Warm Pups for '80ish Matao Strat?

[fatboywhitney]

Looking to warm up the sound of this Strat with some thing for the blues and rock, classic and new. Put some cheap vintage "blowout" pups in it to from GFS to get through the set up process and they are harsh except when played clean.

Any suggestions? Oh yeah: maple neck/fretboard, alder body. I'll see if I can figure out how to upload a photo. I bought it for $25 from a co-worker and did a total clean/rebuild. 20 hours later and I finally plugged in today! Original middle pup is dead and not repairable without a rewind, hence, the new set to see me through the set-up. Also had to replace the bridge. (a Proline cheapo) I didn't want to put much money into it until I found out how playable I could get it, and guess what - It plays great! Just need pups and a nice vintage style bridge.

--Mike

 

[davedvdy]

Re: Warm Pups for '80ish Matao Strat?

Go w/the SSL-1's, those are excellent value Strat pups, and sound leagues ahead of any noiseless pup (even the Stack pluses).
It's an excellent classic strat, vintage sound.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Warm Pups for '80ish Matao Strat?

I like A2 pups in an all maple/alder strat. With SSL-1 you can cut saugage into slices by sound. SSL-52 would be great choice too.

 

[Stratovarious]

Re: Warm Pups for '80ish Matao Strat?

3 Dimarzio HS-3s?

On Dimarzio site it says "Warmer than usual Single Coil Sound" and Yngwie uses them and hes got a really warm sound

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Warm Pups for '80ish Matao Strat?

Something to remember about the HS-3 is that it is a rather weak single coil. It also tends to be precise but yet it doesn't sound very good clean. The idea is that it can handle large amounts of distortion and retain clarity.

 

[fatboywhitney]

Re: Warm Pups for '80ish Matao Strat?

Thanks for the input. I should have guessed the A2's would be the ones. Didn't even think of them with so many options out there. I'm thiking of the flat mag set. I'm not a real big Strat guy but when a song calls for it there's nothing else.

On another note, after many hours of tone adjustments and playing the last couple of days, I realize that the pups that are in it are true sounding vintage stagger mags. Seems better for country and rockabilly. --Maybe?

 

[ErikH]

Re: Warm Pups for '80ish Matao Strat?

APS-1's in that guitar should sound great. With the maple board it'll have some extra snap that rosewood doesn't have. I like A5 singles with rosewood board, A2 singles with maple.

 

[fatboywhitney]

Re: Warm Pups for '80ish Matao Strat?

APS-1's in that guitar should sound great.

Staggered = more snap?

 

[ErikH]

Re: Warm Pups for '80ish Matao Strat?

Staggered = more snap?

Not necessarily. A Tele bridge pickup has flat poles yet has plenty of snap. Maple fingerboard guitars can have some good snap to them. The A2's will help keep that from getting too harsh. They're smoother, more rounded in tone.

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Warm Pups for '80ish Matao Strat?

A strat with HS-3's and an EMG mid boost might be interesting. Although I would think you would probably end up using the mid boost alot.

 

[davedvdy]

Re: Warm Pups for '80ish Matao Strat?

What strat sound are you going for? artists maybe that you hear and like?

The alnico 2 magnets are warmer, but that isn't what normally would be considered a classic/vintage strat sound.

 

[fatboywhitney]

Re: Warm Pups for '80ish Matao Strat?

I play rock, (collective soul, etc.) classic 70's rock, and a lot of blues old and new.(timeless stuff!) I stick with my LP a2n and 59b for most stuff. I cut the neck coil for stratier sounding stuff.

I would now like to strap on the Strat for those sounds. ie: SRV type blues/rock. Check out Too Slim and the Taildraggers. I'll post the link. He switches guitars between humbuckers and single coils alot. Straps on a Reverend for slide as well. Their sound is similar to the tones that I strive for. Also early Billy Gibbons, Tinsley Ellis, Omar and the Howlers and Tab Benoit. All of these artist switch between HB's and SC's except for Tab Benoit. ('72 Thinlines w/HB's exclusively)

http://www.tooslim.org/

 

[davedvdy]

Re: Warm Pups for '80ish Matao Strat?

I like Erik's recommendation of the APS-1. I wasn't really thinking about a recommendation keeping the maple board in mind, which is brighter sounding, w/a more aggressive attack. SRV used Alnico 5 mags, but you shouldn't have a problem nailing any of those styles. If that pup is less glassy sounding to you than you want, go w/the SSL-1's, and use the Duncan 21 day exchange policy.

 

[fatboywhitney]

Re: Warm Pups for '80ish Matao Strat?

Thanks Dave and Erik.

APS-1's it will be for me. I may take your suggestion on the SSL-1's and the return policy to at least try them. I'll have to work on the budget and my lovely wife for the purchase. It will happen sooner than later though.

Man, I'm lovin' the feel and playability of this Strat!

--Mike

 

[ErikH]

Re: Warm Pups for '80ish Matao Strat?

No problem, bro. I really dig the APS-1's with maple boards. I've got one in the neck of my Frankenstrat and it's just a beautiful sound. Granted, it's reverse angled ala Jake E. Lee style too.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Warm Pups for '80ish Matao Strat?

Coming back to the SLL-52 i like the idea of having a A5 in the low strings and A2 in the highs. They compensate for the maple board highs but has ultra tight lows. Best of both worlds!

 

[fatboywhitney]

Re: Warm Pups for '80ish Matao Strat?

Thanks for all the input

--Mike