S-S-H setup for Fender Stratocaster

[Testudo]

Hey guys!

I am new to this forum as well as new to Seymour Duncan pickups. I have read this forum as well as few other ones on different pickup settings. I guess i will get best answers to a few quations that i have here.

I have a 1991 Strat Plus, with original Golden Lace sensors. While i really love the guitar i have always missed that stronger output and power. I play mostly Blues - heavy blues-hard rock - instrumental - metal. SRV-Moore-Vai, Satriani-Metallica, Iron maiden ...

1. I am trying to build and allrounde guitar, so i was thinking of either putting

1. Everything Axe™ ,SJBJ, SDBR, and SL59 Set
2. YJM Fury

Maybe something else?

2. or an S-S-H setting. From reading many posts, people prefer SH4 JB a lot and i was thinking of it too. I also read that the JB humbacker sounds better then the Strat SJBJ. But i dont know what type of single coils to choose from to compliment it ... please advise.

3. Most ppl prefer the JB. How about some other ones, maybe Duncan custom or Custom Custom?

Thank you for you help!

 

[LReese]

Re: S-S-H setup for Fender Stratocaster

My interpretation of your wants - Sounds like SSL-1/SSL-1/JB or Custom 5. I actually think any of the Duncan humbuckers would work with appropriate pedals (Ive heard some spot on Van Halen attempts with a '59 and stock RI SLP Marshall), but seems like a split JB or Custom might give the best quack when combined with the middle. No experience with the EA or Fury set.

If you can't stand the noise from the SC's then consider stacks (might be some tonal difference).

 

[bluesbend]

Re: S-S-H setup for Fender Stratocaster

Welcome to the Forums Testudo.
What amp/amps are you using?
Are you dead set on single, single, humbucker?

For true SSH I'd go with Duncan SSL-1's and a Duncan Pearly Gates.

A duncan Little '59n at the neck, Duncan SSL-5 at the middle and a full size Duncan '59 or Pearly Gates at the bridge is a good option.

 

[Testudo]

Re: S-S-H setup for Fender Stratocaster

Thnx for the reply guys!

I am using Fender Deluxe reverb amp. Boss GT 10, BOSS pedals and i am getting a Mesa Boogie V TWIN.

As for the GT 10, pups dont really matter that much. What i am mostly interested in is getting that Full, strong output with the W TWIN or some other lamp pedals. My Golden sensors are a bit too mellow for what i'd like.

Basically i am open to any setting. My 1991 Strat plus has a swimming pool route so i can use practically any setting i can think of. Would still kinda like to preserve the more classical Strat look. But am still open to any alternative ideas!

I was thinking of Lace sensors 2 Hot golds and Burgundy humbacker - with north - both - south switch which would give me planty possibilities. By reading many reviews i am leaning more toward SDs.

Any suggestions are very welcome.

 

[Jeff5]

Re: S-S-H setup for Fender Stratocaster

I won't comment on the S S, but if you're doing Maiden, Metallica and heavy rock combined with the other styles you mentioned a Custom would be a great fit. It's a very versitile humbucker than can do anything from blue to classic rock to metal.

 

[LReese]

Re: S-S-H setup for Fender Stratocaster

Been a long time since I used a V-Twin. I guess the thing I missed on my Mesa (I've had a Rectifier too) in those days was compression. I could not turn it up nearly loud enough to get any sort of compression - also have to have good reverb. Boss pedals are good too. My 30 year old CE-2 is presently my favorite chorus pedal. I've got some $$ Chorus pedals too.

I remembered really liking hot golds. They had the single coil qualities that were misssing (compared to some of the older stack designs) . Big part of that I think was that they were true single coils.

Going to suggest something else a little different, but in a way more traditional - How about a Tele bridge PU (probably a stack)? Its going to sound a little different in a Strat, but I've thought a Tele bridge pickup could get raunchy enough to rock hard. Just an alternate to going humbucker in the bridge.

A bridge HB will be easier to get a pickguard for your Strat- you would likely need to have a custom pickguard made for the Tele PU.

 

[tmmblues]

Re: S-S-H setup for Fender Stratocaster

The lead guitarist in my son's band is having me perform surgery on his strat. I'm putting a lil '59 in the bridge (my suggestion) and vintage noiseless in the middle and neck (his request). The lil '59 should give you the sweet bite in the bridge if you want it look like a SSS strat or put a PG in the bridge if you want to show of the HB.

 

[ErikH]

Re: S-S-H setup for Fender Stratocaster

If you want to go all noiseless, I recommend looking in to the Classic Stack Plus or the Vintage Hot Stack Plus for the neck and middle.

For a humbucker in the bridge, you'd do well with the Pearly Gates, JB and even the Screamin' Demon.

500k pots will work for the Stack Plus models, they won't be too bright, at least not in my experience (currently using Classic Stack Plus in the neck and middle with a Screamin' Demon in the bridge).

