Strat replacment pups

rumplstratskin

rumplstratskin

New member
I am considering replacing the pick ups in my American Standard Strat. I am -overall -happy with the tone, clarity and fullness of the factory pups but would like more output and presence. Do I need different pups or just a bigger amp?
 
Re: Strat replacment pups

well, if you want to be conservative, wait and try the guitar with your new amp!

I actually liked the pups on the 90's American strats with TBX ...

but SSL's or APS's would likely sound better ... I personally like a little hotter bridge pickup, with stock wiring, a jumper for tone on the bridge, and an Orange Drop cap

you can check a few of my clips here:
clips

there are clips with APS-2's and Antiquities in the first couple links
 
Re: Strat replacment pups

You're probably right. I've had the axe for 3yrs. and every time I think I want to change it I pick it up and play . I almost never use the bridge pu though. I almost exclusivly use the neck-neck-mid. The bridge seems too thin. If there was more punch/presence in the bridge I wouldn't change a thing.
 
Re: Strat replacment pups

rumplstratskin said:
If there was more punch/presence in the bridge I wouldn't change a thing.
Click to expand...
then I'd suggest wiring a little jumper that would at least give you some tone roll off on the bridge - you're right, stock the bridge is too darn bright!

if you want, I'll find the link that shows how to wire the jumper .. if you aren't satisfied with that, then maybe start with just a hotter bridge pickup


here's the diagram:
jumper
 
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Re: Strat replacment pups

rumplstratskin said:
You're probably right. I've had the axe for 3yrs. and every time I think I want to change it I pick it up and play . I almost never use the bridge pu though. I almost exclusivly use the neck-neck-mid. The bridge seems too thin. If there was more punch/presence in the bridge I wouldn't change a thing.
Click to expand...
Thats exactly the reason why i am switching over to a HUMBUCKER in the bridge. I absolutly hate the the thin sound from the bridge, though for certain application it does sound good. I too use the neck pup mostly
 
Re: Strat replacment pups

well, I have an SSL-3 "Hot" in the bridge of my APS strat, and I love it ... I kinda like the single coil look, too ... but the Hot does rival a humbucker in output, like the description says
 
Re: Strat replacment pups

I have to agree about the stock Fender pups. I have a 2000 Am. Stand. and it sounds great. I tried an SSL-6 in the neck and liked the stock pup better. I think I'd like an SSL-1 or 2, however, and have been meaning to try one. I repaced the bridge pup with a lil59 and it freakin' rocks now. Love that Fender....

Mike
 
Re: Strat replacment pups

do any of you strat players ever use the middle pick up? (wierd question i know, but i have a les paul, so it's a novelty to me), what sort of sound does it give?
 
Re: Strat replacment pups

Ummm...I almost never do.....not sure what that says about me. For me my strat is all about the neck position and the notch position between the neck and the middle. I almost never used any other setup until I put the lil59 in the bridge. I'm sure tons of other guys use the other settings, but for me my strat was always for blues and funk. Now that the 59 is in there I can rock out with my c0ck out as well. :D Makes it pretty versatile. At some point I intend to put a switch to tap the 59 to get a little twang, but I do pretty well on the notch stuff for the little bit of country I try to cop on it...

Mike
 
Re: Strat replacment pups

Curly said:
then I'd suggest wiring a little jumper that would at least give you some tone roll off on the bridge - you're right, stock the bridge is too darn bright!

if you want, I'll find the link that shows how to wire the jumper .. if you aren't satisfied with that, then maybe start with just a hotter bridge pickup


here's the diagram:
jumper
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link. I may give that a try.
I keep hearing about Lace Holy Grails. I was giving some thought to a HG1000 neck and mid and a HG1500 at the bridge. I hear a lot of hype about them but don't know anyone personally who uses them so I can hear what they sound like. Good? bad? Junk?
 
Re: Strat replacment pups

rinse_master said:
do any of you strat players ever use the middle pick up? (wierd question i know, but i have a les paul, so it's a novelty to me), what sort of sound does it give?
Click to expand...

I use the middle for rythym quite a lot and mid/neck-mid/bridge also for various tones. It's thinner and backs the volume down nicely. Of course, that's how I have mine set up. A friend has three hot rails. Doesn't matter where his 5 way is set. They all get your attention.
 
