I finally done it - i am getting a Strat. Need help please.

SirJackdeFuzz

SirJackdeFuzz

New member
After sooo many years as a non-Strat fan . . . i finally pulled the trigger and decided to get a Strat.

There is a gentleman over here that builds part-casters for $450 - $500. (excluding pick ups)
Great value if you live on this side of hell.

So here is my question.
I know NOTHING about Strat pick ups.
Is it better to get a 'set' or cherry pick individual pick ups ?

Here's what i want (and not want)

* pref alnico mags (no ceramic)
* pref true single coils (no blade or hum cancelling)
* on the hotter side of the spectrum - i am not going for the classic Buddy Holly / Hank Marvin kinda tone.


The build will probably be done in 40 days or so . . . as he is a busy man, and the line is long.

ANY help will be great.
 
Re: I finally done it - i am getting a Strat. Need help please.

About damn time I say!

Take it from a guy who has more than I can admit to.

Strat pups are like supermodels. They all look great, but which one is really right for you?

You could start with the SSL-1/5 combo. You can find them relatively easy pre-owned and east to sell if not for you.

What sort of specs are you doing on the strat?
 
Re: I finally done it - i am getting a Strat. Need help please.

SirJackdeFuzz said:
* pref alnico mags (no ceramic)
* pref true single coils (no blade or hum cancelling)
* on the hotter side of the spectrum - i am not going for the classic Buddy Holly / Hank Marvin kinda tone.
Click to expand...

Ayrton said:
You could start with the SSL-1/5 combo. You can find them relatively easy pre-owned and east to sell if not for you.
Click to expand...

That's the classic set with a stronger but still articulate bridge. Hard to dislike it IMHO.

The next step with more mids would be SSL3s and there's also the Quarter Pound which is a bit its own thing, getting in P90 territory.
 
Re: I finally done it - i am getting a Strat. Need help please.

Sounds to me like you just described the Fender Custom Shop Texas Specials.
 
Re: I finally done it - i am getting a Strat. Need help please.

I have Texas Specials in a Strat, and I love them. They’re fat, loud, and greasy. They’ll make a Tube Screamer do... things...
 
Re: I finally done it - i am getting a Strat. Need help please.

I say get a set of Fender Tex Mex pickups. Put a metal baseplate on the bridge pickup and the set is gold, especially for only $90 a set new.
 
Re: I finally done it - i am getting a Strat. Need help please.

There are so many freaking choices for what you want I wouldn't over-think it. Seems like everyone has a different opinion of how each possible combination sucks/doesn't, and it depends as much on your guitar's unique spec. and undefinable voice anyway. Then again there isn't really a bad way to do it either. Pick one and roll the dice; accept you might have to go through a few sets. Maybe start with the set that has the catchiest name.

I propose Rose Buff Beauties :D
 
Re: I finally done it - i am getting a Strat. Need help please.

I have, and previously had, quite a few Strats. The Texas Specials may be what you want. I have them in my SRV Strat, as they are the stock pickups. They are my least favorites because I prefer lower output single coils. You may want to investigate Lollar pickups, he offers many options including Lollar Specials, which are their highest output set, but you might also like his “dirty” sets, which only the bridge is overwound. D. Allen also has some beefier sets like his Robin Trower inspired set called Fury. I don’t think they are on his site anymore but I’m pretty sure if you email him and ask he will make you a set

 
Re: I finally done it - i am getting a Strat. Need help please.

Ssl 2,2,6 can't go wrong.
 
Re: I finally done it - i am getting a Strat. Need help please.

SirJackdeFuzz said:
After sooo many years as a non-Strat fan . . . i finally pulled the trigger and decided to get a Strat.

There is a gentleman over here that builds part-casters for $450 - $500. (excluding pick ups)
Great value if you live on this side of hell.

So here is my question.
I know NOTHING about Strat pick ups.
Is it better to get a 'set' or cherry pick individual pick ups ?

Here's what i want (and not want)

* pref alnico mags (no ceramic)
* pref true single coils (no blade or hum cancelling)
* on the hotter side of the spectrum - i am not going for the classic Buddy Holly / Hank Marvin kinda tone.


The build will probably be done in 40 days or so . . . as he is a busy man, and the line is long.

ANY help will be great.
Click to expand...

Which country?

