Pickups suggestions for 57 re-issue strat

[JimmyO]

I have a 57 reissue USA strat from about 2006, and it has the original 57/62 set in it. Everything is stock except the bridge pickup is wired to the middle tone control, to tame some of those highs. It sounds very stratty and at times i really like the clean and slight breakup sounds from it, but compared to my other strat - a 2012 US standard with Fat 50s it sounds a bit subdued. I plug in the US standard with the Fat 50s and get a 'yes, this is what is want' feeling. The 57 reissue sounds very pleasant but IMO i get a 'sounds nice but not blown away feeling'. I think the pickups output is a bit low for my tastes, even after playing with the pickup heights. Had mixed results with it live too. A couple of gigs it's been super bright and clean and takes some extra boosting to get some singing lead tones compared to my other guitars. The acoustic tone is really nice and has depth, and the clean tones are very nice. It also buzzes more than most of my other guitars as it has next to no shielding - 50s style, so I'm going to get the guitar shielded and at the same time would be a good opportunity to drop in some different pickups.


I play through a Mesa Lonestar and JTM 45 reissue and use this guitar for my american style blues and classic rock stuff. I have humbucker equipped guitars for les paul type tones, so I'm not trying to make my strat sound like a les paul, and i'm not on a quest to sound like SRV,Hendrix,Dave Gilmour etc so am totally open minded to pickup choices.

I've heard some great things about the Antiquity ii Surfer set, and was thinking about putting in the Custom Bridge, RWRP middle and regular neck pickup. Was also thinking about the regular SSL1 set, but not sure if it would be much different from the current pickups.

Thanks for any suggestions and advice.

 

[Kac]

Re: Pickups suggestions for 57 re-issue strat

I would go with some antiquities. I think it would be sweet in that guitar. I don't know if that's the best suggestion, but that's the route I would go down.


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[esandes]

Re: Pickups suggestions for 57 re-issue strat

SSL-1 set. the vintage tones would scream from these alnico 5 rod singles.

 

[JimmyO]

Re: Pickups suggestions for 57 re-issue strat

Thanks for the suggestions. For a maple necked 50s style strat would the Texas hot or surfers be better? Also would the bridge pickup in the SSL1 set be able to handle 60s/70s classic blues rock?

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Pickups suggestions for 57 re-issue strat

That's how '50's Strats usually sounded. The Fat '50's pickups, being pretty self descriptive in name, sound more like overwound '50's Strat pickups. If you like those, I'd just get another set of them to replace the 57/62's. Duncan doesn't have a model that really nails the '50's Strat sound, but they make a good equivalent to the Fat '50's: the SSL-1's, or possibly APS-1 (Alnico 2 magnets, a bit fatter and warmer than the Alnico 5's in the SSL-1's). You can also send in your 57/62's to be rewound to spec at $65 a pop, which is about the same cost as getting a brand new Fat '50's set...but as I said, wound exactly to your specs by the S.D. Custom Shop.

 

[JimmyO]

Re: Pickups suggestions for 57 re-issue strat

That's how '50's Strats usually sounded. The Fat '50's pickups, being pretty self descriptive in name, sound more like overwound '50's Strat pickups. If you like those, I'd just get another set of them to replace the 57/62's. Duncan doesn't have a model that really nails the '50's Strat sound, but they make a good equivalent to the Fat '50's: the SSL-1's, or possibly APS-1 (Alnico 2 magnets, a bit fatter and warmer than the Alnico 5's in the SSL-1's). You can also send in your 57/62's to be rewound to spec at $65 a pop, which is about the same cost as getting a brand new Fat '50's set...but as I said, wound exactly to your specs by the S.D. Custom Shop.

Sounds like the SSL-1's or APS-1s would have a little more output than the 57/62s while still maintaining a vintage vibe - let me know if I have this about right. I could go with another set of fat 50s (and this would be the cheapest option getting a used set off of a standard strat on eBay) but then both my Strats would have the same pickups and I'd be missing an opportunity to try something new. Been playing with the height of the 57/62s tonight and they are good vintage sounding pickups.

 

[JimmyO]

Re: Pickups suggestions for 57 re-issue strat

Been checking out videos of the SSL-1's and they sound real nice. Like the 57/62s but with a bit more bite and chime. Looks like the California 50s set doesn't come with pickup covers. Does anyone know if the 57/62 covers would fit or could recommend an aged set for the SSL-1's? Also if anyone has played both 57/62's and SSL-1s or other duncan single coils and could provide any comparisons/recommendations, thanks!

