Thin Strat Lead Tone. Should I change my Bridge PU?
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Re: Thin Strat Lead Tone. Should I change my Bridge PU?
Yes, exactly. SSL-6 Custom Flat Strat pickup or STK-S6 Custom Stack Plus if you want a hum-cancelling version of it. That's a bridge pickup David Gilmour has used in a few guitars. Though he's mainly used SSL-1/2s. But then he tends to use a mix of fuzz and overdrive or distortion at the same time, for lead sounds.
If you want to get a non-shrill strat bridge tone, the Custom is a great place to start.
Yes, exactly. SSL-6 Custom Flat Strat pickup or STK-S6 Custom Stack Plus if you want a hum-cancelling version of it. That's a bridge pickup David Gilmour has used in a few guitars. Though he's mainly used SSL-1/2s. But then he tends to use a mix of fuzz and overdrive or distortion at the same time, for lead sounds.
If you want to get a non-shrill strat bridge tone, the Custom is a great place to start.
Detroitblues
New member
Re: Thin Strat Lead Tone. Should I change my Bridge PU?
Kind of odd to hear that about a bridge humbucker. Makes me wonder about the tone pot/cap for the humbucker.
Kind of odd to hear that about a bridge humbucker. Makes me wonder about the tone pot/cap for the humbucker.
Re: Thin Strat Lead Tone. Should I change my Bridge PU?
David Gilmour is known for using an SSL-5 in his Strats. It isn't a typical Strat pickup- it has more power, and less high end than most bridge pickups. It IS a matter of switching pickguards, though. It isn't a difficult mod to do. If you decide to do this, measure the heights of the pickups in your current pickguard so you can start there when you switch them over.
David Gilmour is known for using an SSL-5 in his Strats. It isn't a typical Strat pickup- it has more power, and less high end than most bridge pickups. It IS a matter of switching pickguards, though. It isn't a difficult mod to do. If you decide to do this, measure the heights of the pickups in your current pickguard so you can start there when you switch them over.
gregory
New member
Re: Thin Strat Lead Tone. Should I change my Bridge PU?
In his black strat DG used a DiMarzio FS-1 from Animals through the Wall. It wasn't until after the Wall was recorded that it got a custom SSL-1, which is now the SSL-5. In the late '80s and '90s he used EMGs, most famously in his red Strat.
That he extensively used any Duncan pickups besides the SSL-5 is news to me.
Still, I think an SSL-6, SSL-2RW/RP, SSL-2 make an amazing set.
My last foray into SSS was for a friend: DiMarzio Injector Neck (in the bridge) and two Lace Sensor Golds. 250k controls, one tone on the neck and one on the bridge. He is extremely happy. The Injector Neck is more Stratty than an SSL-6/STK-S6.
In his black strat DG used a DiMarzio FS-1 from Animals through the Wall. It wasn't until after the Wall was recorded that it got a custom SSL-1, which is now the SSL-5. In the late '80s and '90s he used EMGs, most famously in his red Strat.
That he extensively used any Duncan pickups besides the SSL-5 is news to me.
Still, I think an SSL-6, SSL-2RW/RP, SSL-2 make an amazing set.
My last foray into SSS was for a friend: DiMarzio Injector Neck (in the bridge) and two Lace Sensor Golds. 250k controls, one tone on the neck and one on the bridge. He is extremely happy. The Injector Neck is more Stratty than an SSL-6/STK-S6.
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Re: Thin Strat Lead Tone. Should I change my Bridge PU?
Mincer & you are correct, he used the SSL-5 Custom Staggered. Sole difference is polepiece stagger. I don't tend to think of stagger as making it an entirey different pickup, regardless of part number. Custom staggered or Custom flat. Still a Custom.
I had forgotten that one of his pickups referred to as an SSL-1 really wasn't, which confused what he was using in the bridge at times, when he or his tech said "SSL-1 set" later on, did it mean with the "Custom SSL-1" or three actual SSL-1s? And in which guitar...
He was known for use of SSL-1 in middle/neck. [I'd again, suggest the SSL-2 flats, or in my own case go for the STK-S4 since I don't do hum.]
Still, I'd take the non-staggered version, especially in bridge.
He also uses studio optical compressors at various points in his signal chain, which masks some of the string balance quirks of his pickups [though it also affects sustain]. I'd rather just use a non-staggered pickup...
Mincer & you are correct, he used the SSL-5 Custom Staggered. Sole difference is polepiece stagger. I don't tend to think of stagger as making it an entirey different pickup, regardless of part number. Custom staggered or Custom flat. Still a Custom.
I had forgotten that one of his pickups referred to as an SSL-1 really wasn't, which confused what he was using in the bridge at times, when he or his tech said "SSL-1 set" later on, did it mean with the "Custom SSL-1" or three actual SSL-1s? And in which guitar...
