Patsfan1281
New member
Re: Pick-up upgrade for cheap guitar
Nevermind. So the SSL-4 are the best ones that you could think of atm
Nevermind. So the SSL-4 are the best ones that you could think of atm
Pick-up upgrade for cheap guitar
- Thread starter Patsfan1281
- Start date
Der Oberherr
New member
Re: Pick-up upgrade for cheap guitar
Hi. Im looking to upgrade a similar guitar to yours (affinity strat, but my pickguard is SSS, not HSS), and like you im looking for a metal tone, but im not a shredder. I asked in another forum about a neck pickup, and as I was not worried about cutting my guard people recommended a Jazz pup. My advice is really to look at how much you have to spend. People recommended the Jazz pup to me and im willing to go for it because the price is reasonable. They say its also good for note separation even under high gain (so ideal for fast runs/shredding). If you are looking for something cheap(ish), go single coil or little bucker if you dont want to cut your pickguard (here id agree with the others, the SSL-4 is good. Someone i know uses it in a strat and its amazing). If you can afford to break the bank, and arent too worried about hassle, get the custom shop to make you one, maybe a jazz jr... or just give them your wishes and they will grant them.
Hi. Im looking to upgrade a similar guitar to yours (affinity strat, but my pickguard is SSS, not HSS), and like you im looking for a metal tone, but im not a shredder. I asked in another forum about a neck pickup, and as I was not worried about cutting my guard people recommended a Jazz pup. My advice is really to look at how much you have to spend. People recommended the Jazz pup to me and im willing to go for it because the price is reasonable. They say its also good for note separation even under high gain (so ideal for fast runs/shredding). If you are looking for something cheap(ish), go single coil or little bucker if you dont want to cut your pickguard (here id agree with the others, the SSL-4 is good. Someone i know uses it in a strat and its amazing). If you can afford to break the bank, and arent too worried about hassle, get the custom shop to make you one, maybe a jazz jr... or just give them your wishes and they will grant them.
Last edited:
DreX
New member
Re: Pick-up upgrade for cheap guitar
I haven't tried the YJM, but I have tried other stacked humbuckers, and my experience matches what others have said, 'close, but no cigar', having both a different touch response and high end roll off that's not unlike a full sized humbucker, so if you already have a Strat with humbuckers, I say avoid the hum cancelling altogether for the sake of tonal differentiation, unless you hate hum. It doesn't bother me, personally. I'm a single coil junkie.
I haven't tried the YJM, but I have tried other stacked humbuckers, and my experience matches what others have said, 'close, but no cigar', having both a different touch response and high end roll off that's not unlike a full sized humbucker, so if you already have a Strat with humbuckers, I say avoid the hum cancelling altogether for the sake of tonal differentiation, unless you hate hum. It doesn't bother me, personally. I'm a single coil junkie.
kramersteen
PowerMetalRaph
Re: Pick-up upgrade for cheap guitar
Seriously all that talk and you haven't even tried it? Man come on.
To the op just try it, I have a hs4 in one of my guitars and its awesome.
Seriously all that talk and you haven't even tried it? Man come on.
To the op just try it, I have a hs4 in one of my guitars and its awesome.
Patsfan1281
New member
Re: Pick-up upgrade for cheap guitar
Another question, I know the pick ups will run me close to $100 each, but what installation, since im no expert, how much will it cost typically to swap pick ups at a place such as guitar center
Another question, I know the pick ups will run me close to $100 each, but what installation, since im no expert, how much will it cost typically to swap pick ups at a place such as guitar center
DreX
New member
kramersteen
PowerMetalRaph
Re: Pick-up upgrade for cheap guitar
Yep and thats the reason you wont see me speaking about things like the slug or perpetual burn. Sure i could make up some **** but its not right.
Yep and thats the reason you wont see me speaking about things like the slug or perpetual burn. Sure i could make up some **** but its not right.
DreX
New member
Re: Pick-up upgrade for cheap guitar
It's pretty easy to do yourself. You just need a soldering iron and a little bit of solder, less than $20 in supplies. IMO, any amount they would charge is too much.
It's pretty easy to do yourself. You just need a soldering iron and a little bit of solder, less than $20 in supplies. IMO, any amount they would charge is too much.
kramersteen
PowerMetalRaph
Re: Pick-up upgrade for cheap guitar
I cant say for certain but i bet they charge heaps. Have you got any friends that are good with a soldering iron?
I cant say for certain but i bet they charge heaps. Have you got any friends that are good with a soldering iron?