If it's America (or canada) you do NOT wanna pay $500 for a pickup-less partscaster hulk

Especially seeing how there's nothing much left to build if you get proper parts (shim neck if needed -- where "shim" is a scary word for put a piece of duct tape or the like in a corner if it don't sit straight - and done)

500 bucks pickup-less is your pick of the good stuff out of japan and america already, who needs a 'builder' who'll give you china and $8 knockoff tuners cuz $13 knockoff lockers is too rich for his blood?

Now if you want a proper "setup", which in the world of partscasters means resetting the neck and adjusting the bridge anyway --- which is all partscaster "assembly" outside of electronics is -- and a satinized or shaved-and-oiled neck, set aside $100 for that instead and pay it to a tech. Spend the rest on American or Japanese "bodyparts".

As to pickups, get 2 fender CS pups of your choice for middle and neck - CS 69 and Fat 50 seen to be the two preferred sets, or mox and match...texas specials are kinda noisy and don't really measure up - and consider gettingf something hotter for the bridge. Don't discount hotrails and stacks right away, the strat bridge single-sized-humbucker sound is already part of "the strat sound" in many people's mind whether they realoze it or not... and if you don't go that route, consider a hotter wound true single coil from duncan for bridge position.

With 3 pups, it really rounds it out to take 2 from a set + something else entirely
 
Last edited:
Re: I finally done it - i am getting a Strat. Need help please.

Ayrton said:
About damn time I say!

Take it from a guy who has more than I can admit to.

Strat pups are like supermodels. They all look great, but which one is really right for you?

You could start with the SSL-1/5 combo. You can find them relatively easy pre-owned and east to sell if not for you.

What sort of specs are you doing on the strat?
Click to expand...

Specs thus far :

I wanted a Mahogany body with a fixed bridge but he says they are impossible to find on this side of the world, so, i am getting:

* Alder body with a full size bridge
* chunky neck with medium jumbo frets and Rosewood board.
* S/S/S pick up config.
* Gotoh style tuners
 
Re: I finally done it - i am getting a Strat. Need help please.

Blille said:
That's the classic set with a stronger but still articulate bridge. Hard to dislike it IMHO.

The next step with more mids would be SSL3s and there's also the Quarter Pound which is a bit its own thing, getting in P90 territory.
Click to expand...

The 1/4 Pounders are A5 mag driven, correct ?
 
Re: I finally done it - i am getting a Strat. Need help please.

Blille said:
That's the classic set with a stronger but still articulate bridge. Hard to dislike it IMHO.

The next step with more mids would be SSL3s and there's also the Quarter Pound which is a bit its own thing, getting in P90 territory.
Click to expand...

Do you have any experience with either the SSL3's or 1/4 Pounders ?
Any info would be great.
 
Re: I finally done it - i am getting a Strat. Need help please.

SirJackdeFuzz said:
I LIKE FAT . . . i shall do some research on youtube.

Are they ''FAT'' in a good or bad way . . . Strat-speaking off course.
Click to expand...

They sound more like P90s than Strat pickups.
 
Re: I finally done it - i am getting a Strat. Need help please.

Adieu said:
Which country?

If it's America (or canada) you do NOT wanna pay $500 for a pickup-less partscaster hulk

Especially seeing how there's nothing much left to build if you get proper parts (shim neck if needed -- where "shim" is a scary word for put a piece of duct tape or the like in a corner if it don't sit straight - and done)

500 bucks pickup-less is your pick of the good stuff out of japan and america already, who needs a 'builder' who'll give you china and $8 knockoff tuners cuz $13 knockoff lockers is too rich for his blood?

Now if you want a proper "setup", which in the world of partscasters means resetting the neck and adjusting the bridge anyway --- which is all partscaster "assembly" outside of electronics is -- and a satinized or shaved-and-oiled neck, set aside $100 for that instead and pay it to a tech. Spend the rest on American or Japanese "bodyparts".

As to pickups, get 2 fender CS pups of your choice for middle and neck - CS 69 and Fat 50 seen to be the two preferred sets, or mox and match...texas specials are kinda noisy and don't really measure up - and consider gettingf something hotter for the bridge. Don't discount hotrails and stacks right away, the strat bridge single-sized-humbucker sound is already part of "the strat sound" in many people's mind whether they realoze it or not... and if you don't go that route, consider a hotter wound true single coil from duncan for bridge position.

With 3 pups, it really rounds it out to take 2 from a set + something else entirely
Click to expand...

South Africa :(

USA Dollar vs. SA Rand = 14.7 to 1.
 
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