Mini-H/S/S suggestions for traditional sounding strat

[CDW88]

I've had a 2nd hand MIM knocking around for ages that I want to make a project out of and I'm unsure of what pickups to go for. Pretty much a total novice here so welcome all advice.

I play a bit of all genres, I'm just mainly after as traditional a 'stratty' sound as possible. That said I feel like I'm set on a hot rail in the bridge (though open to advices suggestions), what single coils would best match/achieve this?

Following on do I need to consider RWRP? Do I want this considering the sound I'm after and is if even useful with the humbucker in the bridge? And if going for HSS am I better off going for 250 or 500k pots?

Thank you all in advance!

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Mini-H/S/S suggestions for traditional sounding strat

Welcome to the forum!

Standard Duncan stratty pickups are the ssl2s. You can get one of them rwrp for noise cancellation in position 4. And you can also get noise cancellation in position 2 by splitting the hotrails somehow. 300k pots are a good compromise.

 

[gregory]

Re: Mini-H/S/S suggestions for traditional sounding strat

hat said I feel like I'm set on a hot rail in the bridge (though open to advices suggestions)

If you don't mind my asking, why a dark and mid-heavy hot rail? Why not a fatter single coil?

If you want effective and traditional position 2 bridge+middle quack then there are better approaches than splitting a rail.

I'm happy to tow the line and recommend Duncans but I personally feel that there are better choices outside of Duncan in this area. Feel free to message me privately if you are interested in non-Duncan alternatives.

 

[CDW88]

Re: Mini-H/S/S suggestions for traditional sounding strat

Thanks for the quick feedback!

Standard Duncan stratty pickups are the ssl2s.

The description for the ssl2's says it's better for guitars with a larger neck radius. I'm not sure on a 7.25" or 9.5" radius neck atm - will that change the decision between ssl2's and say ssl1's?

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Mini-H/S/S suggestions for traditional sounding strat

The thing I notice most about the stagger is the characteristic sound that it gives the pickup. Flat poles has even balance string to string, while the staggered poles give a more stratty sound even though the string volumes are uneven. But like you said, the choice can also have to do with your neck radius. I've used flat pole pickups with 9.5" and they work fine.

 

[gregory]

Re: Mini-H/S/S suggestions for traditional sounding strat

Stratty is subjective. I have an American Standard that came with flat poles and underwound pickups by Duncan standards (as if). Is it less Stratty? Don't think so. Again, the differences are overblown. Would SRV not sound like SRV if he used a flat stagger? Will an SRV devotee play more like SRV by virtue of using a vintage stagger?

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Mini-H/S/S suggestions for traditional sounding strat

I can hear merits to both. Was just trying to explain that there are slight differences in sound. I prefer even string volume but I'm not trying to tell him what to do.

 

[CDW88]

Re: Mini-H/S/S suggestions for traditional sounding strat

I've come across a configuration of STK-S4 in neck/middle and STK-S7 bridge. If I were to go for a SVR-1 in the bridge for a little more output, would those PU's work with each other?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Mini-H/S/S suggestions for traditional sounding strat

The only 'issue' with a Hot Rail is that it is difficult to get a traditional sounding single coil (or stack) to match in output. The Hot Rail is really a metal or heavy rock pickup. I might opt for an STK-S4/STK-S4 and STK-S7 set for better balance, that can still rock.

 

[gregory]

Re: Mini-H/S/S suggestions for traditional sounding strat

The most recent post inquired about an SVR-1 Vintage Rails in the bridge.

 

[CDW88]

Re: Mini-H/S/S suggestions for traditional sounding strat

The only 'issue' with a Hot Rail is that it is difficult to get a traditional sounding single coil (or stack) to match in output. The Hot Rail is really a metal or heavy rock pickup. I might opt for an STK-S4/STK-S4 and STK-S7 set for better balance, that can still rock.

So if I forget about the Hot Rail then, what would a Vintage Rail sound like in the bridge with a pair of STK-S4's?