Lew and other Strat guys, a question

[FretFire]

Ok guys, quick question here regarding possible pickups for my upcoming Strat project. I'm wanting to go with classic Strat attitude/tonality, with perhaps just a *touch* smoother high end. I'm currently considering putting an Alnico 2 Pro in the neck and middle position (I'm going with a standard S-S-S setup), and was wondering what you might recommend in the bridge. So far it's between the A2P bridge unit, or a Twangbanger which I hear works well with them. Any input is appreciated.

 

[FretFire]

Re: Lew and other Strat guys, a question

Also, what would be a good setup if I wanted to go Alnico 5?

 

[Brow]

Re: Lew and other Strat guys, a question

I personally love the set of Antiquity I pickups (Texas Hot mid/neck and Custom Hot Bridge) in my Strat, but I'm also hearing good things about an Antiquity Surfer (Alnico 5) in mid/Neck and a Texas Hot (Alnico 2) in the bridge.

I know that Lew and Stratdeluxer97 (atleast) have tried the mixed set of Antiquity pups, so they'd be able to give a better perspective of it than me

Craig

 

[FretFire]

Re: Lew and other Strat guys, a question

How much would a set of Antiquity pups run me (ballpark)? I hadn't even considered that option, so I haven't looked into it any.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Lew and other Strat guys, a question

I have a Strat with alnico 2 APS-2 and alnico 2 Twangbanger pickups. Love it. The APS-2's are smoother, fatter and chunkier than alnico 5 vintage Strat pickups, SSL-1's or Surfers.

I also have a Strat with alnico 5 Ant Surfer neck and middle and alnico 2 Ant Texas Hot bridge. Love it even more! Brighter, more open tone from the Surfers compared to the APS-2. And the Texas Hot Custom bridge has beautiful chewy plucky mids that make soloing a pleasure.

The Twangbanger is louder and bassier and fuller than the Texas Hot Custom bridge but the Texas Hot blends better (IMO!) with the midle pickup for the classic middle/bridge combo. The Twangbanger kind of dominates the middle pickup when combined with it. It's a great tone but not quite the classic M & B tone I'm used to.

I think the Twangbanger is the best choice for a bridge pickup if a guy wants a hot Strat replacement pickup for soloing. It'll overdrive my small 20 watt amps at volume 5 on the amp and push thm into overdrive easily.

For me, I prefer the Texas Hot Custom bridge because it's almost a shot as the Twangbanger and blends in a more classic way with the middle pickup. I miss that M & B tone if it's not quite right...so I prefer the Texas Hot Custom.

As far as a full set of the Texas Hots go: that's a dynamite set of pickups but not as deep or as bright as the Surfers. The Texas Hots have more plucky mids and a les glassy sound. But the glassier sound of Surfers or SSL-1's IS the classic Strat sound.

Lew

 

[FretFire]

Re: Lew and other Strat guys, a question

Sounds like the Surfer/TH or SSL-1 setups might be more what I'm looking for. This strat I'm building will be used for blues/jazz as I already have my rock bases covered with other guitars. It will be alder body/birdseye maple neck, if that helps any.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Lew and other Strat guys, a question

Here's a little comparism shoot out I did of my four favorite Strat bridge replacement pickups. All four are SUPERB pickups! All four will do a great job at producing great tone in the categories I tested them in. Within those categories they are listed in order of which I might prefer...but they all do what they do with real excellance. I've been playing Strats since the 60's and these are my favorite bridge replacement pickups and I would choose any of these four over every other hot bridge Strat pickup I've tried, including mini humbuckers like Hot Rails and JB Jrs.

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=27467

 

[FretFire]

Re: Lew and other Strat guys, a question

Cool, I'll spend some time browsing that thread. Thanks Lew! Chances are I'll be talking to you when I'm ready to get my pickups/pots/etc. for this project in a month or two, if you don't mind .

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Lew and other Strat guys, a question

Also, what would be a good setup if I wanted to go Alnico 5?

I'd go with Antiquity Surfers. My favorite Duncans I've ever used in my Strat.

If you want to go cheaper I'd go for a set of the SSL-1's that Duncan is now packaging as a calibrated set of three.

Those are excellant alnico 5 pickups too and compare very well with any of the boutique singles I've owned.

Lew

 

[Kelsey]

Re: Lew and other Strat guys, a question

I have SSL-1's in the neck and middle (RWRP) and a Twangbanger in the bridge of a Strat, and that combo works very nicely. I like the slightly fatter B+M tone that the Twangbanger delivers, but I concur with Lew's view that it isn't quite the same as the classic B+M tone. However, I'm not all that keen on the in-betweens on a Strat for my playing anyway, so factor that in as needed. The SSL-1's are great sounding pickups at a great price. The bridge SSL-1 has a nice, classic clean Strat tone, but it's too thin and wirey when overdriven for my tastes. The Twangbanger is much fatter and smoother sounding, although it still falls short of my preferred Tele lead pickups. :grumble:

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Lew and other Strat guys, a question

I have SSL-1's in the neck and middle (RWRP) and a Twangbanger in the bridge of a Strat, and that combo works very nicely. I like the slightly fatter B+M tone that the Twangbanger delivers, but I concur with Lew's view that it isn't quite the same as the classic B+M tone. However, I'm not all that keen on the in-betweens on a Strat for my playing anyway, so factor that in as needed. The SSL-1's are great sounding pickups at a great price. The bridge SSL-1 has a nice, classic clean Strat tone, but it's too thin and wirey when overdriven for my tastes. The Twangbanger is much fatter and smoother sounding, although it still falls short of my preferred Tele lead pickups. :grumble:

I agree. The bridge SSL-1 sounds like a vintage Strat bridge pickup: bright thin and glassy! My buddy uses the SSL-1 neck and middle with a Fralin Steel Pole 43. I used to use the SSL-1's with a JB JR. The Twangbanger should be an excellant bridge pickup with the SSL-1's too. Lew

 

[FretFire]

Re: Lew and other Strat guys, a question

The main notch position I want to be sure I have is the neck/mid. Sounds like The SSL-1/Twangbanger might be another option to add to the list. Thanks guys, if anyone else wants to chime in feel free .

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Lew and other Strat guys, a question

In addition to Lew's recommendations, I'd say if you would think of getting more quack and more of that a5 strat tone, consider a underwound fralin vintage hot (like 5.80K) a regular fralin VH middle, and a surfer bridge. That set has some serious magic.

B

 

[FretFire]

Re: Lew and other Strat guys, a question

Hmm Fralins, I'd love to but I'm really afraid they'd be out of my price range (as the Antiquities may well be). No one has made any mention of Kinmans I've noticed.

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Lew and other Strat guys, a question

Hmm Fralins, I'd love to but I'm really afraid they'd be out of my price range (as the Antiquities may well be). No one has made any mention of Kinmans I've noticed.

Kinmans are more expensive! (At least that's what I remember.)

B

 

[flank]

Re: Lew and other Strat guys, a question

my setup sounds pretty good......i honestly cant hear anything better from the texas hot than i hear from the APS.....there are just both very nice heh.....and the twangbanger is a killer pickup!