Help Finding The Strat Tone I'm Looking For

[Jakash]

I’m looking to get a set of Strat pickups to upgrade the very first guitar I ever owned (a MIM Strat that I just got back from a friend after 11 years). Now, I’ve been trying to get my ideal Strat tone for several years. I don’t know how to describe exactly what I’m looking for in a pickup, but I do know I want a low output vintage style pickup.

I think the best way to describe what I’m looking for is to walk through the pickups I’ve used and what I’ve liked. First I used a set of Dimarzio Area pickups—I really didn’t like them. I then got a set of Duncan Antiquity Texas Hots these were way better and I liked them and have kept them in one of my Strats, but they weren’t quite what I wanted (they did let me get a nice Nick Johnson tone). Next, I tried a set of SSL-1s I liked these and they were good but still not quite what I was looking for, I put them in another Strat. I then got a Strat that was loaded with Fender Custom ’54s. The 54s are really close to what I want and I would probably get a set of them for this guitar, but I want to see if I can do even better.

I’ve been thinking about the Surfers or maybe Lollar Blondes or Tweeds or even something custom. Any suggestions?

Also based on what I didn’t like and what I did am I looking for a mid-scooped pickup or what? What makes the ‘54s different?

Sorry if this is confusing—I find it hard to describe sounds. I’ve always thought of it as woody, percussive, mid-scooped. I play relatively clean and mostly through either a Deluxe Reverb, a Princeton Reverb or a Mesa Lonestar.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Help Finding The Strat Tone I'm Looking For

Sounds like you want the Surfers.

The differences between some of these pups (SSL-1, 54, Surfers) may be very slight and you may be looking for a specific tone that is achievable only in the right combination of pups, guitar, strings, and amp.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Help Finding The Strat Tone I'm Looking For

what did you not like about the ssl1 that you liked about the 54?

the surfers are similar to the ssl1 but a little softer around the edges i guess, great pups.

 

[MakerDP]

Re: Help Finding The Strat Tone I'm Looking For

Try a set of the pickups from the Robert Cray strat (MiM version.) There are a whole lot of people who think these are the absolute best pickups Fender has ever made. You can get a "new" set (stripped from a brand-new RC Strat) for only $99 on Reverb. GREAT sweet vintage tone.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Help Finding The Strat Tone I'm Looking For

best pups fender ever made eh? the pups from the mim robert cray strat? ill need some proof of this. fender has made plenty of good pups over the years

 

[LesPaulPlayer001]

Re: Help Finding The Strat Tone I'm Looking For

+1 on the Surf set from Seymour Duncan. Although the California 50's might be that little bit better than those Fender ones that you liked. The surfers have more of the tone associated with surf and the 50's have the true original 50's strat tone. Watch some YouTube videos demoing each of them. Also, try the Custom Shop, if you have the money they will get you the perfect pickup.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Help Finding The Strat Tone I'm Looking For

the california 50s set is the ssl1 he already tried. the surfers sound like a great early 60s strat pup to me

 

[LesPaulPlayer001]

Re: Help Finding The Strat Tone I'm Looking For

Ah, okay sorry. I would try the surfers then, or custom shop.

 

[David Garner]

Re: Help Finding The Strat Tone I'm Looking For

If you like the 54s, you’ll love Bare Knuckle Apaches.

The Surfers are great, but significantly different from the 54s. They’re a 60s wind. The 54s are, obviously, a 50s wind. So are the SSL-1s. And the Apaches.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Help Finding The Strat Tone I'm Looking For

the apaches are good pups but alnico 3 so quite different than the fender 54 which are wound hotter and have alnico 5 magnets. there is a lot of bs marketing thrown around with all types of pups

 

[donaldr]

Re: Help Finding The Strat Tone I'm Looking For

Let me know how it turns out. For me it looks like the staggered pole pieces being the culprit of why I have a hard time finding my Strat tone. I ordered a non staggered set, 9.5" radius, of Rose Robusta/Butt Beauty for my Fender Strat. And I also ordered (nothing available in stores and nothing on the used market here in Canada...) a STK-S4 neck (flat polepieces) for my LTD Strat copy to match my STK-S7 bridge (flat), wanting a noiseless Strat in the stable. Will know the result in couple of weeks.

 

[MakerDP]

Re: Help Finding The Strat Tone I'm Looking For

best pups fender ever made eh? the pups from the mim robert cray strat? ill need some proof of this. fender has made plenty of good pups over the years

Yeah, quite a few people feel that way. They really are a great set of pups. My MiM RC Strat is one of the best sounding guitars I have ever owned. Of course, some of that does have to do with the hardtail bridge.

 

[tukiguitarman]

Re: Help Finding The Strat Tone I'm Looking For

i think you should investigate the Di Marzio HS1 one of their early stack single coil designs,very low output springy strat sound,i have one in the middle position of a project guitar and it sounds super sweet,i think if you like the 54 tone you will surely like this,that is if you can find one.

ps-these are noise canceling too as its a stack design

 

[jeremy]

Re: Help Finding The Strat Tone I'm Looking For

if he didnt like the area pups, but did like the ssl1 and 54, i doubt he will love the hs1.

i like the rc strats just fine. the mia one has a cool set of pups with a flat pole bridge but i didnt think they were mindblowing or anything. i do like the hardtail aspect of the guitar.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Help Finding The Strat Tone I'm Looking For

All excellent pickups you have tried. I too really like the CS ‘54’s, but my current favorite strat set is the Fralin Vintage Hots.