Hot pickups for a Strat

[Kermit]

Hi, new here

I just bought a Fender Stratocaster Classic 60's yester, by the way a great guitar, but I'm not digging the pickups. I play a lot of rock where I use my overdrive quite a bit, and the standard pickups just don't seem to cut it.

I was looking at the Dimarzio webpage, and got some answer from their techs, but then I called my local shop and they don't carry Dimarzio because the importer is a rival shop, but they do have Seymour Duncans, and I'm not doubting that they will sound just as good as any Dimarzio.

The Dimarzio tech came up with this for my sound
Bridge: VirtuAL 2 Bridge
Middle: Virtual Vintage 2.2
Neck: VirtuAL 2 Middle

I want a sound that's similar to a humbucker, but still remains that great strat tone. I'm not much into the cool rails or the lil 59 or what it's called. I want a pickup that looks like a standard strat pickup but has more output and still has that strat classic tone when overdriven. I was looking at the SSL-3 hot and the Quarter Pounders, will they be similar to the Dimarzio setup?

Thanks a million

 

[jony]

Re: Hot pickups for a Strat

Yes i personally use a SSL-3 hot.. Its a good pickup with a solid mid push. I have it in the bridge.. When played clean it still has some strat like chime.. but with more mids to it and really sustains. Definitely has a volume jump over the stock pickups though. Overdriven it performs like a bright humbucker.

For the rest of your needs, look to the SSL-5 custom for neck or QP.

The middle pickup your tech has suggested is really a vintage tone pickup.. So going with a SSL-1 will be fine or Alnico 2 pro. the alnico 2 pro has more mids and is smoother slightly less sharp endish... SSL-1 is basically your stock strat pickup with more punch.. not output. Just more definition and yah.. punch..

 

[jony]

Re: Hot pickups for a Strat

The Dimarzios are hum cancelling while the Duncans are not, The thing about Duncans are that traditional looking pickups are not hum cancelling.

Added note.. many people have had luck with a Hot rails(b)/Vintage rails or duckbucker(m)/Cool rails combo in the guitars.

They are hum cancelling and IMO let your guitar look different. Still got a great tone.

Welcome to the forum by the way.. Hope you enjoy your stay here

btw this is my first pickup reccomendation I am doing.

 

[insane_potato]

Re: Hot pickups for a Strat

I think you need hum-cancelling since you're going to use overdrive a lot. I found this STK-S4 'stack plus' in the tone chart, seems like something you'd want to take a look at. it's hot, hum-cancelling and looks like a standard strat pup at the same time.

 

[walt]

Re: Hot pickups for a Strat

I have used in the past Hot Stacks and Classic Stacks in my strat. Hot Stacks are not traditional looking but did sound fairly good as did the Classic Stacks. The reason I didn't stay with them is that I was looking for a more "open" sounding stacked bucker. I ended up with a Virtual Blues, Virtual 2.2, and Heavy Blues in that guitar, while I liked the sound a little better it still isn't what I'm looking for but it's close. Look for Banjo Mike (Mike's Guitarshop) on ebay, he is a Duncan and Dimarzio dealer and has a super selection and is a real cool guy to boot.

 

[jony]

Re: Hot pickups for a Strat

Seems like that model you mention is actually not released yet..
Dont see it in the products page.

I know there has been some discussion about new duncan stacks that sound great.

 

[Artie]

Re: Hot pickups for a Strat

Thats true. Here's more info. Also, I don't really think they're "hot" pickups. I believe they lean more towards "vintage" output. But, as you said, the SSL-5/6's are great. I prefer the flatter 6's myself, and just installed three of 'em into my Strat tonight. Get one or two "tapped", and you can have your cake and eat it too.

Artie

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Hot pickups for a Strat

I have an Albert Lee sig set out of a Music Man guitar. Its very similar to a pair of APS-2's in the neck and mid and a Twangbanger bridge but cleaner and lower output. It sound fantastic clean and overdriven. I think that a pair of APS-2's and a Twangbanger would do very well in your guitar.