Need suggestions for HSS Strat

G

GI-45

New member
I have a 1994 MIM Fender Squire Stratocaster that has been SSS for nearly 20 years now. About 4 years ago I learned that the body was actually cut for HSS pickups. (All those years and I always assumed I'd have to rout out the bridge position for a full-size humbucker, when all I had to do was change the damn pickguard!)

So I'm just looking for some pickup ideas, mainly for the bridge humbucker. I currently have Fender Tex Mex single coils in the neck and middle, so if I can find a humbucker to play nice with them and not totally overpower them, that would be great, but I'm also open to replacing the single coils as well, especially if it gives me more options for the humbucker.

As for the guitar, it has a poplar body and a maple neck. So I'd like to make sure it doesn't sound too bright or thin.

My musical style with this guitar is classic/heavy rock. Not really looking to turn this into a metal shredder.

Thanks!
 
Re: Need suggestions for HSS Strat

my favorite strat pickups are the duncan antiquities and the ssl1. both are amazing and they are single coil. im not a pro with humbuckers but the 59' or the antiquity would probably be a safe choice
 
Re: Need suggestions for HSS Strat

Thanks. I've seen some demos on YouTube of Strats equipped with a full-size 59, and they sound great. Also thinking the Pearly Gates might be a good choice.
 
Re: Need suggestions for HSS Strat

I'm a big fan of the Pearly Gates in Strats! That is in my HSS right now.
 
Re: Need suggestions for HSS Strat

Thanks guys. You're pretty much echoing what I'm considering, but that's good: means I'm on the right track!

I'm thinking of getting a trembucker, based on the measurement of my strings from E to E, which is 2 1/8-inch at the bridge pickup. Do I need a special pickguard to accommodate this? I've read that regular HSS pickguards might not fit a trembucker.
 
Re: Need suggestions for HSS Strat

Pearly Gates and '59 are both solids choices. I'm huge fan of the Whole Lotta Humbucker in a Strat, too! My MIM Standard strat (same woods) from '95 currently has a Pearly Gates in the bridge with an Alnico 9 in it. I have dubbed it: The Ninth Gate. With your Tex Mex, I'd go '59 or PG.
 
Re: Need suggestions for HSS Strat

A PG is what comes in the bridge of the Lone Star strat, with Texas Specials in the neck and middle. It's actually a PG that's designed to be used in that set. I'm not all that enamored of mine, and wonder if a 'real' PG would sound better.

One thing you could also consider might be a 'Lil 59 for strat, then you could keep the original pickguard if you wanted to. I'm not sure that they're exactly the same as a 'regular' 59 though. I've got a lil 59 for tele bridge p/u, and it hasn't exactly blown me away either. Again, I've never had a regular 59 bridge, so I really have nothing to compare it to.
 
Re: Need suggestions for HSS Strat

Actually, that's what I currently have in the bridge, a 'Lil 59. I'm pretty happy with it, but I had it installed before learning that my body is HSS. (This is a good lesson: always better to install your own pickups! Sure wish the various guitar techs I've had over the years would have mentioned the HSS cut!) So I'd rather just get a Fat Strat pickguard and install the real thing, i.e. a full-size 59.
 
Re: Need suggestions for HSS Strat

Let me know how the full-size stacks up to the strat version. I've always wanted to try the full-size, but I never had anything that it would fit in that I was unhappy with what it would replace, except for a few crap guitars that weren't worth putting one in.
 
Re: Need suggestions for HSS Strat

In my experience, the full-sized 59 sounds nothing like the Lil 59. The Lil 59 is very full-bodied and warm, with lots of mids. The full-sized 59 is bright and mid-scooped. The Pearly Gates is more like the full-sized 59 but has a slight bit more mid to it and a little growl. It's kinda like a 59 with attitude.

The Lil 59 has 4 conductors so you can split it or wire the coils in parallel (my favorite sound for the Lil 59).

Another suggestion would be to keep your single-coil pickguard and try a DiMarzio Fast Track 2. It's a really good sounding single-sized humbucker (4 conductor). I didn't like the split sound and haven't tried it in parallel because the series sound is so great.
 
Re: Need suggestions for HSS Strat

I can't believe I'm saying this, but maybe a Screamin' Demon. It won't overpower the singles.
 
Re: Need suggestions for HSS Strat

Thanks guys, great suggestions.

Now I'm leaning towards the Custom 5, based on what the Tone Wizard told me. I'm just hoping it won't totally overpower the Tex Mex single coils.

Gah, I love - and hate - doing pickup research! So many options...:33:
 
Re: Need suggestions for HSS Strat

Yeah, after posting that I found another thread where Strat owners were advised to avoid the Custom 5...
 
Re: Need suggestions for HSS Strat

Has anyone (and maybe this should be a separate thread of it's own) had the chance to compare a PG vs the PG+ that Fender put in their strats?
 
Re: Need suggestions for HSS Strat

I use a 59/custom hybrid in mine, with a classic stack plus in the neck and five two in the middle. I did some fancy wiring with an unusual switch that I wrote about in a blog post. But I love this combo in a strat.
 
Re: Need suggestions for HSS Strat

Out of everything I've used in my strat, my favorite was a regular-spaced dimarzio virtual hot PAF in double cream. I sold it because it looked like butthole on the white pickguard, but man that pickup sounded good.

Similarly, I loved having a pgb in my les paul. I might actually go back before too long.

I've also had experience with the 59/custom and the p-rails.

All of this leads me to suggest either the pearly gates for your setup. IMO it's the one that jibes with the rest of the guitar best (in terms of sound character at least)
 
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