Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: The Ultimate Stratocaster Tone!
I love the string to string tone balance I get from using Graphtechs only on my plain strings. They tame the highs in just the right way, and eliminate much of the undertone ring caused by worn saddles. As for string height, I go only by ear....usually by standing in front of the amp at operating volume and playing with different picking dynamics. I make a few tweaks with the screwdriver, to make sure the tone is exactly what I want, then leave them alone.
Lew, I'm holding off buying pickup stuff at the moment, since I just did some financial wrangling to get a new truck, but when I order, it'll probably be an Ant II bridge 9.7 and the Fralin Blender pot, along with instructions on how to wire it all up.
What I'd like is NO tone control on the neck and middle, 2nd tone on the bridge only, and the 3rd tone acting as the blender pot. Is that possible?
I love the string to string tone balance I get from using Graphtechs only on my plain strings. They tame the highs in just the right way, and eliminate much of the undertone ring caused by worn saddles. As for string height, I go only by ear....usually by standing in front of the amp at operating volume and playing with different picking dynamics. I make a few tweaks with the screwdriver, to make sure the tone is exactly what I want, then leave them alone.
Lew, I'm holding off buying pickup stuff at the moment, since I just did some financial wrangling to get a new truck, but when I order, it'll probably be an Ant II bridge 9.7 and the Fralin Blender pot, along with instructions on how to wire it all up.
What I'd like is NO tone control on the neck and middle, 2nd tone on the bridge only, and the 3rd tone acting as the blender pot. Is that possible?
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: The Ultimate Stratocaster Tone!
Yes that's totally possible. Just connect the single tone control directly to the terminal on the 5-way switch that the bridge pickup is soldered to. When the bridge pickup is combined with the neck or middle pickup the tone control will affect those pickups too. But when the neck and middle are not combined with the bridge pickup they will not have a tone control. The Blender Pot is a breeze to install. It comes prewired with two white cloth covered wires and they connect to the 5 way switch: one to the terminal the neck pickup is soldered to and one to the terminal the bridge pickup is soldered to. That's all there is to it.
BTW, I never use the tone control on my neck and middle pickups either!
I do use it on the bridge pickup when I want a certain effect: like what Clapton called "woman tone" where he'd roll down the tone control to accentuate a certain vowel like tonality...sort of like a wah wah set to it's sweet spot, but not quite the same of course.
You could also go with a master volume and master tone control for all three pickups and use a "no load tone control". That way when the tone control is on "10" it disconnects itself from the circuit as if it wasn't even there. I use that on some of my Strats and Teles.
Lew
Lew
Yes that's totally possible. Just connect the single tone control directly to the terminal on the 5-way switch that the bridge pickup is soldered to. When the bridge pickup is combined with the neck or middle pickup the tone control will affect those pickups too. But when the neck and middle are not combined with the bridge pickup they will not have a tone control. The Blender Pot is a breeze to install. It comes prewired with two white cloth covered wires and they connect to the 5 way switch: one to the terminal the neck pickup is soldered to and one to the terminal the bridge pickup is soldered to. That's all there is to it.
BTW, I never use the tone control on my neck and middle pickups either!
I do use it on the bridge pickup when I want a certain effect: like what Clapton called "woman tone" where he'd roll down the tone control to accentuate a certain vowel like tonality...sort of like a wah wah set to it's sweet spot, but not quite the same of course.
You could also go with a master volume and master tone control for all three pickups and use a "no load tone control". That way when the tone control is on "10" it disconnects itself from the circuit as if it wasn't even there. I use that on some of my Strats and Teles.
Lew
Lew
fftopic:
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: The Ultimate Stratocaster Tone!
