Recommend me Pickups to get bell-like tones from my HSS Strat

[Jack_TriPpEr]

I've got a American Standard HSS Strat. The pickups are stock (Humbucker is a Diamondback, the single coils are Tex Mex). The guitar has never sounded as glassy-bell like to me as I'd like. So, I'm considering changing out some or all of the pickups to get that tone.

Can I get that bell-like tone with only having to change one or two of the pickups vs. all three? Which ones and what Brand/Model pickups do you recommend.? And, when considering options for the bridge humbucker: if you feel that I can't get bell-like tones using a true humbucker, I am willing to install a humbucker-sized single coil in that slot, although I'd prefer not to, especially since this Strat has the S-1 switching system that allows me to split the humbucker.

I should mention that the body is Ash vs. Alder - I believe that could be making the sound warmer than I prefer, yes? To round all the applicable details, the fretboard is maple (vs. rosewood).

Thanks!

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: Recommend me Pickups to get bell-like tones from my HSS Strat

The Alnico II Pro pickups are pretty "bell" like

 

[El CHupacabra]

Re: Recommend me Pickups to get bell-like tones from my HSS Strat

bell tone? elaborate.

 

[Jack_TriPpEr]

Re: Recommend me Pickups to get bell-like tones from my HSS Strat

bell tone? elaborate.

to me, that sounds like the tone heard throughout Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama", especially the solos. I know at least one of those solos was recorded using an SSS Strat.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Recommend me Pickups to get bell-like tones from my HSS Strat

I've got a American Standard HSS Strat. The pickups are stock (Humbucker is a Diamondback, the single coils are Tex Mex). The guitar has never sounded as glassy-bell like to me as I'd like. So, I'm considering changing out some or all of the pickups to get that tone.

Can I get that bell-like tone with only having to change one or two of the pickups vs. all three? Which ones and what Brand/Model pickups do you recommend.? And, when considering options for the bridge humbucker: if you feel that I can't get bell-like tones using a true humbucker, I am willing to install a humbucker-sized single coil in that slot, although I'd prefer not to, especially since this Strat has the S-1 switching system that allows me to split the humbucker.

I should mention that the body is Ash vs. Alder - I believe that could be making the sound warmer than I prefer, yes? To round all the applicable details, the fretboard is maple (vs. rosewood).

Thanks!

Maybe switch out to the guitar that gives you the tones you want...

 

[El CHupacabra]

Re: Recommend me Pickups to get bell-like tones from my HSS Strat

Well, I've got an Alnico II pro neck and Pearly Gates Bridge, and I can get Lynyrd Skynyrd-ish sounds from those. What you'd need would be a Alnico II pro bridge for your HSS unless you do a full H/H or HSH, which I doubt is necessary. If you like Slash, he's got Alnico II's in his LP's aw well, just to indicate what the pup can do.

 

[Jack_TriPpEr]

Re: Recommend me Pickups to get bell-like tones from my HSS Strat

Maybe switch out to the guitar that gives you the tones you want...

Why?!? It IS a Strat afterall. I should be almost there, right?!? Just pickup swapouts?!?

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Recommend me Pickups to get bell-like tones from my HSS Strat

Why?!? It IS a Strat afterall. I should be almost there, right?!? Just pickup swapouts?!?

You're never going to get the correct bell like tone and quack from the bridge/middle position with a bridge humbucker...You should be able to get it from the neck and middle with the single coils though...Anytime you try to get the best of both worlds in a strat,it's a tradeoff...A split humbucker in the bridge,gives you the thinner single coil-like tone,but it's still not just like a strat bridge single coil paired with a middle sc...When I think of quack,I think of the bridge and middle pickups together(Sultans Of Swing)...(Lay Down Sally) From Clapton...Bell like I guess fits into the same category,but then I think more on the lines of "Wicked Games" from Chris Issac...

 

[75lespaul]

Re: Recommend me Pickups to get bell-like tones from my HSS Strat

Why?!? It IS a Strat afterall. I should be almost there, right?!? Just pickup swapouts?!?

That all depends on a few things there. When you say bell tones, different people mean different things by that. Some mean the quack you get from position two and four, some mean that really "glassy" sound you get from the neck pickup (nothing like it when its dialed in right). Stratdeluxer pretty much hit the nail on the head. You should be able to get classic stratocaster tones out of your three four and five positions with a pickup swap, but the humbucker will give you something different on positions one and two, even with a split.

The Duncan tone wizard is a good start. What kind of music do you play or what tones are you trying to get (Clapton, SRV, Cray etc...)

 

[Diocletian]

Re: Recommend me Pickups to get bell-like tones from my HSS Strat

Didn't you already start a thread about this?