Hotter Strat pickups??

[gtrdave]

I have a 1986 ESP 400 Series '57 Stratocaster. I've owned it since new and have used it as a pickup guinea pig of sorts over the years and have had all sorts of Duncan pickups in it (Hot Rails, Cool Rails, Vintage Rails, Duckbuckers, SSL and more), but a short while ago I decided to return it back to stock.

The original single coils are long gone, so I got a set of GFS Hot Alnico pickups for it and installed them after hearing some rave reviews about the GFS stuff. Plus, they're cheap!
Well, I have to admit that I'm less than impressed with them. They sound okay...very Strat-like and very quacky...but the output is pretty weak compared to every other Strat I play, regardless if it's a Squier, an MIM Fender or any variety of MIA Fender Strat.

So, I'm looking to spend a little more $$$ and get some better pickups for it. I'd like to stick w/ traditional singles and stay away from humbuckers again...been there, done that...although I'm not opposed to noiseless singles that sound like single coils.

Should I look into genuine Fenders? Tex Mex or Texas Specials or is there a set of Duncans that will give me what I'm hoping to hear? Traditional but hot. Is the Quarter Pound too much?

Thanks!

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Hotter Strat pickups??

There are quite a few options here–how "hot" are you wanting? What tone are you after?

 

[gtrdave]

Re: Hotter Strat pickups??

I have three Les Pauls and a few other humbucker-equipped guitars, so that's definitely a tone I'm used to, but I want the Strat to still sound somewhat like a Strat.
Again, I've had nearly every single-sized humbucker made by Duncan in this thing over the years and I don't want to revisit that as even the Duckbuckers still lacked the sparkle I was expecting.
As far as tone...knowing that's an elusive and subjective term...I dig Strat players like Gilmour and Blackmore and Lincoln Brewster and Eric Johnson and John Mayer and SRV...and I guess I want a meaty single tone that cleans up a bit if I roll the guitar volume back (I use my volume controls a LOT).

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Hotter Strat pickups??

Styles/Gigs/Amp?

Lotsa options...
:headbang:

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Hotter Strat pickups??

Again, I've had nearly every single-sized humbucker made by Duncan in this thing over the years and I don't want to revisit that as even the Duckbuckers still lacked the sparkle I was expecting.

I dig Strat players like Gilmour and Blackmore and Lincoln Brewster and Eric Johnson and John Mayer and SRV...and I guess I want a meaty single tone that cleans up a bit if I roll the guitar volume back (I use my volume controls a LOT).

Fender Fat 50s or SD California 50s for the fat tone with sparkle and bell-like chime–have you tried either of those? DiMarzio True Velvets also come to mind.

Fender makes an Eric Johnson Set but I've never tried them.

Just my suggestions, other forum bros will hopefully chime in as well

 

[Mincer]

Re: Hotter Strat pickups??

For hotter single coils that still have that Strat chime, I really like the Antiquity Texas Hots. They are certainly louder & bolder than traditional singles, but also retain the bell-like piano thing that keep us loving the Strat sound so much.

 

[gtrdave]

Re: Hotter Strat pickups??

Styles/Gigs/Amp?

Lotsa options...
:headbang:

I'm a music minister/worship leader by day and I do random rock/country gigs by night and occasional studio sessions.
Gig amps are Peavey Delta Blues and Fender Excelsior Pro. Church amp is a Line 6 HD500.
My two main guitars are a Gibson Les Paul BFG and Fender Pawn Shop '72.
The ESP 400 used to sound great w/ the humbuckers in it, but it became too redundant since I sold my other Teles and Strats, hence the return to a SSS setup for it.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Hotter Strat pickups??

I'm a music minister/worship leader by day and I do random rock/country gigs by night and occasional studio sessions.
Gig amps are Peavey Delta Blues and Fender Excelsior Pro. Church amp is a Line 6 HD500.
My two main guitars are a Gibson Les Paul BFG and Fender Pawn Shop '72.
The ESP 400 used to sound great w/ the humbuckers in it, but it became too redundant since I sold my other Teles and Strats, hence the return to a SSS setup for it.

Majority of what I play is Christian Rock/Worship...I think you will love the Fender Fat 50s or SD California 50s...have you tried either set before?

The Antiquity Texas set Mincer mentioned would work as well, but if you Church does hymns those Fat 50s really chime with bell-like tone on the cleans.

 

[gtrdave]

Re: Hotter Strat pickups??

Majority of what I play is Christian Rock/Worship...I think you will love the Fender Fat 50s or SD California 50s...have you tried either set before?

The Antiquity Texas set Mincer mentioned would work as well, but if you Church does hymns those Fat 50s really chime with bell-like tone on the cleans.

