New jimi Hendrix strat copy need new pickup ideas !

smokeythebear94

smokeythebear94

New member
Hey guys and girls !! I got a new strat it needs some work though im replacing the pickups and the neck ! So if you have any suggestions on what I should be using for the pickups I have a basswood body I believe here a maple neck with rosewood board ! Shoot me some suggestions im loving Hendrix Stevie Ray vaugh John Mayer and all the classics ! So bluesy rock pickups would be best !
Tried putting up pictures but it doesn't seem to let me over this phone ..
 

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Re: New jimi Hendrix strat copy need new pickup ideas !

The Fender CS '69s are probably the obvious choice for Hendrix, but IMO they don't cut through the mix as well and aren't as versatile otherwise, so there's that to consider. The SSL-1s get into the ballpark while remaining a bit fuller and more versatile. Lollar Blondes are said to be similar but a little smoother to the CS '69, and the Fender "Big Dippers" get a lot of mention as well, but I can't recommend those, because John Mayer is a tool.
 
Re: New jimi Hendrix strat copy need new pickup ideas !

SRV's strat was a 59 body and pickups. That era had about the strongest of the vintage pickups - fat and punchy.

Jimi was a CBS strat user, actually a bit more weak pickups (about 10% lower output).

The mainstream pickups like Fender Fat 50's will probably manage both styles well. Duncan's closest offerings (Ssl 1) are like a fat overwound 60's pickup. If you find Strats a bit thin tonally these will do a great job - especially for the SRV thang. You could always back the volume down slightly for some of the Jimi clean
 
Re: New jimi Hendrix strat copy need new pickup ideas !

DreX said:
The Fender CS '69s are probably the obvious choice for Hendrix, but IMO they don't cut through the mix as well and aren't as versatile otherwise, so there's that to consider. The SSL-1s get into the ballpark while remaining a bit fuller and more versatile. Lollar Blondes are said to be similar but a little smoother to the CS '69, and the Fender "Big Dippers" get a lot of mention as well, but I can't recommend those, because John Mayer is a tool.
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I can't justify buying the big dippers cause there so damn expensive they are like 300 bucks hahah lollar blondes I've heard of and already got mentioned .. Ssl-1s sound intriguing also and the cs69s don't seem versatile in your description ! Thank you sir ... I want it to be able to sound great but still stratty don't wanna lose its strat sound with a humbucker style sound
 
Re: New jimi Hendrix strat copy need new pickup ideas !

Second time I've heard these ssl-1 pickups get mentioned ! Gonna have to go listen to em
 
Re: New jimi Hendrix strat copy need new pickup ideas !

I appreciate your opinions and time for responding guys Id also like to mention that !!
 
Re: New jimi Hendrix strat copy need new pickup ideas !

its really hard to go wrong with ssl1's if you want a good sounding strat. the basswood body will change things though
 
Re: New jimi Hendrix strat copy need new pickup ideas !

My current Strat setups and impressions:

"69" style - 3 x Fender CS 1969 pickups: in my mind, these nail the SRV Little Wing & Riviera Paradise tones, along with the classic Woodstock Hendrix Tones.

62RI - APS-1(n)/SSL-1(m)/SSL-1(b): APS-1 is slightly underwound. As is, position 4 (APS + SSL) sounds pretty darn close to Mayer's #4 tone. The A2 in the neck smooths out that position just a touch. Also, it gives a nice smoky blues tone with the Neck alone. The Middle SSL-1 is pure Love Struck Baby and Pride & Joy.

CS69s are more versatile than implied in posts above, and serve as my standard Strat lately. The SSL-1s are a classic Strat tone, and used to by my standard Strat oickups before in built the '69 style. ;) Finally, all of these have a weak bridge. Traditional and vintage accurate, but there is a reason everyone has been replacing Strat bridge pickups with hotter ones since replacement pickups were introduced.
 
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Re: New jimi Hendrix strat copy need new pickup ideas !

smokeythebear94 said:
the cs69s don't seem versatile in your description !
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They're like a Twilight Zone plot; they turn you into Jimmy Hendrix, they're seemingly magical, but you soon realize you can't sound like anything but Hendrix when you use them, and then you suddenly overdose.


PFDarkside said:
CS69s are more versatile than implied in posts above, and serve as my standard Strat lately.
Click to expand...

