HSS Strat single-coil pickup recommendations to pair with a Distortion bridge

[Frater106]

Looking for single-coil pickup recommendations in an HSS Strat for grunge tones. My guitar has a poplar body, maple neck, with Indian Laurel fretboard. Planning to go with a Distortion bridge. Thanks!

 

[hamerfan]

I‘d say Hot Rails mid and neck, but there is no way for traditional strat sound left.

 

[Frater106]

I‘d say Hot Rails mid and neck, but there is no way for traditional strat sound left.

I could always go Hot Rails neck & single-coil middle.

 

[Doublea1269]

First thing to consider is what are you looking to get out of the neck and middle? Do you want relatively high output from those positions to match up (as much as possible) with the Distortion bridge? Or would you prefer to have a more vintage, low-output sound to have the dynamic of quiet-loud in the pickup selection? Does it matter to you if the neck is hum-cancelling or true Strat sound? Is there an EQ that you prefer? More or less treble emphasis, strong bass or mids, scooped mids, etc? Brighter or warmer? And lastly, would you like a Strat-sized humbucker in the neck and/or middle, or true single coils? Or would you want to have one of the locations routed to fit in a P90?

All that said, I wonder if involving the SSL-5 pups, JB Jr., Lil' 59, Red Devil, A2Pro, Antiquity/Antiquity II and Quarter Pound as options might be appropriate. I think you have to try to answer some of the above questions before you start delving into the specific pickups. Once you have at least some of those questions answered, I think your path will likely become more clear.

I'm sure there will be other posts upcoming that will be more helpful than what I've written, although I do think all of those pickups I listed could be strong candidates. It just depends on your actual goals for your pickups. Good luck!

 

[Mincer]

Hot Rails may be too hot for grunge tones in the end. They are more metal, to me...thick chunky metal, too. Grunge certainly has some brightness in there.

 

[GuitarStv]

The quarter pound is a great sounding neck single coil for beefy leads and matches well with higher output humbucker bridge pickups. Then maybe throw a lower output pickup in the middle (SSL-2 or STK-S4) so you can get some sparkly cleans and in-between sounds should you need them.

 

[Frater106]

Hot Rails may be too hot for grunge tones in the end. They are more metal, to me...thick chunky metal, too. Grunge certainly has some brightness in there.

What would you recommend instead?

 

[Mincer]

Possibly a Little 59, or if you want something brighter and single coil-ish, a Classic Stack.