Strat Pickup Advice. HELP!

[fuzzyratfarts]

I have a standard 2004 American Strat. The bridge position on this guitar, like all strats, is thin and brittle. I have been looking mainly at the APS and SSL single coil bridge models. Which pickup would you recommend for a rockish and a little bluesy tone? I dont need a high ouput monster, just a nice rockish tone. I dont want a single coil sized humbucker. The only stack I would consider is the STKS1. I HATE the look of the rails.

 

[Curly]

Re: Strat Pickup Advice. HELP!

fuzzy,
for a Duncan, probably a Custom SSL-5 or 6, or a Hot SSL-3
however, be aware that you may have phase problems ...
from the SD FAQ:
"Are Seymour Duncan and Fender single coil pickups compatible?
Yes they can be but Seymour Duncan and Fender pickups are magnetically opposite. Many players find that after installing a Seymour Duncan bridge single coil into a Strat they must switch the Fender mid and neck position pick ups both in the pick guard and in the wiring at the switch to keep the #2 and #4 positions noise canceling. There are exceptions to this rule though because Fender has changed their magnetic orientation several time in the last four decades. Generally with single coil pick ups it's easier to stick with one manufacturer to avoid the trouble of trying to figure out how to get all the pickups properly phased both electrically and magnetically."

you may have fewer headaches just using a Fender bridge pickup (although it won't sound as nice as a Duncan set) - BTW, the current bridge pickup on AS strats is now wound around 7K, and the mid tone also controls the bridge - both needed improvements, IMO

 

[jeremy]

Re: Strat Pickup Advice. HELP!

im a fan of the custom for strats in the bridge, i used the ssl6 for a long time before i found the twangbanger. the custom is more stratty but with a less brittle or strident top end and fuller mids

 

[Naps]

Re: Strat Pickup Advice. HELP!

I'd go with a humbucker.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: Strat Pickup Advice. HELP!

I hate to do this here, but..... but...... well.... er......

....... the DiMarzio FS-1 is a nice Strat bridge pickup. :wall:

It's a single coil (looks just like a regular Strat pup), overwound, with higher output and fatter mids. It cures the "thin and brittle" syndrome. If you have a bridge tone control and roll it back a bit it's great for rock. But being single coil and not overly hot it retains that strattiness (for want of a better word) when the tone is up. Sounds good clean and blends well in the #4 position for quack tones with a regular Strat pickup.

I'd guess it's not a million miles from the Duncan SSL3 (which I haven't tried) - I think the FS-1 has slightly less output. As Curly says, you may have phase problems mixing different manufacturers' pickups.

(On a side note, I recently reworked my Strat and currently have three different manufacturers' pickups in it - the #2 position is Duncan/Fender and is hum cancelling, the #4 position is DiMarzio/Fender and is not hum cancelling. YMMV of course).

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Strat Pickup Advice. HELP!

Like Jeremy, I'd suggest one of the Duncan Antiquity Customs. The Texas Hot would be my pick since you mentioned you wanted to get away from thin brittle tone. The Texas Hot Custom bridge is alnico 2 and has more mids and less treble bite than the a5 Surfer Custom. Also the Twangbanger might be a good choice. It's also a2 and has a fat thick tone that's great for soloing...it's similar to a early 50's a2 Tele pickup. Lew

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Strat Pickup Advice. HELP!

Like Jeremy, I'd suggest one of the Duncan Antiquity Customs. The Texas Hot would be my pick since you mentioned you wanted to get away from thin brittle tone. The Texas Hot Custom bridge is alnico 2 and has more mids and less treble bite than the a5 Surfer Custom. Also the Twangbanger might be a good choice. It's also a2 and has a fat thick tone that's great for soloing...it's similar to a early 50's a2 Tele pickup. Lew

I've tryed many bridge position pickups in different strats...I have to agree with Jeremy and Lew on this...I'm a fan of the SSL5 and SSL6 and still use those,though the highs tend to be a bit too subdued to my ears these days..Great pickup though,with more mids and output...

My current bridge position faves are the following...In no special order...
Twangbanger...A2 poles...Does a great rendition of a Tele bridge pickup and still acts like a strat in that position...It's the baseplate that makes alot of difference...

The Texas Hot Antiquity bridge...A2 poles...Very vintage sounding,more lows,a bit more mids,ballsy,but still chimey on top and articulate...I absolutely love this pickup for vintage meets more ballsy modern strat tone...If you need absolute clarity,more chime on top,and even more note clarity,then go with the Antiquity Surfer bridge with the A5 poles...This pickup is great,but it was too toppy for my tastes,though I still own it.. :burnout:

Fralin SP 43 Hot for bridge....This pickup is currently in my strat that has a Floyd Rose bridge(Alder/maple neck)...This pickup is very cool in that it sounds like a Gibson P90 and has great distortion tones,but yet it cleans right up if you play clean and still offers a very convincing 4th position bridge/middle quack...This pickup can do everthing from strat clean to almost fullsized humbucker territoy...Ask lew about this pickup also....

I bought my Texas Hots,Surfers,and this Fralin from lew cause he's the man and a buddy! He'll treat you right everytime!

 

[jeremy]

Re: Strat Pickup Advice. HELP!

i have a dimarzio fs1 and i think it is a great pup, but not as nice as the antiquity line or the twangbanger, but it is a good pup for sure

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Strat Pickup Advice. HELP!

Thanks John! I forgot to mention the SP43...it's alot like a P90 in a Strat size. John's favorite Strat bridge pickups are my three favorites too. The only reservation I have about suggesting a2 bridge pickups like the Texas Hot Custom and the Twangbanger is that the #4 switch position (middle and bridge) are not quite as chimey as with two a5 single coils. But the tone when the a2 Custom or Twangbanger lead pickup is used by itself is "better".

Lew

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Strat Pickup Advice. HELP!

Thanks John! I forgot to mention the SP43...it's alot like a P90 in a Strat size. John's favorite Strat bridge pickups are my three favorites too. The only reservation I have about suggesting a2 bridge pickups like the Texas Hot Custom and the Twangbanger is that the #4 switch position (middle and bridge) are not quite as chimey as with two a5 single coils. But the tone when the a2 Custom or Twangbanger lead pickup is used by itself is "better".

Lew

Thanks Lew....Yes that's exactly true,though that 4th position still works very well and has a convincing notched tone...Lew is correct in saying that in order to really get that "Sultan's Of Swing" Bell Bottom Blues tone,you need a combination of A5 poled middle and bridge pickups..I.E. The Surfers or the SSL1s....Thanks Lew..

John

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Strat Pickup Advice. HELP!

If you need a humcancelling solution, the Dimarzio Virtual Vintage Solo might work for you. It sounds very nice for leads and distorted rythms and is far from skinny and brittle. The only beef I had with it was that the notch positions weren't that great.