NPD YJM Strat Bridge
- Thread starter dotsdad
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dotsdad
Well-known member
Re: NPD YJM Strat Bridge
I usually hate strat bridge pickups for three reasons: 1) shrill high end 2) not enough beef to drive the amp without help from stomp boxes, and 3) stomp boxes further bring out the single coil buzz.
The Five-Two and A2Pro solved problem #1, but still had problems 2 & 3
SSL-5 solved 1 &2, but not 3
STK-s6 was almost there, but went overboard on #1 with too much mid and dead high end
STK-S4 solved #3, but still had 1 & 2
STK-s7 solved 1 &2 but still suffered a touch of #3
Stk-s10 solved rhem all. Highs are present but not shrill, it drives the amp hard (compresses like a JB!), and it is quieter than a full-size humbucker. Problem solved!
I usually hate strat bridge pickups for three reasons: 1) shrill high end 2) not enough beef to drive the amp without help from stomp boxes, and 3) stomp boxes further bring out the single coil buzz.
The Five-Two and A2Pro solved problem #1, but still had problems 2 & 3
SSL-5 solved 1 &2, but not 3
STK-s6 was almost there, but went overboard on #1 with too much mid and dead high end
STK-S4 solved #3, but still had 1 & 2
STK-s7 solved 1 &2 but still suffered a touch of #3
Stk-s10 solved rhem all. Highs are present but not shrill, it drives the amp hard (compresses like a JB!), and it is quieter than a full-size humbucker. Problem solved!
Last edited:
dotsdad
Well-known member
T-Bone-BBQ
New member
Re: NPD YJM Strat Bridge
I have a YJM neck and bridge pickup I could sell.
I have a YJM neck and bridge pickup I could sell.
MkIII Renegade
New member
Re: NPD YJM Strat Bridge
I have both the Duncan and DiMarzio YJM sets. They are truly inspiring to play! I think the DiMarzios nail the early album tones best, while the new Duncans are slightly hotter and more hi-fi in a good way. When I can't make up my mind, I just buy both.
Of the Duncan set, I especially like the bridge model.
I have both the Duncan and DiMarzio YJM sets. They are truly inspiring to play! I think the DiMarzios nail the early album tones best, while the new Duncans are slightly hotter and more hi-fi in a good way. When I can't make up my mind, I just buy both.
Of the Duncan set, I especially like the bridge model.
dotsdad
Well-known member
Re: NPD YJM Strat Bridge
Hey T-Bone. i just got the bridge model. Im interested in taking that neck model off your hands though.
Hey T-Bone. i just got the bridge model. Im interested in taking that neck model off your hands though.
T-Bone-BBQ
New member
Re: NPD YJM Strat Bridge
I'm going to be taking it out if the guitar I have it in tomorrow evening then I'll send you a pic. Sound ok?
I'm going to be taking it out if the guitar I have it in tomorrow evening then I'll send you a pic. Sound ok?
T-Bone-BBQ
New member
Re: NPD YJM Strat Bridge
Hers pics if the YJM neck pickup I have. Around 8" of lead left. Let me know if you're interested.
Hers pics if the YJM neck pickup I have. Around 8" of lead left. Let me know if you're interested.
IMENATOR
Well-known member
Re: NPD YJM Strat Bridge
I really liked the neck model and I wish I could try the bridge model. However my strat has a Floyd Rose which means there is more wood for the bigger bridge which makes it impossible to have a slanted single coil in the bridge at the normal position of a strat. I need a custom made pickguard AND not slanted AND reverse the pickup so the baseplate is pointing to the neck.... heck I may want to get a proper SSS strat one day.
I really liked the neck model and I wish I could try the bridge model. However my strat has a Floyd Rose which means there is more wood for the bigger bridge which makes it impossible to have a slanted single coil in the bridge at the normal position of a strat. I need a custom made pickguard AND not slanted AND reverse the pickup so the baseplate is pointing to the neck.... heck I may want to get a proper SSS strat one day.
2ndhandband
New member
Re: NPD YJM Strat Bridge
I'm just gonna say it... there's nothing wrong with a traditional Strat bridge pickup. To address the listed concerns:
1) Shrill high end. Simple mod: wire your bridge pickup to the mid pickup tone control. COMPLETELY solves the issue. I should also point out that you CAN NOT EQ your amp the same for single coils as you do for 'buckers.
2) Not enough beef... what amp are you using? I'm a metal guy and just using the high-gain channel on my Fender Supersonic which is not exactly a Mesa, and I never feel like I don't have enough dirt. At most I'm using about half of what is there. Most metal/hard rock players these days are using way more gain than they need to. It just makes you harder to mix.
3) Single coil buzz. I've been putting up with it for most of 30 years. It's the price you pay for the tone.
