New Fat Strat Guard For my MIA Stratocaster Special, FINALLY QUIET SINGLES I LOVE!!

[Nostalgic Distortion]

My wife bought me this 2010 American Stratocaster Special as a surprise a few weeks ago and although I absolutely love the guitar the stock humbucker & Texas Specials just weren't cutting it so I decided to rebuild the guard from the ground up using top shelf components. I've got to say, I'm pretty darn impressed with myself, LOL!!!

I knew I wanted a TB-11 in the bridge but when it came to the singles I was a bit stuck, until I came across these Fralin Split Coils anyway! They were used & listed as a Blues/Hot set but upon arrival they turned out to be a Vintage Split Coil set. The guy apologized & offered a refund but I thought I might as well at least give them a shot.

Man am I glad I did, these things are flipping amazing!!! When I bought them I was basically expecting little humbuckers because that's essentially what they are. I've tried countless Stacks, Bladebuckers, & other noiseless singles but I never found anything that had that true S.C. sparkly nature.

IMHO these things sound almost exactly like vintage singles but they are dead quiet!!!! I've built dozens, perhaps hundreds, of Stratocaster guards in the past & this is probably the best one I've ever done? Usually I'll build a guard I'll keep it in for 6 weeks to 6 months and then try something different. Not this time, I'm sending her out for a fret level next week & when it comes back it's going to be staying exactly as it is!!!

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: New Fat Strat Guard For my MIA Stratocaster Special, FINALLY QUIET SINGLES I LOVE

Have you tried a Duncan Stack Plus? To me, it's really hard to get that single coil spank/twang and response without magnet pole pieces. Not that there aren't ways to do it, I just don't know that anyone has. Never tried those though. In my experience metal polepiece pickups can pull off some glass/quack but lack the overall Strat harmonic and dynamic profile.

 

[vinnie1971]

Re: New Fat Strat Guard For my MIA Stratocaster Special, FINALLY QUIET SINGLES I LOVE

Have you tried a Duncan Stack Plus? To me, it's really hard to get that single coil spank/twang and response without magnet pole pieces. Not that there aren't ways to do it, I just don't know that anyone has. Never tried those though. In my experience metal polepiece pickups can pull off some glass/quack but lack the overall Strat harmonic and dynamic profile.

My favourite fat strat humbucker is the boutique hand wound Oil City Brass knuckle

http://www.oilcitypickups.co.uk/wrandknuckle.html

As a humbucker it's really spanky - sold as a single coil voiced humbucker- very reminiscent of the original 72 WRHB, it's got 12 alnico V poles and tonally it's almost p90 ish. Very glassy and in position 2 and 4 still quack only it's a fatter duck!

Split them with a 4.7k resistor and you get a really decent single coil sound- I got them in my HSH strat and I love them. In SSS mode the splits don't suddenly sound odd compared to the proper middle single coil.



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[vinnie1971]

Re: New Fat Strat Guard For my MIA Stratocaster Special, FINALLY QUIET SINGLES I LOVE

View attachment 78667

My wife bought me this 2010 American Stratocaster Special as a surprise a few weeks ago and although I absolutely love the guitar the stock humbucker & Texas Specials just weren't cutting it so I decided to rebuild the guard from the ground up using top shelf components. I've got to say, I'm pretty darn impressed with myself, LOL!!!

I knew I wanted a TB-11 in the bridge but when it came to the singles I was a bit stuck, until I came across these Fralin Split Coils anyway! They were used & listed as a Blues/Hot set but upon arrival they turned out to be a Vintage Split Coil set. The guy apologized & offered a refund but I thought I might as well at least give them a shot.

Man am I glad I did, these things are flipping amazing!!! When I bought them I was basically expecting little humbuckers because that's essentially what they are. I've tried countless Stacks, Bladebuckers, & other noiseless singles but I never found anything that had that true S.C. sparkly nature.

IMHO these things sound almost exactly like vintage singles but they are dead quiet!!!! I've built dozens, perhaps hundreds, of Stratocaster guards in the past & this is probably the best one I've ever done? Usually I'll build a guard I'll keep it in for 6 weeks to 6 months and then try something different. Not this time, I'm sending her out for a fret level next week & when it comes back it's going to be staying exactly as it is!!!

Very nice looking guitar


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[Mincer]

Re: New Fat Strat Guard For my MIA Stratocaster Special, FINALLY QUIET SINGLES I LOVE

Have you tried a Duncan Stack Plus? To me, it's really hard to get that single coil spank/twang and response without magnet pole pieces. Not that there aren't ways to do it, I just don't know that anyone has. Never tried those though. In my experience metal polepiece pickups can pull off some glass/quack but lack the overall Strat harmonic and dynamic profile.

Of course, I prefer the Stack Pluses, but that is one cool looking guitar!

 

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: New Fat Strat Guard For my MIA Stratocaster Special, FINALLY QUIET SINGLES I LOVE

Have you tried a Duncan Stack Plus? To me, it's really hard to get that single coil spank/twang and response without magnet pole pieces. Not that there aren't ways to do it, I just don't know that anyone has. Never tried those though. In my experience metal polepiece pickups can pull off some glass/quack but lack the overall Strat harmonic and dynamic profile.

Yes I have, out of all the Duncan Stacks it was by far the best & most realistic sounding but I think these are better/closer? I mean it's a pretty subjective statement so you could try them, think they we're complete garbage, & say they sound absolutely nothing like true S.C.'s.

I'm definitely very happy with this setup & I whole heartedly recommend that if you get the chance to try them out you take it!!!

 

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: New Fat Strat Guard For my MIA Stratocaster Special, FINALLY QUIET SINGLES I LOVE

Of course, I prefer the Stack Pluses, but that is one cool looking guitar!

Thanks man!!! I know it's all aesthetic stuff but my plan is to replace the TB-11 with another one but in white & I've got some white plastics on the way too. I've always kinda dug the Tuxedo/Gilmour black Strat look, I just love the way the pup's POP! However it's probably about the only guitar that I'd actively seek out white pickups for???