It's all subjective, but the thing about a super bright, super scooped pickup is that they sound sweet and beautiful when you're by yourself, but then you really have to torque the EQ and pull out tricks like Tube Screamers or Klones into open back combo amps to get enough mids out of them to mix with in full band context. On the opposite end of the spectrum, you have Ant II Surfers with softer highs and piano like mids, where you can almost do no wrong when it comes to the EQ.
 
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Re: New jimi Hendrix strat copy need new pickup ideas !

jeremy said:
its really hard to go wrong with ssl1's if you want a good sounding strat. the basswood body will change things though
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What do you mean by the basswood changing things what kind of characteristics does basswood have
 
Re: New jimi Hendrix strat copy need new pickup ideas !

Interesting I don't wanna be tied down cause I really most of the time make my own music I just use guys sounds I like as examples of the sounds I like !! And ant 2 surfers by what brand !
 
Re: New jimi Hendrix strat copy need new pickup ideas !

PFDarkside said:
My current Strat setups and impressions:

"69" style - 3 x Fender CS 1969 pickups: in my mind, these nail the SRV Little Wing & Riviera Paradise tones, along with the classic Woodstock Hendrix Tones.

62RI - APS-1(n)/SSL-1(m)/SSL-1(b): APS-1 is slightly underwound. As is, position 4 (APS + SSL) sounds pretty darn close to Mayer's #4 tone. The A2 in the neck smooths out that position just a touch. Also, it gives a nice smoky blues tone with the Neck alone. The Middle SSL-1 is pure Love Struck Baby and Pride & Joy.

CS69s are more versatile than implied in posts above, and serve as my standard Strat lately. The SSL-1s are a classic Strat tone, and used to by my standard Strat oickups before in built the '69 style. ;) Finally, all of these have a weak bridge. Traditional and vintage accurate, but there is a reason everyone has been replacing Strat bridge pickups with hotter ones since replacement pickups were introduced.
Click to expand...


I'm looking to be able to get a nice blues fender clean tone and then remain able to get the good over driven sounds ! So would you recommend getting those pickups and switching the bridge or do you like the bridge ??
 
Re: New jimi Hendrix strat copy need new pickup ideas !

smokeythebear94 said:
Interesting I don't wanna be tied down cause I really most of the time make my own music I just use guys sounds I like as examples of the sounds I like !! And ant 2 surfers by what brand !
Click to expand...

Seymour Duncan. :)

smokeythebear94 said:
I'm looking to be able to get a nice blues fender clean tone and then remain able to get the good over driven sounds ! So would you recommend getting those pickups and switching the bridge or do you like the bridge ??
Click to expand...
I find myself stepping on an Overdrive or Fuzz when I switch to the bridge for a little bump. I think I'm going to go with either a tapped SSL-5 or and Antiquity Surfer Custom Bridge for the bridge. I'll do one at a time and evaluate.

Basically, any of the options you are looking at will give you a great bluesy Strat tone. They are all just shades of the same (Strat) color in my mind.
 
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New jimi Hendrix strat copy need new pickup ideas !

I don't know much about specific single coil models, but for Hendrix, as a tech, I usually suggest moderate-vintage output with vintage staggered polepieces installed upside down. By upside down I mean installed so the B polepiece is under the A string, and vise versa.
 
Re: New jimi Hendrix strat copy need new pickup ideas !

HKZSquared said:
I don't know much about specific single coil models, but for Hendrix, as a tech, I usually suggest moderate-vintage output with vintage staggered polepieces installed upside down. By upside down I mean installed so the B polepiece is under the A string, and vise versa.
Click to expand...

I like the idea but although it's. A Hendrix guitar I wanted to be able to make it sound just like a nice strat that plays my own sound too
 
Re: New jimi Hendrix strat copy need new pickup ideas !

I'm going on YouTube tonight to checkout the following
SSL-1
Ant surfers 2
Cs69s
I'll let Yall know what I'm leaning towards If i missed suggestions here in the list that you think I oughta give a chance throw it out there to me !! Thank you all for your help this is a great site !!
 
Re: New jimi Hendrix strat copy need new pickup ideas !

smokeythebear94 said:
I like the idea but although it's. A Hendrix guitar I wanted to be able to make it sound just like a nice strat that plays my own sound too
Click to expand...

Personally, I once tried that and it sounded fairly normal just was better imo for power chords, and that was in a basswood strat actually.
 
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