Listen to 70s era Ritchie Blackmore stuff, Rainbow Rising in particular. You can make the rock all day long with traditional singles.
I'm just gonna say it... there's nothing wrong with a traditional Strat bridge pickup. To address the listed concerns:
1) Shrill high end. Simple mod: wire your bridge pickup to the mid pickup tone control. COMPLETELY solves the issue. I should also point out that you CAN NOT EQ your amp the same for single coils as you do for 'buckers.
2) Not enough beef... what amp are you using? I'm a metal guy and just using the high-gain channel on my Fender Supersonic which is not exactly a Mesa, and I never feel like I don't have enough dirt. At most I'm using about half of what is there. Most metal/hard rock players these days are using way more gain than they need to. It just makes you harder to mix.
3) Single coil buzz. I've been putting up with it for most of 30 years. It's the price you pay for the tone.
Listen to 70s era Ritchie Blackmore stuff, Rainbow Rising in particular. You can make the rock all day long with traditional singles.
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: NPD YJM Strat Bridge
I've struggled somewhat with those reasons–really love the Fender Fat 50s. The best advice I got off of this forum was to add a baseplate to the bridge...huge improvement for such a simple mod. Also, a great clean boost as well as an EQ does wonders for the tone.
I wanted the Fury set to work but found that the Fury pickups are just not for me...miss the bell-like chime of the 50s.
I've struggled somewhat with those reasons–really love the Fender Fat 50s. The best advice I got off of this forum was to add a baseplate to the bridge...huge improvement for such a simple mod. Also, a great clean boost as well as an EQ does wonders for the tone.
I wanted the Fury set to work but found that the Fury pickups are just not for me...miss the bell-like chime of the 50s.
2ndhandband
New member
Re: NPD YJM Strat Bridge
I tried the baseplate thing once. What happened, to my ears, was that it basically started to sound a lot like a stacked humbucker.
Here's the thing: what you are looking for can be added further along in the signal chain. What you CAN'T do further along is get those great delicate textures a Strat bridge pickup is capable of, and the baseplate thing murder-killed those. You mentioned EQ... there's the secret. Both pre and post distortion EQ. This was what we lost with that idiotic retro effects craze that killed the rack back in the early 90s... options! Even with my B rig I can access a variety of different boosts, EQs, and whatever else I need to get what I'm looking for at the tab of a button on my midi controller. With the A rig and an extra preamp the sky is the limit. I can go to any gig on the planet with a plain old single coil Strat and get the job done.
I tried the baseplate thing once. What happened, to my ears, was that it basically started to sound a lot like a stacked humbucker.
Here's the thing: what you are looking for can be added further along in the signal chain. What you CAN'T do further along is get those great delicate textures a Strat bridge pickup is capable of, and the baseplate thing murder-killed those. You mentioned EQ... there's the secret. Both pre and post distortion EQ. This was what we lost with that idiotic retro effects craze that killed the rack back in the early 90s... options! Even with my B rig I can access a variety of different boosts, EQs, and whatever else I need to get what I'm looking for at the tab of a button on my midi controller. With the A rig and an extra preamp the sky is the limit. I can go to any gig on the planet with a plain old single coil Strat and get the job done.
Re: NPD YJM Strat Bridge
I love Rainbow Rising, and Blackmore is one of my favorites. He was using boosters for his signal before it hit the amp, though...in some cases, a reel-to-reel preamp. So we weren't hearing the sound directly from his pickups. And, man, I tried, but a Strat bridge pickup doesn't do it for me, unless it is a more powerful version like an SSL-6. I love Strats, and I love the bridge/middle combo. But by itself, it just doesn't do it for me.
I love Rainbow Rising, and Blackmore is one of my favorites. He was using boosters for his signal before it hit the amp, though...in some cases, a reel-to-reel preamp. So we weren't hearing the sound directly from his pickups. And, man, I tried, but a Strat bridge pickup doesn't do it for me, unless it is a more powerful version like an SSL-6. I love Strats, and I love the bridge/middle combo. But by itself, it just doesn't do it for me.
2ndhandband
New member
Re: NPD YJM Strat Bridge
Things like those boosters are kind of my point... I use them too. But the thing is you can take a stock Strat pickup, add that booster with some EQ, and get what you want. You CAN'T go the other direction; outboard gear will never help you get the delicacy a Strat bridge is capable of with a beefier pickup.
This is why I use a rack setup. My approach to tone is heavily dependent on outboard gear.
Things like those boosters are kind of my point... I use them too. But the thing is you can take a stock Strat pickup, add that booster with some EQ, and get what you want. You CAN'T go the other direction; outboard gear will never help you get the delicacy a Strat bridge is capable of with a beefier pickup.
This is why I use a rack setup. My approach to tone is heavily dependent on outboard gear.
