Pickups for Hendrix tone?

jbailes

jbailes

New member
Hello All, this is my first post here. And, of course, looking for some input.
I just picked up a 2005 US Strat (alder body, maple fretboard), and I'm alittle less than impressed with the tone of the stock pickups. It's that whole delta tone system. I'll be doing other mods to the guitar, but with the incredible amount of pickups available to the layperson nowadays, it's difficult to know what to get.
I'm looking to try and get a Hendrix type of tone out of it, with kind of a throaty tone in the neck, something nice and even in the middle, and maybe a little more accentuated in the mids for the bridge. I can't deal with a screechy high end.
I recently bought the Digitech Jimi Hendrix Experience pedal, and it's really nice. I'll be using the strat primarily through that pedal. Any input is appreciated.
 
Re: Pickups for Hendrix tone?

Gearjoneser said:
Twangbanger bridge/Surfer neck and middle. Guaranteed to make any strat sound better.
Click to expand...

+1, this seems to be widely acknowledged as 'best strat combo' :burnout:

i personally use

little '59 bridge / 52 middle / Texas Hot neck

i love this setup for versatility, but if a twangbanger turns up on the trading post, i'll be all over it hehe - soo many people swear by it, and the '59 toasts the other two in terms of volume..

tom
 
Re: Pickups for Hendrix tone?

Imp said:
+1, this seems to be widely acknowledged as 'best strat combo' :burnout:

i personally use

little '59 bridge / 52 middle / Texas Hot neck

i love this setup for versatility, but if a twangbanger turns up on the trading post, i'll be all over it hehe - soo many people swear by it, and the '59 toasts the other two in terms of volume..

tom
Click to expand...

You look like you have great combo there.

How does the Lil 59 sound split with the middle 52? Is that a good quacking combo?

Does the L'59 match well output wise with the other two?
 
Re: Pickups for Hendrix tone?

I'd go for a set of vintage style alnico 5 pickups with raised polepieces for the neck and middle: Duncan SSL-1's or Antiquity Surfers.

The bridge pickup is a tougher call.

You could go with the SSL-1's in all three positions, but I like a hotter bridge pickup than vintage.

The alnico 5 Antiquity Surfer Custom bridge pickup is about 9.5K and a favorite, as is the 9.5K Antiquity Texas Hot Custom bridge which is alnico 2 and has a little more mids and smoother highs that are not so bright and sharp as the alnico 5 Surfer. The Twangbanger is also alnico 2 and also a great choice.

Lew
 
Re: Pickups for Hendrix tone?

Imp said:
+1, this seems to be widely acknowledged as 'best strat combo' :burnout:

i personally use

little '59 bridge / 52 middle / Texas Hot neck

i love this setup for versatility, but if a twangbanger turns up on the trading post, i'll be all over it hehe - soo many people swear by it, and the '59 toasts the other two in terms of volume..

tom
Click to expand...


You can get the twangbanger for about $60 new...
 
Re: Pickups for Hendrix tone?

Guitar Toad said:
You look like you have great combo there.

How does the Lil 59 sound split with the middle 52? Is that a good quacking combo?

Does the L'59 match well output wise with the other two?
Click to expand...

its really versatile, and there is an appreciable volume and difference in character between the bridge and middle.. the 59 replaced a hotrail, so its not as bad as it was :13:

i've yet to try the 59 split.. as it is, i dont like the pair used together, its not quack, its almost got a phase-cancelled tone though.. i like the combo though hehe

gripweed said:
You can get the twangbanger for about $60 new...
Click to expand...

im in the uk, think £65-70 :(.. plus no-one near me stocks any duncan singlecoils, its mail order or nothing hehe - ebay prices reflect this :evil:

tom
 
Re: Pickups for Hendrix tone?

The Hendrix tone is in your soul. No pup, axe, or amp can help. Except maybe that new digitech pedal....
 
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