OK Guys - my turn to ask for suggestions for a PU set

[Lewguitar]

I have two Alder body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard with medium jumbo frets Stratocasters routed for dual humbuckers.

Number one is black and has a Pearly Gates neck and a Duncan Custom bridge and as many of you know, that's my favorite humbucker set and it's also my favorite dual humbucker guitar that I own.

So I bought another one that's identical except it's red.

I'm mostly a blues and r&b player...but I like to rock out too!

A neck pickup that is not to bassy and which I can get a clear rythym tone out of is a MUST.

But I want to try something differant than a PGn and I'm thinking of putting an AIIPro neck humbucker, Jazz neck humbucker, Distortion neck humbucker or Phat Cat neck in this guitar as the neck pickup.

As for the bridge humbucker, I've tried the JB, Custom 5, Custom Custom and 59B...like them all but don't want to use any of them.

I'm thinking of trying: EVH/78, Parallel Axis, Distortion, Screamin Demon, Dimebucker or Invader.

I have all of the pickups I mentioned in stock. So what do you guys think I'd like? Or what set would you guys like me to try and then comment on?

I'm kind of leaning toward trying:

neck: AIIPro or Phat Cat
bridge: Parallel Axis


Thanks! Lew

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: OK Guys - my turn to ask for suggestions for a PU set

I would say go

Jazz / Parallel Axis for some thickness

or Jazz / Screamin' Demon for major bite

I love the Phat Cat, bt I am not sure I would want to lose humbucker versatility in a guitar. HOWEVER, you said you did NOT want too bassy, and the Phat Cat is more balanced than the jazz. If you don't need a FULL HB sound, then go Phat Cat with the Parallel Axis for the best of both worlds, from twang and clean to growl and girth!

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: OK Guys - my turn to ask for suggestions for a PU set

Since you're a volume knob guy, try out the Distortion set. People often complain that they're too hot, and won't bother to adjust the volume. That SH-6n is the biggest sleeper in the Duncan line. The Dimebucker works a lot better in a Gibson-style guitar, but I still wouldn't recommend it to you. You might also try the Invader, but again, keep the volume knob handy

 

[TimmyPage]

Re: OK Guys - my turn to ask for suggestions for a PU set

Since you're a volume knob guy, try out the Distortion set. People often complain that they're too hot, and won't bother to adjust the volume. That SH-6n is the biggest sleeper in the Duncan line.

After trying them I came to the same conclusion. Extremely versatile if you don't run them wide open all the time.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: OK Guys - my turn to ask for suggestions for a PU set

Lew, FWIW, I used to have a single bucker Strat with a Duncan Distortion in it and I really liked it...great overall tone with a lot of bite and a real agressive nature but if you used your volume control you coujld tame it into some very nice clean tones as well plus, just in case you're interested it split quite well too! If I were gonna go back to using something like a Distortion in the bridge the Jazz might be my first choice for a neck pickup...

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: OK Guys - my turn to ask for suggestions for a PU set

Try a Jazz set. It'll be cleaner than your other HH strat. They're balanced, tight, and clear, and will sound great on your Fender amps because they don't have any mid spike.

The Jazz Bridge is one of the best sounding humbuckers I've heard in a strat, and at one time I had it with 2 Surfers. A great HSS combo. Plus, since it has ample highs, your tone knob can really dial it in.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: OK Guys - my turn to ask for suggestions for a PU set

A neck pickup that is not to bassy and which I can get a clear rythym tone out of is a MUST.

Definitely try a Jazz neck. It's exactly what you're describing. It's like the '59n with the boomy bass problem solved. I love the PGn and the Jazz n equally - chances are you will too Lew!

Don't know what to suggest for the bridge. I still need to try a Jazz bridge!

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: OK Guys - my turn to ask for suggestions for a PU set

Try a Jazz set. It'll be cleaner than your other HH strat. They're balanced, tight, and clear, and will sound great on your Fender amps because they don't have any mid spike.

