Swamp Ash HSH strat pickup ideas

[robjimfleming]

Hello all,

I'm building my very first partscaster, and could do with a little pickup choice advice before I take the plunge and part with cash. It is routed HSH, hand finished (by me) with a light swamp ash body and a fender maple neck with a rosewood board. I'm planning to wire it up with autosplits in positions 2 and 4, to get some stratty tones out of it. I'm also planning to add a couple of switches to get a bridge split tone and both humbuckers at once.

I'm aiming for a blues / classic rock vibe, capable of going a little heavier if needed. I want clean cleans, with warmth and personality, good distorted tones.

Humbuckers
I'm currently thinking a 59/custom hybrid bridge, for versatility and because split to the custom coil it should match the output of a middle single coil fairly well (hopefully!).
For the neck I'm thinking either a 59 or a Pearly Gates.

Middle single coil
I want a true single coil, but cant decide between the SSL2 or APS2. I'm using 500k Bourns pots for a master tone and volume, so thought the APS2 with its slightly muted highs might be a wiser choice.

Am I vaguely along the right lines? Any pickups that might be a better choice?

Any thoughts?

Thanks

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Swamp Ash HSH strat pickup ideas

I used to use a 59 neck humbucker in a strat with a maple neck. It sounds great in a Strat IMO.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Swamp Ash HSH strat pickup ideas

View attachment 66219

Am I vaguely along the right lines? Any pickups that might be a better choice?

Any thoughts?

Thanks

First, welcome to the forum!

That is an awesome looking guitar! I personally love Ash, my main Strat is Ash.

Your question about being "along the right lines" and "better choice" is pretty subjective as there are many options and some will prefer one to the other. I would say go with the pickups you want and see how the project turns out–you may love it or you may not but ultimately you will not know the answer until you try it. And most importantly have fun with the project!

 

[jeremy]

Re: Swamp Ash HSH strat pickup ideas

if you are using 500k pots i wouldnt use a ssl2 or aps2. id use a ssl6. the more vintage output singles will be very shrill with 500k unless you put a resistor in the circut to change the value the single coil sees. the ssl6 will sound much better with 500k and can be lowered if you are worried about output