looking for pickups to replace mim stratocaster stock

[Mantra]

hi
i want to replace the mim stratocaster stock,it's 1 year old guitar


i like play band like pink floyd ,yes (other 60' progressive bands)), pearl jam , led zeppelin ,alice in chain , black keys

i looking for a more bright and definited sound

could you give me some advises?

thanks

 

[Downrazor11]

Re: looking for pickups to replace mim stratocaster stock

First, what is your setup (what amp, pedals, or preamp are you going in to)?

Second, is your pickup cavity routed to take a bridge humbucker?

If so I would suggest active pickups, try an EMG 81, EMG 89, or Seymour Duncan AHB-1b in the bridge with EMG SA's in the mid and neck spot..

If not, I would suggest the EMG SA set, or Fender Fat 50's, or Duncan Antiquities..

IF your pickup cavity is swimming pool routed you could even do HH which opens up a ton of possibilities..

 

[Mantra]

Re: looking for pickups to replace mim stratocaster stock

First, what is your setup (what amp, pedals, or preamp are you going in to)?

Second, is your pickup cavity routed to take a bridge humbucker?

If so I would suggest active pickups, try an EMG 81, EMG 89, or Seymour Duncan AHB-1b in the bridge with EMG SA's in the mid and neck spot..

If not, I would suggest the EMG SA set, or Fender Fat 50's, or Duncan Antiquities..

IF your pickup cavity is swimming pool routed you could even do HH which opens up a ton of possibilities..

hi
i use a blackstar and marshall 15w transistor solid state at home , a valve hiwaat when i play with my friends
about pedals i use only my boss gt-100
the guitar come with 3 single coil pickups , it's a standard mexican , i don't know if it can take a bridge humbucker
thanks

 

[Blille]

Re: looking for pickups to replace mim stratocaster stock

Recent MIM are generally routed HSH so you can do anything.

I would say SSL2 for neck and middle and splittable custom hybrid in bridge. That would require a new pickguard but would be very flexible and give you good tones for those bands. With the same pickguard I would put lil 59 or ssl5 if you want to stay with single coil.

Given the repertoire I would stay passive and mid/vintage output.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: looking for pickups to replace mim stratocaster stock

A "bright and defined tone" means stay with single coil pups. Definitely not a full sized humbucker (even if it's wired for split), and not a Little 59 or, really, any other single-sized bucker.

 

[Downrazor11]

Re: looking for pickups to replace mim stratocaster stock

A "bright and defined tone" means stay with single coil pups. Definitely not a full sized humbucker (even if it's wired for split), and not a Little 59 or, really, any other single-sized bucker.

Not to disagree too much, but I have had plenty of bright active pickups (the 81tw in my strat now can rip off faces if one is not careful..), and the Gibson Burstbucker Pro humbucker set in a strat can peel paint with its highs...



...but, yes, generally single-coils are more sparkly than humbuckers.. And it would certainly be easier for the OP to drop a brighter set of singles in without having to worry about routing or a new pickguard..

Maybe another route to go would be this hi-cut/low-cut tone pot from guitarelectronics.com:



Or, if you are good with soldering, make your own Low-cut tone, it will de-mud your guitar and make your attack very defined:

 

[Blille]

Re: looking for pickups to replace mim stratocaster stock

A "bright and defined tone" means stay with single coil pups. Definitely not a full sized humbucker (even if it's wired for split), and not a Little 59 or, really, any other single-sized bucker.

Not sure if you’ve played the MIM ceramics but IME they are very muddy. I do think a vintage or mid output humbucker is necessary to get some of the tones in that list. Of course YMMV

 

[Mantra]

Re: looking for pickups to replace mim stratocaster stock

A "bright and defined tone" means stay with single coil pups. Definitely not a full sized humbucker (even if it's wired for split), and not a Little 59 or, really, any other single-sized bucker.

hi
i like 3 single coil pickups , no active pickups they need battery , i guess there is not room
i don't want to buy ceramics or active pickups
thanks

 

[Mantra]

Re: looking for pickups to replace mim stratocaster stock

Not to disagree too much, but I have had plenty of bright active pickups (the 81tw in my strat now can rip off faces if one is not careful..), and the Gibson Burstbucker Pro humbucker set in a strat can peel paint with its highs...

...but, yes, generally single-coils are more sparkly than humbuckers.. And it would certainly be easier for the OP to drop a brighter set of singles in without having to worry about routing or a new pickguard..

Maybe another route to go would be this hi-cut/low-cut tone pot from guitarelectronics.com:

hi
do you mean to change the pod with a hi-cut/low-cut tone pot ?
do you think would be enough?
but i'm looking for 3 alnico single coil pickups
thanks

 

[Downrazor11]

Re: looking for pickups to replace mim stratocaster stock

hi
do you mean to change the pod with a hi-cut/low-cut tone pot ?
do you think would be enough?
but i'm looking for 3 alnico single coil pickups
thanks

Yes, with a 2 tone setup you can drop this in to the position for the pickup/s you use the most and it would cut the low frequencies, making things 'feel' more defined.. it is a cost effective solution but it will still be dependent upon your pickup's original sonic profile, it will only make what is already there in the high end more noticeable, it won't add anything..