The Jazz Bridge is one of the best sounding humbuckers I've heard in a strat, and at one time I had it with 2 Surfers. A great HSS combo. Plus, since it has ample highs, your tone knob can really dial it in.

I was gonna say Jazz set.....or an APH II set

 

[po-boy]

Re: OK Guys - my turn to ask for suggestions for a PU set

this is a little off topic ...

great work on your sound clip Lew !

will be looking for additional postings (for those that haven't checked it out - go to tips and clips forum) ...

 

[ErikH]

Re: OK Guys - my turn to ask for suggestions for a PU set

How about dual Phat Cats, Lew? That would be something different in your arsenal from what you have already.

 

[theodie]

Re: OK Guys - my turn to ask for suggestions for a PU set

Lew, what is the scale length of this guitar????

 

[subanots]

Re: OK Guys - my turn to ask for suggestions for a PU set

def. get a phat cat for the neck.

 

[Falstaff]

Re: OK Guys - my turn to ask for suggestions for a PU set

Firebird

 

[hanumanlangur]

Re: OK Guys - my turn to ask for suggestions for a PU set

Definitely try a Jazz neck. It's exactly what you're describing. It's like the '59n with the boomy bass problem solved.

I think of the A4 '59n as being the equalized '59. The Jazz isn't really a PAF-style pickup, but it definitely shares some qualities with the '59.

 

[kjrocks]

Re: OK Guys - my turn to ask for suggestions for a PU set

Lew, I've found the PA neck to be the clearest neck pickup I've tried and have. If you go the PA route ,I would think the Patb3 would work out great for you then maybe the 1. I love them both. A PA set would also have a more cohesive look.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: OK Guys - my turn to ask for suggestions for a PU set

I really dig the APHn/Demon combo that I had in my (somewhat bright) Hamer Special. The neck is clear in the bass, warm in the mids, and has plenty of chime. What I like about it the most is that it has enough drive and muscle in the mids for clean comping and jazzy single note lines without sounding overly aggressive like the PGn can. The Demon really comes alive with 12 fillisters. I love how tight and articulate the bass is while having plenty of growl to the mids and plenty of sparkle and spank without getting shrill. It's clean and articulate enough to do funk and country, but it also slays through a hot Marshall or a gained out Mesa.

I like to think of them as the idealized "modern" PAF set.

 

[Captain Tightpants]

Re: OK Guys - my turn to ask for suggestions for a PU set

I've got the Jazz/Distortion set in a Rhoads, I absolutley love it! I've been thinking about trying it in a Strat.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: OK Guys - my turn to ask for suggestions for a PU set

Lew, what is the scale length of this guitar????

Good question. It's a short scale Strat. 24 3/4" like a Les Paul.

I'm kind of leaning towards a '78 bridge and AIIPro neck...or the Jazz neck and Distortion bridge.

But I'm still open to suggestions.

Thanks! Lew

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: OK Guys - my turn to ask for suggestions for a PU set

Good question. It's a short scale Strat. 24 3/4" like a Les Paul.
I'm kind of leaning towards a '78 bridge and AIIPro neck...or the Jazz neck and Distortion bridge.
But I'm still open to suggestions.
Thanks! Lew

I have an Alnico II Pro and a Custom Custom in one of my dual bucker guitars...it's a nice contrast to a set of more true PAF style pickups. I really like that set.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: OK Guys - my turn to ask for suggestions for a PU set

I have an Alnico II Pro and a Custom Custom in one of my dual bucker guitars...it's a nice contrast to a set of more true PAF style pickups. I really like that set.

I have a Custom Custom in one of my single bridge pickup Strats and had one in my Hamer Monoco Super Pro too. It's a favorite for sure. But I've already got that pickup in one of my favorite Strats and I'm leaning to the '78 for this one.

I have a zebra Duncan Custom Shop 78 Trembucker I've been hanging onto.

Christian, how would you compare the Pearly Gates neck to the AIIPro neck?

Lew