What pickups to sound more like Nile Rodgers?

[Nile Funk 1234]

I have a Strat with an alder body and a maple neck that I am interested in making more like Nile Rogers' Hitmaker guitar.
What pickups should I install?

Yes, I know most of his sound comes from his fingers. I am working on that!

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: What pickups to sound more like Nile Rodgers?

Fender CS69 or Duncan Psychedelics.

 

[PicoRiveraTele]

Re: What pickups to sound more like Nile Rodgers?

I have a Strat with an alder body and a maple neck that I am interested in making more like Nile Rogers' Hitmaker guitar.
What pickups should I install?

Yes, I know most of his sound comes from his fingers. I am working on that!

Any alnico 5 Strat pickup set below 6.0k. Nile Rodgers also often recorded with a DI box direct into the mixing board.

 

[Nile Funk 1234]

Re: What pickups to sound more like Nile Rodgers?

I have read that his middle position pickup is out of phase. Anyone know what is really going on in the Hit-maker guitar?

 

[Wattage]

Re: What pickups to sound more like Nile Rodgers?

Nile is such a cool cat!

This doesn't say what pickups but you might get some other info out of it. Not a big Strat guy but the Fender Pure 59's and the AntII Surfers would be on my shortlist. Fender says CS69's some places and then Custom wound versions of 69's in others.

http://www.nilerodgers.com/about/press/2911-a-tribute-to-nile-rodgers

 

[Mincer]

Re: What pickups to sound more like Nile Rodgers?

I'd think you can get there with a set of SSL-1s (or -2s) and possibly a great compressor, like the Vise Grip.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: What pickups to sound more like Nile Rodgers?

I find it hilarious (in a bad way) that someone like Rodgers with the history of his '60/'59 strat, no one seems to know if the original 1960's pickups are still in the guitar.

The tribute model used CS 69s, which is even more humorful when you consider what Fender was actually producing in 1969.

I think most of Rodgers sound comes from his style and recording methods, so any 42 AWG Formvar pickup wound to low 6k will get you in the ball park.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: What pickups to sound more like Nile Rodgers?

The tribute model used CS 69s, which is even more humorful when you consider what Fender was actually producing in 1969.

They sound funky clean and clear to my ears.

In all cases, you could give an SSL-1 loaded guitar to SRV and Nile Rodgers and they’d each sound like themselves.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: What pickups to sound more like Nile Rodgers?

Very true!

I was saying the late ‘60’s was not the high point of Fender pickups.

 

[AlexR]

Re: What pickups to sound more like Nile Rodgers?

^ Unless your ideal tone is the tone of those pickups.......in which case they are the best.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: What pickups to sound more like Nile Rodgers?

This guitar part is epic!

 

[Kiwiguitar]

Re: What pickups to sound more like Nile Rodgers?

I've always used the middle pup of a Strat and a bit of compression through a clean amp to cover his playing. He's a big influence.

It's also important to understand what he plays. Tight little chord fragments and staccato notes.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: What pickups to sound more like Nile Rodgers?

 

[Clint 55]

Re: What pickups to sound more like Nile Rodgers?

^Justin's jammin at the start of the video cracks me up. And how good does that maple neck Tele sound with the mini humbucker?!