When I was younger a guitarist I played with had great results using an EQ pedal in front of his amp.. But you are already playing into a GT-100 so I don't know how that would work for you (though the GT-100 does have a configurable EQ but I have no idea if it can be placed after the input)..

Either way, if this doesn't appeal to you then look for a bright-ish set of single coils, I'm sure someone else can give a recommendation for that..

 

[Mantra]

Re: looking for pickups to replace mim stratocaster stock

hi
i guess there are some duncan pickup to bright my mex strato and sound close to an american strat?
thanks

 

[Adieu]

Re: looking for pickups to replace mim stratocaster stock

hi
i want to replace the mim stratocaster stock,it's 1 year old guitar


i like play band like pink floyd ,yes (other 60' progressive bands)), pearl jam , led zeppelin ,alice in chain , black keys

i looking for a more bright and definited sound

could you give me some advises?

thanks

Bridge: Seymour Duncan Hot Rail (Bridge version)
Middle, neck: 2x Fender CS69 .... or 1x Fender CS69, 1x RWRP Fender CS Texas Special for some hum cancellation in position 4

 

[AlexR]

Re: looking for pickups to replace mim stratocaster stock

Out of the bands you listed, only AIC is really heavy. For that band I'd try adding a boost to the rig to get to that level of drive (thats a JB in Cantrell's guitar)

The rest are more vintage.......although Dave Gilmour has his black strat with a punchier singlecoil pickup.....in fact the prototype that became the ssl 5.

For mine in the bridge I would go either the cool rails, or the Ssl 6. The cool rails will do the vintage humbucker stuff really well, as well as dealing with AIC much better - don't be put off with the ceramic mag, it just gives the power to a small magnetic field to make the pickup more full-sized humbucker tone.
The ssl 6 will nail floyd, plus will do quite well for the early Zep stuff which is actually a Tele. Also early Pearl Jam is a stock MIJ strat for Mike McCready IIRC.

Middle and neck can be ssl 1, and that will do vintage singlecoil quite well.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: looking for pickups to replace mim stratocaster stock

How do you feel about single coil noise?

I’d go either SSL-1 & SSL-1 RWRP in the neck and mid or STK-S4n and STK-S4m if you want hum cancelling. For the bridge I’d either go for SSL-5 or STK-S6 (Standard vs Stack) or a lil 59 for a bit more punch.

 

[Mincer]

Re: looking for pickups to replace mim stratocaster stock

My thought is an SSL-2 for the neck and middle, and SSL-6 for the bridge. I'd also consider a switch that allows the bridge and neck pickup to have on at the same time. I believe there is a Megaswitch that allows it, and certainly a Super Switch will do it.

 

[Blille]

Re: looking for pickups to replace mim stratocaster stock

I'd also consider a switch that allows the bridge and neck pickup to have on at the same time. I believe there is a Megaswitch that allows it, and certainly a Super Switch will do it.

That would be the Megaswitch E

 

[Mantra]

Re: looking for pickups to replace mim stratocaster stock

hi
the middle pickup is one of my favorie pickup
i was going to think to buy the tex mex or Seymour Duncan SSL-1 Set California

but i will consider

My thought is an SSL-2 for the neck and middle, and SSL-6 for the bridge

and

I’d go either SSL-1 & SSL-1 RWRP in the neck and mid or STK-S4n and STK-S4m For the bridge I’d either go for SSL-5 or STK-S6

Bridge: Seymour Duncan Hot Rail (Bridge version)
Middle, neck: 2x Fender CS69 .... or 1x Fender CS69, 1x RWRP Fender CS Texas Special for some hum cancellation in position 4

i can't buy only 1 or 2 cs69 pickup

by the way , can I ask a question ?
had you own a mex standard strato ?
it's less bright then a mia , what pickups have you installed to have a bright and definited sound?
thanks

 

[Mincer]

Re: looking for pickups to replace mim stratocaster stock

I can't say that the mim strats are less bright than the mia ones, it really comes down to the individual guitar and year they were made. You have decide what issue you need to 'correct' with your new pickups- in other words, what don't you like about the stock ones. My choice of the SSL-2 & SSL-6 has to do with flat poles, and a more modern radius with (I am assuming here) a plain G string being used. Flat poles tend to balance better in more modern instruments. I use them when I can.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: looking for pickups to replace mim stratocaster stock

Another thing, while the California set is great and the bridge is vintage accurate, it’s a thin tone. I’ve got one Strat with it currently, but I’ve got other Strats with beefier bridge pickups when I need them. Unless I was going for vintage accuracy I’d go for something a bit hotter in the bridge if it’s your only Strat.

 

[Blille]

Re: looking for pickups to replace mim stratocaster stock

Another thing, while the California set is great and the bridge is vintage accurate, it’s a thin tone. I’ve got one Strat with it currently, but I’ve got other Strats with beefier bridge pickups when I need them. Unless I was going for vintage accuracy I’d go for something a bit hotter in the bridge if it’s your only Strat.

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