Thanks. I haven't tried any Duncan single coils in years.
Do either of the sets come w/ the rwrp middle pickup? I guess I could order them that way since I'm keeping the 5 way and like the position 2 and 4 sounds. EDIT: never mind...I just educated myself w/ a Google search.

How do either compare to, say, the SSL-5?

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Hotter Strat pickups??

Most welcome!

Both the California 50s and Fat 50s come with the RWRP Middle Pickup

 

[gtrdave]

Re: Hotter Strat pickups??

By comparison, what would I be losing by going w/ something very overwound, such as the SSL-6 or Quarter Pound?
Definition? Chime?
Will I be adding more noise?
btw: the entire pickup cavity (routed SSS) is copper shielded...if it makes a difference.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Hotter Strat pickups??

I like the CS Texas Specials a lot. They're pretty hot, and all five positions are usable tones. I use mine with a TBX tone control on the neck pickups, though, without which I think it would be too dark. I also have the second tone wired to the bridge pickup, with no tone on the middle.

 

[mijaddict]

Re: Hotter Strat pickups??

I personally love the Quarter Pounds as they provide a thickness and meatiness that other single coils won't provide while still retaining much more clarity than your average hot rodded PAF style humbucker, definitely underrated pickups IMHO. Definitely hot enough to play heavy rhythm like a humbucker but will cut sharply for solos as single coils should. They didn't seem to add any more noise or hum than a regular single coil back when I used them a few months ago. I think the only obstacle you might encounter going that route is that they are not very "traditional" or "authentic" as far as conforming to the "classic Strat" sound. I would describe it as a bit of a cross between a P90 and a Strat single coil. That and they aren't quite as treble rich, but I think you won't be disappointed by the clarity, the difference isn't drastic by any means and the Quarter Pound is still very articulate and sensitive. If you're willing to forego a bit of that vintage tone, the Quarter Pound will likely make you happy.

Sent from my LG-D851 using Tapatalk

 

[gtrdave]

Re: Hotter Strat pickups??

I would describe it as a bit of a cross between a P90 and a Strat single coil.

I LOVE P90 pickups! My BFG has one in the neck and it's dreamy and I dig the old Godin LG-P90 guitars. Which reminds me...I've got to get one of those on the used market...

Thanks for all of the replies so far. Definitely good options to choose from, but for now...
...I visited my local store on the way home from the office tonight just to see what they had in stock.
They made me a great deal on a set of Fender Vintage Noiseless pickups ($130 for all three).
I guess I'm going to install those and see how they work out. I've heard them in other Strats and thought they were cool, but I won't know how they sound until they're soldered and screwed in.
I'll update tomorrow.

 

[jmcorey]

Re: Hotter Strat pickups??

If you love Lincoln Brewster, and want to reproduce his tone, he plays noiseless Dimarzio singles: an Area 61 in the bridge and Area 58s in the neck and middle.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Hotter Strat pickups??

SD California 50s for the fat tone with sparkle and bell-like chime

+1
just get a set of those. They are killer strat pickups. If they initially don't feel strong enough then keep them in for a while and adjust your approach. They offer you a whole lot more variation and rich tone that you can't get out of hotter pickups. Trust that they are as good as any other super expensive boutique strat pickups out there and better than most.
Having said that, it doesn't hurt to put an ssl5 in the bridge just to thicken it up a little more than the other 2 pickups, although there is a real case for keeping an ssl1 in there too. They are both great pickups for slightly different reasons.
Any hotter tho, and you start to lose what makes a strat such a sweet, expressive and special guitar. It is just a different mindset and approach than using humbuckers. Embrace the diversity and go exploring, there are real riches to be found in traditional style strat pups.

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Hotter Strat pickups??

You can get a tapped 1/4 lb-er,FWIW...

 

[gtrdave]

Re: Hotter Strat pickups??

I didn't get a chance to install the new Fender Noiseless p/u's today, so hopefully I'll get a chance tomorrow and report back in the eve.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Hotter Strat pickups??

If the noiseless don't work out for you (and the only noiseless Strat pickups I've ever really liked so far are Kinmans), consider the aforementioned QPs. I love these and agree that they give a good amount of girth while retaining much of what I like about singlecoil personality, particularly the way they respond to pick attack when you dig in for emphasis. One other big plus is that they have strong enough output that you shouldn't need to tweak your rig much when switching back & forth with humbucker-equipped guitars.

Since you like P90s, another possibility would be a set of Strat-sized P90 type pickups. Several makers offer these (including the Duncan Custom Shop); I have a set of VintageVibe SP90s that sound excellent. Extra beef, not too much bark. A nearly ideal midpoint between Strat tone and P90 territory.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Hotter Strat pickups??

The QPs are great pickups, but sound more like darker P90s, so they don't have the chime a set of Antiquity Texas Hots or SSL-2s might have.