Strat pickups what to do

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Guitar-Sam

New member
I'm not sure what to do with my strat.
Its an Alder body/nitro finish with a 74' maple neck on it.
Right now it has stock 70s staggered pups with purple enamel wire in the bridge and neck measuring 5.7K b and 5.5K n.(basically CS 69s)
I absolutly adore the tone of this guitar.The pickups can be a bit bright wide open,but with the volume rolled off to about 8 it does Rainbow and Purple tones spot on and responds to pick attack like no other.
Its just sometimes after I play my fat strat I wish It had a bit more output and body but with the same basic tone.
What should I do?? Is there a pickup with that 70s fender sound with a bit more output?
 
Re: Strat pickups what to do

Any time you change pickups you are going to change the sound. If you like the overall sound and response of the guitar, and it sounds like you do, then I wouldn't change pickups.

Try a boost pedal. Duncan has the Pickup Booster, or you can try any of the numerous overdrive pedals out there. I use a Boss SD-1 with my SSL-1's.

That being said, SSL-1's will give you more output while still sounding like a Fender... but I wouldn't call them a 70's sound.
 
Re: Strat pickups what to do

I know what you mean. I like that glassy sound on my 77 Strat too (though the non staggered version). I tried a SSL-5 for a short time. Its fatter, less highs, more output ---- but it does not match with the others. I am on the point to get a custom made pickup to match. I am think about 8.5k with the same looks and wire as the old on (i surely keep the old one to preserve the value of the guitar). I am currently looking into some winders and i am considering Zhangbucker Pickups or Brandonwound pickups for that job.

BTW whats in you middle slot?
 
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Re: Strat pickups what to do

I was going to suggest the SD pickup booster, or some kind of onboard preamp booster. I think EMG makes a few different options of these guys.
 
Re: Strat pickups what to do

Alembic Stratoblaster. :D It replaces the recessed jack socket. http://alembic.stores.yahoo.net/blaster.html Your existing guitar tone only more so.

DiMarzio used to make something similar called Shock Wave. This was primarily intended to be used with DiMarzio's own dual rail hum-cancelling Stratocaster PU range.
 
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Re: Strat pickups what to do

HS-3 in the bridge and neck and stock pup in the middle position. That's what I use these days (with an ssl-1 in the middle).
I leave the tone pots out of the circuit- just a master 250K volume pot. The HS-3's output is noticeably lower than ssl-1 (probably very close to your stock pups) but you'll get more body (not too much) and definition on higher gain settings and sweet singing lead tone. IMO it will still sound like a strat, very stratty on 2 and 4 positions...
I use them with the dod od, but the tone is great without the booster too, the amps I played them straight in were a bogner ecstasy and jsx...
 
Re: Strat pickups what to do

I love the SSL-5 in the bridge. It's such a great rock pickup. Sounds killer with distortion and it doesn't matter to me if it's hotter than the others - for me it cures the problem of a too bright and thin bridge pickup.
 
Re: Strat pickups what to do

yup yup yup sfx-01 for the win .. it is what i used to solve the precise problem you describe
 
Re: Strat pickups what to do

In the middle is a dimarzio blue velvet that has been dewound down to match the bridge and necks output.
Seems like the stockers maybe it then.Maybe just need to dial up the OD box a little hotter for this guitar then.
I do have a dead bobbin around maybe I should have like brandonwound or someone wind it with the same wire just a bit hotter like 6.5K.Or would that drastically alter the sound also?
 
Re: Strat pickups what to do

Antiquity 1s sound like something to try.

What you like about your guitar might be in the guitar more than in the pickups.
 
Re: Strat pickups what to do

having a #42 pe wound up to 6.5k with a similar pattern will change the sound but you may like it. itll have more output and a little thicker sound but still have many of the characteristics of the pups that you have.
 
Re: Strat pickups what to do

jeremy said:
having a #42 pe wound up to 6.5k with a similar pattern will change the sound but you may like it. itll have more output and a little thicker sound but still have many of the characteristics of the pups that you have.
Click to expand...
Yea that might be it.Little hotter and thicker but very similar.Might be worth a shot.Wonder if fralin can do the bobbin I got in the same wire?
 
Re: Strat pickups what to do

im sure either fralin or the duncan custom shop will rewind your bobbin with #42 pe for you. not sure what fralin will charge but the cs is probably about $75
 
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