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Pickups suggestions for 57 re-issue strat

The pickup covers should interchange.

The Surfer set gets knocked a bit because they sound fatter than some vintage pickups from that era that some consider to be more vintage correct. However, they also sound very close to some pickups from the early 60s. In other words they sound like the better vintage singles from that era if you need them a bit fatter. This may be the case with a maple neck. The Surfer set can be had with a hotter bridge pickup that amolerates the thin weak bridge position on stock strats.

Also a stock strat does not have any tone control on the bridge pickup leaving at bright as possible. Switching the middle pickup tone control to the bridge pickup or running a jumper from the middle tone control to the bridge pickup terminal on the switch fixes that.

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Pickups suggestions for 57 re-issue strat

Also would the bridge pickup in the SSL1 set be able to handle 60s/70s classic blues rock?

A common set is SSL-1s in the middle and neck and the SSL-5 (hotter version) in the bridge position.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Pickups suggestions for 57 re-issue strat

Just a note, SSL-1 in the bridge is vintage correct and thin/bright/weak. I've been highly considering swapping it with the Antiquity Custom Bridge. Other than that, SSL-1s and APS-1s are great for a vintage Strat. (In fact I use the APS in the neck and SSL in the middle. It's an interesting blend.)

However, the full set of Antiquity Surfers with custom bridge would probably make a great compliment to the Fat 50's Strat.

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Pickups suggestions for 57 re-issue strat

Does anyone know if the 57/62 covers would fit or could recommend an aged set for the SSL-1's?

The Surfers and Texas Hots come with aged covers.

 

[JimmyO]

Re: Pickups suggestions for 57 re-issue strat

The Antiquity Surfers with a custom bridge sound ideal. I could always wire them to a new shielded pickguard, and keep the existing one in case I wanted to return the guitar to stock true vintage low output & un-shielded mode in the future.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Pickups suggestions for 57 re-issue strat

i have a set of surfers with the custom bridge and rw/rp middle and i think they sound great. warm classic fender strat tone. sounds like a great early 60's start pup

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Pickups suggestions for 57 re-issue strat

the bridge pickup is wired to the middle tone control, to tame some of those highs.

compared to my other strat - a 2012 US standard with Fat 50s it sounds a bit subdued.

it's been super bright and clean and takes some extra boosting to get some singing lead tones compared to my other guitars

It also buzzes more than most of my other guitars as it has next to no shielding

thinking about the regular SSL1 set, but not sure if it would be much different from the current pickups.

ssl1, ssl-1, ssl-5

The ssl-5 in the bridge will give you the extra sustain and beef for singing leads. It also is a bit less bright than regular strat pickups. Its quite an astonishing sounding pickup. Still, like all strat pickups, i like it wired in to the tone control too, like you already have.

Fat 50s vs ssl-1: Ssl-1's are about the same output but they have more depth and more articulation. To me, fatties sound like ssl-s when you roll the volume back a knotch and get that "roll off" of the high end that occurs. I recommend a pair of ssl-1s in the neck and middle. They are really cool pickups. Very inspiring to play.

Coincidentally to this thread, My friend came over last week with two 2013 am. std strats, both with fat 50s. He was trying them out and making a decision as to which one he wanted to buy from a local shop. He wanted to compare the axes to my old strat plus (with ssl-1,ssl1, ssl-5). Essentially the SD set sounded deeper, yet more articulate and with more of what makes an amp really sing.

One big and really noticeable difference was the difference in hum. The stock strat with fatties was noisy as hell. Interesting - cos my ssl1,1,5 set also has no hum cancelling in positions 2 and 4 (by choice). To be fair, i have recently shielded the strat inside and out with copper tape and a copper pickguard wired to earth, but i also suspect that the SD pickups are a little quieter anyway.

So yeah....i reckon the ssl-1,1,5 set will do what you need, and im not saying that because i have them in my strat. There has been probably a dozen pickup sets in and out of that axe over the past 23 years. Its just a killer set. You get beautiful, full and swirly vintage strat tones in the neck and middle and the ssl-5 gives you the extra mid punch and hotter output. I would like to recommend no hum cancelling in positions 2 and 4 too. It just sounds a bit fuller that way and its seems like a truer blend of pickups than when they cancel each other. Also - shield the strat. Its worth the time and effort to keep that beautiful true single tone, but with much reduced noise. So essentially, you will have an axe that is better than either of your options now. You'll have the nice resonant acoustic instrument (the 57) with better sounding pickups than your standard.

I should add this caveat....ive never installed the ant surfer set. People rave about them too.