Let's brainstorm some H/S/S Strat pickup combos

[ratherdashing]

My #1 Strat is due for an overhaul. Current pickups:

Bill Lawrence L-298 neck
Bill Lawrence L-280 mid
SD Crazy 8 bridge

The Crazy 8 is a cool pickup, but my tastes are leaning more toward the A5 tonal realm lately.

In general, I like low-to-medium output humbuckers matched with high output single coils, especially in the neck. I also want to avoid actives and stacked singles. A rails in the neck might be ok depending on which one. My absolute favorite middle pickup is the SSL-1.

No restrictions on brand, though I have never found a DiMarzio humbucker I like thus far.

The guitar is a hair on the dark side relative to most Strats, but overall very tonally balanced with a nice meaty richness to it. It has a poplar body and a rosewood board. I've had the thing for 15 years and put many thousands of hours of playing into it.

Based on that, what are your thoughts?

Here's my current idea to get you started: SSL-5 neck, SSL-1 middle, 59 bridge.

Aaand ... go!

 

[SFW]

Re: Let's brainstorm some H/S/S Strat pickup combos

For a strat to cover a ton of tonal ground...

Lil 59 neck
SSL-5 middle
PG+ bridge (JB if you want to do it all.)

 

[ponch]

Re: Let's brainstorm some H/S/S Strat pickup combos

I have an Alvarez strat copy and it too is a tad dark, but I found the Fender 62's to LOVE this guitar. Pg+ is a great pup for the bridge, but in all honesty, the Phat Cat put a lot of other pups I've tried to shame hehehehe

 

[Got_tone?]

Re: Let's brainstorm some H/S/S Strat pickup combos

Since your strat is a little on the dark side, I say go with a PG instead. I have a HSS strat with a PG in bridge and I really like it. It's sill pretty damn bright even with the 250K but that has to do more with the wood (alder/maple strat). PGs are well suited for Fender guitars, IMO. I had a PG+ in my tele for a wee bit but it rocked like hell.

As for the singles, I think that a ssl-5 and ssl-1 sounds like a good combo on paper. I'm also going with a "hot" HSS strat setup but I ordered a vintage hot set from Zhangbucker and my PG reads 8.6K.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Let's brainstorm some H/S/S Strat pickup combos

i say the ssl5/ssl1 combo is a good choice.

for the bridge, why dont you swap an a5 in and see where you are at?

 

[John E Rokker]

Re: Let's brainstorm some H/S/S Strat pickup combos

Custom / YJM / YJM
or
JB2 / YJM / YJM

 

[oilpit]

Re: Let's brainstorm some H/S/S Strat pickup combos

I have a JB/SSL-1/SSL-5 set in my Strat, and it rules!

I would recommend at least trying a JB, it is IMO the best bridge pickup for a Strat, bar none. It will play any style of music, is incredibly dynamic, and splits into a mean sounding position 2.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Let's brainstorm some H/S/S Strat pickup combos

Very good so far guys. A few specific comments:

For a strat to cover a ton of tonal ground...

Lil 59 neck
SSL-5 middle
PG+ bridge (JB if you want to do it all.)

I want a true single coil sound in the neck, so the Lil 59 isn't gonna work. PG+ is a good idea. Where would I find one? Keep in mind I need it to be black, so finding one from a Lonestar Strat won't work (they're white).

I have an Alvarez strat copy and it too is a tad dark, but I found the Fender 62's to LOVE this guitar. Pg+ is a great pup for the bridge, but in all honesty, the Phat Cat put a lot of other pups I've tried to shame hehehehe

If I were to put a Fender pickup in this thing, it would be the Texas Special or the Fat 50's. Not interested in a P90 here - I'm gonna save my P90 virginity for another guitar.

Since your strat is a little on the dark side, I say go with a PG instead. I have a HSS strat with a PG in bridge and I really like it. It's sill pretty damn bright even with the 250K but that has to do more with the wood (alder/maple strat). PGs are well suited for Fender guitars, IMO. I had a PG+ in my tele for a wee bit but it rocked like hell.

