pickup suggestion for clean tones

[hanuman]

hello forum-people,
i am new to this forum and newish to electrical guitars as well.
i got a 97 MIM strat made of poplar, SSS. i would like to pimp it by getting a callaham bridge and block as suggested in a different thread. now regarding the PUPs. i would like to get them changed and would be glad if pointed in the right direction. i am not into distortion or overdiven sound. important is a rich clean sound which can be modulated well. so far i thought something like the a Fat 50 fo the neck, 69 for the mid position and a Duncan SSL5 for the bridge.
do you guys have some ideas?
many thanks!
michael

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: pickup suggestion for clean tones

What you described will work fine . . . but you might find that the SSL5 is a little too powerful for your tastes if you're only playing very clean. It sounds great, but I don't ever use the SSL-6 in my Charvel unless there's some gain going on.

For only clean and modulation stuff, you might want to go with very low output neck and middle, and maybe a low-medium output bridge. Something like a '69 neck and middle for very delicate and touch responsive bell clean sounds, and a twangbanger bridge will be a little more vintagey snap without the terrible ear destroying bright jangle (and will sound better clean than the dark/middy SSL-5). Underwound neck + mid is how John Mayer gets his slow dancing in a burning room type clean (assuming you've already got a great clean amp), and will give you great funk tones . . . but you want a little more winding in the bridge.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: pickup suggestion for clean tones

I'd go for a set of Duncan Antiquity II Surfers with the Antiquity II Surfer Custom Hot bridge pickup.

The Antiquity Surfer Hot bridge pickup is comparable, according to some reviews, to the SSL-5.

 

[spi]

Re: pickup suggestion for clean tones

I think most any pickup reproducing 50/60s style pickups will get you a great clean sound with a Strat. Including SD SSL-1s, Antiquity Surfers, Fender 57/62s, Lollars, Fralins. The list goes on an on, there's really too many to choose from.
I would think the Fat 50s and the overwound SSL-5 are more geared toward overdriven tones, but they should still work clean. But you might be happier with all 69s, if you like that late 60s tone (which I think is usually a bit more mid-scooped), and 57/62s for the more rounded tone.

 

[esandes]

Re: pickup suggestion for clean tones

If you like John Frusciante's tone you'll like the SSL-1 set.

 

[Mincer]

Re: pickup suggestion for clean tones

I'd go for a set of Duncan Antiquity II Surfers with the Antiquity II Surfer Custom Hot bridge pickup.

The Antiquity Surfer Hot bridge pickup is comparable, according to some reviews, to the SSL-5.

This right here is the definition of 'rich and clean'.

 

[jeremy]

Re: pickup suggestion for clean tones

The Antiquity Surfer Hot bridge pickup is comparable, according to some reviews, to the SSL-5.

i dont agree with that at all, i have both and the ssl5 is hotter and darker still a very good pup though

 

[hanuman]

Re: pickup suggestion for clean tones

many thanks for your suggestions!
the antiquity surfer i have never heard of, very interesting. thanks @ all!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: pickup suggestion for clean tones

i dont agree with that at all, i have both and the ssl5 is hotter and darker still a very good pup though

I agree with you. But the two do get compared in reviews. The Surfer Custom Bridge pickup has a nicer "snap" or "twang" to it.

Some people think of the SSL-1, SSL-1 and SSL-5 set as being a less expensive version of the Surfer set tho.

 

[hanuman]

Re: pickup suggestion for clean tones

Ok, so short feedback. Althoigh the antiquity surfers sounds awesome, they are crazy expensive, not sure if i am going to pay 140€ for each pup.
Do you guys have experience with the new v-mod / treble bleed set up from the pro series, wouldn't that be a good alternative also? Thanks again!

 

[Mincer]

Re: pickup suggestion for clean tones

What is the price of an SSL-1 or -2 set where you are? That is a great choice, too.

 

[hanuman]

Re: pickup suggestion for clean tones

yeah, they are around 200€ for 3 of them. thanks!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: pickup suggestion for clean tones

yeah, they are around 200€ for 3 of them. thanks!

The SSL-1 set is a great set of pickups, especially for clean tones. Dire Straits, Hendrix, SRV...

If your guitar is wired old style with a neck tone and middle tone but no bridge tone control I'd want to connect the second tone control to my bridge pickup instead of the middle pickup.