Stratocaster single coils best for classic rock

[Link Davies]

I need suggestions on the best single coil pickup set for a Fender USA Stratocaster. I currently have a 2000 American Stratocaster with a maple neck and alder body. I usually play 10-46 strings. Currently, it has the original delta-tone pickups, which I feel are too bright and harsh for me. I typically play blues and classic rock through a Fender '68 Custom Deluxe Reverb amp. I don't want high output pickups. I want to be able to set my amp at overdriven volume and adjust the guitar's volume as I go. I want the pickups to have some growl when pushed hard, and maintain a very "stratty" sound and good bottom end. Forgive me if this subject has been done too many times, I'm new to the forum, and couldn't find anything relevant. Thank you.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Stratocaster single coils best for classic rock

The five two sounds extremely stratty to me. And it uses A2 for the treble poles to make the highs less harsh.

 

[Link Davies]

Re: Stratocaster single coils best for classic rock

Thanks for your help! I'll do a little research on those.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Stratocaster single coils best for classic rock

The twangbanger bridge pickup is also another great pickup for adding beef and punch without losing tone. Its sort of a 'semi-tele' bridge sound - but the beefy tele version.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Stratocaster single coils best for classic rock

Combine that guitar and amp with a SSL-1/SSL-1 rwrp/SSL-5 combo or SSL-2/SSL-2 rwrp/SSL-6 and a good Tube Screamer style OD like Fulldrive and it's my formula for Classic Rock on a Strat. The Five/Two seems cool (I've never tried it, but I like the way A2 pickups can "soften" a Strat)

 

[chadd]

Re: Stratocaster single coils best for classic rock

I went back to an APS-1 in the bridge of my go-to strat, but I left my no-name A3 set in the neck and middle for now. The A2 really takes the edge off for me, though I would love to try the 5-2.

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Stratocaster single coils best for classic rock

I was going to suggest the APS set; they're a bit *too* edge-less for me, but may work for some. I'd almost rather have a reversed 5/2 , to retain the twang on the high end but fill out the bass.

 

[Link Davies]

Re: Stratocaster single coils best for classic rock

Thanks for all the help! I'm definitely getting closer. I listened to samples on the SD website, and some youtube searches. The Five-Twos and APS-1s both sound great. I'll have to give the nod to the APS-1 at this point because I like the rounder sound. It has more "give" in it, where the Five-Twos are brighter, or more "honest" to my ear. Feel free to chime in if I'm you think I'm dead wrong, or should consider something else.

 

[NotCardio]

Re: Stratocaster single coils best for classic rock

Just thinking that you could've made your handle Ray Wray.:33:

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Stratocaster single coils best for classic rock

I agree with your descriptions, the APS-1 definitely has more "give" as you describe and a more "round" attack and tone. Definitely great pickups. I go back and forth between the APS and SSL in one of my Strats. For the last few years I've been using the APS-1 in the neck and SSL-1 in the middle. The APS has a nice "bloom" to the note where the SSL is more immediate.

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Stratocaster single coils best for classic rock

I agree with your descriptions, the APS-1 definitely has more "give" as you describe and a more "round" attack and tone. Definitely great pickups. I go back and forth between the APS and SSL in one of my Strats. For the last few years I've been using the APS-1 in the neck and SSL-1 in the middle. The APS has a nice "bloom" to the note where the SSL is more immediate.

To me the APS has a feeling of lesser output vs. the SSL, but don't know if that's just perception... How's the "quack"/notch with APS neck/SSL middle? Have you tried SSL neck/APS mid to compare? I feel that combo might give a more defined quack tone.

 

[Link Davies]

Re: Stratocaster single coils best for classic rock

PFDarkside, I like your description of bloom. It's definitely subjective, but I get your point. My neck has a 9.5-inch radius. Would I need staggered pickups, or flat ones?

 

[RogerMexiko]

Re: Stratocaster single coils best for classic rock

Custom Shop Texas Specials - no other choice really. Only exception might be Duncan's new Hendrx sig set, haven't tried them yet.

 

[mexstrat]

Re: Stratocaster single coils best for classic rock

I highly recommend the SSL-5 in the bridge. I'm not sure if it is what you would consider "high output" but it is higher output than stock if that is of concern. It would definitely eliminate the too bright and harsh sound you're referring to. The SSL-5 pickup in the bridge still sounds stratty. I have an SSL-1 in the neck that works beautifully. You don't even need to get a reverse wound SSL-1 to go in the middle if you don't want to. I have my stock neck pickup moved to the middle (since Fender and Duncan pickups have opposite polarities) and I still get nice quack in positions 2 and 4.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Stratocaster single coils best for classic rock

SSL-5 is great if you want to keep the max. strattiness. Personally I've found SSL-7 best for classic rock: Blackmore/early Boston tone.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Stratocaster single coils best for classic rock

Custom Shop Texas Specials - no other choice really. Only exception might be Duncan's new Hendrx sig set, haven't tried them yet.

there are plenty of other choices, i am not a fan of the texas specials. aps1 neck and middle with a twangbanger bridge is a great set. warm with a hotter bridge pup but still vintagey sounding. the ssl1 is more stratty sounding than the aps1 due to the alnico 5 magnets when you compare them side by side but you wont mistake the aps1 for anything but a strat pup.

the delta tone system isnt something i like. im not a fan of no-load pots with vintage output pups since it seems to let the high harsh frequencies though. right now the tone on your middle and bridge pup is a no-load pot so its out of the circuit at 10, rolling it back a touch engages the tone control softening the high end. some people love the no-load tone just not me and if you are finding the tone to be harsh then it might not be for you either

 

[Mincer]

Re: Stratocaster single coils best for classic rock

I am a big Five Two/Five Two/Custom Flat fan. Especially if you want true singles. I actually prefer stacks (heresy), but those Five Twos are, indeed remarkable.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Stratocaster single coils best for classic rock

To me the APS has a feeling of lesser output vs. the SSL, but don't know if that's just perception... How's the "quack"/notch with APS neck/SSL middle? Have you tried SSL neck/APS mid to compare? I feel that combo might give a more defined quack tone.

I've never tried the APS-1 in the middle, only the bridge and neck. The APS/SSL comb is very complex. Great for clean and slightly broken up playing, especially in the Hendrix style. As would be expected, there's not as much high end "cluck" and more midrange "chew".

The tone it reminds me of is something like John Mayer's Gravity or Slow Dancing in a Burning Room. Come to find out, some that have cloned those pickups think it's a magnet mismatch in the neck/middle. That would make sense to me hearing how these combine together.