Strat Bridge Single-coil Options - 60s Tone

[ErikH]

Maybe a set of Five Twos?

I thought about those and looked at the specs. The bridge looks to be the same output as the neck and middle. I want a little more from the bridge.

 

[ErikH]

The Tonerider TRS-4 Alnico II Blues set sounds fantastic. Especially with some light to medium drive.

 

[Mincer]

I thought about those and looked at the specs. The bridge looks to be the same output as the neck and middle. I want a little more from the bridge.

Then add an Antiquity Texas Hot in the bridge (but stock it is out of phase),

 

[eclecticsynergy]

The one I have most experience with is the Antiquity I Texas Hot. It's got some drive to it, less bright than typical Stratty pickups, but still mixes perfectly with real vintage Strat pickups (I mean, real vintage - e.g. I have it in my 1966 Strat and it matched perfectly, it's the pickup that made me a Duncan-aholic ever since the 90's). It can almost sound Tele-ish/humbuckery through the right amp also.

Not positive but I think the Antiquity II Surfer bridge is the same wind, only with A5 rods instead of A2.
Mine's right around 10K.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

What's the consensus on the Twang Banger or the Fralin Blues Special?

The SSL-5 is more output than I want. I had a SSL-6 some years ago and didn't like it.

Twangbanger might be an option. Not really as beefy as a Tele bridge, but a step in that direction.

Lindy Fralin makes some great pickups. I love my Vintage Hots, very nice indeed for a classic Strat type set.
However, despite the name they aren't hot: vintage output, including the bridge.
Blues Specials are rich but not extra strong in terms of output.

He does offer a High Output bridge for Strat that's up around 10K. Haven't used that.
I've never had a pickup from Lindy that wasn't great, though.

 

[Ascension]

Had both the Texas Hots and the Surfer II set as well as Alnico II pro and SSL 2/6 sets. Depends on what you are looking for tone wise.
My favorite set personally is the Surfer II set i have in my 93 Washburn USA Silverado. Just a killer real vintage Strat tone with a little extra in the bridge. The guitar helps also and the Surfers in this guitar with a 300 ohm volume set up just flat kills. One o the absolute best sounding Strats I have ever played and heard. Really is something special.

 

[Ascension]

My Silverado strat with the Surfer II's through my PRS Archon over a backing track no effects of any kind.

 

[ErikH]

Last night I messed around with the settings on the rig. I think part of the issue was that. It sounds much sweeter after adjusting the treble, presence and bass. This is a DI rig too.

I’m sorta leaning towards the Antiquity II or the Ant Texas Hot. Those sounds sweet. Seems like a lot to spend for pickup going in to a Squier Classic Vibe but it does have good bones and the hardware is better since I change that out. If I go that route, it’ll be the bridge pickup first, then the neck later.

I might even try putting a baseplate on the stock bridge as mentioned in this thread for kicks.

 

[jeremy]

adding a baseplate is a subtle difference but it does make a difference. the hendrix pups are great but very low output. the antiquity II bridge is great if you want the classic strat thing with just a bit more mids and a little less strident top end

 

[IMENATOR]

This weekend I removed the SSL-1 bridge and put an STK-S6 (kinda noiseless SSL-6). It is a jump in volume but not too much. For example I struggled to balance the SSL-1 bridge with neck by rising the one in the bridge a lot, I mean a lot. Now the STK-S6 has a proper height and balances in volume very well with SSL-1 in neck and middle. And EQ wise it balances better, for example before this if I tweak the amp eq for the bridge the neck was a bit darker than the usual Strat sweet spot, and if I tweaked the neck for the Strat sweet spot the bridge was too bright. Now with the STK-S6 the EQ is more balanced across all 3 positions and the STK-S6 sounds way better for high gain sounds. Also, the notch position 2 (bridge + middle) is very very nice.

 

[DonP]

Last night I messed around with the settings on the rig. I think part of the issue was that. It sounds much sweeter after adjusting the treble, presence and bass. This is a DI rig too.

I’m sorta leaning towards the Antiquity II or the Ant Texas Hot. Those sounds sweet. Seems like a lot to spend for pickup going in to a Squier Classic Vibe but it does have good bones and the hardware is better since I change that out. If I go that route, it’ll be the bridge pickup first, then the neck later.

I might even try putting a baseplate on the stick bridge as mentioned in this thread for kicks.

Using the baseplate will save you money, so why not try this first? Is the second tone wired to the bridge pickup? If not, do that as well.

 

[EC Strat]

This weekend I removed the SSL-1 bridge and put an STK-S6 (kinda noiseless SSL-6). It is a jump in volume but not too much. For example I struggled to balance the SSL-1 bridge with neck by rising the one in the bridge a lot, I mean a lot. Now the STK-S6 has a proper height and balances in volume very well with SSL-1 in neck and middle. And EQ wise it balances better, for example before this if I tweak the amp eq for the bridge the neck was a bit darker than the usual Strat sweet spot, and if I tweaked the neck for the Strat sweet spot the bridge was too bright. Now with the STK-S6 the EQ is more balanced across all 3 positions and the STK-S6 sounds way better for high gain sounds. Also, the notch position 2 (bridge + middle) is very very nice.

Had a similar experience with the SSL 5

 

[ErikH]

Using the baseplate will save you money, so why not try this first? Is the second tone wired to the bridge pickup? If not, do that as well.

I am most likely going to do this first. Yes, the second tone is wired to the bridge pickup. It came stock that way.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

I found the baseplate to be a pretty subtle change. Gave the tone slightly more body. Did not increase the output appreciably.
Of course I only did it once. Results could be different with other guitars & rigs - and to other ears.

 

[ErikH]

I ordered a Fralin baseplate. Will see what that does. Like I said, I don't want/need a lot more out of the bridge, just a little more. If I end up with a hotter bridge pickup, something like the Antiquities or Lollar Special S are what I'm going target for.