Strat Pups that do this

T

The Usual

New member
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cduarIbcrsE

I realize what I am asking for. The grail of tone, without the rest of the guitar, so I won't get ahead of myself. That being said, I am looking for any pups that do this sound, and maybe what to look for in this sound. Formvar? Output?

I have heard it is a fairly common sound, but when I listen to the clips of all the big makers, I either hear Knopfler, Hendrix or Gilmour. Another example would be Mike McCready's 59 strat.
 
Re: Strat Pups that do this

Yeah I looked into those, but I couldn't quite hear it in them. The three that were close were the CS 69s, SSL 1s and CS54s. To be honest I thought both CS sets were closer, but then I only have so many clips at my disposal. SSLs sounded a little Frusciante to me.
 
Re: Strat Pups that do this

You are listening to clips through your computers speakers. Through an amp ALL pickups will sound fuller and have more complexity to the tone. that types.... I second the Antiquities. I have both Texas hots(in a 57 RI) and the Surfers (in a 62 RI type guitar). out of those two it is really hard to pick one that I like better. I think the Surfers would be a great choice, but i have been playing my Texas hots recently and I really like them.

Another option would be Fralin Blues Specials. I have those in a custom Strat with a RW board and they are really good too. I haven't had enough time with this guitar yet to form an opinion as to weather they are better or not then the Antiquities.... but at this point I will say they are close. A little bit crisper then the Ants.
 
Re: Strat Pups that do this

You know the closest I have heard to what I want are Brandon Wound Pickups, but I only have a couple of his clips to go by, and so far, he doesn't seem very interested in dealing with me. His stuff sounds great, and he has a great return policy, but his approach seems to be "just buy them and if you don't like them, send them back", which is cool, but doesn't seem very custom shop to me.

Maybe I am too picky, but I'd like to have a conversation with a custom winder about my needs before pulling the trigger.

Here's a clip that interested me. I am only after single coils.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsVbw5XBQgk&playnext=1&list=PLB8EF6504DFF3D608

Not great sound on these, but they do seem to lack the big piano bottom that everyone else loves, and that I don't want, but it's hard to say that they be any better than CS54s.
 
Re: Strat Pups that do this

I think a good bit of it is in the amp. An old well tuned Fender amp is quite a difference. the 2 I own have this something in the low end I haven't heard in any newer amp.

I'd think any of the 60's style pickups would be in the ballpark with an alder/rosewood Strat. You can play with Sting Gauge/Type/hardware/pickup height/setup to tweak.
 
Re: Strat Pups that do this

Ayrton said:
That is because those are some of the pups John uses. :D
Click to expand...

Exactly.

I'll thow up some more clips for you to show what I'm talking about. These 2 have the same guitar, but I can't find any examples where they sound the same.

Frusciante

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUJHEdQBAr8

McCready

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9ot2iDM6xg&feature=related


Now I know they use different rigs, but if you listen to enough of them, you'll get what I mean. McCready's is a little more vocal and less bass, like the 59 in my original clip.

I have been told that I am looking for more of the 50s sound with formvar wire, but I am no strat expert. Any one ever tried these Brandon Wounds?
 
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