As for the singles, I think that a ssl-5 and ssl-1 sounds like a good combo on paper. I'm also going with a "hot" HSS strat setup but I ordered a vintage hot set from Zhangbucker and my PG reads 8.6K.

I had a PG in this guitar about a decade ago. I liked it a lot. I want a bit more of a scoop than the PG has, but not as much of a scoop as the Crazy 8 or Custom.

i say the ssl5/ssl1 combo is a good choice.

for the bridge, why dont you swap an a5 in and see where you are at?

Not a bad idea.

I have a JB/SSL-1/SSL-5 set in my Strat, and it rules!

I would recommend at least trying a JB, it is IMO the best bridge pickup for a Strat, bar none. It will play any style of music, is incredibly dynamic, and splits into a mean sounding position 2.

I had a JB in there before the Crazy 8. I really do like the JB in a Fender guitar, and I think that's where it belongs (as opposed to a Gibson). I am not 100% opposed to this idea, and I don't remember the JB being a problem at all, so it's a worthy suggestion. I do find that I have more success with lower output humbuckers though, like the PG and the 59.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Let's brainstorm some H/S/S Strat pickup combos

I know this is completely out of your comfort zone, but I am going to suggest the following; because it worked for me in a guitar that needed pickup help.

Original PATB - Bridge. Even though the output is higher than PAF, it is a really great sounding pickup, clean, mildly dirty and absolutely filthy under gain. (and it splits well too)

PATB Stack - Middle. I put mine in the neck, but you want a true single coil tone out of the neck.

Put the SSL-1 in the neck. I put an APS in the middle position of mine, but they could easily be switched.

Like I said, not traditional like you asked for, but I was so impressed by the Original PATB that I couldn't believe it. If you could put a cover on it (and have it fit), I would put it in the bridge of a Les Paul. The Stack is amazingly sweet as well. I was never a fan of stacked pickups or the PATB's.....until I tried them.

Back to more traditional suggestions.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Let's brainstorm some H/S/S Strat pickup combos

break it out
put a HSH in there
push pull coil splits

Jazz - SSL5 - JB

super switch, Triple shots, the whole thing
make her special

 

[Gforce9]

Re: Let's brainstorm some H/S/S Strat pickup combos

Dimarzio Area '58's n/m, '59 bridge w/UOA5 magnet.

 

[Got_tone?]

Re: Let's brainstorm some H/S/S Strat pickup combos

PG+ is a good idea. Where would I find one? Keep in mind I need it to be black, so finding one from a Lonestar Strat won't work (they're white).

Black PGP

 

[trevorus]

Re: Let's brainstorm some H/S/S Strat pickup combos

Brobucker, SSL-1 x2.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Let's brainstorm some H/S/S Strat pickup combos

Black PGP

Yeesh ... at that price I might as well get MJ to wind me one.

Brobucker, SSL-1 x2.

I like the Brobucker suggestion. I wonder if someone would be willing to trade for my Crazy 8.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Let's brainstorm some H/S/S Strat pickup combos

Ssl-5/ssl-1/patb-3

 

[jeremy]

Re: Let's brainstorm some H/S/S Strat pickup combos

Ssl-5/ssl-1/patb-3

if you dont like the crazy5 then id go there next. the patb3 is such a cool pup!

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Let's brainstorm some H/S/S Strat pickup combos

if you dont like the crazy5 then id go there next. the patb3 is such a cool pup!

I think I like the SSL-5/SSL-1/Crazy 5 idea. Especially since it means I'm buying a magnet instead of a whole humbucker.

 

[BluesGuyJ]

Re: Let's brainstorm some H/S/S Strat pickup combos

suggestions for a noiseless setup???

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Let's brainstorm some H/S/S Strat pickup combos

suggestions for a noiseless setup???

I currently have a noiseless setup. I'm not interested in doing that anymore. In my old age I've started gravitating toward more traditional, "pure" tones, and I have yet to hear a noiseless pickup that comes close the the tone of a "noisy" pickup.

 

[saladin]

Re: Let's brainstorm some H/S/S Strat pickup combos

My fav for HSS- Custom, SSL-1, SSL-1. Tried a SSL-5 in the neck, too much gain.