Re: Strat replacment pups

Jocelyn said:
Thats exactly the reason why i am switching over to a HUMBUCKER in the bridge. I absolutly hate the the thin sound from the bridge, though for certain application it does sound good. I too use the neck pup mostly
Click to expand...

I don't know why Fender chooses to put such a weak pu in the bridge position, That IS supposed to be the "lead" setting isn't it? I guess that's the reason for the Fat Strat.
 
Re: Strat replacment pups

I'm not familiar with HG's.

If you wanted to switch, I'd suggest SSL's/Hot bridge or APS's/ Twangbanger. The SSL's would be brighter, the APS's would be smoother. For ultimate vintage tone, the Antiquities.

I'd suggest just changing the bridge, but SD's have a phase compatiblity problem with Fender's pups, as far as just single coils are concerned.
 
Re: Strat replacment pups

rumplstratskin said:
I use the middle for rythym quite a lot and mid/neck-mid/bridge also for various tones. It's thinner and backs the volume down nicely. Of course, that's how I have mine set up. A friend has three hot rails. Doesn't matter where his 5 way is set. They all get your attention.
Click to expand...

Bill, are you talkin about my Strat? I've got Hot Stacks and a Classic Stack in my MIJ Strat. I agree with Curly all the way, if you decide to go with SD pups. If I wasn't already putting Anitiquity s.c.'s in my American Strat, my choice would've been SSL-1's.
The next time I re-string my MIJ I may go ahead and swap the bridge pup out for a 'Lil59 I have on hand. Only thing is my MIJ is black on black and the 59 is white.

Hey Curly! Would SSL-3's be kinda like a similar pickup to the Hot Stack, except for not being stacked?

-Bob
 
Re: Strat replacment pups

midnite_man said:
Bill, are you talkin about my Strat? I've got Hot Stacks and a Classic Stack in my MIJ Strat. I agree with Curly all the way, if you decide to go with SD pups. If I wasn't already putting Anitiquity s.c.'s in my American Strat, my choice would've been SSL-1's.
The next time I re-string my MIJ I may go ahead and swap the bridge pup out for a 'Lil59 I have on hand. Only thing is my MIJ is black on black and the 59 is white.

Hey Curly! Would SSL-3's be kinda like a similar pickup to the Hot Stack, except for not being stacked?

-Bob
Click to expand...

I answered my own question when I went to the tone-chart and checked out the "Hot." Looks like it's got a lot more midrange tone than many other s.c.'s. I don't think that's what I'm looking for.
 
Re: Strat replacment pups

midnite_man said:
Hey Curly! Would SSL-3's be kinda like a similar pickup to the Hot Stack, except for not being stacked?

-Bob
Click to expand...
Bob,
I haven't tried the Stacks at all ... I'm kind of Old School, ya know :)

to be honest, I think my Hot is a little out of balance with my APS's, plus it's A5, as opposed to A2, but it just sounds so darn good, I love it!

I need to do some more SSL-3 clips, 'cause I've found that doing crunch chords with an OD pedal is very addicting ... my 1/2 positions, though not "stock" sounding, are actually a lot more interesting to me

I'd still like to try the SSL-6 Custom, and the Twangbanger in the bridge, though.
 
Re: Strat replacment pups

midnite_man said:
I answered my own question when I went to the tone-chart and checked out the "Hot." Looks like it's got a lot more midrange tone than many other s.c.'s. I don't think that's what I'm looking for.
Click to expand...
Sorry. I thought you were running all hot staciks at one time. Let's face it, every time I saw the black beauty there for a while it had a different set up.
Since I wasn't the one sweating over the soldering iron I kind of lost track. I just know it sounded pretty good with the stacks in it.

I would still like to hear a Strat with Holy grails in it. My mind fixes on something and there it stays-Right Bob?
 
Re: Strat replacment pups

midnite_man said:
I answered my own question when I went to the tone-chart and checked out the "Hot." Looks like it's got a lot more midrange tone than many other s.c.'s. I don't think that's what I'm looking for.
Click to expand...

I jusr re-read my comment re: your M1J Bob. Don't know where I got hot rails from. I meant to write stacks-would have bet $$$ I had written stacks. That's why I don't gamble.
 
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