Secret Agent as Strat Middle

Chuckracer

New member
How well do those with Secret Agent experience (the pickup, not the CIA...) think the pickup would work as a strat middle pickup beneath the pickguard? I would like the visual appearance and room between pickups of a Hum/Single set-up but with the flexibility of HSS.

Hmm...19 years and first post...that's gotta be some kind of record! :headbang:
 
Last edited:
Welcome to the forum...kinda?

I don't know if I've ever heard of a Secret Agent being used that way, but it is a really cool idea. I'd love to know what that would be like, too. If you decide to try it, please report back.
 
Yes, it would probably solve the issues I have with a Strat's middle pickup. Mostly the pick hitting it, or it getting caught under my nails when I hybrid pick (ouch).
 
I think it could work - as long as you prefer a weaker & slightly darker middle position.
Many do, and turn their middle pickup's tone down & set it lower to the pickguard than the neck.

In Teles the S.A. requires lowering a vintage bridge pickup for decent balance in the middle switch setting.
Even after that's done, some say their neck is quiet and requires a booster for use by itself.
And that's in neck position - middle position is weaker still, due to the physics of a vibrating string.

Secret Agent was designed to gave Brad Paisley what he likes, but apparently it isn't as strong as even a standard Tele neck.
Which is already weaker and far less spanky than a vintage output Strat pickup.

So the S.A. will be quieter and darker than a low output Strat pickup. But many do prefer their middle that way.
I used an SHS Floydcaster for many years and I enjoyed having a quieter middle position for instant cleanup.

On the plus side, even aside from the cool look, the SA should have significantly less magnetic pull on the strings.
So, less tendency towards Stratitis and wolf tones, and possibly better sustain too.
Maybe even a slightly more aggressive bridge tone.

Of course there's still a neck pickup in the equation here, so the magnetic difference won't be as pronounced as in an actual Tele.
But IMO it's not unreasonable to expect it could be perceptible.
 
Beauty...that's exactly the information I was hoping to find. I do like a pronounced middle pickup sound - just can't play Trower without it! - so it sounds like this wouldn't be the tea for me.

Thank You! :notworthy
 
Back
Top