strat single coil neck, tele bridge pickup-- what should I get?

[appar111]

I want something that rocks and doesn't sound too thin, but also something that doesn't sound too modern, or stray toooo far from the single coil sound. Ideally, a great prototypical strat neck tone and a tele bridge tone that doesn't get too harsh w/ distortion.

Here are some possible combos:

1. SSL-1/SSL-2 (RW/RP) neck, Duncan Broadcaster bridge
2. APS-1/APS-2 neck (RW/RP), Duncan A2Pro tele bridge
3. Antiquity Surfer neck (RW/RP), Antiquity I bridge
4. Dimarzio True Velvet neck (RW/RP), Dimarzio Pre B-1 bridge
4. some sort of hotter strat neck pickup, Duncan STL-2 bridge

I figured reverse wound/reverse polarity neck pickups would allow me no-hum in the middle position. I like the idea of option #2, as there wouldn't be any icepick, and should be really musical without having to lay out the extra cash for option #3.

I was thinking about some of the Dimarzio Area stuff, but I'm worried they might sound a little hi-tech or sterile.

What would some other good pairings be, particularly for the STL-2 in the bridge?

 

[jbear]

Re: strat single coil neck, tele bridge pickup-- what should I get?

I'm using a 50's Esquire modded into a Tele (maple board). It has a Fender TexMex in the neck and a Duncan Broadcaster in the bridge. I really like the combination of definition and dirt. I play a lot of Jing Chi (Robben Ford) type stuff with this guitar.
I'm also playing a VZ Custom (local luthier) with a rosewood neck. That has a GFS Vintage (ridiculously pleasant surprise) neck PUP and a Fender 62 RI in the bridge. Darker tone from this guitar, but still very articulate and nails the Gilmour Tele tone (Dogs).
Just to put your mind at ease, I'm using Area's in an alder/rosewood Strat and they are fantastic (58/58/61)...I don't know about in Tele's but in Strats they are golden...to my ear. They seem to do everything well and they are...silent. I would like to put some Suhr V60's in this guitar, but whenever I play it...can't find a reason.

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: strat single coil neck, tele bridge pickup-- what should I get?

I have no idea about the tele pup. But for the neck my vote is for a DiMarzio Area '67. Sweetest humcanceling strat pup I've ever played.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: strat single coil neck, tele bridge pickup-- what should I get?

SSL-1 and duncan JD tele bridge. The JD gets props around here for being a lil thicker and fuller than a totally vintage kind of tele bridge pickup, but without sacrificing any twang or spank.

Personally I use the '54 in my tele and 've never had a problem with it being harsh with a lot of gain. For low to medium gain I roll the tone knob back to about 6 and it gets nice and warm, but with a lot of gain the tone on 9 or 10 helps to keep things sounding crisp.

The JD is supposed to have just a lil more output, but it's not supposed to be a "hot" pickup, so I think that'd match up well for you. I'd be worried about any "hot" bridge pickups as you might end up missing some of that natural sparklyness and openness that makes a vintage tele pickup so sweet. If you want a vintage sound I'd stick with lower outputs.

 

[appar111]

Re: strat single coil neck, tele bridge pickup-- what should I get?

The neck on this guitar will be either a 10-16" compound radius or a 9.5". Should I go for an SSL-2 (flatpole version of the SSL-1) just so things don't get too spikey, or will that take too much sparkliness away from the neck position?

Also, it'll have a rosewood board and an alder body.

Good to know the Area stuff sounds good-- I read a review or two on here where someone really hated them, said they sounded weird in the midrange and weak.

I'd like to avoid the hum, but not if it sacrifices really good single coil tone. I've got 2 other guitars with humbuckers in them, so I'd like to get something a little more vintage for this build.

I was also looking at the Dimarzio True Velvet stuff-- True Velvet tele bridge and either a strat True Velvet neck or the tele True Velvet neck. Anyone tried those?

I also have a lead on a pair of Fender Texas Special tele pickups for about $80. Hotter, better for rock. Anyone here like those? Would I be able to get a decent clean tone out of them? I realize that I don't play clean the majority of the time, so a killer clean tone isn't a necessity, as long as things still sound single-coily when driven, that's my main concern.

thanks for the great advice so far!

 

[appar111]

Re: strat single coil neck, tele bridge pickup-- what should I get?

