I have a Squier Classic Vibe 60s Strat with stock pickups. I'd like a set of pickups with less bass in the neck and middle pickups, but with more bass and less mids in the bridge than what the current pickups have. Looking for about the same amount of output, but slightly more would be fine. Don't really want less output than the stock set currently has.
Less bassy neck, more bassy bridge pickup set for Strat
- Thread starter kingrazor
- Start date
hamerfan
Well-known member
Re: Less bassy neck, more bassy bridge pickup set for Strat
Drop the bass side of the neck pickup until its nearly flush with the pickguard, drop the bass side of the middle pickup until it is slightly over the pick guard and raise the bass side of the bridge pickup until it nearly hits the pole piece when you play hard.
Drop the bass side of the neck pickup until its nearly flush with the pickguard, drop the bass side of the middle pickup until it is slightly over the pick guard and raise the bass side of the bridge pickup until it nearly hits the pole piece when you play hard.
Re: Less bassy neck, more bassy bridge pickup set for Strat
I don't really want the treble strings to be louder than the bass strings though.
I don't really want the treble strings to be louder than the bass strings though.
dystrust
New member
Re: Less bassy neck, more bassy bridge pickup set for Strat
What you're asking for defies physics, so it isn't entirely possible. The neck and middle pickups have more bass than the bridge because string excursion is wider the farther you get from the bridge. A typical Strat bridge pickup also tends to be quite scooped, so I can't understand wanting even less midrange. Something like a Quarter Pound or SSL-5/6 has more low end than a conventional Strat bridge pickup, but they also have more mids and less highs. They're also a lot hotter than a vintage-style bridge pickup. Pickups like the Antiquity Texas Hot Custom Bridge and Surfer Custom Bridge along with the Fralin SP43 are closer to vintage output while being fuller sounding, but they accomplish that by pushing more mids.
What you're asking for defies physics, so it isn't entirely possible. The neck and middle pickups have more bass than the bridge because string excursion is wider the farther you get from the bridge. A typical Strat bridge pickup also tends to be quite scooped, so I can't understand wanting even less midrange. Something like a Quarter Pound or SSL-5/6 has more low end than a conventional Strat bridge pickup, but they also have more mids and less highs. They're also a lot hotter than a vintage-style bridge pickup. Pickups like the Antiquity Texas Hot Custom Bridge and Surfer Custom Bridge along with the Fralin SP43 are closer to vintage output while being fuller sounding, but they accomplish that by pushing more mids.
Re: Less bassy neck, more bassy bridge pickup set for Strat
I understand that about the neck and middle positions naturally having more bass because of where they are, so I'm looking for pickups that are designed with more mid/high and less bass output as part of their natural EQ curve, through magnet choice, coil windings, etc...
I've heard bridge pickups that sound bassier than others, again from magnet choice and windings, wire size, etc... the bridge pickup in my strat has a very "quacky" sound which I've always associated with mid range. Kind of the "cocked wah" sound.
If this "isn't entirely possible", I have to wonder what the point of even making more than one type of pickup even is, and why anyone bothers discussing the differences in mid and treble content in pickups.
I understand that about the neck and middle positions naturally having more bass because of where they are, so I'm looking for pickups that are designed with more mid/high and less bass output as part of their natural EQ curve, through magnet choice, coil windings, etc...
I've heard bridge pickups that sound bassier than others, again from magnet choice and windings, wire size, etc... the bridge pickup in my strat has a very "quacky" sound which I've always associated with mid range. Kind of the "cocked wah" sound.
If this "isn't entirely possible", I have to wonder what the point of even making more than one type of pickup even is, and why anyone bothers discussing the differences in mid and treble content in pickups.
dystrust
New member
Re: Less bassy neck, more bassy bridge pickup set for Strat
Any of the pickups mentioned in my post would be a good choice of bridge pickup depending on how hot you want to go and how much you have budgeted. I have an SSL-2 in the middle position of my Strat, so I'm not sure what to suggest as far as alternatives.
Any of the pickups mentioned in my post would be a good choice of bridge pickup depending on how hot you want to go and how much you have budgeted. I have an SSL-2 in the middle position of my Strat, so I'm not sure what to suggest as far as alternatives.
dotsdad
New member
Re: Less bassy neck, more bassy bridge pickup set for Strat
Fender Custom Shop 69 is the spankiest neck pickup you can get. It is, quite frankly, what a Stratocaster should sound like.
The Duncan Alnico II pro is a good Strat bridge. It has all the quack of a regular pickup, but without the icepick high end.
One thing you can do to brighten your current neck pickup is to remote the tone knob from it. To warm up your bridge, add a tone knob to it. (Even weith the tone knob on 10, it still puts a load on the pickups)
Fender Custom Shop 69 is the spankiest neck pickup you can get. It is, quite frankly, what a Stratocaster should sound like.
The Duncan Alnico II pro is a good Strat bridge. It has all the quack of a regular pickup, but without the icepick high end.
One thing you can do to brighten your current neck pickup is to remote the tone knob from it. To warm up your bridge, add a tone knob to it. (Even weith the tone knob on 10, it still puts a load on the pickups)
gregory
New member
Re: Less bassy neck, more bassy bridge pickup set for Strat
DiMarzio Area 67 in the neck and middle.
