Replacement for Stock MIA Strat pickups
- Thread starter K.E.B.
- Start date
Re: Replacement for Stock MIA Strat pickups
ssl1 in the neck and middle (or antiquity II surfers if you want to spend the extra money)
you might want to try something a little hotter in the bridge like a twangbanger or ssl5 (or the ssl6 which is the same pup with flat poles.)
ssl1 in the neck and middle (or antiquity II surfers if you want to spend the extra money)
you might want to try something a little hotter in the bridge like a twangbanger or ssl5 (or the ssl6 which is the same pup with flat poles.)
K.E.B.
New member
Re: Replacement for Stock MIA Strat pickups
Thanks for the replies. Jeremy, I've seen you make that recommendation before. What do you think about this combo = SSL-2 in the neck, an SSL-6 in the middle and an SSL-3 in the bridge?
Thomas_Desch
New member
Re: Replacement for Stock MIA Strat pickups
I've just replaced the stock pickups in my Fender Highway One Strat with SSL-6 in neck, APS2 in middle and Lil'59 (single coil-sized humbucker) in bridge. (I've also installed switches for splitting the humbucker and for getting the neck bridge and neck, middle, bridge combination.)
Here are some demos of how that sounds:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTLsuqUeN30 (Clean)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrYfKKWjbNw (Distorted)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsa-Q4ynFFo (Slide)
That combination worked very well for me.
I've just replaced the stock pickups in my Fender Highway One Strat with SSL-6 in neck, APS2 in middle and Lil'59 (single coil-sized humbucker) in bridge. (I've also installed switches for splitting the humbucker and for getting the neck bridge and neck, middle, bridge combination.)
Here are some demos of how that sounds:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTLsuqUeN30 (Clean)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrYfKKWjbNw (Distorted)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsa-Q4ynFFo (Slide)
That combination worked very well for me.
Re: Replacement for Stock MIA Strat pickups
i like the ssl2 in the neck and the ssl3 in the bridge
the ssl6 can be cool in the middle but you wont get the traditional notch tones with that setup. if that isnt important then it can be a great sounding and versitle combo.
i like fairly traditional neck/middle tones and big fat neck tones more than hotter middle tones so i might go ssl6t (tapped) in the neck, ssl1 in the middle and ssl3 in the bridge. that way there is the option of having a more traditional neck tone or a fatter tone and the neck/middle tone would be closer to normal when using the tap.
you could do the same thing with the ssl6t in the middle if you prefer to have a bolder tone there with the classic neck strat tone
i like the ssl2 in the neck and the ssl3 in the bridge
the ssl6 can be cool in the middle but you wont get the traditional notch tones with that setup. if that isnt important then it can be a great sounding and versitle combo.
i like fairly traditional neck/middle tones and big fat neck tones more than hotter middle tones so i might go ssl6t (tapped) in the neck, ssl1 in the middle and ssl3 in the bridge. that way there is the option of having a more traditional neck tone or a fatter tone and the neck/middle tone would be closer to normal when using the tap.
you could do the same thing with the ssl6t in the middle if you prefer to have a bolder tone there with the classic neck strat tone
ganzosrevenge
New member
Re: Replacement for Stock MIA Strat pickups
K.E.B.
You do know the strat is routed H-S-H, so you can put in fullsize buckers if you wish.
K.E.B.
You do know the strat is routed H-S-H, so you can put in fullsize buckers if you wish.
K.E.B.
New member
Re: Replacement for Stock MIA Strat pickups
Nice demos there Thomas. You should be proud of the work you've done with those mods.
Thanks Jeremy. I didn't know that about the SSL6 in the middle not allowing the traditional bucking sounds. Not sure about tapping. I tend to like to keep things simple. Is that wiring complicated?
Nice demos there Thomas. You should be proud of the work you've done with those mods.
Thanks Jeremy. I didn't know that about the SSL6 in the middle not allowing the traditional bucking sounds. Not sure about tapping. I tend to like to keep things simple. Is that wiring complicated?
K.E.B.
New member
Re: Replacement for Stock MIA Strat pickups
Yep. That's an alternative as well. The single coil bridge is my least favorite. It sounds novel and all, just not much use to me. It can get piercing if my amp and settings aren't just right.
Yep. That's an alternative as well. The single coil bridge is my least favorite. It sounds novel and all, just not much use to me. It can get piercing if my amp and settings aren't just right.
loudriver23
New member
Re: Replacement for Stock MIA Strat pickups
I play with a SF Bassman, mostly clean most of the time. On my MIA Deluxe strat I wasn't getting along with the noiseless PUPs in there so I swapped them for a SD Surfer set with the Custom Bridge. I also ripped out the S-1 wiring to have a more traditional strat sound. I did however keep the push button and had it wired up to toggle the neck position on.
So when in full bridge mode I can hit the button engage the neck and rock out. I also had the bridge pup wired for tone, and installed the treble bleed mod on the Vol pot.
The Surfers are amazing, they really chime, sparkle, and cluck like no other pickup I've ever used.
Many folks like the Surfers for neck and middle and the Texas Hot in the bridge. I am digging the whole Surfer set myself.
Good luck on the tone quest.
I play with a SF Bassman, mostly clean most of the time. On my MIA Deluxe strat I wasn't getting along with the noiseless PUPs in there so I swapped them for a SD Surfer set with the Custom Bridge. I also ripped out the S-1 wiring to have a more traditional strat sound. I did however keep the push button and had it wired up to toggle the neck position on.
So when in full bridge mode I can hit the button engage the neck and rock out. I also had the bridge pup wired for tone, and installed the treble bleed mod on the Vol pot.
The Surfers are amazing, they really chime, sparkle, and cluck like no other pickup I've ever used.
Many folks like the Surfers for neck and middle and the Texas Hot in the bridge. I am digging the whole Surfer set myself.
Good luck on the tone quest.
scottish
WeirdScienceologist
Re: Replacement for Stock MIA Strat pickups
Id second the recommendation for SSL1 neck/middle and SSL5 bridge if you are after some traditional strat tones with a beefed up bridge. The SSL5 has enough kick that it doesnt get too shrill/piercing to my ears. Another option i would recommend based on your comments so far would be to go SSL1 neck and middle and then a 59b humbucker.
Id second the recommendation for SSL1 neck/middle and SSL5 bridge if you are after some traditional strat tones with a beefed up bridge. The SSL5 has enough kick that it doesnt get too shrill/piercing to my ears. Another option i would recommend based on your comments so far would be to go SSL1 neck and middle and then a 59b humbucker.
ganzosrevenge
New member
Re: Replacement for Stock MIA Strat pickups
k.e.b.
I have a wild idea for an HSH strat that'd sound killer.
a '59n / SSL-1 / C5 5-way with dual autosplits. (pos 2 and 4 have split buckers)
k.e.b.
I have a wild idea for an HSH strat that'd sound killer.
a '59n / SSL-1 / C5 5-way with dual autosplits. (pos 2 and 4 have split buckers)
andybowers
New member
Re: Replacement for Stock MIA Strat pickups
I was just considering this very thing in another thread, undecided if i should replace a 99' usa strat pickup with an alnico 2 single/ssl-1 or ssl-5
Wanted something with a bit more warmth/sustain/thickness whilst not moving to far for the original strat neck tone
I was just considering this very thing in another thread, undecided if i should replace a 99' usa strat pickup with an alnico 2 single/ssl-1 or ssl-5
Wanted something with a bit more warmth/sustain/thickness whilst not moving to far for the original strat neck tone
Re: Replacement for Stock MIA Strat pickups
i think the fender 54's are good pups but arent all that warm. very glassy and bell like but not warm.
the fat 50's are warmer but not as glassy.
i really like the ssl2 in the neck with an aps1 in the middle and either a ssl6 or twang banger in the bridge. if you want a more classic notch tone then use an ssl1 in the middle
i think the fender 54's are good pups but arent all that warm. very glassy and bell like but not warm.
the fat 50's are warmer but not as glassy.
i really like the ssl2 in the neck with an aps1 in the middle and either a ssl6 or twang banger in the bridge. if you want a more classic notch tone then use an ssl1 in the middle
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