Please Recommend a Strat Neck Pickup

[Steve R.]

Hey Guys, can you help me out with selecting a single coil sized neck pickup for a Super Strat? The guitar is Alder body, maple neck, Pau Ferro fretboard with a Floyd Rose Original. I have a TB-14 Custom 5 in the bridge that I'm happy with. Currently, the neck pickup is a Cool Rails (no middle pickup). The cool rails seems a tad bit muddy and bassy. I want something with just a little more bite and clarity, and perhaps just a tad more output. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Please Recommend a Strat Neck Pickup

you wanting another 'rails' (as in, single sized hum)? if so, I have actually found the hot rails to be more articulate than the cool rails. then there is the JB Jr. for what you're asking for (more bite, more clarity, more output), you might not have too many more options in the production models. outside of that, there's the custom shop or looking at what DiMarzio offers.

there might be some 'single coil' (i.e., non-'rail') type of options that might meet those needs, but I'm not as well versed in those so perhaps someone else will happen along here before long.

 

[Steve R.]

Re: Please Recommend a Strat Neck Pickup

Hey Darth - I'm open to single coils, rails, and mini humbuckers... Good to know the hot rails is more articulate... I had assumed it would be muddier due to the higher output.

I'm a bit reluctant to try the JB jr in the neck. I had a JB in the bridge and it was way too nasal/honky in this guitar. This particular guitar has lots of mids already, so that's why I opted for a more mid scooped sound with the Custom 5.

Cheers!

 

[vinta9e]

Re: Please Recommend a Strat Neck Pickup

True single coils. Not a fortunate choice for a gain junkie, of course. But with moderate, crunchy gain and a cooking poweramp they deliver a kind of explosive response that twin coil pickups just do not. Recommended if you're after the Andy Timmons* or Thomas Blug kind of tone.

Stacks. Two coils, one on top of the other. Rod magnets. Closer to a single coil in the bite/clarity department, as compared to rails, IME. Hum free performance. Recommended if you're after the Yngwie kind of tone.

Then it's "juniors" and rails. More of a humbucker-type tone, IMO. I dug the JB Jr. in the bridge of a MIJ Squier strat, hated the bridge hot rails in a MIJ Fender Tele. I don't think I'd want one of those in the neck/mid position though. I like singles and stacks.

Just my 2 cents. YMMV. And do not bust my cojones just because Andy Timmons uses rail-type Cruisers

 

[Curly]

Re: Please Recommend a Strat Neck Pickup

First, I'd really try to dial in the pickup height ... that can have quite an effect ... before you really decide to change. On paper at least, the Cool Rails would seem to be a good match for a TB-14. A Vintage Rails would logically be the next step up in clarity. A Classic Stack Plus would be another candidate.

But also, I'd want to know what you really want -- if the Cool Rails is really "muddy and bassy", then you likely don't really want more output ... in general, more output usually means LESS bite and clarity.

The cool rails seems a tad bit muddy and bassy. I want something with just a little more bite and clarity, and perhaps just a tad more output.

 

[Lucy Diamond]

Re: Please Recommend a Strat Neck Pickup

First, I'd really try to dial in the pickup height ... that can have quite an effect ... before you really decide to change. On paper at least, the Cool Rails would seem to be a good match for a TB-14. A Vintage Rails would logically be the next step up in clarity. A Classic Stack Plus would be another candidate.

But also, I'd want to know what you really want -- if the Cool Rails is really "muddy and bassy", then you likely don't really want more output ... in general, more output usually means LESS bite and clarity.

I was JUST gonna say "Have you explored all possible pickup heights??

Curly gives sound advice here because you may not need to spend anything.

I can't stress this enough....much like the Pirate Code my friend...pickup height has more of a set of guidelines then rules.

Fret the highest fret on your axe and raise your pickup as much as you like without it actually touching the strings.

I mean...hey...I get it...if you want a new pickup, you want a new pickup. I just wanna make sure you aren't throwing away potentially perfect tone for a wild goose chase that may very well end up with you putting a cool rails back in your neck.

Whatever your decision man, enjoy in good health and good luck in your search.


~LD

PS - I'm actually pretty interested in the new Invader single coil that they put on the Facebook page yesterday.

 

[hermetico]

Re: Please Recommend a Strat Neck Pickup

I was JUST gonna say "Have you explored all possible pickup heights??

