Hard Rock Pickup for Strat

C

CarlosG

Member
Hi!
I am looking for humbucker with Hard Rock sound. I very like all 80's tone: AC/DC, Def Leppard, Guns n' Roses, Van Halen, Iron Maiden, Ratt, Dokken, Metallica, Megadeth, Motley Crue, Great White, Kiss, Twisted Sister, Whitesnake (Sykes) etc.
I have Fender Strat with Duncan JB with single 250k volume pot. I really like it, but I want more pronounced sound. JB sounds like amplifier covered with a blanket. I tryed 500k and 1meg pot, but I don't like his icepick, with 250k sounds the best. JB is to hot for me, I need more hard rock sound, better cleaning when I turn down the volume. I want the pikcup to have all adjustable pole pieces (dimarzio welcome).
I don't want to ice pick, I like bright sound like Slash or EVH, but I don't like icepick characteristic for Fenders.
I want the pickup to be good in the mix (midrange welcome). The bass must be tight, I don't like muddy spongy bass.
I was looking a bit and for now I like Dimarzio Gravity Storm
What can you recommend?
 
Re: Hard Rock Pickup for Strat

I would start with the Perpetual Burn. Then get more guitars.

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Re: Hard Rock Pickup for Strat

An A4 '59/C Hybrid sounds like the best bet for you. I have tried it in 4 of my Fenders and it has sounded nice for what you are describing in every one of them, but if for some reason you find it too bright, I also really like an A2 in the '59/C.
 
Re: Hard Rock Pickup for Strat

250k pot is going to sound "like amplifier covered with blanket" in most cases. You also don't need 12 adjustable pole pieces, you just want that. The more conditions you add, the more difficult it will be to find what you really need.
 
Re: Hard Rock Pickup for Strat

chadd said:
250k pot is going to sound "like amplifier covered with blanket" in most cases. You also don't need 12 adjustable pole pieces, you just want that. The more conditions you add, the more difficult it will be to find what you really need.
Click to expand...

I need for better signal setting for each string separately
 
Re: Hard Rock Pickup for Strat

You need a PATB-3, as the PATB design incorporates a dual polepiece design so each string has a polepiece on the left and right side.... on each bobbin. This pickup naturally helps increase your sustain and keeps your sound tight. The -3 model is like a hotter PAF at 9k, but it plays and sounds tighter than a standard HB design. The PATB-1 is hotter like the JB, but sounds like something more in the Custom Family....a C5 or a standard Custom, depending on the guitar and who you talk to.

I have the PATB-1 and while I like it a lot for 80's music (my favorite too), it is a bit too sterile and stiff at times. I plan to try and trade it for a PATB-3 soon, otherwise I'll just buy one. You seriously can't go wrong with one. It will do everything you're looking for..... except you can't adjust the polepieces. The good thing is the design is so good, you don't need to.
 
Re: Hard Rock Pickup for Strat

I am a little confused, as Slash doesn't have a bright sound. EVH doesn't have a bright sound. I would suggest bright pickups but these 2 artists has me questioning your definition of 'bright'. So, let's use some other terms describing what you don't like about your sound right now.
 
Re: Hard Rock Pickup for Strat

CarlosG said:
Hi!
I am looking for humbucker with Hard Rock sound. I very like all 80's tone: AC/DC, Def Leppard, Guns n' Roses, Van Halen, Iron Maiden, Ratt, Dokken, Metallica, Megadeth, Motley Crue, Great White, Kiss, Twisted Sister, Whitesnake (Sykes) etc.
I have Fender Strat with Duncan JB with single 250k volume pot. I really like it, but I want more pronounced sound. JB sounds like amplifier covered with a blanket. I tryed 500k and 1meg pot, but I don't like his icepick, with 250k sounds the best. JB is to hot for me, I need more hard rock sound, better cleaning when I turn down the volume. I want the pikcup to have all adjustable pole pieces (dimarzio welcome).
I don't want to ice pick, I like bright sound like Slash or EVH, but I don't like icepick characteristic for Fenders.
I want the pickup to be good in the mix (midrange welcome). The bass must be tight, I don't like muddy spongy bass.
I was looking a bit and for now I like Dimarzio Gravity Storm
What can you recommend?
Click to expand...

I highly recommend the Breed Bridge! Running it in my Charvel San Dimas in Eb and it pulls off Van Halen, Kiss, Dokken, and more so well :)
I went from the JB to the Breed and love the difference.
 
Re: Hard Rock Pickup for Strat

I love the PATB series. Love the PATB-1b and the PATB-3. I find them to both be articulate and punchy. They split very well. While I love both of these pickups, I tend to reach for the PATB-1b more than the 3.
 
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