Seymour Duncan STK S4

[Quiksilver]

Hello folks,

Seldom poster here, but I have a question for you seasoned veterans.

I am thinking of picking up a Seymour Duncan STK S4 Classic Plus set (3 pickups) and I have two questions:

1. Does it matter if I purchase the 3-pickup set OR the pickups individually? are they calibrated as SD claims or just pixie dust?
2. These pickups will go on a parchment pickguard, and I cannot find STK-S4s in parchment; most of the ones I've seen are white or black. Can I use regular parchment covers (Fender)? I get that the pickups are a tad higher/taller than your average single coil, but can I make do with regular/normal parchment covers?

Bonus question:

Unlike the SSL set which have staggered posts, and are therefore 'different' for left handed guitars, is it safe to assume that the STK-S4 will not present a problem on a left handed guitar? I believe the posts are all flat/flushed so it should be OK, but wanted to check with you experts.

Anyway, thank you very much for your time and appreciate any helpful advice you can spare.

Cheers!

 

[Mincer]

Re: Seymour Duncan STK S4

1. With the set, the middle is rw/rp. This is so if you split them, they will cancel hum. The bridge pickup is slightly hotter, too, so they are not identical pickups.
2. The covers don't come off. They are glued on. You might be able to contact SD and see what other colors they can make them for you under their Shop Floor Custom program.

There shouldn't be any problems with left handed guitars. The stagger sort of follows the radius of the guitar.

The STK-S4 are my favorite Strat pickups, period.

 

[donaldr]

Re: Seymour Duncan STK S4

2. These pickups will go on a parchment pickguard, and I cannot find STK-S4s in parchment; most of the ones I've seen are white or black. Can I use regular parchment covers (Fender)? I get that the pickups are a tad higher/taller than your average single coil, but can I make do with regular/normal parchment covers?

Come back to us please as I have a STK-S7 that I would like to change cover from black to cream.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Seymour Duncan STK S4

the cover isnt designed to be removed

 

[Mincer]

Re: Seymour Duncan STK S4

I believe the cover is epoxied on, and you risk breaking the coil trying to remove it.

 

[Quiksilver]

Re: Seymour Duncan STK S4

1. With the set, the middle is rw/rp. This is so if you split them, they will cancel hum. The bridge pickup is slightly hotter, too, so they are not identical pickups.
2. The covers don't come off. They are glued on. You might be able to contact SD and see what other colors they can make them for you under their Shop Floor Custom program.

There shouldn't be any problems with left handed guitars. The stagger sort of follows the radius of the guitar.

The STK-S4 are my favorite Strat pickups, period.

*Old Thread Alert*

Forgot to thank you for your input but I came across the Thomann.de website where it states that the pole pieces are staggered but I guess that means that they are not staggered in the "vintage/ssl1 or ssl5" sense? they are simply staggered to follow a certain radius - would that be a 9.5" radius?

These pickups then are not necessarily flat, but they are perfectly suited to be installed in a left handed guitar as opposed to say the SSL 1 or SSL 5 models that are optimized for a right handed guitar? (yes, I am aware that SSL1 and SSL5 s come also in left-handed version)

Is it possible to use a pair of pliers/clamp to push the pole pieces down and flatten them? am I out of my mind?

 

[Artie]

Re: Seymour Duncan STK S4

Is it possible to use a pair of pliers/clamp to push the pole pieces down and flatten them? am I out of my mind?

I highly doubt it. (Pushing down the poles. You may be out of your mind.)
They're epoxy potted with a circuit board underneath.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Seymour Duncan STK S4

They’re my favorite humcancelling single coil size Strat pickups.

They sound a lot like Surfers or SSL1’s.

Not exactly...they’re a little more compressed. Just a little.

But then, a PAF sounds a little more compressed than a P90 too.

Just the way it always seems to go when a humbucker is based on a true single coil.

 

[Synapsys]

Re: Seymour Duncan STK S4

Did anyone try to connect a middle and a neck model in series?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Seymour Duncan STK S4

There is no need to push poles down, and you will ruin the pickup, anyway. It is balanced with every guitar I've tried it in, so I wouldn't worry about the (tiny) stagger at all.