My suggestion for a new SD pickup set

playas

Well-known member
The Missing Link parallel axis HSS (strat) set

It would be comprised of a humbucker based on the PATB-3B, maybe even a little less output to ensure it will clean up well but with more mids (think mids along the lines of a Seth Lover), combined with middle and neck parallel axis low wind single coils also with a little more mids than typical on scooped strat style singles in order to tame the excessive brightness and sweeten up the high-end in comparison to most strat pickups (along the lines of traditional early 50s pickups with A3 polepieces).

Missing link as there is nothing in the SD line that fills the gap in the humbucker designed for strat bridge position, nor single coils with the relevant eq curve - to the best of my knowledge in any case. Having said that I wouldn´t be surprised if there are some winds that are similar enough that they could take advantage.
Also missing link as each would fill in the mids a bit in relation to the more scooped eq curve of both the patb 3 and typical low wind strat pickups. SD also don´t have a lot of HSS sets, the only other one I´m aware of is the Lari Basilio set.

Being a parallel axis set it would provide a cool alternative look. The winds would be reasonably low output without being restrictive in the materials used as they´re vintageish style, but not PAF nor traditional strat pickups so there would be no need to go out of the way to claim time travel to source the parts.

The bridge being low enough output that it could be adjusted to taste to cater for output to match the singles, or to match the singles when split with a bit of a boost with the full humbucker engaged. It should also be a pretty versatile set able to cover a range of sounds

If it proved popular it could also lend itself to alternatives, like an equivalent set with normal bobbins, an overwound rail set, noiseless set etc....also double creme wouldn´t be a problem beyond sourcing the bobbins.​
 
For as popular as the HSS format is, you'd think there would be more matched sets. This sounds like a great idea.
 
I don't need any more pup GAS, but the PATB-3, with a pair of the Parallel Axis Stack Strats, (PASS?), would be sweet in an HSS Strat, just the way they are.
 
I don't need any more pup GAS, but the PATB-3, with a pair of the Parallel Axis Stack Strats, (PASS?), would be sweet in an HSS Strat, just the way they are.

The cool thing about that is they're all available as production models individually.
:-D
 
Other options would be cool, but realistically speaking I imagine parallel axis pickups would need to be more popular to make that worth the investment.

Personally, I do really like black pickups with all black hardware look thankfully.
 
I would think an all black PA set (with black poles) would be killer, and probably win over some of the people who don't like how the regular PA set looks.
 
I think I'd be willing to pay 60% of the cost of a parallel-axis humbucker for a single coil, but asking the same price for half the product puts me off. That being said, knowing how good the PA-TB1 is might mean it's worth twice what I paid.
 
swapping an a2 or a3 into a patb3 will get you where you wanna be. i love a2 in there.

I think I'd be willing to pay 60% of the cost of a parallel-axis humbucker for a single coil, but asking the same price for half the product puts me off. That being said, knowing how good the PA-TB1 is might mean it's worth twice what I paid.

its a single coil size stack, so it is a humbucker, not a single coil.
 
The PATB3 with the PA-STK's is a really, really cool combination. I had it in a strat years ago and sold it. Bad call. I'm rebuilding that guitar now. Can't wait.
 
The PATB3 with the PA-STK's is a really, really cool combination. I had it in a strat years ago and sold it. Bad call. I'm rebuilding that guitar now. Can't wait.

I see my wallet taking a hit in the near future. (But I think I already have the PATB-3.)
 
swapping an a2 or a3 into a patb3 will get you where you wanna be. i love a2 in there.



its a single coil size stack, so it is a humbucker, not a single coil.

I didn't get what I was after with magnet swapping, but I'm glad it worked for you.



Mincer, I like that idea of the black poles too.
 
Back
Top