Malmsteen Strat

[eastwood]

Hi all !

Nice to be here !

Question :

I have just started to use my Malmsteen Strat for live work - I love it to bits.....but - I need to replace the bridge single coil with something a little bit more darker sounding and with perhaps slightly more power.

I normaly use an ESP custom with a Screamin Deamon in the bridge and a Cool Rails in the neck - lovely guitar but at the moment I'm addicted to the scalloped neck, retro looks, light feel of my strat.

I don't want a humbucking sound - I want to retain that 'clangy' feel ?

What are my options if any ?

Regards,

Daz

 

[Thames]

Re: Malmsteen Strat

Hmm. a tough one.. let's try


All the sc-sized HBs have a certain single-coil quality to them, unless you really go high output like the Hotrails.

- dimarzio Pro Track
- Duncan lil'59
- Duncan Cool Rails

 

[Gamera]

Re: Malmsteen Strat

You may have to go hi-output with something like a Hot Rails. That DiMarzio HS-3 you currently have in there is a serious contendor. If you want more beef I wouldn't settle for anything other than a hi-output although your clang may suffer a bit.

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: Malmsteen Strat

Welcome to the Forum!

I'ld go with the Hot Rails too, even though it's a humbucker.

If you want to stay witha a single coil, try the SSL-3 Hot. Great pickup.

Jeff

 

[RG 2570]

Re: Malmsteen Strat

Hi all !

Nice to be here !

Question :

I have just started to use my Malmsteen Strat for live work - I love it to bits.....but - I need to replace the bridge single coil with something a little bit more darker sounding and with perhaps slightly more power.

I normaly use an ESP custom with a Screamin Deamon in the bridge and a Cool Rails in the neck - lovely guitar but at the moment I'm addicted to the scalloped neck, retro looks, light feel of my strat.

I don't want a humbucking sound - I want to retain that 'clangy' feel ?

What are my options if any ?

Regards,

Daz

email dimarzio at tech@dimarzio.com
they answer your needs if you want to stay with a dimarzio in the YJM strat

 

[Gamera]

Re: Malmsteen Strat

Y'know, after reading this thread I went over to the Fender Pup Tent forum and someone else is asking almost the same question you are. And a few people recommend rewiring the existing HS-3 for a better sound with more presence. Interesting. The full thread is here.

 

[Kent S.]

Re: Malmsteen Strat

email dimarzio at tech@dimarzio.com
they answer your needs if you want to stay with a dimarzio in the YJM strat

Yeah the YJM and HS-3 (or any of the HS series) are not high output pups at all. Then come the side by side rail pups the Crusier (neck or bridge), (technically part of the fast track series BTW).. .the Fast Track 1, the Chopper .. then you start to morph into humbuckerish territory with the Pro Track, Fast Track 2 (kinda it's own thing).
Those are listed in order of output starting lower to higher.

 

[Fritz6]

Re: Malmsteen Strat

Could use Duncan's pup booster pedal to add a bit more gain, with the switch that makes a single sound more like a humbucker engaged, when your in the bridge position.

 

[Kent S.]

Re: Malmsteen Strat

Oh and I forgot about the Tone Zone S (looks the same as the fast track series) ... SD's hot stack might do you as well ... but if you want more then you'd have to go with the hot rails.

 

[Kent S.]

Re: Malmsteen Strat

Y'know, after reading this thread I went over to the Fender Pup Tent forum and someone else is asking almost the same question you are. And a few people recommend rewiring the existing HS-3 for a better sound with more presence. Interesting. The full thread is here.

Interesting, although it sounds like they are putting in in series out of phase with itself, not single coil mode as the single coil mode that EJ did with the HS-2 killed off one coil I believe ... i'd have to check, but I'm pretty sure ... meantime it would be worth trying.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Malmsteen Strat

Try the Virtual Vintage Solo pickup. Definatley darker than the HS-3, but with a marked strat flavour.

 

[Kent S.]

Re: Malmsteen Strat

Try the Virtual Vintage Solo pickup. Definatley darker than the HS-3, but with a marked strat flavour.

I forgot about the V.V. series the Solo ... I don't think they Heavy Blues would do him though ... but the Solo might ...cool.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Malmsteen Strat

I had one at the bridge position of my MIJ strat and it matched the output of the Fast Track 1 I had there, but it did have more snap, and blended better with the Virtual Vintage 54 in the mid position.

 

[Kent S.]

Re: Malmsteen Strat

I had one at the bridge position of my MIJ strat and it matched the output of the Fast Track 1 I had there, but it did have more snap, and blended better with the Virtual Vintage 54 in the mid position.

I know it's ... fftopic: ...But, if you wanna have some fun grab a MultiBucker and toss it in a humbucker guitar (it's a Fast Track 1 and a Chopper side by side in a humbucker cover) ... really cool pup, a total of six tones (all hum-cancelling).

 

[Brow]

Re: Malmsteen Strat

A Seymour Duncan Antiquity Custom bridge pup may do what you want it to.

 

[rspst14]

Re: Malmsteen Strat

I've heard good things about the Lace HG-1500 Holy Grail Sensor.

Ryan

 

[Farkus]

Re: Malmsteen Strat

Heya. I used to have one of those YJM strats. Cool guitars!

Here are a couple of thoughts...if your YJM strat is post 1997-1998 (I think they switched over in 97) and has the large late 60's headstock, you should have 2 YJM pickups (n and m) and one HS-3 in the bridge. Lots of people tell me that they can't tell a difference between the YJM and the HS-3, but I think they may be a little hearing impaired...The first thing I'd do is put the HS-3 in the neck position (if you don't have one there already), where it sounds great. Then in the bridge, I WOULD try a hot rails. The amount of string sensed keeps it pretty tight IMHO. It's also a decent match for the HS pickups...the HS pups are not high output by any stretch of the imagination. You'll have to play with the pup heights quite a bit to get a good balance. I personally have quite a bit of experience with the HS-3, YJM and Hot Rails pickups. I think for neck, the HS-3 is great. It lacks for bridge though. The YJM is does not sound very good, IHMO (it's staggered like a classic pup, and that's supposed to be the only difference, but what a difference...). Now, I've never tried the QP pickups from SD, but from the reviews I've read, that might be a great bridge pup that would still be a true single but deliver some serious output, which may meet your needs, esp if you keep the HS-3 in the guitar.

Good luck!

Farkus

 

[eastwood]

Re: Malmsteen Strat

Cheers guys !

What a great forum !

OK, I have ordered a lil'59 from Strings Direct so I'm gonna give that a try. The orginal bridge pickup seems very week - the Strat I have is a 2002 I think. it has the very large vintage headstock - rosewood board.

I like the screamin demon in my ESP - thats not particular high powered but I don find that it gives a nice 'open' sound.

Thanks again and I will let you know how I get on with the Lil'59.

Daz

 

[Farkus]

Re: Malmsteen Strat

Cheers guys !

What a great forum !

OK, I have ordered a lil'59 from Strings Direct so I'm gonna give that a try. The orginal bridge pickup seems very week - the Strat I have is a 2002 I think. it has the very large vintage headstock - rosewood board.

I like the screamin demon in my ESP - thats not particular high powered but I don find that it gives a nice 'open' sound.

Thanks again and I will let you know how I get on with the Lil'59.

Daz

Hey, a little '59 might be just the ticket! I have one now in the neck of my HM strat...pretty cool lil' pup. :32: Guess I should update my sig...

Let us know how it goes!

Farkus

 

[RACER X]

Re: Malmsteen Strat

Hot Rail and 2 Cool Rails, awsome .