DreX
New member
Re: Pick-up upgrade for cheap guitar
I didn't make anything up, I was completely honest. You just didn't read all of what I had written, you just read, and quoted, "I haven't tried the YJM" and immediately foamed at the mouth.
I didn't make anything up, I was completely honest. You just didn't read all of what I had written, you just read, and quoted, "I haven't tried the YJM" and immediately foamed at the mouth.
Patsfan1281
New member
Re: Pick-up upgrade for cheap guitar
Yea, im not sure im typically not good when it comes to stuff like that, but i will look into trying to do it myself or to find someone who possibly may know how to do i
Yea, im not sure im typically not good when it comes to stuff like that, but i will look into trying to do it myself or to find someone who possibly may know how to do i
DreX
New member
Re: Pick-up upgrade for cheap guitar
There's almost nothing to it, and if ever there was a guitar to learn on, a Squier would be it. There's not much that can go wrong with a pickup swap. Just put the wires of the new pickups to the same place where the old pickup wires went. Seymour Duncan pickups even come with a wiring diagram. Take a picture of the stock wiring with your phone for reference. Just watch out for touching the guitar or the pick guard with the hot soldering iron.
There's almost nothing to it, and if ever there was a guitar to learn on, a Squier would be it. There's not much that can go wrong with a pickup swap. Just put the wires of the new pickups to the same place where the old pickup wires went. Seymour Duncan pickups even come with a wiring diagram. Take a picture of the stock wiring with your phone for reference. Just watch out for touching the guitar or the pick guard with the hot soldering iron.
Zombiemetl
New member
Re: Pick-up upgrade for cheap guitar
im gonna go the opposite of these dudes and go with a more simplistic approach. The only tone you described liking was metal, and the influences you listed were (mostly) humbucker dudes. I say go hot rails. other super over analyzers will use big words and talk about all this vintage true single coil stuff, but if you like fat metal tones without overthinking (plug and play) hotrails it is...or any other humber in a single coil size \m/ imo of course
im gonna go the opposite of these dudes and go with a more simplistic approach. The only tone you described liking was metal, and the influences you listed were (mostly) humbucker dudes. I say go hot rails. other super over analyzers will use big words and talk about all this vintage true single coil stuff, but if you like fat metal tones without overthinking (plug and play) hotrails it is...or any other humber in a single coil size \m/ imo of course
Patsfan1281
New member
Re: Pick-up upgrade for cheap guitar
Ha, yea that is true, but lets just say that if i do mess up the wiring or something could be fixed. I just want to mess anything up since i want this guitar to be a back up to my floyd rose guitar. In case a string breaks or something
Ha, yea that is true, but lets just say that if i do mess up the wiring or something could be fixed. I just want to mess anything up since i want this guitar to be a back up to my floyd rose guitar. In case a string breaks or something
Patsfan1281
New member
Re: Pick-up upgrade for cheap guitar
I just did a little search on them and im guessing these are kinda like mini humbucker in single-coil form?
I just did a little search on them and im guessing these are kinda like mini humbucker in single-coil form?
DreX
New member
Re: Pick-up upgrade for cheap guitar
I have lots of guitars with SC sized HB's and would recommend them for some things (not so much for shredding, though), but he says he already has a Strat with full sized HB's. IMO, if you have two nearly identical guitars, and one has full sized HBs and the other has SC sized HB's, you'd going to reach for the full sized humbuckers nine times out of ten, that one time being just to give the full sizer a break.
I have lots of guitars with SC sized HB's and would recommend them for some things (not so much for shredding, though), but he says he already has a Strat with full sized HB's. IMO, if you have two nearly identical guitars, and one has full sized HBs and the other has SC sized HB's, you'd going to reach for the full sized humbuckers nine times out of ten, that one time being just to give the full sizer a break.
Patsfan1281
New member
Re: Pick-up upgrade for cheap guitar
Ok so, of all the single-coil pickups you would reccomend the SSL-4s right?
Patsfan1281
New member
Re: Pick-up upgrade for cheap guitar
Ok thanks, I was thinking the same thing so I guess I will go with the SSL-4s unless, I run across some other single coils thats supposed to better. Thanks for the tips and advice everybody!
Ok thanks, I was thinking the same thing so I guess I will go with the SSL-4s unless, I run across some other single coils thats supposed to better. Thanks for the tips and advice everybody!
kramersteen
PowerMetalRaph
Re: Pick-up upgrade for cheap guitar
What about the sinner? serious business
https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/main/pickups.php?cat=strats&sub=contemporary&pickup=the_sinner
What about the sinner? serious business
https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/main/pickups.php?cat=strats&sub=contemporary&pickup=the_sinner
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