Humbuckers in a Stratocaster

[The Dali]

Hi everyone... I just picked up a sweet Sienna Sunburst Fender Stratocaster with Texas Specials. I prefer humbuckers (I have a strat with CS 69' already) so I am thinking of a custom wiring project with two humbuckers if this guitar will take two (need to see the routing). With that said, any suggestions for a humbucker pairing on an Ash Stratocaster with maple neck? I was thinking of something hot like a Super 3 and Super 2 wired with a Fender Superswitch.

I'm open to any suggestions here... I guess the old standby is a PG set...

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Humbuckers in a Stratocaster

I'd spring for a Duncan '78 for the bridge pickup and a PGn for the neck.

But it all depends on what you like.

 

[The Dali]

Re: Humbuckers in a Stratocaster

Is the Duncan '78 a new pickup? I don't recall that one...

 

[The Dali]

Re: Humbuckers in a Stratocaster

Got it - just saw it while searching. I wonder how those EHV Guitar Fetish sound?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Humbuckers in a Stratocaster

Here you go. Read all about it: http://www.legendarytones.com/evh pickup.html

It's my favorite Duncan bridge humbucker and also Ken Fisher's favorite. Ken has passed away but he's the tone genius who invented Trainwreck amps.

 

[MasterKtulu]

Re: Humbuckers in a Stratocaster

I agree with the PGn for the neck but I like the '59 in the bridge, as I like vintage tones. But it always depends on what you like...

 

[Odie251]

Re: Humbuckers in a Stratocaster

I have a Strat I have benn tinkering with extensively in the search for tone. It's an ash body with a maple neck/fretboard. I have tried a lot of different wiring schemes and pot values. So far my favorite is a 500k Pearly Gates bridge with no tone in the circuit. I have Texas Specials in the neck and bridge and have been using a 470k resistor make them see close to 250k with the 500k pots.

FYI...my Strat has 2 1/16 string spacing at the bridge. Some have 2 7/32 string spacing with is not as humbucker friendly.

That being said, I am really tempted to just route the neck position for a 59n humbucker.

My choices for the bridge would be a Pearly Gates, 59, and the 78 sounds interesting. I think a 59n would be a really nice neck pickup.

 

[The Dali]

Re: Humbuckers in a Stratocaster

I agree with the PGn for the neck but I like the '59 in the bridge, as I like vintage tones. But it always depends on what you like...

Love your avatar. Vintage tones? With a "Ktulu" in your name (from the Metallica song, I assume?)??

Thanks everyone... I have a 59' set in my Explorer...

The tone I'm looking for is Freewill and La Villa Strangiato from Alex Lifeson and the late 70's EVH sound.

The 78 Duncan might be a little pricey for me...

 

[MasterKtulu]

Re: Humbuckers in a Stratocaster

Love your avatar. Vintage tones? With a "Ktulu" in your name (from the Metallica song, I assume?)??

Yeah, I'm a Metal head at heart (When I started playing guitar, I was only interested in Thrash Metal), but these days I play mostly 70's Rock and some Blues. But with the '59 and the right distortion pedal, I can still get good metal sounds when I fell like it...

Anyway, A PGb might be what you're looking for, it has a slight bright sizzling bite to it and can still sound good clean. If your looking for more output, look at the Custom Custom. It sounds great for Hard Rock leads but lacks in low end. But an easy solution (That many in this forum have tried and swear by it), is to replace the alnico 2 magnet with an alnico 8 magnet. that mod will add some low end and output for a great all around Hard Rock pickup.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Humbuckers in a Stratocaster

The list of humbuckers that work well in a Strat is endless. It really boils down to what your style is and the tone you're looking for.

For what you want, the '78 is the first choice in the bridge, followed by the Pearly Gates. If you go with the PG, just go with the full set for the bridge and neck. Wire up a 500k volume and 500k tone and you're set.

For switching, either a simple 3-way or a 5-way superswitch with more fancy wiring will work. You'll need 4-conductor wiring to do split/parallel combinations. Look at how Ibanez wires up their dual humbucker RG's. That's a cool setup.

Order it with short legs as Fender Strats don't normally come with the deeper route at the edges of the pickup routes to accommodate long legs and the long screws. You'll need shorter screws or just cut the longer ones if that is the case.

 

[MasterKtulu]

Re: Humbuckers in a Stratocaster

That being said, I am really tempted to just route the neck position for a 59n humbucker.

Before hacking away wood from your guitar, have you considered putting a Little '59n Mini-Humbucker instead? It won't sound exactly like a '59 humbucker but it will get you close. In the middle position you could keep it stock or put a second Little '59n. And any of the bridge pickups you mentioned would sound great, you only have to find the right one for you.

 

[bluesbend]

Re: Humbuckers in a Stratocaster

59n and a PG bridge sounds good to me.

Or if you're daring, a SSH setup with a 59 bridge, SSL-5 mid and a Qtr Pnd neck,

 

[MasterKtulu]

Re: Humbuckers in a Stratocaster

order it with short legs as fender strats don't normally come with the deeper route at the edges of the pickup routes to accommodate long legs and the long screws. You'll need shorter screws or just cut the longer ones if that is the case.

+1

 

[tarpit]

Re: Humbuckers in a Stratocaster

I have a DiMarzio Tone zone in the bridge of my Ash bodied Strat. I have a '78 maple neck on it. The Big headstock makes a huge difference in tone. Anyway, I would recommend something hotter with good mids. Thats seems to compliment the natural tone of the wood well.

 

[ganzosrevenge]

Re: Humbuckers in a Stratocaster

Before hacking away wood from your guitar, have you considered putting a Little '59n Mini-Humbucker instead? It won't sound exactly like a '59 humbucker but it will get you close. In the middle position you could keep it stock or put a second Little '59n. And any of the bridge pickups you mentioned would sound great, you only have to find the right one for you.

Master, if the sienna sunburst is american (and i suspect it is, because i've never seen a mexican or other country's strat with that color), He shouldn't have to do much more than order 2 buckers with short legs.

As for the OP, pic of strat! (we love strats)

 

[Bludave]

Re: Humbuckers in a Stratocaster

Sell the Strat and buy a Les Paul!

 

[The Dali]

Re: Humbuckers in a Stratocaster

Sell the Strat and buy a Les Paul!

Ha - yeah, at twice the price!! PLus, no trem!

Here is the guitar:

 

[The Dali]

Re: Humbuckers in a Stratocaster

Master, if the sienna sunburst is american (and i suspect it is, because i've never seen a mexican or other country's strat with that color), He shouldn't have to do much more than order 2 buckers with short legs.

As for the OP, pic of strat! (we love strats)

Yeah, I wasn't going to touch this body! That was another poster. This guitar should accomodate the neck humbucker, but we'll see.

 

[ganzosrevenge]

Re: Humbuckers in a Stratocaster

Yeah, I wasn't going to touch this body! That was another poster. This guitar should accomodate the neck humbucker, but we'll see.

It's HSH routing, which means you can dump in the Humbucker in the neck with no problems. (The nice thing with the rout is you can have a million different PGs made without compromising the integrity of the guitar because they're all direct drop in.)

Just make sure your HBs are short-legged, Enjoy, and go for it.

Jason

 

[The Dali]

Re: Humbuckers in a Stratocaster

By the way, here is the stock photo from Fender. My absolute favorite finish.