The magnets (there are two in a P90 and one in a paf style humbucker) for P90's are also under the coil. The polepieces in humbuckers and P90's are magnetised somewhat by being in contact with the magnet underneath the coil, but the non-magnetic polepieces and screws do not pull the strings out of tune nearly to the degree that the magnetic polepieces in a Strat or Tele pickup do. Humbuckers and P90's can be adjusted closer to the strings for that reason. Lew
gOgIver said:
The magnets (there are two in a P90 and one in a paf style humbucker) for P90's are also under the coil. The polepieces in humbuckers and P90's are magnetised somewhat by being in contact with the magnet underneath the coil, but the non-magnetic polepieces and screws do not pull the strings out of tune nearly to the degree that the magnetic polepieces in a Strat or Tele pickup do. Humbuckers and P90's can be adjusted closer to the strings for that reason. Lew
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: The Ultimate Stratocaster Tone!
The magnet is under the coils, as in a full size humbucker, to the best of my recollection. The adjustable polepieces are just steel screws, magnetized by thier contact with the actual magnet under the two coils. Pretty sure about that! Lew
Kelsey said:
The magnet is under the coils, as in a full size humbucker, to the best of my recollection. The adjustable polepieces are just steel screws, magnetized by thier contact with the actual magnet under the two coils. Pretty sure about that! Lew
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: The Ultimate Stratocaster Tone!
You're welcome. My description mentioned screw pole pieces...there are no screw polepieces in a Firebird pickup. I was thinking of the mini humbucker on a Les Paul Deluxe. But the two are very similar. Lew
gOgIver said:Ah. Thanks!
You're welcome. My description mentioned screw pole pieces...there are no screw polepieces in a Firebird pickup. I was thinking of the mini humbucker on a Les Paul Deluxe. But the two are very similar. Lew
dr.barlo
New member
Problem: 2nd position with the surfers
Problem: 2nd position with the surfers
Friends,
The surfer bridge is EXCELLENT. Hands down, the best strat bridge pickup I have ever used. It is beefy, not a vintage strat pickup, but who cares. The vintage ones are wimpy anyway!
Honestly still I love my van zandt blues that I use in the bridge, but the surfer can do a very good job in getting close to the vintage tones, and also do beefy strat bridge tone.
The neck, it is to die for! GREAT GREAT GREAT!
BUT the second position doesn't have the highs I need to have. The tone I get is great, don't get me wrong, but it looks like I need more highs there.
I ain't gonna touch the bridge or the neck (BTW when both are active, they sound superb). But I might get to replace the middle pickup with something that is brighter. I ran out of good strat single coils, have 2 fender tx specials (I somehow doubt they would be the solution to my situation), and some stock fender american series pickups.
BTW maybe I am too much accustomed to quite bright single coils. I dunno. Maybe I shouldn't touch it. Give the middle more time.
Any feedback?
B
Problem: 2nd position with the surfers
Friends,
The surfer bridge is EXCELLENT. Hands down, the best strat bridge pickup I have ever used. It is beefy, not a vintage strat pickup, but who cares. The vintage ones are wimpy anyway!
Honestly still I love my van zandt blues that I use in the bridge, but the surfer can do a very good job in getting close to the vintage tones, and also do beefy strat bridge tone.The neck, it is to die for! GREAT GREAT GREAT!
BUT the second position doesn't have the highs I need to have. The tone I get is great, don't get me wrong, but it looks like I need more highs there.
I ain't gonna touch the bridge or the neck (BTW when both are active, they sound superb). But I might get to replace the middle pickup with something that is brighter. I ran out of good strat single coils, have 2 fender tx specials (I somehow doubt they would be the solution to my situation), and some stock fender american series pickups.
BTW maybe I am too much accustomed to quite bright single coils. I dunno. Maybe I shouldn't touch it. Give the middle more time.
Any feedback?
B
Re: The Ultimate Stratocaster Tone!
Lew & Dr. Barlo,
I've always loved the sound of a tele bridge pickup and have thought about either the twangbanger or the stelly, but I see that the two of you are using the real thing in your strats... mine is routed for a humbucker for the bridge pickup, will the tele bridge fit in there with only three new holes in the pickguard for mounting or do I need to route the body to fit it?
thanks
roy
Lew & Dr. Barlo,
I've always loved the sound of a tele bridge pickup and have thought about either the twangbanger or the stelly, but I see that the two of you are using the real thing in your strats... mine is routed for a humbucker for the bridge pickup, will the tele bridge fit in there with only three new holes in the pickguard for mounting or do I need to route the body to fit it?
thanks
roy
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: The Ultimate Stratocaster Tone!
