Need Duncan recommendations for Strat

[Rick1114]

I'm looking to make my California Fat-strat more "strat" like (I seem to have made a wrong turn somewhere). My guitar tech installed VV "Solo", in the neck & midlle position (where they don't belong). I approached him a year ago because the noisy tex-mex's were killing me and I didn't know better - I just trusted him. These pickups are VERY bassy sounding and I have no Strat tone going on, and no notch position quack either - a nice Jazzy feel I'll admit, but way too limited. I have an Air-Zone in the bridge, which I like a lot.

I contacted Dimarzio and they recommended splitting the humbucker and trying a virtual2 neck & middle, to get "strat" tone back. I would like to know the best Duncan options because I think they are more respected for their Strat Single Coils than Dimarzio. There are sooo many options, I don't know where to start. What's the best noiseless strat SD pickups, that will give me a Strat like tone and still work with the humbucker in terms of output?

Thanks in advance!
Rick

 

[loudriver23]

Re: Need Duncan recommendations for Strat

Hi Rick,
SD just released the Classic Stack Plus for the Strat. They have been receiving rave reviews by almost everyone here who has tried either them or their prototypes.
I have no personal experience with them but if you can't deal with the pure single coil 60 cycle hum, the Classic Stack Plus may be the way to go indeed.
Good luck, and i'm sure some other folks with more personalized experience with these exact pups will be chiming in soon.
Loudriver

 

[dilney]

Re: Need Duncan recommendations for Strat

For noiseless single coils, I love DiMarzio pickups. I use Virtual Vintage 2.2 in the neck and middle and Virtual Vintage Heavy Blues in the bridge position.

They sound very stratish to me.

The only SD I tried, was the classic stack, which I don't see listed on the website (maybe it's been replaced by the classic stack plus).

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Need Duncan recommendations for Strat

.....hat's the best noiseless strat SD pickups, that will give me a Strat like tone and still work with the humbucker in terms of output?
....

Hi Rick,
SD just released the Classic Stack Plus for the Strat. .....

The problem is that the stack plus will likely be hopelessly overpowered by the Humbucker.... you may want to trade off a bit of Vintage tone for hair more output and try something like the Vintage Rails or Duckbuckers

.....The only SD I tried, was the classic stack, which I don't see listed on the website (maybe it's been replaced by the classic stack plus).

This assumption is correct, the STK-S4 has replaced the STK-S1 for the End User market, of course it´s still available as an OEM piece, though.

 

[loudriver23]

Re: Need Duncan recommendations for Strat

See I told you the guys who R in the know would chime in..
BTW.... Listen to the ZERB.... he knows of what he speaks!!!!

 

[Rick1114]

Re: Need Duncan recommendations for Strat

Sounds like the classic stack aren't going to work output wise. I guess I'll keep the virtual2's as an idea. Does anyone know if Lace (or any other brand) pickups would work and still put the "strat" back in my gee-tar?