New pickups for HM Strat

[infrared72]

I've had a set of EMG's (89/SA/SA) on my 1989 Fender HM strat for longer than I can remember, and I think I'm kinda done with these for now. I was looking at the EMG 81 and/or the 60 as possible bridge replacements, and possibly going with their newer SV single coils, or the S single coils in the neck and bridge position. Just not sure at this point if I should stick with active or not.

Looking at possible passive SD replacements, I was thinking of a custom-custom or a custom 5 for the bridge humbucker. I think I'm on track with the bridge pickup - I do like a variety of tones - vintage, jazz, classic rock. Although I do enjoy some wicked crunchy stuff sometimes, so versatility is key. I really like a nice midrange with my cleans, so that's important as well.

I'm not up on all the Seymour Duncan Single coil types, so I have no idea where to start with those. I know that the reverse wound middle pickup helps to cancel hum, so I should probably do that with the single coil in the middle position. Can someone assist with a few possible suggestions?

thank you,

-PT

 

[jeremy]

Re: New pickups for HM Strat

do you want real single coils or single coil sized buckers?

 

[infrared72]

Re: New pickups for HM Strat

Hi..

My Hm strat is routed for 1 humbucker in the bridge, and 2 single coils. So that would be the pickup configuration. It also has a Kahler spyder locking tremolo, and I think some of the SD humbuckers are setup for tremolo spacing.

-PT

 

[MikeS]

Re: New pickups for HM Strat

But do you want real single coils or single coil sized humbuckers in the neck and middle position?

With the exception of the PATB series and the Dimebucker, all Duncan humbuckers are available in standard and trem spacing.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: New pickups for HM Strat

I have a PATB-3 in mine and it's great. It's big sounding without being overbearing. It fattened up the HM strat without losing detail.

I haven't changed out the neck and mid yet, but I'm looking very seriously at using the PATB stacks in there.

 

[Leveller]

Re: New pickups for HM Strat

Super Distortion!

You know you want one

 

[Imp]

Re: New pickups for HM Strat

With the exception of the PATB series and the Dimebucker, all Duncan humbuckers are available in standard and trem spacing.

and the invader, and the LW's

give us a few examples of the bands you love, that'll help us build a picture of the tone in your head!

tom

 

[MikeS]

Re: New pickups for HM Strat

D'oh! :smack: The invader I should have remembered, and I never think about the Livewires.

 

[jeremy]

Re: New pickups for HM Strat

the invaders poles are so big it doesnt matter, the magnetic field will pick up the strings fine

 

[Farkus]

Re: New pickups for HM Strat

The best metal tone I ever got with the HM Strat was with Hot Rails neck, Fender middle and a JB in the bridge, all into a Marshall JCM 800 and EVH 5150. Totally rocked.

 

[infrared72]

Re: New pickups for HM Strat

My ideal tone for the HM strat would be a cross between Alex Lifeson circa Moving Pictures/Exit Stage Left/Signals era, Ken Andrews on the Year of the Rabbit cd, and probably a bit of the Bill Connors 'Assembler' thrown in. I'm not sure if my strat is actually capable of all those tones. Both Lifeson and Connors had (and probably still have) pretty extensive guitar rack and effects setups, so I'm sure that contributed to some of their overall sound. Ken played a vintage Les Paul on the Year of the Rabbit cd, but what I like about his tone is that it's more of rock tone than metal, and that's probably why it's sounds unique. I think he just plays a Les Paul into Marshall pretty much, so I guess i should be looking at picking up a killer LP at some point. I would highly recommend the three Bill Connors cd's from the 80's if you're into any jazz/fusion legato style guitar playing. Connors is sorta like Allan Holdsworth in a way. All of the 80's discs he did with a trio, and for the most part it's three guys just playing their asses off.

I am also a pretty big Zakk Wylde BLS fan, as well as some other metal stuff like Slayer and Tool. I can't play anywhere near the riffs and crazy stuff that Zakk plays. I don't have a Les Paul in my small family of guitars, at least not yet.

-Peter

 

[jimlp]

Re: New pickups for HM Strat

I've had a set of EMG's (89/SA/SA) on my 1989 Fender HM strat for longer than I can remember, and I think I'm kinda done with these for now. I was looking at the EMG 81 and/or the 60 as possible bridge replacements, and possibly going with their newer SV single coils, or the S single coils in the neck and bridge position. Just not sure at this point if I should stick with active or not.

Looking at possible passive SD replacements, I was thinking of a custom-custom or a custom 5 for the bridge humbucker. I think I'm on track with the bridge pickup - I do like a variety of tones - vintage, jazz, classic rock. Although I do enjoy some wicked crunchy stuff sometimes, so versatility is key. I really like a nice midrange with my cleans, so that's important as well.

I'm not up on all the Seymour Duncan Single coil types, so I have no idea where to start with those. I know that the reverse wound middle pickup helps to cancel hum, so I should probably do that with the single coil in the middle position. Can someone assist with a few possible suggestions?

thank you,

-PT

If you have an amp that will provide the gain try a Saraceno Trembucker to fatten up that strat, it never fails to warm up a bright axe.

 

[tc]

Re: New pickups for HM Strat

how bout lil '59 neck, dunno bout middle...maybe a ssl-1?? and depending on your tastes one of the customs?? depends on what sound you want, really...