My first Strat, be gentle......

[BigSteve]

Hey guys, first post, hope it's in the right place.

I've been playing since I was 10, and for me that's about 50 years. I play Blues, Rock, Pop, and a little Punk, (think Dag Nasty or Bad Religion, not D.O.A or Dead Kennedys). Owned a lot of guitars and re-built/re-wired a bunch, but in all those years I've never owned a Strat. So I decided it's time. Building a "Partscaster": Warmoth chambered ash body with a Pau Ferro on Maple, 24.75" scale conversion neck. ( I like the shorter Gibson scale...)

Now I'm trying to decide on the pups. I usually use DeMarzio full size humkbuckers, but that's just not right for this build. I like the sound of the SD Stacks at the neck, and I want to be able to get a lot of Strat-Quack out of the middle. For the bridge, I need to be able to get a full bodied sound, but some nice bite when needed.

Like I said, I don't have much experience with Strats or single coils, but this is what I'm thinking: a Little '59 (SL59-1) for the bridge, a Duckbucker (SDBR-1) in the middle, and a Vintage Hot Stack (STK-S7) at the neck. My intention is to wire the Little '59 and Vintage Hot Stack for coil splitting, and add a switch to bring in the bridge in positions 4 & 5 when needed.

Any comments or suggestions? I'm looking for versatility, from John Mayer to SRV. I know that's a lot to ask of one axe, but what the heck.

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: My first Strat, be gentle......

I just picked up a set of StraBro90's and they're incredible. They're tapped to give both true strat tones and P90 tones. I've never played a more versatile guitar ever. They're not cheap, but IMO they're worth every penny.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: My first Strat, be gentle......

I don't think tones from John Mayer to SRV are that big of a stretch, but I wouldn't pick the pickups you listed if those tones were what I was after.

 

[BigSteve]

Re: My first Strat, be gentle......

I'm definitely open to suggestion, that's why I'm here.

 

[LReese]

Re: My first Strat, be gentle......

Go cheap (still high quality, but not the more expensive stacked pickups) - SSL-1s (or APS-1s). They are a little hotter than vintage but you'll get the real Strat experience. I prefer all 3 pickups the same, like Strats used to come with.

If you don't like them, flip them for something else. Its a good starting point.

 

[BigSteve]

Re: My first Strat, be gentle......

LReese- Is there a reason other than price to not go with a stack? As an old humbucker guy, I kinda like the whole no hum thing.

 

[LReese]

Re: My first Strat, be gentle......

I've never had a stack sound as good as a regular single coil (IMO). I thought the Vintage Rails were quite good though (Duckbucker is similar in construction, rails vs pole pieces), got to get over the look and your cavities need to be pretty deep.

There will be those that will disagree with me though about stacks. I even hear a difference in tone with a RWRP middle (that gives you noise canceling in the combo positions).

If you're willing to spend $300 extra - the Ilitch stuff is the best if you must have noise canceling (works with pretty much any single coil, preferably no RWRP middle). Very transparent and effective - I have the routed in system in 2 Suhrs when they were installing them.

Ilitch told me that the newer pick guard system is just as effective. I'm looking at getting one for a Fender.

 

[BigSteve]

Re: My first Strat, be gentle......

An extra $300 for a separate induction coil or $420 for a set of StraBro90's is WAY overboard for what I need. If I played on stage every night maybe, but it's been many years since I played in a band. These days I play mostly to make myself happy. I'm looking to use standard pups in the less than $100 range.

How do the stacks sound coil split? Much different than the SSL-1??

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: My first Strat, be gentle......

I agree regarding stacks and standard Strat singles. I'd echo the thoughts above and go with SSL-1s or APS-1s in the neck/middle and something with a bit more punch in the bridge (SSL-5, Antiquity Texas Hot Custom Bridge or Antiquity Surfer Custom Bridge).

My current Strat setups:
"69" style - 3 x Fender CS 1969 pickups: Nails the SRV Little Wing & Riviera Paradise tones, along with the classic Woodstock Hendrix Tones
62RI - APS-1/SSL-1(m)/SSL-1(b): As is, position 4 (APS + SSL) sounds pretty darn close to Mayer's #4 tone. The A2 in the neck smooths out that position just a touch. Also, it gives a nice smoky blues tone with the Neck alone. The Middle SSL-1 is pure Love Struck Baby and Pride & Joy.

Right now I'm split on wanting to replace bridge pickups. I'm used to using a hotter bridge on Strats and these are a little weak in comparison. I'll probably put a SSL-5 in the 69 style and leave the SSL-1 in the 62RI, just to keep a vintage bridge option.

Not sure if that helps, but it's my impression of my two guitars and how I got there.

Good luck!

 

[LReese]

Re: My first Strat, be gentle......

All in all the noise is not that bad unless you have an abnormal RFI problem (CRT, Certain Fluorescent lighting, etc), you induce a ground loop in your effects chain pr you try to use high gain. That's assuming your guitar is properly shielded.

But I've been told by SD tech support that the STK-S4 split is very close to the SSL-1. Was researching it for the bridge of my Jackson Soloist (to use in mostly split mode). That one has 3 X SSL-1's at the moment.

 

[BigSteve]

Re: My first Strat, be gentle......

Thanks, all suggestions are avenues to investigate.

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: My first Strat, be gentle......

I have multiple Strats with true single coils and one with noiseless pickups. I never play the one with noiseless pickups unless its a such a severe noise problem that I must. That is what it is for. So I agree with the others, for the true strat experience get the SSL-1s or the Surfer set. The best noiseless pickups are about 95% there. If you get noiseless pickups to start with you will be missing out on that extra 5%. You may be left wondering what your missing out on. But the Classic Stack Plus set and the Dimarzio Areas are very good for the money if you must have noiseless.

As far as bridge pickups go, a vintage output strat bridge pickup in a strat is usually very disappointing for somebody used to playing full size humbuckers. Just connecting the bridge pickup to the second tone control does wonders but you may want to use a set with hotter bridge pickup.