shredhed
New member
Re: Making a Fat Strat
Agreed. Why not just try what you have first. Pots are an easy swap later if you need to
Agreed. Why not just try what you have first. Pots are an easy swap later if you need to
Making a Fat Strat
- Thread starter Wi66Pro
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MasterKtulu
New member
Re: Making a Fat Strat
I tried to get my Strat to sound like a Les Paul too by installing two humbuckers, in the end the only way I got that sound was to buy a Les Paul...
I tried to get my Strat to sound like a Les Paul too by installing two humbuckers, in the end the only way I got that sound was to buy a Les Paul...
Wi66Pro
New member
Re: Making a Fat Strat
Absolutely, it is the only way, unfortunately, I don't like the feel of an LP, I especially don't like the price of an LP and the price range I could afford, I'm not to impressed with the quality either, or at least the one's i've tried.
I'm not really after an LP sound as such, just a crunchier sound for playing blues rock and classic rock. So if I can get near that using a Strat then that would be great.
Absolutely, it is the only way, unfortunately, I don't like the feel of an LP, I especially don't like the price of an LP and the price range I could afford, I'm not to impressed with the quality either, or at least the one's i've tried.
I'm not really after an LP sound as such, just a crunchier sound for playing blues rock and classic rock. So if I can get near that using a Strat then that would be great.
MasterKtulu
New member
Re: Making a Fat Strat
If you want Blues Rock / Classic Rock sounds, you definitely want low output humbuckers ('59, PG, A2P & Seth) with 500k pots, as certain high output pickups might sound good driving a Marshall Stack (C5 for example) they sound too aggressive with just a bit of Overdrive for more subtle sounds.
I also mostly play Blues Rock / Classic Rock with my H/H Strat, although it can do Hard Rock & Classic Metal depending on what amp and or pedals I use...
I use a PG neck (By far the best neck pickup ever made) and a '59 bridge (the best bridge pickup I've tried, and I've tried a few: CC, C5, C8, PGb, A2P). The CC, C5 & C8 all sound great but are too high output and can't handle subtle stuff very well. The PGb had a great vintage vibe but I found it too bright in my Strat (But sounds great in a LP). The A2P had great mids and highs but lacked bass (Although sounds great in a LP too). So in the end I chose the '59 as a compromise as it has great bass and highs that cuts through and has a great vintage vibe about it, but it does have some slightly scooped mids. I've tried a A4 magnet in it to add some mids, but it loss some of its personality. I've also tried the Custom/'59 Hybrid, but to me it sounded just like a higher output '59. So unless Seymour Duncan comes up with a pickup with all characteristics of a '59 plus the buttery mids of the A2P, I'll stick with the regular '59.
I hope my experience with my Fat Strat will held you make a good decision on what pickups are right for you.
And if you do go with a JB/Jazz combo like you first indicated, I'd definitely go with 250k pots...
If you want Blues Rock / Classic Rock sounds, you definitely want low output humbuckers ('59, PG, A2P & Seth) with 500k pots, as certain high output pickups might sound good driving a Marshall Stack (C5 for example) they sound too aggressive with just a bit of Overdrive for more subtle sounds.
I also mostly play Blues Rock / Classic Rock with my H/H Strat, although it can do Hard Rock & Classic Metal depending on what amp and or pedals I use...
I use a PG neck (By far the best neck pickup ever made) and a '59 bridge (the best bridge pickup I've tried, and I've tried a few: CC, C5, C8, PGb, A2P). The CC, C5 & C8 all sound great but are too high output and can't handle subtle stuff very well. The PGb had a great vintage vibe but I found it too bright in my Strat (But sounds great in a LP). The A2P had great mids and highs but lacked bass (Although sounds great in a LP too). So in the end I chose the '59 as a compromise as it has great bass and highs that cuts through and has a great vintage vibe about it, but it does have some slightly scooped mids. I've tried a A4 magnet in it to add some mids, but it loss some of its personality. I've also tried the Custom/'59 Hybrid, but to me it sounded just like a higher output '59. So unless Seymour Duncan comes up with a pickup with all characteristics of a '59 plus the buttery mids of the A2P, I'll stick with the regular '59.
I hope my experience with my Fat Strat will held you make a good decision on what pickups are right for you.
And if you do go with a JB/Jazz combo like you first indicated, I'd definitely go with 250k pots...
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Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: Making a Fat Strat
i put a pair of 59s in a strat plus deluxe. Just sweet. i vol. 2 tones with push pulls for coil split (4 conductor). 3 way switch. so good.
i put a pair of 59s in a strat plus deluxe. Just sweet. i vol. 2 tones with push pulls for coil split (4 conductor). 3 way switch. so good.
Wi66Pro
New member
Re: Making a Fat Strat
Thanks for your suggestions, really helpful.
I have a Washburn with a 59 in the neck and a custom custom in the bridge. I was thinking of swapping them into my Strat to to get an idea of how they sound. Because finances are a bit tight I'm trying to check all options before I commit to buying new PUP's.
It's great listening to the sound clips but you can never really tell what it's going to sound like as there are so many variables in the real world.
My set up is, Fender Blues Junior Tweed with the Celestion Vintage 30 speaker, Seymour Duncan Twin Tube Classic.
Having feedback from guys who have been there, done that and have the T-shirt helps to narrow down the options.
By the way, your Strat looks great.
If you want Blues Rock / Classic Rock sounds, you definitely want low output humbuckers ('59, PG, A2P & Seth) with 500k pots, as certain high output pickups might sound good driving a Marshall Stack (C5 for example) they sound too aggressive with just a bit of Overdrive for more subtle sounds.
