Need some help with single coils, esp. Antiquity Surfers

[CaughtLikeFire]

hey guys,

I have an ESP superstrat that is getting all new pickups. I've already decided on a '78 for the bridge bucker but I need to choose a middle and neck single coil.

Its an ash body but its not overly bright or edgy. I'm leaning towards the Surfers based on the descriptions and reviews here (I want the classic surf rock bright single coil sound as opposed to a warm, heavy blues sound).

Here are my hangups:

1) I measured my neck radius at ~12" - can I still used staggered pole pieces with good results?

2) The single coils are direct mount. Currently they are the stock ESP SS-120 stacks, probably similar to the SD classic stack. They're pretty tall and have flat poles. Are standard singles going to sit too low in the body? Do I need to be looking at stacks only?

thanks for your help!

 

[Kommerzbassist]

Re: Need some help with single coils, esp. Antiquity Surfers

Most guys will tell you that even with a flat neck radius, pups with staggered polepieces will be a good choice because they seem to sound a bit "livlier"...
For the mounting I don't know, cause I don't know those pups you currently have

Another thing is... do you really dare to install surfers in an ash guitar?!?!?!

 

[CaughtLikeFire]

Re: Need some help with single coils, esp. Antiquity Surfers

Most guys will tell you that even with a flat neck radius, pups with staggered polepieces will be a good choice because they seem to sound a bit "livlier"...
For the mounting I don't know, cause I don't know those pups you currently have

Another thing is... do you really dare to install surfers in an ash guitar?!?!?!

OK so staggered pole pieces are fine.

In regards to pickup size, I guess I just need to know if the stacked coils tend to be taller pickups than a vintage style singles.

Would the Texas hots be a better choice for an ash body?

 

[Kommerzbassist]

Re: Need some help with single coils, esp. Antiquity Surfers

Hmm I I looked at the SD stack pups and the yseem to be (almost?) the same size of normal SC from mounting to top, so I think this shouldn't be a problem...
The Texas Hots would be ´very nice choice allthough I don't know I you'd like them cause they are quite warm... I just wanted to tell you that you are going to get one of the brightest pups in a bright guitar which could get a bit too much top end...

 

[flank]

Re: Need some help with single coils, esp. Antiquity Surfers

if you do not think the guitar is too bright in the first place......the surfers will be fine, the one i had was not overally bright at all (i had it in alder strat with maple board). That is not to say they are too warm either, certainly a different, snappier, brighter sound than the Texas Hot i tried in replace of it...

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Need some help with single coils, esp. Antiquity Surfers

I'm a big fan of Surfers in traditional strats, but I've found that direct to wood mounted A5 vintage singles get very bright. In your situation, I'd opt for the Texas Hots along with the 78 Model humbucker. Direct to wood always brightens the tone, compared to pickguard mounted, so you want to go a shade darker on the pickups.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Need some help with single coils, esp. Antiquity Surfers

the surfers are great and if you dont want a warm blues sound then they might work just fine for ya. what value volume control are you gonna use?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Need some help with single coils, esp. Antiquity Surfers

I'd go with the Surfers if it's a classic Knopfler/Hendrix/Clapton/SRV Strat tone you're after - regardless of the body wood. I think people worry about the body wood (ash vs alder) and neck fingerboard (maple vs rosewood) much to much.

The classic Strat tone, especially from the neck and middle pickups, is deep and chimey bright.

That's the sound of alnico 5 staggered polepiece pickups like the SSL-1 or Surfer.

I do really like the Texas Hots, but truthfully, I don't think it's the clasic Strat tone. They have alot more mids and less bass and treble than vintage 50's and 60's Strat pickups and pickups like the Surfers or SSL-1.

I do LOVE the Texas Hot Custom bridge pickup though! I've never really loved alnico 5 for the Strat bridge pickup -for that position a5 is almost to bright. So lately I've developed a preferance for alnico 2 single coils in the bridge position and most of my Strats and Teles have alnico 2 bridge pickups and alnico 5 neck pickups.

Lew