DiMarzio Virtual Vintage Blues or Seymour Duncan STK-S6 in the bridge.
DiMarzio Area 67 in the neck and middle.
DiMarzio Virtual Vintage Blues or Seymour Duncan STK-S6 in the bridge.
Re: Less bassy neck, more bassy bridge pickup set for Strat
The custom shop 69 sounds really good. Just wish I could get one without a raised G pole.
The custom shop 69 sounds really good. Just wish I could get one without a raised G pole.
Re: Less bassy neck, more bassy bridge pickup set for Strat
This is likely the direction I'm going to go.
This is likely the direction I'm going to go.
dystrust
New member
Re: Less bassy neck, more bassy bridge pickup set for Strat
Most Fender pickups are wound on a plastic bobbin; if that one is you can adjust the poles without damaging it.
Most Fender pickups are wound on a plastic bobbin; if that one is you can adjust the poles without damaging it.
Jacew
New member
Re: Less bassy neck, more bassy bridge pickup set for Strat
I know what you mean. I had exact same problem with my CV 60's: Neck and middle were too bass heavy with stock pickups. Switching to SSL-1's didn't help at all.
I currently have VZ Blues in neck and SSL-5 in middle with 500k pots. It's about just perfect now.
I know what you mean. I had exact same problem with my CV 60's: Neck and middle were too bass heavy with stock pickups. Switching to SSL-1's didn't help at all.
I currently have VZ Blues in neck and SSL-5 in middle with 500k pots. It's about just perfect now.
Clint 55
OH THE DOUBLE THICK GLAZE!
Re: Less bassy neck, more bassy bridge pickup set for Strat
All you have to do is use a 500k or even 1 meg master volume and then use resistors to adjust the bridge and maybe the middle back towards bassy. Strat pickups are extremely bright, even in the neck, when they're not loaded down by a 250k volume.
All you have to do is use a 500k or even 1 meg master volume and then use resistors to adjust the bridge and maybe the middle back towards bassy. Strat pickups are extremely bright, even in the neck, when they're not loaded down by a 250k volume.
dotsdad
New member
Re: Less bassy neck, more bassy bridge pickup set for Strat
DO NOT DO THIS TO A 69! The 69's have fiber bobbins and wire right against the magnets. You can easily destroy it doing this.
DO NOT DO THIS TO A 69! The 69's have fiber bobbins and wire right against the magnets. You can easily destroy it doing this.
Jacew
New member
Re: Less bassy neck, more bassy bridge pickup set for Strat
Vintage spec'd are definitely.
1 meg I think is overkill. Lower value pots also have smoother taper.
Vintage spec'd are definitely.
1 meg I think is overkill. Lower value pots also have smoother taper.
dystrust
New member
Re: Less bassy neck, more bassy bridge pickup set for Strat
I don't own any CS69s and I wasn't able to tell bobbin type from the pics I was able to find online.
To clarify my original post, it is safe to adjust the poles on a Fender-style single coil ONLY if it has a plastic bobbin. On pickups like an SSL-1 that have a fiber baseplate and wire against the magnets, adjusting the poles can easily scrape insulation off the wire or break the wire itself.
I don't own any CS69s and I wasn't able to tell bobbin type from the pics I was able to find online.
To clarify my original post, it is safe to adjust the poles on a Fender-style single coil ONLY if it has a plastic bobbin. On pickups like an SSL-1 that have a fiber baseplate and wire against the magnets, adjusting the poles can easily scrape insulation off the wire or break the wire itself.
Re: Less bassy neck, more bassy bridge pickup set for Strat
I vote for 2- SSL-2s and an Alnico II. The higher output you go in the bridge, the more mids you will get, so I don't want to go very hot there. The SSL-2 will certainly have less bass than what you have now in the neck, as it is so clean and clear.
I vote for 2- SSL-2s and an Alnico II. The higher output you go in the bridge, the more mids you will get, so I don't want to go very hot there. The SSL-2 will certainly have less bass than what you have now in the neck, as it is so clean and clear.
Re: Less bassy neck, more bassy bridge pickup set for Strat
At $59 an SSL-2 may be worth a shot before I dive into the world of single-coil sized stacked humbuckers. I think I'll try that.
At $59 an SSL-2 may be worth a shot before I dive into the world of single-coil sized stacked humbuckers. I think I'll try that.
Re: Less bassy neck, more bassy bridge pickup set for Strat
Still worth a try perhaps, especially from a place with a good return policy.
I haven't actually had a CS69 in my guitar yet so I can only tell based on recordings. It's hard to really know exactly what I'll want until I've gotten a chance to play it in my own guitar.
Last night I rewired the tone pot from the middle pickup to the bridge pickup and like what it's done there, so now I want to find the right neck pickup and go from there.
Still worth a try perhaps, especially from a place with a good return policy.
I haven't actually had a CS69 in my guitar yet so I can only tell based on recordings. It's hard to really know exactly what I'll want until I've gotten a chance to play it in my own guitar.
Last night I rewired the tone pot from the middle pickup to the bridge pickup and like what it's done there, so now I want to find the right neck pickup and go from there.
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