It was asked and I'm not sure it was ever answered...how is the tone of an American Standard tremolo...also can I put vintage saddles on and AS trem?
Thanks guys
The guy who invented fire
It was asked and I'm not sure it was ever answered...how is the tone of an American Standard tremolo...also can I put vintage saddles on and AS trem?
Thanks guys
The guy who invented fire
dr.barlo
New member
Re: The Ultimate Stratocaster Tone!
Hi Royd,
No a tele lead will not fit the HB cavity that strats generally have. You can fit it upside down tho. However, if you were to try fitting it as it should be a little more space is needed for the lower corner.
What you do is to carve the wood exactly there, I mean where the lower corner to the bridge side touches the wood. Be careful tho not to chip the finish if you do, the chipped area could be visible between the pickguard and the bridge.
B
royd said:
Hi Royd,
No a tele lead will not fit the HB cavity that strats generally have. You can fit it upside down tho. However, if you were to try fitting it as it should be a little more space is needed for the lower corner.
What you do is to carve the wood exactly there, I mean where the lower corner to the bridge side touches the wood. Be careful tho not to chip the finish if you do, the chipped area could be visible between the pickguard and the bridge.B
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: The Ultimate Stratocaster Tone!
I put the Tele bridge pickup in my white Strat that the previous owner had really hogged out for a humbucker...plenty of room! But the rout was quite oversize. I do really like the tone I'm getting but I plan on tweaking that guitar further.
I'm going to remove the 3-way tele style bridge and push/pull pot and install a Schaller 5 -way Magaswitch that lets me get neck, neck & middle, neck & bridge, middle and bridge and bridge pickups combined.
I may also change the pickups themselves. I love the Fralins but I already have them in my Candy Apple Red Strat and I want to try the Duncan Custom Shop Jerry Donahue Tele bridge pickup MJ wound me and a set of Duncan APS-1 or APS-2 or Texas Hot neck and middle pickups with it.
Lew
I put the Tele bridge pickup in my white Strat that the previous owner had really hogged out for a humbucker...plenty of room! But the rout was quite oversize. I do really like the tone I'm getting but I plan on tweaking that guitar further.
I'm going to remove the 3-way tele style bridge and push/pull pot and install a Schaller 5 -way Magaswitch that lets me get neck, neck & middle, neck & bridge, middle and bridge and bridge pickups combined.
I may also change the pickups themselves. I love the Fralins but I already have them in my Candy Apple Red Strat and I want to try the Duncan Custom Shop Jerry Donahue Tele bridge pickup MJ wound me and a set of Duncan APS-1 or APS-2 or Texas Hot neck and middle pickups with it.
Lew
Re: The Ultimate Stratocaster Tone!
I am thinking of changing my pickups in my 2004 Squier Standard Strat to get a better toned pickup.It will be used with a Fender Frontman 25R amp with a slight touch of reverb for a little bit fuller sound.
On this thread the Surfers seem to be what I would want for a classic 60's sound.
What would be an opinion , with a neck and middle Surfers, and an APS-2 on the bridge?
I like a jangle in my guitar sound. Has anyone tried this combination yet?? Any comment would be helpful.
Robbie
I am thinking of changing my pickups in my 2004 Squier Standard Strat to get a better toned pickup.It will be used with a Fender Frontman 25R amp with a slight touch of reverb for a little bit fuller sound.
On this thread the Surfers seem to be what I would want for a classic 60's sound.
What would be an opinion , with a neck and middle Surfers, and an APS-2 on the bridge?
I like a jangle in my guitar sound. Has anyone tried this combination yet?? Any comment would be helpful.
Robbie
Re: The Ultimate Stratocaster Tone!
I could have bought a MIM Strat, but I played a few of them and did not like the way they felt. I also played a few of the American Strats and liked the way they felt, and the Squier Standard Strat felt pretty close to the same to me, and at 400+ dollars cheaper it was a better buy. If I spend 200 bucks on pickups, I'll still be ahead in pocket change.I compared a friends American Strat with APS-2's to my Squier Standard, and he said mine with the stock pickups was pretty close to the way his sounds now. We compared them on his 100watt Marshall amp at all the same settings on both guitars and his amp.
