Strat Pickup Recomendations...

[Twitch]

I've beenr reading up on the big strat threads and decided I still needed some help with picking pickups. I play blues and early red hot chili peppers style rock. My ideal clean tone would be like SRV's on Riviera Paradise and Little Wing. I have a Fender MIM Fat Strat. I'm looking for a vintage single coil tone rather than mini-humbuckers. I also plan on splitting the bridge pickup and blending it w/ the neck pickup.

I read that Lewguitar thinks that the SSL-1s are the best vintage style pickups (other than the antiquities, which I would be willing to try) but when I listened to the Vintage Staggered clip, I didn't like it. I prefered the tone of the Alnico Pro singles because you can hear each string clearly, while it sounded like they blended on the vintage staggered. Which pickups would you recomend?

 

[Curly]

Re: Strat Pickup Recomendations...

twitch,
read the reviews of vintage strat pickups in The Vault

that will give you an all around picture from several different viewpoints

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Strat Pickup Recomendations...

The SRV Riviera Paradise and Little Wing tone is definately a 6K - 6.4K alnico 5 Strat pickup like the Antiquity Surfers or SSL-1's. Guaranteed! Alnico 2 Strat pickups like the APS-1 or 2 or the Texas Hots will get that tone too but they won't be as glassy and bubbley. Alnico 5 is what SRV and Hendrix used for those tones. Lew

 

[Twitch]

Re: Strat Pickup Recomendations...

Thanks a lot Lew, one question though. On the Seymour Duncan clip page, http://www.seymourduncan.com/website/SDToneWizard/strat.htm the SSL-1's in the Neck/Middle clean recording the tone seems to have a lot of bass near the end of the 2nd riff. Is this just the amp settings? And do the Surfers have the same problem?

 

[brinton]

Re: Strat Pickup Recomendations...

duncan isn't the only way to go also, you've basically gotta choose between surfers or ssl-1's here if you stick with duncan (given your situation), If you're considering the antiquities, you might also consider fralins (price range)
check out acme guitar clips
http://www.acmeguitarworks.com/Strat-Pickup-MP3s-W1C28.aspx
and I've heard great things about the fender fat 50's for SRV stuff distortion and clean,

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Strat Pickup Recomendations...

Thanks a lot Lew, one question though. On the Seymour Duncan clip page, http://www.seymourduncan.com/website/SDToneWizard/strat.htm the SSL-1's in the Neck/Middle clean recording the tone seems to have a lot of bass near the end of the 2nd riff. Is this just the amp settings? And do the Surfers have the same problem?

I would think you could "tune" it out with the tone controls...it sounds like you should go with the SSL-1's...give it a try...if you don't like them there is a 21 day return plan!

 

[Twitch]

Re: Strat Pickup Recomendations...

Well here are the pups i'm considering-

SSL-1
Antiquity Surfers
Antiquity Texas Hots
APS-1/2
Fender Fat 50's
Lindy Fralins Vintage Hots
Lindy Fralins Blues Special

 

[Twitch]

Re: Strat Pickup Recomendations...

duncan isn't the only way to go also, you've basically gotta choose between surfers or ssl-1's here if you stick with duncan (given your situation), If you're considering the antiquities, you might also consider fralins (price range)
check out acme guitar clips
http://www.acmeguitarworks.com/Strat-Pickup-MP3s-W1C28.aspx
and I've heard great things about the fender fat 50's for SRV stuff distortion and clean,

Thanks a lot, those clips are really going to help.

 

[Stratcat]

Re: Strat Pickup Recomendations...

Well here are the pups i'm considering-

SSL-1
Antiquity Surfers
Antiquity Texas Hots
APS-1/2
Fender Fat 50's
Lindy Fralins Vintage Hots
Lindy Fralins Blues Special

Anyone of these pups will work well, the rest lies in your hands. :smoker:

 

[Twitch]

Re: Strat Pickup Recomendations...

Better update that list. I'm looking more towards

Surfers
APS-1/2
Lindy Fralins Vintage Hots

But just like my tube amp choices, I'm sure i'll be stuck for a while :upset:

 

[Stratcat]

Re: Strat Pickup Recomendations...

Better update that list. I'm looking more towards

Surfers
APS-1/2
Lindy Fralins Vintage Hots

But just like my tube amp choices, I'm sure i'll be stuck for a while :upset:

If you got the cash, go with the Surfers. :wink: