Swapping out pickups in the Satch...

[BluesGuyJ]

Hey guys.

I'd say the main thing that has kept me from swapping out pickups in my Satch is that I really like the clean tones I get with the buckers tapped. But I've finally realized that I am never going to get that true Strat tone...

With that in mind, I want to focus on the distorted tones this axe dishes out.

I've got a FRED in the Bridge and PAF Pro in the neck.

I'd have to say I would like for the bridge to sound fuller chord wise, and have more sustain, "awwwww", mids/highs, and to be slightly hotter.

As for the neck, It sounds great but I would like it slightly hotter and to push my amp a little more.

I am semi skeptical of changing the pickups because the guitar really does sound great, but I definitely see room for improvement. But I'd hate for new pups to not nail wat I am looking for.

Any suggestions?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Swapping out pickups in the Satch...

Duncan PGn and Duncan Custom...they sound great as humbuckers and sound great when split for clean tones as single coils. Highly recommended! Lew

 

[BluesGuyJ]

Re: Swapping out pickups in the Satch...

Lew- I read the review of the PGn and Custom b you posted. The Custom sounds pretty good, but how would the PGn handle high gain? I am looking to beef up my tone rather than bring it down for classic rock/blues stuff.

 

[theodie]

Re: Swapping out pickups in the Satch...

Just get them! I agree with Lew on this set!

I Love the PG neck with anything from clean to the highest of gains!

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Swapping out pickups in the Satch...

I think Satch was using or still is using.....The PG?

 

[BluesGuyJ]

Re: Swapping out pickups in the Satch...

Ok, I'll look into the PGn and Customm as a possibility. I think I also may look at a set of Dimarzio Evolutions, how do these sound tapped? I'd still like a decent tapped sound.

What about a Air Norton neck and Evolution bridge? What other pup sounds good paired with the Air Norton.

 

[david kornblatt]

Re: Swapping out pickups in the Satch...

PAF PRO IN THE NECK and maybe a custom custom in the bridge go for the p90 sound or maybe even the bluesbucker

 

[DracoAran]

Re: Swapping out pickups in the Satch...

Air Zone, Air Norton if you are looking into the other guys.

If the AZ is too fat, try a Breed or even a Norton.

As far as Duncan, a Custom Custom, an originall Parallel Axis, or Blues Saraceno Trembucker.

 

[BluesGuyJ]

Re: Swapping out pickups in the Satch...

I think I am going to try for a set of Evolutions. I love Vai's tone. If it doesn't work out, I'll throw the old set back in and stick with those puppies.

 

[ibanezrocks]

Re: Swapping out pickups in the Satch...

Hurray! I'm useful!
I just installed an evolution in to the bridge position of my Ibanez NDM1.
It is a fairly bright pickup, its not a bluesbucker though, its not too bright, and I don't find it harsh. It is really tight, about as modern sounding as you can get, and is even too tight for palm muted metal riffs. It also has the dual resonance technology which makes it sound as though you're using a bit of reverb, and the sound sort of swells when playing fast palm muted stuff. It's not overwhelming and is controllable, but its certainly not the most versatile pickup, and unless you were just shredding or searching for a very unique tone I wouldn't recommend it.
Since you want something similar to what you have now, which is more vintage voiced pickups, although not truly vintage compared the evolution there is a huge difference, and I dont think the evolution is what you are looking for. You seem to want something that has a thicker hotter PAF sound much like the SD Custom line of pickups. A pearly gates neck should pair up nicely with the custom. I agree with Lew, and at the very least urge you to not go with the evolution. It is a fun pickup to experiment with, but I certainly wouldnt want one in my main guitar.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Swapping out pickups in the Satch...

I don't know just how hot you want to go, but there's the Duncan Distortion neck and Distortion bridge set. The Distortion gets pretty high marks around here. I've never tried it myself but maybe someone who has will chime in. Personally, any hotter than about 8K for a neck humbucker is getting to hot for me...but I like a clean tone from the neck pickup when I play rythym...and a hot tone from the bridge pickup when I solo. That's why I like the PGn and a Custom or Custom Custom for the bridge pickup. Gives me the whole range! Lew

 

[BluesGuyJ]

Re: Swapping out pickups in the Satch...

The PGn and Custom are definitely on the finalist list.

I am looking to set the Satch up more for 80s metal than vintage tones. I am going to look at the Dimarzio Mojo or w/e it is. I've heard that its a hotter FRED. Is there a hotter version of the PAF Pro out there?

 

[captain cavman]

Re: Swapping out pickups in the Satch...

I think Satch was using or still is using.....The PG?

Right , one of his "Chrome plated" axe is loaded with a PG set .

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Swapping out pickups in the Satch...

Right , one of his "Chrome plated" axe is loaded with a PG set .

You don't need heavily overwound pickups to get a heavy tone. Experieinced professionals like Satch know that. IMO, heavily overwound pickups (like heavily overdriven amps) tend to make every player who uses them sound the same and have the same tone. Vintage to moderate output pickups like the PG, AIIPro, 59, Custom, etc. leave more room in your tone for your own personality and touch to come through...IMO. You might have to dig in a little and shape the tone more with your hands, but to me developing your own tone is what it's all about, and shaping the tone with your hands rather than letting your pickup and amp do it for you is how you get your own personality into your tone.

 

[david kornblatt]

Re: Swapping out pickups in the Satch...

Me Response Is Withe Lew But... Always Go For The Gibby P90 Tone It Is In My Opinion The Most Friendly On The Human Ears Imho And It Is The Sound Of All The Greatest Tones...in My Opinion A Good Class A Amp Is Whats Needed To Create So Called Tone

 

[BluesGuyJ]

Re: Swapping out pickups in the Satch...

The wisdom of Lew strikes again!

Hmmmm, maybe I'll tweak the amp some more and see if I can coax what I want out of these pups before I swap 'em out.

 

[Dan-ola]

Re: Swapping out pickups in the Satch...

Satch had DiMarzio come up with a PAF Joe for the neck of the 1200s; apparently when he played the plain basswood bodied 1200 the PAF Pro was "lacking". That would seem to be why they also just came up with the MoJoe to replace the FRED in the bridge. I have not heard a 1200 live but I would imagine it is just a fatter sound to compensate for the lighter body, but retaining the Satch tone - kinda what you seem to be looking for...

Dano