Strat PUP Advice

[LostPossumGuitars]

Looking for some ideas. I'm building a partscaster and need 3 single coils. preferable duncans. i want a wide variety of sounds from it and want some unique stuff. i thought maybe having a texas hot in bridge, zephyr in middle, and ssl1 in neck. any ideas? will this combo work? i'm a newbie so let me down easy if that's an awful idea. thanks in advance for replies

 

[TVFV]

Re: Strat PUP Advice

I would like to point out that the Zephyr is well over $300. I've heard that two ssl-1s in the neck and middle and a ssl-5 in the bridge is just a lovely combo.

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[Clint 55]

Re: Strat PUP Advice

Yes the ssl1,1,5 set is great. If you want some unique strat sounds inspiration, I recommend a surfer strat or a jaguar.

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Strat PUP Advice

I'd look into Rose pickups; they're very affordable and he'll usually wind you a custom pickup with no extra charge. Tell him what you want.

 

[The JEM Ghost]

Re: Strat PUP Advice

I've heard that two ssl-1s in the neck and middle and a ssl-5 in the bridge is just a lovely combo.

I'll put another vote in for SSL-1's in the neck and middle combined with an SSL-5 in the bridge, balanced and versatile combo that will cover a lot of ground. I wouldn' care for the Zephyr giving the price they sell for, that's just my personal opinion though.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Strat PUP Advice

A wide variety of sounds? I don't think there's any guitar with a wider variety of QUALITY sounds than a stock (or almost stock) Strat.

Just listen to Eric Johnson, Stevie Ray, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton...

You don't have to fill it up with complicated switching and three different pickups.

I did that kind of thing when I was a kid. Now I know to keep it simple.

My recommendation is going to be what I use: A Schaller 5 position Mega Switch and Two Antiquity Surfers (or SSL-1's - they're extremely similar sounding) and a Fralin Steel Pole 43 for the bridge pickup.

The SP43 reminds me of a P90 and is my favorite Strat bridge pickup. It combines beautifully with the Surfers or SSL-1's.

I'd go for a Schaller 5 way Mega Switch so that in the middle position you'll get the sound of the neck and bridge pickup combined...that's the middle setting on a Tele and a great rhythm tone.

And do put a tone control on the bridge pickup. One for the bridge and one for the neck. With the Mega Switch you won't need a tone control for the middle.

David Gilmour uses the SSL-5 bridge pickup. That would be a good choice too: a SSL-5 and two SSL-1's.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Strat PUP Advice

I like the SSL-2 or Five Two in the neck & middle, and a SSL-6 in the bridge. You get good quack, power when you need it, and a really great sounding versatile set.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Strat PUP Advice

Another one here for the SSL-5 in the bridge plus SSL-1s in the neck and mid. Great combo for a killer Strat.

 

[Taz Rules]

Re: Strat PUP Advice

If you are looking for lots of different sound combinations, might I suggest looking at your wiring setup in addition to your pickups?

On my strat, I have a JB Jr in the bridge and SSL5-2 Nashville single coils in the neck and middle.

I run it with 1 volume, 1 master tone, and the third knob is a blend knob. When the bridge is selected (position 1 or 2), turning the blend knob up adds neck pickup on a sliding scale so you can dial in how much you want. With the neck selected (position 4 or 5) the blend pot dials in bridge the same way.

This allows me to have all the traditional Strat positions, plus I can have the two outer pickups (Tele sound) or all three pickups on simultaneously.

I also have added a micro switch that allows me to set the JB Jr humbucker to Series/Split single coil/Parallel. (Honestly, if I had it to do over, I might skip this part...it doesn't add much for the trouble)

Doing this, I get a TON of different sound options, using only two pickup types. Couple the wiring options with the different pickups you are thinking about, and you will have lots of different sounds to choose from. Now, if you want Space-Shuttle controls, you could also use three single-coil-sized buckers and split each pickup, as well. (Not what I would do, I just added that for completeness.)

Not saying its right for you, but maybe worth thinking about. I have the wiring diagram somewhere if you want. Let me know.

 

[gregory]

Re: Strat PUP Advice

Another vote for SSL-6/SSL-2 RWRP/SSL-2.

Vintage stagger (SSL-1, SSL-5) is for curved fretboards and a wound G; unless you prefer unbalanced string output.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Strat PUP Advice

Another vote for SSL-6/SSL-2 RWRP/SSL-2.

Vintage stagger (SSL-1, SSL-5) is for curved fretboards and a wound G; unless you prefer unbalanced string output.

Flat poled single coils are cool. But I prefer the sound of staggered...like SSL-1's. No issues with using an unwound G string...none at all. And I've been using staggered single coils with an unwound G string since 1966.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Strat PUP Advice

I am not a fan of staggered poles on modern guitars. I will always pick flat if there is a choice.

 

[gregory]

Re: Strat PUP Advice

I have issues with a prominent G and muted B, and can pretty well guarantee I would prefer Lew's single coil tone if it had better string balance.

Now if you choose chord voicing around the quirks of a vintage stagger, that's cool. It would take a lot of effort to convince me that it's good for much else.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Strat PUP Advice

Regarding the stagger, the Strat tones I grew up with were 7.5" radius, plain G, staggered pole sounds. But blues rock style emphasizing bent g strings is completely different than progressive type music where each note should ring equally. I.e. It makes sense that Mincer's style works well with flat radius and flat poles and Lew's works well with rounder radius and staggered poles.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Strat PUP Advice

I have issues with a prominent G and muted B, and can pretty well guarantee I would prefer Lew's single coil tone if it had better string balance.

Now if you choose chord voicing around the quirks of a vintage stagger, that's cool. It would take a lot of effort to convince me that it's good for much else.

 

[gregory]

Re: Strat PUP Advice

Nope.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Strat PUP Advice

Nope.

Well, if the great Stevie Ray Vaughan's tones can't convince you I guess it's hopeless.

 

[gregory]

Re: Strat PUP Advice

I want to sound like me, not SRV.

For giggles I watched him play this from the Live at the El Mocambo video and noticed he isn't using a vintage stagger.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Strat PUP Advice

he plays #1 on that and those are '59 fender pups so they would have been staggered

 

[gregory]

Re: Strat PUP Advice

I stand corrected...



As for SRV-dropping; he could have gone without a vintage stagger, people would have still been in awe and his followers would instead be singing the praises of using a non-vintage stagger.