I also mostly play Blues Rock / Classic Rock with my H/H Strat, although it can do Hard Rock & Classic Metal depending on what amp and or pedals I use...
I use a PG neck (By far the best neck pickup ever made) and a '59 bridge (the best bridge pickup I've tried, and I've tried a few: CC, C5, C8, PGb, A2P). The CC, C5 & C8 all sound great but are too high output and can't handle subtle stuff very well. The PGb had a great vintage vibe but I found it too bright in my Strat (But sounds great in a LP). The A2P had great mids and highs but lacked bass (Although sounds great in a LP too). So in the end I chose the '59 as a compromise as it has great bass and highs that cuts through and has a great vintage vibe about it, but it does have some slightly scooped mids. I've tried a A4 magnet in it to add some mids, but it loss some of its personality. I've also tried the Custom/'59 Hybrid, but to me it sounded just like a higher output '59. So unless Seymour Duncan comes up with a pickup with all characteristics of a '59 plus the buttery mids of the A2P, I'll stick with the regular '59.
I hope my experience with my Fat Strat will held you make a good decision on what pickups are right for you.
And if you do go with a JB/Jazz combo like you first indicated, I'd definitely go with 250k pots...
Thanks for your suggestions, really helpful.
I have a Washburn with a 59 in the neck and a custom custom in the bridge. I was thinking of swapping them into my Strat to to get an idea of how they sound. Because finances are a bit tight I'm trying to check all options before I commit to buying new PUP's.
It's great listening to the sound clips but you can never really tell what it's going to sound like as there are so many variables in the real world.
My set up is, Fender Blues Junior Tweed with the Celestion Vintage 30 speaker, Seymour Duncan Twin Tube Classic.
Having feedback from guys who have been there, done that and have the T-shirt helps to narrow down the options.
By the way, your Strat looks great.
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MasterKtulu
New member
Re: Making a Fat Strat
+1!
Once you have a reference point with those two pickups you can describe to us what you like about them and what you dislike about them and we can help you pin point the right pickups for you.
Thanks, I really like yours too.
+1!
Once you have a reference point with those two pickups you can describe to us what you like about them and what you dislike about them and we can help you pin point the right pickups for you.
Thanks, I really like yours too.
Wi66Pro
New member
Re: Making a Fat Strat
Nice one, thanks. I'm in the process of installing them and I'm using 250k pots first. I don't have a 3 way switch so I'm using my existing 5 way just to hear how things sound. I'll get back to you once I've tried it out.
Nice one, thanks. I'm in the process of installing them and I'm using 250k pots first. I don't have a 3 way switch so I'm using my existing 5 way just to hear how things sound. I'll get back to you once I've tried it out.
ganzosrevenge
New member
Re: Making a Fat Strat
I love me a good fat strat myself. One of the things though I tend to like in them is to keep them somewhat vintage. It doesn't have to look like Diocletian's (which is stunning, to say the least), but it has to have some sort of "i wanna be a jackson / LP / ibanez" feel of some sort. I'm going to use mine as an example. I personally do want some stratiness in a Fat Strat, so I like having 2 single coils a la normal strat. I also like a HB that is reminiscent of a hot PAF. (I find that with ceramics and just most high-gain pups in general, a lot of the strat feel, and a lot of organic chunk is lost.) That's why in mine i put in 2 SSL-1s and then for the bridge an overwound brobucker. I can still have that nice quacky chirpy strat sound, but then dump it into the bridge for a heavy "i wanna be a gibson!" sound. (It may help that I have a mahogany stratocaster as well).
One thing I will echo is that if you're going to do this, put the bridge on its own tone pot. I say this because most HBs like 500k pots and a 2nd 250k is going to choke a HB too much. If you use a REALLY high-output HB, you may even want 1 meg so that it doesn't have the aural properties of gumbo. Also, the lonestar swtiching that fender provides allows for not only a HB the bridge, but in position 2, splits the HB with a 4-con HB to get that "strat quack with extra boost". Mine is SSL1 rwrp / ssl1 / Brobucker with 250k vol / 250k T1 / 500K T2, and luxe caps (phonebook T1, bumblebee T2), to keep the description short. I love it, and I have some new pictures of my creature, my HSS strat which means the world to me.
Jason
Pic of strat
I love me a good fat strat myself. One of the things though I tend to like in them is to keep them somewhat vintage. It doesn't have to look like Diocletian's (which is stunning, to say the least), but it has to have some sort of "i wanna be a jackson / LP / ibanez" feel of some sort. I'm going to use mine as an example. I personally do want some stratiness in a Fat Strat, so I like having 2 single coils a la normal strat. I also like a HB that is reminiscent of a hot PAF. (I find that with ceramics and just most high-gain pups in general, a lot of the strat feel, and a lot of organic chunk is lost.) That's why in mine i put in 2 SSL-1s and then for the bridge an overwound brobucker. I can still have that nice quacky chirpy strat sound, but then dump it into the bridge for a heavy "i wanna be a gibson!" sound. (It may help that I have a mahogany stratocaster as well).
One thing I will echo is that if you're going to do this, put the bridge on its own tone pot. I say this because most HBs like 500k pots and a 2nd 250k is going to choke a HB too much. If you use a REALLY high-output HB, you may even want 1 meg so that it doesn't have the aural properties of gumbo. Also, the lonestar swtiching that fender provides allows for not only a HB the bridge, but in position 2, splits the HB with a 4-con HB to get that "strat quack with extra boost". Mine is SSL1 rwrp / ssl1 / Brobucker with 250k vol / 250k T1 / 500K T2, and luxe caps (phonebook T1, bumblebee T2), to keep the description short. I love it, and I have some new pictures of my creature, my HSS strat which means the world to me.
Jason
Pic of strat
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