HSS Strat Humbucker recommendations?

Re: HSS Strat Humbucker recommendations?

As I already said, I know the JB, I heard and played it in Strats/Strat-style guitars and just don't get along with it, sorry. Same with the Pearly Gates, played them in Strats - spec-wise pretty much identical to my own one - and just did not like its tone.

I think I already clarified what I want: clarity, open top end, attack, tightness, not too many mids, no riddiculous output.
While I see that the JB is a great pickup to use for many people, it's just not what I'm looking for or what would work well with my amp and my idea of tone in general.
 
Re: HSS Strat Humbucker recommendations?

Fair enough
I really recommend you try a Suhr DSV+
Has all the qualities you describe.
Tried to embed the link but it didn't work.
You can't hear the guy talk but the sound is a good example of the DSV+
http://youtu.be/HFSyKsRNImw
 
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Re: HSS Strat Humbucker recommendations?

JesusCrisp said:
I think I already clarified what I want: clarity, open top end, attack, tightness, not too many mids, no riddiculous output.
Click to expand...

This, my friend, says Screamin Demon all over it. I have one in an alder Strat, but maple board. It will deliver what you want. The Demon is perfect in the guitar I have it in. If yours is good wood and lively, you're in for a treat.

Seems like the Demon lovers are in the minority here but I can assure you, it is not weak and it is not overly bright.

Now, what's your amp setup? Going from your OP, sounds like a high gain amp is your choice. I use the Soldano model in my Vox Valvetronix and I also have a Marshall.

Here's the guitar. It has a Slash model in the neck.
IMG_0398.JPG
 
Re: HSS Strat Humbucker recommendations?

Well, my Strat is an American Special, I found its acoustic sound pretty lively, could hold up to the Standards I played so far.

My amp setup is an Egnater Rebel 30. I use a Boss SD-1 to boost it in order to get a more usable high gain tone out of it. The Atomic is far from staying tight enough with much gain, because - believe it or not - the amp can deliver quite a serious amount of gain, especially on higher volumes.

The reason I'm absolutely positive that the Atomic is a bad pickup for what I play and with this amp setup is playing a friend's Gibson Explorer (500T PU). That thing gave the amp a nice kick, staying tight without the help of the SD-1 and despite the mahogany body it still sounded clearer than the Atomic on my Strat.
 
Re: HSS Strat Humbucker recommendations?

Well, the Atomic is not the best pickup out there. There are way better options. Fender does great with single-coils, but not with humbuckers.

The Demon has way less output than the 500T so if you try it out, don't expect to get the same results as you did playing that Explorer.

I had a '94 American Standards and my Frankenstrat I posted above ran circles around it in every way.
 
Re: HSS Strat Humbucker recommendations?

I definately share your opinion about Fender pickups.

And yes I know that a PU like the Demon won't be the same, the 500T is actually a bit too hot for my taste as well, it certainly has some huge output.

Anyway, still not 100% sure about what pickup to put in. That's the problem with them: you hardly find a guitar you can play with replacement pickups that aren't the extremely popular ones (e.g. JB, PG, '59, Jazz).
 
Re: HSS Strat Humbucker recommendations?

Did you listen to the link I posted ?
 
Re: HSS Strat Humbucker recommendations?

Yes I did, but no idea where to get a Suhr pickup for a reasonable price in Europe...
 
Re: HSS Strat Humbucker recommendations?

I'll have one for sale shortly.
50mm spacing, double black.
I've ordered a zebra one , as I love the look.
 
Re: HSS Strat Humbucker recommendations?

I'll pm you when the new one arrives ok ?
The one in the guitar now has only been in for 2 months and I didn't cut the lead.
 
Re: HSS Strat Humbucker recommendations?

A little update in my pickup quest:

Been to a music store yesterday and could try 2 pickups in more or less similar guitars as my own Strat, which were a Fernandes Revolver Classic with a Duncan Distortion and an Ibanez Prestige RG with a Dimarzio Tone Zone.
Played both through an ENGL Gigmaster and a Fender Bassman RI.

On the Gigmaster for rythm both were pretty responsive and tight enough to my ears while delivering a big tone. The Distortion had a harsher attack and more focused overall tone while the Tone Zone sounded smoother. Overall I liked the distortion tone of the Tone Zone better, as well as the lead tones. It really sings, even on the highest frets.

Playing them through the Bassman the Tone Zone "won" again. The splitted Distortion sounded kind of dull, no singlecoil feeling at all, no matter if played in the bridge+middle position or just the bridge position. With the RG I unfortunately could not play the split humbucker on its own, but in the bridge+middle position it sounded very authentic and Strat-like.

Now the problems with the whole test are that my amp is quite different from the Gigmaster and that the RG is at least somewhat different from my Strat as well tonewise.

Any idea on how the Tone Zone would work out on the Strat?
 
Re: HSS Strat Humbucker recommendations?

Not a fan of the JB with 250k pots in my HSS ash legacy. It sounds choked and even when tweaked right, overpower the sound of the single coils.

I noticed TS shortlisted some higher output pickups. In my experience they don't work for me in the HSS setup due to two things, either the high end is severely reduced because of higher winds and the 250k pot, and secondly the output mismatch made switching seemed awkward.

For me I would put some bright, lower output pickups in there, I have tried Seths, '59 with good result. They will rock fine with some gain...

Now Im waiting for a SSV to fit in there.. lets see.
 
Re: HSS Strat Humbucker recommendations?

JesusCrisp said:
A little update in my pickup quest:

Been to a music store yesterday and could try 2 pickups in more or less similar guitars as my own Strat, which were a Fernandes Revolver Classic with a Duncan Distortion and an Ibanez Prestige RG with a Dimarzio Tone Zone.
Played both through an ENGL Gigmaster and a Fender Bassman RI.

On the Gigmaster for rythm both were pretty responsive and tight enough to my ears while delivering a big tone. The Distortion had a harsher attack and more focused overall tone while the Tone Zone sounded smoother. Overall I liked the distortion tone of the Tone Zone better, as well as the lead tones. It really sings, even on the highest frets.

Playing them through the Bassman the Tone Zone "won" again. The splitted Distortion sounded kind of dull, no singlecoil feeling at all, no matter if played in the bridge+middle position or just the bridge position. With the RG I unfortunately could not play the split humbucker on its own, but in the bridge+middle position it sounded very authentic and Strat-like.

Now the problems with the whole test are that my amp is quite different from the Gigmaster and that the RG is at least somewhat different from my Strat as well tonewise.

Any idea on how the Tone Zone would work out on the Strat?
Click to expand...

The Tone Zone is an awesome single coil sized humbucking pickup in a strat. It could be full size of course. I replaced the DH1 in my fender deluxe hss with one and changed the pickguard to SSS. It works great with the SCN noiseless singles in it, but I think I will be swapping the SCNs with vintage noiseless or hot vintage noiseless. Area 58s would be nice with the tone zone I think. Bottom line: The tone zone is great!
 
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