Strat pickup options for beefier tone

[JestersTear1]

Hi everyone.

First post!

I currently have Premium Vintage GFS Alnico's in my Strat and want a beefier sound but still retain the single coil look.

Current options are :

SSL-3
SSL-6
STK-S9b (is this still available? Can't find it listed in UK)
STK-S6 <-- supposed to be similar to SSL-5/6 but hum cancelling

I generally play rock/heavy rock (AC/DC, Floyd, Green Day etc) with some cleaner stuff too. I use a BOSS GT-8 for drive and effects.

I'm totally open to suggestions on what my best choice would be. I plan to put some GFS non-stagger overwound 70's pups in the middle & neck (8k & 7.2k).

Cheers,

Mark

 

[jeremy]

Re: Strat pickup options for beefier tone

welcome to the forum!

do you care about hum cancelling?

the ssl6 is a good bridge single coil that still sounds pretty stratty but is stronger and not as bright or thin as a vintage strat pup.

the hot is much less stratty with more output and mids. its still has some single coil characteristics (seeing as it is one and all) but has a nice fat mid range and warm high end

 

[JestersTear1]

Re: Strat pickup options for beefier tone

Hi Jeremy - thanks for the welcome.

I'm not desperate for hum cancelling although it would be nice. I can always use the noise gate on the GT8 to control hum and the Strat is shielded with copper foil. I'm more concerned with tone - prob leaning a bit more toward humbucker tone I suppose although if the SSL range will do Green Day & AC/DC etc then I would go for them.

I manage with Vintage at the moment so either is going to be a big change!

Also - why do the SD pickup wiring have to be reversed when used with Fender pickups?

 

[jeremy]

Re: Strat pickup options for beefier tone

duncans and some fenders are out of phase, flipping the wires puts them in phase.

if you want more of a humbucker tone you can always get something like a lil 59 or hot rails.

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: Strat pickup options for beefier tone

Welcome to the forum. I recently swapped the singles in my G&L Legacy to the Everything Axe set, purely because of the stuff I'm playing in my current band. Before that I had a Twangbanger/SSL-1/SSL-1 setup, and that was a fabulous combination for traditional Strat tones with a beefier bridge.

 

[rts99]

Re: Strat pickup options for beefier tone

Try the GFS Clapton Woman Tone mid-boost circuit. I built a tone box & put it in. I think its great, particularly on the bridge position. It will add a lot of punch & growl to the tone. The tone is adjustable but once I found a spot I was satisfied with I haven't changed it. I don't want to play without it now.

I have an HSS strat to start with, but I don't think the bridge tone is dramatically different from a SSS strat. Give it a try. For a few bucks you'll be very impressed.