STK-S4 Classic Stack Plus output question

[ratkent]

So I'm thinking of putting these in the neck and middle of a project strat with a Suhr Aldrich humbucker in the bridge. I have three other guitars with the Aldrich bridge but they are double humbucking guitars with either a Jazz or Pearly Gates in the neck. I like the balance between the pickups of these guitars so I am wondering if the STK-S4s are going to give me a similar balance. The Tone Chart shows the output of the STKs as being greater than the Jazz or Pearly Gates but I know that may be misleading.

So what can I expect from the output of the STK-S4s?

 

[jeremy]

Re: STK-S4 Classic Stack Plus output question

about the same as a ssl1

 

[Rich_S]

Re: STK-S4 Classic Stack Plus output question

What Jeremy said. You can't compare the DC resistance of stacks to either single-coils or normal humbuckers and get a meaningful comparison of a pickup's output.

I just got a STK-S4 (from Jeremy, as a matter of fact) and it is very much like the SSL-1 it replaced.

 

[ratkent]

Re: STK-S4 Classic Stack Plus output question

What Jeremy said. You can't compare the DC resistance of stacks to either single-coils or normal humbuckers and get a meaningful comparison of a pickup's output.

I just got a STK-S4 (from Jeremy, as a matter of fact) and it is very much like the SSL-1 it replaced.

I appreciate you guys taking the time to reply but I have never heard the SSL-1 either. I've been a Les Paul player for so long I don't have any recent single coil pickup experience and that's why I'm looking for some guidance. I guess I can just slapped them in the pickguard and see what comes out. I'll let you know.

 

[ColonPowell]

Re: STK-S4 Classic Stack Plus output question

The Aldrich is pretty darn hot! Hard to say

 

[Rich_S]

Re: STK-S4 Classic Stack Plus output question

The STK-S4 and the SSL-1 are both vintage-voiced. Not the weakest pickups out there, but pretty close.

But since I don't even know what an Aldrich is, I won't hazard a guess as to how they'll balance.

 

[JBViking]

Re: STK-S4 Classic Stack Plus output question

I replaced the stock ESP rails neck pup in my M II Deluxe with a Classic Stack Plus. A JB is in the bridge. Don't know how a JB compares to the Aldrich, but the Classic Stack Plus sounds really great alongside the JB. Some setup adjustments need to be made to both pups to get the balance right, but it's a great pair for me.

 

[ratkent]

Re: STK-S4 Classic Stack Plus output question

I replaced the stock ESP rails neck pup in my M II Deluxe with a Classic Stack Plus. A JB is in the bridge. Don't know how a JB compares to the Aldrich, but the Classic Stack Plus sounds really great alongside the JB. Some setup adjustments need to be made to both pups to get the balance right, but it's a great pair for me.

Thanks, brother. The JB is in the same ballpark as the Aldrich so this is helpful. What value pots are you using and what's your overall take on the Duncans?

 

[JBViking]

Re: STK-S4 Classic Stack Plus output question

Thanks, brother. The JB is in the same ballpark as the Aldrich so this is helpful. What value pots are you using and what's your overall take on the Duncans?

No prob at all man. I know how it is searching for tone and possibly ending up with the wrong ingredient.

I am using a 500k CTS vol pot. My ESP has no tone pots.

To get more specific about my personal take on Duncans, first off, for a mass produced pup, the build quality IMHO is superior to most of the stuff out there.

As far as the Classic Stack Plus goes, my guitar originally came with JB bridge and an ESP rails pup in the neck. I wanted more of a Malmsteen type feel in the neck. I have had a lot of experience with Dimarzio HS3's and wanted something like that in the neck for a creamy Strat neck pup vibe. I had read on here that the Classic Stack did not match up well with hotter humbuckers in the bridge. Some had said the Classic Stack Plus had solved this issue?? Regardless, I gave it a shot. I brought the guitar to my tech for other various work (the ESP was a restoration project). I told him that if the Classic Stack Plus did not balance well with the JB to put the ESP rails pup back in. When I picked the guitar up a few days later, the Classic STack Plus was in. He said he had to do some height adjustments on both the JB and Classic Stack Plus to get it to balance correctly, but we were both seriously impressed with what we heard.

For what it's woth to you, my ESP is alder with a Floyd Rose. Everything effects tone so... To my ears, the Classic Stack Plus is every bit as good as an HS3. Very comparable. To me, it actually has more of a vintage vibe to it whereas any Dimarzio pup to me sounds a bit processed? Maybe it's the ones I tried. I feel the Duncans are more toneful. In the ESP with a clean tone, it sounds scary close to a strat if not dead on. Handles the gain I throw at it. I play mostly 80's style hard rock and metal so I don't use tons of gain.

Of course, there is a feel difference when switching from the bridge to the neck, but no output loss or anything crazy like that. The transition is super smooth and barely noticeable if at all.

All of the above is of course just my opinion.

Hope it helps.