Middle pickup recommendation?

[wiiqwertyuiop]

So I have a guitar with a Dimarzio Chopper in the neck, and Dimebucker in the bridge, and I am looking to change my middle pickup out in the guitar as it really isn't doing anything for me. I'm looking for something that can give me those 2 & 4 positions spanky/quacky type sounds and was wondering if anyone had some suggestions to go with.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Middle pickup recommendation?

ssl2 would be my choice. a5 strat pup with a vintage wind but flat poles. the neck and bridge pups you have wont give you the traditional spanky tones but the ssl2 is a good start and maybe spitting the dime would get you closer in the middle/bridge position

 

[Mincer]

Re: Middle pickup recommendation?

The biggest issue here is that the quackiest sounding pickup will be a much lower volume than your other 2 pickups. Some people are ok with that (and expect it), and some are not. So if you are ok with that, an SSL-2 will do the job.

 

[wiiqwertyuiop]

Re: Middle pickup recommendation?

The biggest issue here is that the quackiest sounding pickup will be a much lower volume than your other 2 pickups. Some people are ok with that (and expect it), and some are not. So if you are ok with that, an SSL-2 will do the job.

Yeah thats the problem I was having deciding, with how high output the pickups I have are, I am expecting some volume drop, I just don't want it to be super drastic if it can be avoided. I also know I can't expect to get the traditional sound, but something in the ball park would be good enough for me. Are there higher output single coils that can still get that quacky sound?

 

[jeremy]

Re: Middle pickup recommendation?

the simple answer is no

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Middle pickup recommendation?

The Dime is pretty twangy, would probably be pretty Stratty with a vintage single in the middle.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Middle pickup recommendation?

Yeah thats the problem I was having deciding, with how high output the pickups I have are, I am expecting some volume drop, I just don't want it to be super drastic if it can be avoided. I also know I can't expect to get the traditional sound, but something in the ball park would be good enough for me. Are there higher output single coils that can still get that quacky sound?

Yeah, there won't be any higher output singles that do it. You might try a Quarter Pound or a Custom Flat, but they are much thicker in the mids. That quacky sound really comes from the vintage wind. It is a compromise every player of HSH guitars deals with.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Middle pickup recommendation?

HSS or HSH is a compromise. I found the volume balance to be more valuable to me than the vintage wind. The quarter pound still provided quack in the middle when I tried it. Custom Strat would work too. So just decide if you value the jangles more or the output balance more.

 

[EddieVN]

Re: Middle pickup recommendation?

My strat has hot rails in the neck and bridge, and I wanted to replace the stock middle single coil with something with a tad more cojones. After listening to billions of demo vids I went for a Lace Sensor Chrome Dome - for me it split the difference nicely between nice stratty tone and the output required to keep up with the hot rails