I'm using a 50's Esquire modded into a Tele (maple board). It has a Fender TexMex in the neck and a Duncan Broadcaster in the bridge. I really like the combination of definition and dirt. I play a lot of Jing Chi (Robben Ford) type stuff with this guitar.
I'm also playing a VZ Custom (local luthier) with a rosewood neck. That has a GFS Vintage (ridiculously pleasant surprise) neck PUP and a Fender 62 RI in the bridge. Darker tone from this guitar, but still very articulate and nails the Gilmour Tele tone (Dogs).
Just to put your mind at ease, I'm using Area's in an alder/rosewood Strat and they are fantastic (58/58/61)...I don't know about in Tele's but in Strats they are golden...to my ear. They seem to do everything well and they are...silent. I would like to put some Suhr V60's in this guitar, but whenever I play it...can't find a reason.

IS that GFS Vintage a strat or a tele single coil? I've read alot about the GFS stuff, but never tried any out.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: strat single coil neck, tele bridge pickup-- what should I get?

I'd order a Alnico 2 Tele Hot Tapped from the Duncan Custom Shop and a Antiquity Surfer that's wound to compliment the CS Tele Hot Tapped.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: strat single coil neck, tele bridge pickup-- what should I get?

I'd go SSL-1 in the neck --- I have that in a Strat right now and it's like what you hear in your head for "Strat." It's glorious.

For the bridge, I'd consider the STL-2 (Hot for Tele). You don't seem too married to the idea of vintage Tele tone, and I think this combo would nail the sound you're looking for

 

[jeremy]

Re: strat single coil neck, tele bridge pickup-- what should I get?

I'd order a Alnico 2 Tele Hot Tapped from the Duncan Custom Shop and a Antiquity Surfer that's wound to compliment the CS Tele Hot Tapped.

this is the best answer. i have a guitar that has the '53 jb esquire pup (a2 9.6k/6.6k tap) and an antiquity II neck pup. beautiful classic fendery neck tones and killer tele/broadcaster bridge tones with more juice when you want it.

ssl2 neck and jd bridge would also be great for less coin

 

[jbear]

Re: strat single coil neck, tele bridge pickup-- what should I get?

IS that GFS Vintage a strat or a tele single coil? I've read alot about the GFS stuff, but never tried any out.

It's the Tele PUP. I would never have chosen a GFS PUP, but the guy who built the guitar is quite with it. He said to try it out and he'd swap it out for whatever I wanted...no charge, so...it's still in there! Every once in a while there's a "cheap" product that just gets done right...this seems to be one of those.

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: strat single coil neck, tele bridge pickup-- what should I get?

I have the Broadcaster in the bridge and a Fralin Blues Special in the neck of my Tele. The Fralin lends a Stratty tone to things, and I have them wired to a 4-way switch.

 

[appar111]

Re: strat single coil neck, tele bridge pickup-- what should I get?

I'd order a Alnico 2 Tele Hot Tapped from the Duncan Custom Shop and a Antiquity Surfer that's wound to compliment the CS Tele Hot Tapped.

I would too, but that's big bucks-- $200 for just the bridge pickup.

I think I'm going to go w/ option #3 (Ant II Surfer + Ant I tele bridge).

How big of a difference is there between the Antiquity II Surfer and an SSL-1? Worth the price difference for the sound, or is it negligible? I can relic a pickup cover to approximate the look of the Surfer if the sound isn't a huge difference and they both make great neck pickups.

 

[jeremy]

Re: strat single coil neck, tele bridge pickup-- what should I get?

i think its worth it to go antiquitys absolutely. there is a difference so im sure some actually prefer the ssl1 but to me the antiquity is where its at. 4 way switching is cool too.

 

[appar111]

Re: strat single coil neck, tele bridge pickup-- what should I get?

I'd go SSL-1 in the neck --- I have that in a Strat right now and it's like what you hear in your head for "Strat." It's glorious.

For the bridge, I'd consider the STL-2 (Hot for Tele). You don't seem too married to the idea of vintage Tele tone, and I think this combo would nail the sound you're looking for

I had thought about this combo too after making my initial list. I could pull a 5-way strat switch out of the drawer and do the whole full/tapped setup, although I don't know if I'll need that many options, to be honest. I want to be able to flick the switch all the way forward and get just the neck pickup, and the 5-way switching option makes the neck-only position 3.