super bright hardtail strat - bridge humbucker ideas?

O

overwound

New member
I have a SSS hardtail american standard strat with a maple fretboard I am trying to make one of my workhorse guitars for live use. I have found some threads on this issue. I use the bridge position mainly. Amps it will go through are Soldano Lucky 13 and Fender Prosonic.

I am strat 'mis-user' in that I use high gain pedals/amps and until recently just used stock single coil pickups, but the icepick continues to rear its head in live situations.

As a first, more purist effort, the most I was willing to compromise was an Antiquity II Custom Surf Bridge, and while it sounds great, this guitar is still bright as hell - and with the hardtail, it has a certain tight honkin attack to it that is unique in my collection.

So here's what I'm thinking now:

Next effort: I am trying the Dimarzio Super Distortion S and will install a mini switch to see what that sounds like split as well. I am not sure this pickup will do it for me, but my luthier recommended it for nice cleans (surprising) as well as gain.

However, what are your thoughts on these options that have come to light:

Custom Custom TB-11 vs. the Nazgul in the bridge?

I am very intrigued about the possibilities of the Nazgul since it's supposedly voiced for articulation and bright woods. I am hoping to be able to split these for cleans, and still get high gain and brutal if I want. I play pop-punk, punk rock, melodic punk (blink 182, brand new, chevelle?).

I own a darker mexican strat that is 1H - duncan distortion in the bridge - kicks ass. but that guitar is wayyyyyy different than this guitar.

Thanks for your insights.
 
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Re: super bright hardtail strat - bridge humbucker ideas?

Try moving the middle tone control to the bridge, then roll the tone back to 7 or 8.
 
Re: super bright hardtail strat - bridge humbucker ideas?

If changing up the tone control doesn't do it for you, a JB is a good choice for darkening your guitar a bit.
 
Re: super bright hardtail strat - bridge humbucker ideas?

Custom Custom sounds great in maple neck Strat. See my avatar picture? It sounds a lot like that :^)
 
Re: super bright hardtail strat - bridge humbucker ideas?

Thanks for the insights, as always.

Hmm - had not considered tone zone. Perhaps I'll try a tone zone S.

Not exactly going for a van halen sound, so maybe the custom custom is wrong. Or maybe it's totally right lol.

I'm curious what any of you guys would say about throwing a Pegasus or Nazgul in a bright honkin maple fretboard, hardtail strat.
 
Re: super bright hardtail strat - bridge humbucker ideas?

The Jason Becker might even be worth looking into. Becker played with a maple board and a floyd. Not exactly what you would call a "dark sounding" guitar.
 
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