Pickup suggestions for a Strat: Hot and sizzly Ceramic firebreather?

[Rex_Rocker]

Got a sweet new Strat. Gonna try dropping a BW in there for now, but my BW is not a Trembucker, and visually, that kinda makes me uncofortable.

It's a nit pick, I know. The real reason is I want to try new pickups out.

My firs condition is that it has to match the output of the 500T in my LP as closely as possible. I want a different EQ profile for this guitar, but I need the same output levels for my settins to be able to work without massive changes when changing the guitar.

My second condition is it has to be on the brighter side. The 500T is pretty bright in itself, especially since I use it only with a single 500K pot. I want this Strat to sound different. Less high-mid snarl, and more high-end sizzle. I want this Strat to sound like a Strat on mega steroids.

Right now, I'm thinking:

Duncan Distortion TB (can I order these without a logo?)

Duncan Dimebucker (might be able to be tamed by 250K knobs, right? Can I order it without a logo?)

DiMarzio D Activator (though I fear these might actually be fatter-sounding than the 500T?)

Bill Lawerence something? (are these even as hot as the Dimebucker?)


Other suggestions? Thanks!

 

[playas]

Have you tried a 500t?

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Have you tried a 500t?

Yep. Got one in my LP.

 

[beaubrummels]

Distortion would be my first suggestion. But there's a dozen or more "fire-breathers" in the Duncan line.

You can get any pickup without a logo if you want, but it would be a Shop Floor Custom option through a dealer.
https://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/latest-updates/seymour-duncan-shop-floor-custom-options

That link really needs to be stickied somewhere, if it isn't already.

Here’s a list of what’s available.

1. Logo/no logo. Includes mini humbuckers
2. Bobbin color. For standard-spaced humbuckers only. You can choose from any combination (except Double Crème) or single color from the following: Black, White, Crème, Red, Dark Blue, Light Blue, Pink, Yellow, Green.
3. Covers. Where applicable, a cover may be added to pickups or the color of the cover can be changed. Options are Nickel, Chrome, Gold, Black Nickel, Black Chrome, and Powder coated Black. For calibrated sets of Stratocaster pickups, cover colors can be changed.
4. Lead wire. You can elect to change a 4-conductor cable to single conductor cable and vise versa on full size and mini humbuckers only.
5. Bottom plate. On standard spaced humbuckers you can choose long or short legs. Or you can choose a black bottom plate.
6. Wind/polarity. You can choose reverse-wound/reverse-polarity (Rw/Rp) or other on applicable models. For instance, STR-1 Rw/R or OEM 59 RP.
7. Magnet Stagger. Flat/Staggered and Lefty Staggered options on Strat and Tele models where applicable.
8. Pole Pieces. You can choose between Gold, Nickel or Black poles and Studs, or White, Black or Gold cap screws for Invaders.
9. Loaded Pickguard Colors. These come stock in White but Black is an option too!
10. Wax Potting. You can order wax potted Seth Lovers to eliminate microphonics.
11. Single coil bottom plates. Oval vs. V bottom plates for single coils.
12. Single coil spacing. You can order narrow spacing Strat pickups for PT Cort.
​

 

[jeremy]

hot sizzly ceramic firebreather sounds like dimebucker to me

 

[JOLLY]

hot sizzly ceramic firebreather sounds like dimebucker to me

I agree, but I personally think the Distortion has more of a "sizzle" to it. I'd say the Dimebucker is probably brighter though.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Since you're going for off-the-wall looks, give the PATB-2 a try. It's like a weird-looking, more dynamic Distortion.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I realized I also have a Super 2 lying around. Anyone got any experience with those in the bridge?

I remember it sounding buzzy and undefined in the neck, and not liking it. But is it any better in the bridge?

I doubt it's going to be as hot as the 500T, tho.

 

[Aceman]

Logos come off with a Q-tip and a little nail polish remover. Stop worrying about that.

And to answer the original question; You want a DiMarzio X2N (which incidentally has no logo).

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Logos come off with a Q-tip and a little nail polish remover. Stop worrying about that.

And to answer the original question; You want a DiMarzio X2N (which incidentally has no logo).

I heard people rubbed it off with toothpaste. I tried acetone once on a '59B and ended up half-dissolving the bobbin itself, LOL.

Had an X2N. Sold it like two weeks ago. I didn't like it especially because I thought it would be sizzly based on what I heard from it (Death), but it was really dark and bassy. Maybe if I look for one of the vintage ones with the nickel baseplate? I think those were lower DCR too, no?

 

[Chistopher]

I realized I also have a Super 2 lying around. Anyone got any experience with those in the bridge?

I remember it sounding buzzy and undefined in the neck, and not liking it. But is it any better in the bridge?

I doubt it's going to be as hot as the 500T, tho.

I wonder this as well and would be interested to hear any thoughts. It certainly wouldn't be too hard to try it out

 

[Leon Of Late]

I second the PATB-2. I have used all 3 versions of the PATB series, and they are seriously great pickups. The -2 version is indeed a hot, sizzly pickup with great highs and serious drive. The PATB series pickups are the sleepers in the Duncan line, but they shouldn’t be. If more people tried them, they’d be blown away.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I'm startint to think... maybe also Nazgul?

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Alright, so I dropped in a Black Winter in there for the time being.

I love it!



HOWEVER. It is not what I want right now. But it was a good experiment making me realize what I need.

1. It's slighty too hot. Not much. But I'd say 10-ish % hotter than I want for it to work compared to my Gibson with the 500T.

2. It is not sizzly enough. It has a lot of midrange grind. It might actually have slighty more detail up top than the 500T in the Gibson, but the 500T's upper mid spike is more pronounced, making it seem more up-front and aggressive. I need more, even.

3. It's too tight. The low-end is rolled-off, and it makes this guitar sound a bit too focused and slightly thin.


I love the BW. This is making me realize how much. But it's just too good this time around, if that makes sense. :laugh2:

So OK... I'm now convinced I need either a Dimebucker, Distortion TB, or D-Activator.

How do these rank in terms of output compared to the BW?

 

[Seashore]

Echoing post #2. Considering that a 500T is gonna sound different in that guitar since it's a different guitar, why not just drop one in and see how it is?

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Echoing post #2. Considering that a 500T is gonna sound different in that guitar since it's a different guitar, why not just drop one in and see how it is?

That could be another good idea. Acoustically, the Strat is indeed radically different than the Les Paul. And the pickup placement is also different on the Strat. It's further away from the bridge.

However! I don't think they have a 500T in zebra or double cream, do they?

 

[Mincer]

Do it right with the SLUG.

 

[Seashore]

That could be another good idea. Acoustically, the Strat is indeed radically different than the Les Paul. And the pickup placement is also different on the Strat. It's further away from the bridge.

However! I don't think they have a 500T in zebra or double cream, do they?

I guess they don't... would the right cover do the trick?

 

[Mikelamury]

Surprisingly the fender ultra hot noiseless pickup was quite the fire breather. I believed it's 22.5k for a noiseless strat pickup this thing rocks.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Do it right with the SLUG.

Isn't that one hotter and darker even thanthe 'Winter?