 

[baritone]

Re: S-S-H setup for Fender Stratocaster

I've been using the Everything Axe set in my '89 Squier for the past few years, and I haven't got bored with it at all. The JB Jr. in the bridge is hot, which is great for my uses, but a Lil 59 is a good alternative if blistering hot isn't your thing.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: S-S-H setup for Fender Stratocaster

ive had a strat plus deluxe since 1991 and its had seven different sets of pups in it.
What ive learned from that is that HH, or SSS is better than HSS.
This is because the volume pot matches with whatever pickup you have switched to(whether you go SSS, or HH), so do the tone pots and cap. The other advantage is that switching between pickups is more balanced for your amp so you dont get drastinc changes in youe sound. HSS for example can often be either too hot when you go to the bridge, or too weak when you switch to the neck.
HSS means you have to compromise on everything...which means its does no one thing superbly.

SO yeah HH, SSS or HHH is all better than HSS in my opinion.

The "everything axe" set (i have never tried it) however i think would work well tho, because it is really like having 3 humbuckers (HHH), so impedance mismatches and noise, pot mismatches and so on will not be an issue.
The beauty of your axe is that it is a bathtub, so you can just wire up any combination of pups you like wired to an appropriate pickguard. Whatever pickup configuration you choose.

Now....to adress your tonal wants and influences:

While i really love the guitar i have always missed that stronger output and power. I play mostly Blues - heavy blues-hard rock - instrumental - metal. SRV-Moore-Vai, Satriani-Metallica, Iron maiden ...

If i was going to play the repertoire and styles you mentioned this is what i'd recommend in your beloved deluxe:
I reckon an HH combination of a 59 and a JB, wired with 1 vol, and 2 tones (push pull with coil taps). Will give you a seriously rocking and versatile piece of axe. It will transform from a refined and well mannered (slightly uptight faux retro sounding) axe into a slavering beast, bristling with muscle and attitude.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: S-S-H setup for Fender Stratocaster

I am using Fender Deluxe reverb amp. Boss GT 10, BOSS pedals and i am getting a Mesa Boogie V TWIN.

The V twin is something I whole heartedly suggest trying before buying or make sure you get it on a good enough deal that you can flip it easily.

I had one for years and one thing that it proved to me was that it was very very picky about the rig it was in. Some amps it was magical other amps it was a buzzy mess. One thing I did notice was that I could NEVER get it to play nice with single coils for high gain tone. Didnt matter what singles or what guitar it didnt like them. But changing any variable in the set up would necessitate a change with the vtwin. It was very hard to be able to swap guitars and not have to fiddle with the knobs. I did have more luck with it infront of vintage style amps it absolutely loved my early 60's Supro but still it was just so finicky. The idea of them is great but they dont seem to quite live up to whats promised. When I sold it I thought it was just me that couldnt make it work. The guy I sold it to experienced much the same as I did and so did the next person.

 

[Testudo]

Re: S-S-H setup for Fender Stratocaster

tHIS IS something completely different but how do you think this would work:

Dimarzio HS3 - HS2 - X2N (with coil split)

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: S-S-H setup for Fender Stratocaster

Why not simply install a Red Lace-Sensor in the bridge/treble position?

Incidentally, Lace describes the Burgundy Sensor as P90-ish. IMO, this is true in terms of output level but not really in terms of tone.

Another option for extra power is a booster kit. I suggest the EMG-AB Afterburner. It occupies far less space than the Clapton mid boost kit.

 

[Testudo]

Re: S-S-H setup for Fender Stratocaster

Which one do you think would work better:
blue - silver - red (dually)

or

hot gold - hot gold - burgudy dually?


Is burgundy powerfull enough? I am looking for sth in the range of JB.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: S-S-H setup for Fender Stratocaster

You are trying to cover a lot of territory with one guitar. I tried that for years and never found a combination that seemed very balanced.

I finally settled on only using my strats for blues, 60's rock, classic rock, some hard rock and some Van Halen tones. I've got others to cover Vai/Satriani territory, and others for heavy metal.

The setup I finally settled on is a very simple one: Neck and Bridge are Fender Fat 50's single coils, and the Bridge is an uncovered (that's very important if you run it with 250k's) Seymour Duncan 59 Humbucker. I run them all with 250K pots, and one of the tone pots connected to the Humbucker.

Flip the magnet over in the Humbucker and use the opposite lead wire for the single coils, and you are good to go phase and hum-cancelling wise.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: S-S-H setup for Fender Stratocaster

One more thought..

I had a set of the Lace Sensors in a Strat Plus, years ago. May not have been the exact set you are talking about, but they were some of the worst sounding singles I have ever owned, and that list includes some very low end stock Squier strat pickups. You might want to give some Duncans or Fenders a listen if you are looking for vintage single coil tones.