Hello! i have an '99 strat (american traditional series), with floating tremolo, made of poplar and i want to install a new bridge humbucker. i have a marshall jcm 600, and i was wondering which humbucker to install to get good distortion, solos, but good rhythm sound also. i saw the pearly gates humbucker by SD was designed in collaboration with fender, so basically i can't go wrong here, but on the SD site i was listening to humbucker samples, and liked SH-4 JB and SH1 '59 better than the pearly gates. now, i' m not quite sure how the pickup will work good with the wood (poplar), it's also not wood commonly used on strats, so i'm stuck here. especially i wonder how the '59 would work in a strat, i'd say it is a pickup designed for les paul guitars, and also could i get good rock tone out of it and is it suitable for punk rock and maybe heavier stuff......wow, a lot of reading, i appreciate all suggestions and help, thanks!
Stratocaster
- Thread starter rocknroll
- Start date
stevie_bees
Cat In The Hatministrator
Re: Stratocaster
Welcome to the forum! I would have thought that poplar would be quite bright sounding, so maybe the JB would be a little to harsh. There are plenty here with bucker experience, I'm more of a single coil guy with Strats.
Welcome to the forum! I would have thought that poplar would be quite bright sounding, so maybe the JB would be a little to harsh. There are plenty here with bucker experience, I'm more of a single coil guy with Strats.
pinto79
New member
Re: Stratocaster
I find that Poplar is quite neutral in it's tone. By that I mean that the description given by the manufacturer for the particular model pup is basically what it sounds like. It's may favourite tone wood for that reason. I've had good success with the Duncan Distortion, JB and Full Shred in a poplar bodied Strat.
I find that Poplar is quite neutral in it's tone. By that I mean that the description given by the manufacturer for the particular model pup is basically what it sounds like. It's may favourite tone wood for that reason. I've had good success with the Duncan Distortion, JB and Full Shred in a poplar bodied Strat.
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: Stratocaster
Poplar is the poor man's alder. Tonally, the two are very similar. That being said, you have a lot of choices. It'll boil down to what you play, your rig (which you mentioned) and if you want a vintage, overwound vintage, medium or hot output pickup.
From experience, the Pearly Gates, Pearly Gates Plus (which is the one that was done for Fender), the '59 Model, Custom Custom, Custom 5 and JB all sound really good in Strats. Out of them all, in the Duncan standard production line, the Custom Custom is my favorite for Strats.
Poplar is the poor man's alder. Tonally, the two are very similar. That being said, you have a lot of choices. It'll boil down to what you play, your rig (which you mentioned) and if you want a vintage, overwound vintage, medium or hot output pickup.
From experience, the Pearly Gates, Pearly Gates Plus (which is the one that was done for Fender), the '59 Model, Custom Custom, Custom 5 and JB all sound really good in Strats. Out of them all, in the Duncan standard production line, the Custom Custom is my favorite for Strats.
Dr.Mavashi
neonderthalotonalogist
Re: Stratocaster
Ok, dude I don't know about "just rock" tone you would have to bring your volume to about 6 for just rock tone on Invader, but for punk and "heavier" stuff Invader just kicks ass in the strat, somebody here told that they heard an amazing blues player(SRV type) blasting his invadered strat through a fender amp. If your guitar is slightly bright, then invader will level it out, I had a bit of an issue with it with its strong lows before I used TS9 now its just perfect. It could be a bit punchy and growly for just rock but for metal and punk its a steel toe boot kick in the teeth.
Ok, dude I don't know about "just rock" tone you would have to bring your volume to about 6 for just rock tone on Invader, but for punk and "heavier" stuff Invader just kicks ass in the strat, somebody here told that they heard an amazing blues player(SRV type) blasting his invadered strat through a fender amp. If your guitar is slightly bright, then invader will level it out, I had a bit of an issue with it with its strong lows before I used TS9 now its just perfect. It could be a bit punchy and growly for just rock but for metal and punk its a steel toe boot kick in the teeth.
