good and versatile sinclecoil pickups?

nieveulv

nieveulv

New member
Hi guys, purchasing a new set of single coil pickups for my MIM strat as the stock ones are not good. So my style of music is (radiohead, muse, coldplay, luna sea, alterbridge, porcupine tree, guns and roses)

basically a rock and alternative guitar for hot searing and singing lead tones and rythm . No blues and jazz and vintage tones for this guitar, however, clean tones is a must (coldplay, radiohead clean modern tones, not vintage) So which pickup combo are good for these type of music

1) lace sensor Blue, red and silver combo
2) SD hot rails in all position
3) hot rails, cool rails and vintage rail combo
4) lindy frallin blues special set
5) lace sensor hot gold
6) seymour duncan antiquities
7) others? please state
8) no dimarzio if possible

Thanks guys for any help and advice that is given
 
Re: good and versatile sinclecoil pickups?

Well, first of all, you say that clean tones are a must. This pretty much rules out Hot Rails and the Lace Sensor RSB set.

The price of three Fralin or Duncan Antiquity pickups is almost as much as the guitar. Is this wise?

Er, G'nFR on anything other than a Les Paul?

From your original list, this process of elimination leaves only Lace Sensor Hot Golds and/or other suggestions.

I suggest something based on the Fender Eric Clapton Stratocaster circuit. At least, that way, you can vary between your clean and searing sounds using the active mid-booster.
 
Re: good and versatile sinclecoil pickups?

Do you want noiseless single coils?

If so take a look at the Custom Stack Plus for the bridge and Classic Stack Plus for the neck and middle.


For normal single coils I would look at the SSL-5 in the bridge and SSl-1 in middle and neck.
 
Re: good and versatile sinclecoil pickups?

A set of Fender CS 54 pickups will run you about $150. IMO there isn't a better sounding Strat pickup.
 
Re: good and versatile sinclecoil pickups?

I dont mind paying for the fralins if its worth it :D Can the frallins play hard rock? Is it wise to combine hot rails in the bridge and other neck pickups? If so what would be a good neck and mid pickups to go along the hot rails in the bridge?
 
Re: good and versatile sinclecoil pickups?

For a schizophrenic strat, there's no better set than the EMG dave Gilmour set. I use one in an old ash/maple strat and it does all you asked for and then some.
 
Re: good and versatile sinclecoil pickups?

Can't speak to all of those pickups.

How important is hum canceling?
How do you feel about tapped pickups (which may require an additional switch)
What characteristics of the MIM pickups do you not like?
 
Re: good and versatile sinclecoil pickups?

For passives I'd recommend either the Duncan SSL1 or SSL2 pickups, the exact model depending on your fretboard radius: SSL1 for rounder vintage boards and SSL2 for flatter modern ones.

For actives I can heartily recommend the EMG DG20 David Gilmour setup. It really is the ultimate in versatility in strat setups, and even sounds good at it.
 
Re: good and versatile sinclecoil pickups?

Thanks for the replies..but I can't seem to get the emgs dg20 and I have a hot rails bridge that is unused so I will try putting them in. Is the hot rails good in neck position? Any other sc pickups to complement the hotrails in the bridge?
 
Re: good and versatile sinclecoil pickups?

If you have the rails, give them a go. Of the choices mentioned, I'd go for the cool rails. Never tried them, but going from what I remember of the descriptions that's what I would try.

If you want to consider active, then look at the Duncan offerings - you can use the EXG and SPC preamps that come with the DG20 with them. They sound a lot more natural than EMG's, IMO. I like my Strats to sound more vintage - you can do a lot with pedals and amps. Look at Eric Johnson for an example.
 
Re: good and versatile sinclecoil pickups?

Hello, again.

In my earlier posting (#2, see above), I questioned the wisdom of installing high end pickups in a MIM Stratocaster.

I wasn't belittling the pickups. I was implying that the wooden parts are not good enough.

I'm a fussy, old basket.
 
Re: good and versatile sinclecoil pickups?

HOT RAILS.

Sorry. I like many of the other pickups you mention. But given your description of what you want I can guarantee you that you will be blown away by the hotrails.
 
Re: good and versatile sinclecoil pickups?

is the hot rails good in the neck and middle position? Due to me already having a hot rail, kinda want to try having hot rails in all position
 
Re: good and versatile sinclecoil pickups?

A p90 retrofit (if you have the route for it) would be the best single coil for all the music you listed, IMO
 
Re: good and versatile sinclecoil pickups?

I have used the Fender 57/62s in a MIM strat w. a maple neck. BEAUTIFUL clean tone. a lil Less bass than an ssl-1 or early 50's type of strat pickup. Very chimey and bell like. Not harsh, IMO.

Has great clarity so although they don't drive an amp as hard, they retain their character through a good bit of gain.
 
Re: good and versatile sinclecoil pickups?

I was going to "+1" on the Fender CS '54s, but then I remembered you said "No blues and jazz and vintage tones for this guitar" and that's exactly what those give. That also rules out approximately half of the above suggestions, alas. Instead, I'd suggest something active, such as an EMG Gilmour or maybe an S-set: modern Strat tone, with smooth and even frequency responses. Decidedly and gleefully non-vintage.
 
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