plus.

If you prefer your single coils in all their humming glory, how about SSL-2 (or SSL-1 if you prefer the vintage stagger) middle and neck. Or you could go with an SSL-6 (or SSL-5 for vintage stagger) in the neck for thicker neck solo tone.

Those pickup recommendations may be focusing too much on your Knopfler mention, but if you want hotter single coils, there's plenty of options there as well.

Despair : Thanks for all of your recommendations. Unfortunately I do not want the Knopfler tone. The reason I brought him and Jeff Beck up was because a strummed chord for me most often than not sounds very bassy, low mid as opposed to a more pronounced clarity with a pick. With every guitar that I play as opposed to a pick user I absolutely have to pull the mids way up. Almost all of my playing is done within the bridge position.

Even with lighter weight strings I've always preferred the drive and thickness of a Les Paul hence the reason I was leaning towards a Humbucker pickup within the bridge. To me the idea of a Humbucker Les Paul sound mated with a Strat just sounds awesome. Honestly I've always thought my wonderful Strat was entirely too thin and glass sounding.

I researched every single pickup you recommened. Minus the Pro-Axis which might be a just a bit too agressive the rest seemed versatile enough for Classic Rock articulation. A better part of my playing will be lead chord Rhythm which sort of lends it hand to one giant sweeping solo.

To be honest I had considered a Blue Lace Sensor in the Neck position just because of what I heard on a friends guitar. The rest surely will be Seymour Duncan. Would the pickups you recommended stand up to a boosted distortion (very alternative) with allot of articulate phrasing? Super Knoplfer clarity is definitely not what I'm going for. Single Coil pickups have done fine for me with certain styles of play. I could go either way. I honest;y don't know much about Trembuckers but from what I can tell from Google, they are popular.

A thicker boosted tone is what I crave. Like EMG does Seymour Duncan carry tonal control add-ons?

AudioWonderland: Good point. That was what steered my away from the Les Paul. I was able to get the boost and loudness out of the humbucker just not the clarity and articulation.

At the end of the day I would love to steer towards something very similar to a Humbucker in the bridge (I sort of have my heart set on it).

Remember, I'm big on Delays and play Alternative/Indie music with a good Progressive kick in the pants.

Keep brining on the ideas!!!! I can't thank you guys enough. SD has me sold for sure.:cool2:

 

[devastone]

Re: FrankenStrat - Pickup Advice

I'm with Audiowonderland, good suggestions. If you want a full size hb in the bridge, a '59 might work, or maybe a DiMarzio Fred or Mo' Joe.

 

[Rusthawk]

Re: FrankenStrat - Pickup Advice

BTW- I do like the description for the SCR-1.

Would you go Vintage in the middle, Cool Rail for the Bridge or Neck? I'm not 100% positive on what I'd like to do with the Bridge as of yet. And this would be the closest I could get with SD in regards to a fatter punchier Humbucking sound?

Or...Hot Rail on the bridge and Cool Rail on the neck?

 

[AudioWonderland]

Re: FrankenStrat - Pickup Advice

BTW- I do like the description for the SCR-1.

Would you go Vintage in the middle, Cool Rail for the Bridge or Neck? I'm not 100% positive on what I'd like to do with the Bridge as of yet. And this would be the closest I could get with SD in regards to a fatter punchier Humbucking sound?

Or...Hot Rail on the bridge and Cool Rail on the neck?

A Hot Rail has output in the range of s Distortion or JB and is rather dark sounding to me. I would go with the Cool Rail or if you want the full HB output level maybe the lil 59 for the bridge slot.

The Vintage Rail is a no brainer to me for the middle slot

The neck is kind a toss up depending on what your priorities are. If you want more "stratty", snappier type tones the vintage rail is a better choice. If you want something with a little more punch for lead work I would (and have) typically used the cool rail for the neck slot.

 

[Rusthawk]

Re: FrankenStrat - Pickup Advice

Great! I guess my decision comes down to whether or not I want a Hot Rail in the Bridge or a '59. From what I read the Hot Rail maybe a bit stronger but not as dynamic as the '59.

At the end of the day would I lease articulation with the Hot Rail? You had said that it was a bit dark sounding?

 

[Rusthawk]

Re: FrankenStrat - Pickup Advice

I really just wanted to stop through and give everyone who contributed a big thank you :beerchug:

 

[AudioWonderland]

Re: FrankenStrat - Pickup Advice

I really just wanted to stop through and give everyone who contributed a big thank you :beerchug:

What did you end up going with?