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: Stratocaster
Erik...I talked to a Fender guy about 2 years ago and was told that Fender went back to alder on the MIM guitars at that time.Oddly enough,poplar was more expensive than alder(maybe still is?).....Basswood always gets referred to as the poor man's alder,but is just a very popular and plentiful wood that Japan uses I guess.....Sorry to hijack,but wanted to share my ever growing useless knowledge! LOL
Erik...I talked to a Fender guy about 2 years ago and was told that Fender went back to alder on the MIM guitars at that time.Oddly enough,poplar was more expensive than alder(maybe still is?).....Basswood always gets referred to as the poor man's alder,but is just a very popular and plentiful wood that Japan uses I guess.....Sorry to hijack,but wanted to share my ever growing useless knowledge! LOL
Empty Pockets
BadHairDayologist
Re: Stratocaster
I've tried Seymour Duncan Hot Rails and Custom Custom as well as the DiMarzio Super Distortion in my bridge possition...the Hot Rails is a little TOO heavy if you ask me, it's great for that modern grindy sound but was always over-the-top for me. The Super Distortion was tamer and more 'vintage rock' sounding, like KISS and 80's rock tones were really easy to get with that pickup, but it was still too hot and I couldn't crank my amp the way I want to...
The Custom Custom however...slightly lower output but still hotter than the neck possition 59 that's in my Warmoth. The tone is almost all mids, which goes well with the Strat's trebly tone and my Bassman's (obviously) bassy tone. If I get any more Fender-style guitars with humbuckers, they'll most likely be getting Custom Customs as well.
-X
I've tried Seymour Duncan Hot Rails and Custom Custom as well as the DiMarzio Super Distortion in my bridge possition...the Hot Rails is a little TOO heavy if you ask me, it's great for that modern grindy sound but was always over-the-top for me. The Super Distortion was tamer and more 'vintage rock' sounding, like KISS and 80's rock tones were really easy to get with that pickup, but it was still too hot and I couldn't crank my amp the way I want to...
The Custom Custom however...slightly lower output but still hotter than the neck possition 59 that's in my Warmoth. The tone is almost all mids, which goes well with the Strat's trebly tone and my Bassman's (obviously) bassy tone. If I get any more Fender-style guitars with humbuckers, they'll most likely be getting Custom Customs as well.
-X
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Stratocaster
The 59B and Jazz B balance the best with single coils. I also like the C5 and JB a lot in strats. Right now, I'm digging a hybrid pickup...a Custom 5 screw coil and 59 slug coil with A5 magnet.
The 59B and Jazz B balance the best with single coils. I also like the C5 and JB a lot in strats. Right now, I'm digging a hybrid pickup...a Custom 5 screw coil and 59 slug coil with A5 magnet.
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: Stratocaster
That is interesting, John. I wonder what made poplar get more expensive. I've never heard of basswood as the poor man's alder, that's a new one to me...LOL The two are so tonally different.
That is interesting, John. I wonder what made poplar get more expensive. I've never heard of basswood as the poor man's alder, that's a new one to me...LOL The two are so tonally different.
Luke Duke
PRSlustologist
Re: Stratocaster
Welcome to the forum!
First of all lets clarify. The Pearly Gates on SD's site is a Seymour Design that kind of gets the Mojo of Billy's Pearly Gates' pups.
The Pearly Gates Fender sells is the Pearly Gates Plus. It is essentially an Alnico 5 version, I think it the PGs that have a higher DC are used too. The PG+ sounds like a slightly more aggressive 59 which is why it paired well with the 59 in the Big Apple Strat.
The JB is always a good starting place in a super strat.
Luke
Welcome to the forum!
First of all lets clarify. The Pearly Gates on SD's site is a Seymour Design that kind of gets the Mojo of Billy's Pearly Gates' pups.
The Pearly Gates Fender sells is the Pearly Gates Plus. It is essentially an Alnico 5 version, I think it the PGs that have a higher DC are used too. The PG+ sounds like a slightly more aggressive 59 which is why it paired well with the 59 in the Big Apple Strat.
The JB is always a good starting place in a super strat.
Luke