My Fender strat needs some upgrades (little help needed)

DankStar

DankStar

Her Little Mojo Minion
Been goofing with my Fender strat and I've realized I don't care for the SD '59 pickup the previous owner put in it (to me it sounds sort of "hollow" or almost single coil-ish), and the vintage saddles need to be replaced with the rectangular cast kind on the deluxes cause it hurts my hand.

Edit: the '59 sounds OK clean, it's with overdrive/distortion that I start to not like it.

So.....

1. I know I want to go a bit more aggressive but not over-the-top on the bridge p/up. I'm thinking a custom, or a custom custom, but not sure which. I always liked a duncan distortion, but thought I'd go with something similar but yet a bit different just to play the field a bit. Possibly a JB but last time I tried one it was kind of blah to me.

Edit: For non-SD I'm thinking an Air Zone, since I like their Tone Zone and the guitar it'll be in has a vintage vibe.


2. Ideally I'd get the string saver saddles at stew mac, but those things are pretty expensive. Is there a decent budget/off-brand version? Doesn't have to have the slippery thing going on, I don't usually break strings.
 
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Re: My Fender strat needs some upgrades (little help needed)

Something from the Custom family is a great place to start, as I'm sure you know by hanging around here. I think there's some overlap between a Custom and a Distortion, but the Custom really lives up to the "PAF on steroids" claim. It's hot and muscular and great for metal, but it has just a touch of sweetness that I think the Distortion lacks.
 
Re: My Fender strat needs some upgrades (little help needed)

guitar fetish has the stainless steel in the block style saddles
as well as roller saddles if you want to try those

dimarzio PAF sounds great in my buddies strat

go with 500k pots though
at least on the bridge

takes the mud out
 
Re: My Fender strat needs some upgrades (little help needed)

59/Custom Hybrid works to my ears.


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Re: My Fender strat needs some upgrades (little help needed)

This may sound dumb at this point, but I'm wondering if the setup is making it seem that the pickups are weak. The action is pretty low, and although I don't notice problems clean, with distortion I think the low action is buzzing such that it's messing up the tone.
 
Re: My Fender strat needs some upgrades (little help needed)

Err.. Yeah you don't want buzzing anywhere. The tone is the best when the action is medium so there's some string to push against but it's not too hard. And don't get string saver saddles, bad tone. Stainless steel are good.
 
Re: My Fender strat needs some upgrades (little help needed)

I got a C8 in one of my Jacksons , and I think it sounds awesome, might be just what you are after. That said, I'd try a JB bridge with 250K pots as well. People who tend to be skeptcal about the JB really need to try it with 250K pots. A JB -the one Duncan reissued form the original specs with the Maple spacers would be ideal in my opinion, but they are costly. Don't discount the '78- the thing bites like a mad dog!
 
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Re: My Fender strat needs some upgrades (little help needed)

A Custom, and if you are good with magnet swaps, maybe an assortment of magnets, like different types of A5, and an A2. You can radically change the EQ of the Custom wind with a magnet swap. My guess is you will like the A2, which turns it into a Custom Custom. I like this pickup a lot, andI use it on a few of my guitars- it works well in a 1 guitar band.
 
Re: My Fender strat needs some upgrades (little help needed)

Depends on your guitar s resonance and signal chain , either a Custom or JB that sees 250k. On average we find custom better clean and JB better in 2 position.

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Re: My Fender strat needs some upgrades (little help needed)

Shorter screws are just a trip to the hardware store away
I think they are 3mm set screws
May be #4 set screws

Take one with ya
 
Re: My Fender strat needs some upgrades (little help needed)

yikes, I knew there wasn't much relief, but the action is currently at 0.006 with feeler gage (changed it to 0.011, which is a lot better).
 
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Re: My Fender strat needs some upgrades (little help needed)

Just a thought- if you didn't want to go quite as hot as a Custom, the Screamin' Demon is fantastic in Strats.
 
Re: My Fender strat needs some upgrades (little help needed)

If you're talking about the nut axion, the figures that I arrived at thru trial and error for low axion are: 0.020" E - 0.016" e. All the strings at 0.011" is still a lil low.
 
Re: My Fender strat needs some upgrades (little help needed)

I meant the relief at the 8th fret with capo on first and depressing last fret (per fender setup guide)
 
Re: My Fender strat needs some upgrades (little help needed)

In regards to the bridge, I would suggest checking out Babicz. They are very comfortable and intonate beautifully. I have them on all 4 of my MIM Stats and Teles.

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