He was known for use of SSL-1 in middle/neck. [I'd again, suggest the SSL-2 flats, or in my own case go for the STK-S4 since I don't do hum.]
Still, I'd take the non-staggered version, especially in bridge.
He also uses studio optical compressors at various points in his signal chain, which masks some of the string balance quirks of his pickups [though it also affects sustain]. I'd rather just use a non-staggered pickup...
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mechanic1908
New member
Re: Thin Strat Lead Tone. Should I change my Bridge PU?
Sorry if I missed it but bridge position tone mod is the 1st thing I'd try.
Sent from my SM-J320W8 using Tapatalk
Sorry if I missed it but bridge position tone mod is the 1st thing I'd try.
Sent from my SM-J320W8 using Tapatalk
Re: Thin Strat Lead Tone. Should I change my Bridge PU?
if its not too hot i like a Custom 5 but anything over 11 or 12 I like the Custom Custom because its an A2 mag and even though its hot the bass will not overpower the mids or highs. Also its not shrill on the top end. The only complaint i have really heard on it is it can be honky in the midrange but its designed to cut through so its just adjusting your amp settings. Besides a bit of midrange honk splits well with single coils. If you want low and tight bass I suggest the JB. Its an A5 mag but its very tight and splits well. If you dont want something that powerful a lower output A5 mag pickup like the Jason Becker works great. Many have compared the jason Becker to a less output JB. I have not played the Jason Becker but I have heard it and it does sound full but not overpowering too.
Good luck on everything
if its not too hot i like a Custom 5 but anything over 11 or 12 I like the Custom Custom because its an A2 mag and even though its hot the bass will not overpower the mids or highs. Also its not shrill on the top end. The only complaint i have really heard on it is it can be honky in the midrange but its designed to cut through so its just adjusting your amp settings. Besides a bit of midrange honk splits well with single coils. If you want low and tight bass I suggest the JB. Its an A5 mag but its very tight and splits well. If you dont want something that powerful a lower output A5 mag pickup like the Jason Becker works great. Many have compared the jason Becker to a less output JB. I have not played the Jason Becker but I have heard it and it does sound full but not overpowering too.
Good luck on everything
Re: Thin Strat Lead Tone. Should I change my Bridge PU?
im not sure what you mean by that. can you explain?
im not sure what you mean by that. can you explain?
Re: Thin Strat Lead Tone. Should I change my Bridge PU?
meaning if he doesn't object to its overall resistance value. some people on here have a certain output they will not go above for one reason or another like above 10 or 12 seems to be a big cutoff. I always liked the pearly gates + over the standard pearly gates but people on here said......thats too hot and I thought.....good gad not everybody on the forum wants a total vintage humbucker.
meaning if he doesn't object to its overall resistance value. some people on here have a certain output they will not go above for one reason or another like above 10 or 12 seems to be a big cutoff. I always liked the pearly gates + over the standard pearly gates but people on here said......thats too hot and I thought.....good gad not everybody on the forum wants a total vintage humbucker.
Juanhanglo
Active member
Re: Thin Strat Lead Tone. Should I change my Bridge PU?
Harmonic design vintage plus for a beefier strat sound with more miss and lows.
HD super 90 bumps that up to a 12 to 13k p90-esque sound.
Both are badass.
So are the Tele versions. In fact, IMO, they are even better
Harmonic design vintage plus for a beefier strat sound with more miss and lows.
HD super 90 bumps that up to a 12 to 13k p90-esque sound.
Both are badass.
So are the Tele versions. In fact, IMO, they are even better
vinnie1971
New member
Thin Strat Lead Tone. Should I change my Bridge PU?
The first thing I would try is check the volume pot and tone pots are A250k then run a jumper from the bridge to the middle pickup tone on the 5 way switch.
If the tone pots are linear, swap the fir audio and roll the tone to 5 and it should do it, Linear crams
Most of the roll of from 3 to 0 whereas audio half way sounds half way rolled off.
If that doesn't fix it look at a new pickup but I'd say bridge always needs a tone control, do all my strats just have a master tone, regardless of them being SSS or HSH, and tone 2 is used for something more useful .... but that's another story
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The first thing I would try is check the volume pot and tone pots are A250k then run a jumper from the bridge to the middle pickup tone on the 5 way switch.
If the tone pots are linear, swap the fir audio and roll the tone to 5 and it should do it, Linear crams
Most of the roll of from 3 to 0 whereas audio half way sounds half way rolled off.
If that doesn't fix it look at a new pickup but I'd say bridge always needs a tone control, do all my strats just have a master tone, regardless of them being SSS or HSH, and tone 2 is used for something more useful .... but that's another story
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
