Help selecting Strat PUPS

[JWK007]

I've got a 90s Strat Plus that I'd like to swap the pickups in. I find the lace sensor golds in it sound a little "plinky" and the output is extremely low compared to my 2 humbucker guitars. I would like a humbucker in the bridge position but still have that Strat chime from the middle and neck PUPS. Noise is also an issue.

I'm looking at 2 possible options:

1 - JB Jr.™ Strat in the bridge with Custom Stack Plus Strats in the middle and neck. I'd be interested to hear peoples thoughts on using these PUPS together.

2 - Everything Axe™ set or possibly loaded pickguard. I'm also interested to hear peoples thoughts on this setup. I'm worried that the Duckbucker in the middle might be a little too quacky.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Mincer]

Welcome to the forum!
The first set you mentioned is a really great set. Sounds like a Strat, but the bridge rocks a lot more. On the Everything Axe set, you lose the Strat-sounding neck position. I'd pick that one if you want a more buttery humbucker sound in the neck position.

 

[JWK007]

Welcome to the forum!
The first set you mentioned is a really great set. Sounds like a Strat, but the bridge rocks a lot more. On the Everything Axe set, you lose the Strat-sounding neck position. I'd pick that one if you want a more buttery humbucker sound in the neck position.

I was thinking the same thing. I think I'd like to keep the bridge PU strat like, so for sure option 1. Or I'm wondering if I should buy the Classic Loaded Pickguard plus JB Jr. This is only $2 more than buying a blank pickguard and the 3 PUPs separately and will give me more of a variety of the Stacks + spare PU.

 

[Mincer]

Well, for $2, that's a deal! The JB Jr doesn't sound like a Strat at all, but it would be cool to have that pickup laying around.

 

[jeremy]

if you dont like the lace golds, i dont think youll like the duck so skip option 2.

for option 1, you mention the custom stack +. if you use 500k pots, i think the custom stack + neck and middle with jbjr bridge might be a potent setup! i wouldnt use 250k pots with custom stack neck and middle, it would be too dark for me. if you mean classic stack+ with jbjr in the bridge, that would also be a good combo, with 250k pots. the classic stack + will have a bit more output than the gold sensors but may still be plinky to your ears.

now, your 3rd option the classic loaded pickguard seems like the best bet to me. vintage hot stack+ neck, classic stack+ middle, and custom stack+ bridge. fatter neck with more output than vintage, vintage middle, and a hotter bridge you can swap out if you really want a bucker tone from the bridge.

 

[JWK007]

if you dont like the lace golds, i dont think youll like the duck so skip option 2.

I was wondering about that when I was researching the duck. Thanks for confirming.

now, your 3rd option the classic loaded pickguard seems like the best bet to me. vintage hot stack+ neck, classic stack+ middle, and custom stack+ bridge. fatter neck with more output than vintage, vintage middle, and a hotter bridge you can swap out if you really want a bucker tone from the bridge.

Yeah, I think this is the best option. Great combo, easy install + I keep the original pups / pickguard in tact, in case I want to return my guitar to "all original".

 

[EC Strat]

Be sure you’re getting the classic stacks 4+ set and not the prior versions IMO if you go that route. I had that set and they were so close to the real deal it was very tough to tell the difference. Very vintage sounding.

 

[Robbiedbee]

To add my 2 cents. I really, really like the Cool Rails in a Strat.

I have a Mexican Strat that has Cool Rails neck, Vintage Rails middle and Cool Rails bridge, works beautifully. The typical Strat quack in the 2 and 4 positions. Nice creamy and punchy leads on the neck position, handles distortion nicely. The bridge position can do fantastic classic rock tones too.

 

[GuitarStv]

You might want to try out Paul Gilbert's Injector set. Dimarzio Injector neck and bridge, and an area 67 middle pickup. It kinda bridges the sounds between humbuckers and single coils. With volume and tone fully up you get loud and slightly fuller neck and bridge sounds. Roll the tone back to about half and they sound like bright humbuckers. The in-between sounds do a pretty good in-between strat thing, and the middle pickup does a decent plinky strat tone.

On the SD side, I'm a big fan of the SSL-2 / SSL-2 / SSL-6 combo. Bigger beefier bridge (that still sounds stratty), classic sounding neck and middle sounds. The STK-S4 / STK-S4 / STK-S6 set would be the noiseless versions.