Curly gives sound advice here because you may not need to spend anything.

I can't stress this enough....much like the Pirate Cod my friend...pickup height has more of a set of guidelines then rules.

Fret the highest fret on your axe and raise your pickup as much as you like without it actually touching the strings.

I mean...hey...I get it...if you want a new pickup, you want a new pickup. I just wanna make sure you aren't throwing away potentially perfect tone for a wild goose chase that may very well end up with you putting a cool rails back in your neck.

Whatever your decision man, enjoy in good health and good luck in your search.


~LD

PS - I'm actually pretty interested in the new Invader single coil that they put on the Facebook page yesterday.

^^^^
+1

I wouldn't define Cool Rails as muddy. They are awesome pickups with lots of growl and complex tones, in the line of a Dimarzio Norton.
I bet, the OP has pickups height realy high. Low that pickup (and the rest) and krank your gain, instead.

 

[Steve R.]

Re: Please Recommend a Strat Neck Pickup

Actually, good call on tweaking the height a bit more. I wouldn't say it's really high for a humbucker, probably 1/8" from the strings when fretting at the 22nd fret. Anyway, I'll lower it a tad and that should help the clarity.

Thanks, guys.

 

[John Cambo]

Re: Please Recommend a Strat Neck Pickup

Hey Darth - I'm open to single coils, rails, and mini humbuckers... Good to know the hot rails is more articulate... I had assumed it would be muddier due to the higher output.

I'm a bit reluctant to try the JB jr in the neck. I had a JB in the bridge and it was way too nasal/honky in this guitar. This particular guitar has lots of mids already, so that's why I opted for a more mid scooped sound with the Custom 5.

Cheers!

For what it is worth, I find the hotrails anything but articulate, they are anything but. I'm not sure what you are after (noiseless or not), but if you are after a noiseless single coil sized pickup, consider Dimarzio, they really have it worked out, second only to Kinman IMO. http://www.dimarzio.com/pickups/strat/hum-canceling-strat

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Please Recommend a Strat Neck Pickup

Fret the highest fret on your axe and raise your pickup as much as you like without it actually touching the strings.

If -- again I say, if -- the neck pickup in question is a traditional construction Fender-style single coil, meaning Alnico rods, this is bad advice. You will get the dreaded Strat-itis warble, particularly on E, A and G strings, especially with lighter gauges, and you will lose sustain. You can't raise these guys very close to the strings because the magnets are right there and they will pull on the strings.

A Tele style Strat pu -- by which I mean flatpole and coverless like a Tele bridge -- would be a better bet here because even though the magnets can't get any closer, the coil itself is closer which gives a little more output and woof than a standard Strat pu. (Which is a big part of why so many people want to put a Tele bridge pu in a Strat.)

 

[Hank-]

Re: Please Recommend a Strat Neck Pickup

Hey Guys, can you help me out with selecting a single coil sized neck pickup for a Super Strat? The guitar is Alder body, maple neck, Pau Ferro fretboard with a Floyd Rose Original. I have a TB-14 Custom 5 in the bridge that I'm happy with. Currently, the neck pickup is a Cool Rails (no middle pickup). The cool rails seems a tad bit muddy and bassy. I want something with just a little more bite and clarity, and perhaps just a tad more output. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Easiest would be to disconnect the neck pickup from the tone control or use a high value tone pot for the neck. It will make it clearer, brighter and add a tad more output. I did the former to my 59n some days back & it worked for me because I never had a need to roll the tone pot down on the neck. I also have the sh14 in same guitar with the 59n, I had it in my HSS with as well. It's a bit on the brighter side of the EQ, makes it a little tricky to play nice with neck pickups that aren't as bright as itself.

 

[marcello252]

Re: Please Recommend a Strat Neck Pickup

why not keeping it simple using a normal single coil? (SSL-1 for example or a SSL-5 to keep a warmer and louder feel).

 

[Curly]

Re: Please Recommend a Strat Neck Pickup

this would be a fine idea ... IF you had a vintage output bridge pickup. However, with a custom 5, you will more likely want something that matches a little better in output and timbre ... otherwise, you will find yourself fiddling with your knobs more when you switch.

why not keeping it simple using a normal single coil? (SSL-1 for example or a SSL-5 to keep a warmer and louder feel).