If I bought a MIM Strat and wanted to change pickups, then I could have bought an American Strat, it would be about the same price. If I would have bought the American Strat, and wanted to change pickups, then I could have gotten the Strat Deluxe , which would be about the same price range.
I liked the way the Squier felt in my hands. That is why I play guitar to have a pleasant experience, and enjoy it. The Alnicos in the Squier Standard Strat are good pickups, but I want a bit more brightness, and changing pickups will do that.
The way a guitar feels in your hands should be the factor in buying one.
Of course if a perfect guitar was built,to suit everyones wants and needs, there would be no need for any other guitar maker or supplier of parts and accessories to carry on their business. They would all be put out of business, by the maker of the perfect guitar.
Back to my original question, Any opinions on neck and middle Surfers and a APS-2 bridge pickup for a Strat?? Anyone tried this combination yet?
I could have bought a MIM Strat, but I played a few of them and did not like the way they felt. I also played a few of the American Strats and liked the way they felt, and the Squier Standard Strat felt pretty close to the same to me, and at 400+ dollars cheaper it was a better buy. If I spend 200 bucks on pickups, I'll still be ahead in pocket change.I compared a friends American Strat with APS-2's to my Squier Standard, and he said mine with the stock pickups was pretty close to the way his sounds now. We compared them on his 100watt Marshall amp at all the same settings on both guitars and his amp.
If I bought a MIM Strat and wanted to change pickups, then I could have bought an American Strat, it would be about the same price. If I would have bought the American Strat, and wanted to change pickups, then I could have gotten the Strat Deluxe , which would be about the same price range.
I liked the way the Squier felt in my hands. That is why I play guitar to have a pleasant experience, and enjoy it. The Alnicos in the Squier Standard Strat are good pickups, but I want a bit more brightness, and changing pickups will do that.
The way a guitar feels in your hands should be the factor in buying one.
Of course if a perfect guitar was built,to suit everyones wants and needs, there would be no need for any other guitar maker or supplier of parts and accessories to carry on their business. They would all be put out of business, by the maker of the perfect guitar.
Back to my original question, Any opinions on neck and middle Surfers and a APS-2 bridge pickup for a Strat?? Anyone tried this combination yet?
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: The Ultimate Stratocaster Tone!
This thread should be included in this thread.
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?p=215959#post215959
Also, I want to say that after alot of playing of my three favorite Strats that the set that has emerged as my slight favorite is the Antiquity I Texas Hot Custom bridge combined with the Antiquity II Surfers neck and middle....followed very, very closely by my other two favorite Strats: one with a full set of Antiquity Surfers and the other with the Fralin Vintage Hot/Steel Pole 43 set.
Those three sets are simply awesome and I prefer the tone of any of those Strats to my stock '63 Strat with the original pickups.
This thread should be included in this thread.
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?p=215959#post215959
Also, I want to say that after alot of playing of my three favorite Strats that the set that has emerged as my slight favorite is the Antiquity I Texas Hot Custom bridge combined with the Antiquity II Surfers neck and middle....followed very, very closely by my other two favorite Strats: one with a full set of Antiquity Surfers and the other with the Fralin Vintage Hot/Steel Pole 43 set.
Those three sets are simply awesome and I prefer the tone of any of those Strats to my stock '63 Strat with the original pickups.
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: The Ultimate Stratocaster Tone!
I thought this made it into the vault! :smack: :yell:
What gives...this thread served as my bible when I was trying to figure what I was gonna use on my Strat!
Well Vaulted or not...Lew, Thanks so much for taking so much time to do this thread! :laugh2: :dance: :32:
I thought this made it into the vault! :smack: :yell:
What gives...this thread served as my bible when I was trying to figure what I was gonna use on my Strat!
Well Vaulted or not...Lew, Thanks so much for taking so much time to do this thread!
:laugh2: :dance: :32:
