Replacement pups for a HSS basswood Cort "strat"

LuchoCL

New member
Hey

This is the second time I use the forum, being the first one pretty useful, I even ended making a decision based on all the information you guys gave me.

Moving on... This time I want to replace the stock pickups in a Cort g250 that I bought as my backup guitar, my main guitar has a JB/59 combo, but since this guitar is HSS instead of a HH I was thinking to make it a little bit different, with the first thing in mind being the attack on the bridge pickup, I love used to love the JB but I think i want a pickup that respond better to my picking which I find to be very hard,besides i've come to notice that I usually touch the string with my sking a little after the pick, so I want it to respond better to that too. Second thing being the overall output, I want a little more without going too hot, I just find that the JB doesnt give the sound I have in mind when using it, being the main complain this two things.

I think I wont be replacing the middle pickup cause is a position i often skip.

For the neck i was thinking i'd like some kind of Gilmour tone, but i dont know what SD does that, i may be wrong but i think the one Gilmour uses is a fender stock pickup.

IMG_1898.jpg

This are the specs I think were useful.

CONSTRUCTION: Bolt-on
BODY: Basswood
NECK: Canadian Hard Maple, 1F : 21mm, 12F : 23mm
FRETBOARD: Rosewood, 12" Radius(305mm)
FRETS: 22 / Large (2.7mm)
SCALE: 25 1/2" (648mm)
BRIDGE: Wilkinson VS50 II Tremolo
ELECTRONICS: 1 volume, 1 tone (w/ push pull), 5way lever

Thank you in advance for everything :D
 
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Re: Replacement pups for a HSS basswood Cort "strat"

Usually, "more articulate" and "hotter than JB" do not really mix, since lower output HBs are often more dynamic and responsive than are their searing counterparts. I can't help you with the humbucker.

Dave Gilmour uses EMGs, to my knowledge, but used to use SSL-5s, so you might want to get either that or the STK-S6, which is the noiseless version.
 
Re: Replacement pups for a HSS basswood Cort "strat"

If hotter than a JB and brighter are your requirements, I'd say Wilde L500XL.

If that's a bit too mid scooped, I'd say (OLD) Dimarzio X2N Power Plus. You can tell it's the right one by the nickel-silver baseplate. Those are loud as hell and plenty articulate.

No recommendations for singles. I'm not familiar enough.
 
Re: Replacement pups for a HSS basswood Cort "strat"

My experience with the Cort G series is that constructional factors mean that it will never sound convincingly like a Fender Stratocaster.

The more upmarket variants within the G series have been offered with EMG or Lace Sensor pickups.

Of the SD range, the Custom and Distortion humbuckers should be good. A true single coil and a Li'l '59 N would round out the instrument nicely. If you are on a tight budget, consider Duncan Designed pickups. HB-103B, SC-101m and HR-101N.
 
Re: Replacement pups for a HSS basswood Cort "strat"

PATB-2 or Alt8 for the bridge HB. For neck pickup, just go with Archer's suggestion.
 
Re: Replacement pups for a HSS basswood Cort "strat"

I'm going to suggest a Suhr SSV+ and a Suhr V60LP in the neck.
I'm guessing you have 250k pots ? Might be worth checking to help suggestions.
If so, the humbucker choice is limited.
My suggestions are based on that assumption and will work great.
 
Re: Replacement pups for a HSS basswood Cort "strat"

Getting ready to swap the screws in my JB for hexes. Should tighten it up a bit. I'll let you know.
 
Re: Replacement pups for a HSS basswood Cort "strat"

I don't have much to add except that I almost bought that exact guitar a few months ago.

Solid instrument. The wilkinson is very smooth, the guitar's easy to play and great tones are there.
It sounds smoother and more polite than a MIM Strat.

Very classic Strat tones like SRV and Gilmour could be hard to nail with one of those, but you'll get in the ballpark for sure.
Hope you can tailor it after what you expect.
 
Re: Replacement pups for a HSS basswood Cort "strat"

Duncan Distortion Bridge for what you are describing. I don't know about the neck. The Gilmour tone I am most familiar with is a hot bridge pickup, not a neck pickup. Maybe on of the Stack pickups? I've never used them.
 
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