What's your favorite strat pickup?
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Re: What's your favorite strat pickup?
I've just been playing with my Bareknuckle Apache's over the last few days. They have just enough bite and fullness to do the more overdriven tones well, but that sweetness to do soft stuff like The Wind Cries Mary perfectly too. No icepick on the bridge pickup either which is a miracle really.
I've just been playing with my Bareknuckle Apache's over the last few days. They have just enough bite and fullness to do the more overdriven tones well, but that sweetness to do soft stuff like The Wind Cries Mary perfectly too. No icepick on the bridge pickup either which is a miracle really.
Re: What's your favorite strat pickup?
Overall, I love the STK-S4 Classic Strat Stack. For true single coils, I love the Antiquity Surfer II and the Five Two.
Overall, I love the STK-S4 Classic Strat Stack. For true single coils, I love the Antiquity Surfer II and the Five Two.
Powdered Toast Man
New member
Re: What's your favorite strat pickup?
I've tried some of the popular Fender offerings. Had the CS69 set and they sound pretty but I didn't care for the scooped mids.
I have the Fat 50's set in my Hwy1 Strat and they sound really good.
I just switched my AmStd Strat over to a set of Fender '59 Strat and they're REALLY good! I love them! The sound exactly like you'd expect from a 50's Strat. Honestly they have the clarity and chime of the CS69's except with more pronounced mids.
I've tried some of the popular Fender offerings. Had the CS69 set and they sound pretty but I didn't care for the scooped mids.
I have the Fat 50's set in my Hwy1 Strat and they sound really good.
I just switched my AmStd Strat over to a set of Fender '59 Strat and they're REALLY good! I love them! The sound exactly like you'd expect from a 50's Strat. Honestly they have the clarity and chime of the CS69's except with more pronounced mids.
Ayrton
New member
Re: What's your favorite strat pickup?
Favorite?
Not possible, but I do enjoy most flavors of vintage styles.
Seymour Duncan Antiquity II Surfers
Seymour Duncan Antiquity Texas Hots
Seymour Duncan SSL-1s
Seymour Duncan YJM
Fender Custom Shop 69's
Fender Custom Shop 54's
Fender Custom Shop 57/62's
Fender Custom Shop Fat '50's
Klein Epic Series 69's
Klein Epic Series 63's
CMDaugherty Custom '59's
Fralin Vintage Hots
O.C. Duff Slab'sters
Chubtone 69's
DiMarzio Area
Favorite?
Not possible, but I do enjoy most flavors of vintage styles.
Seymour Duncan Antiquity II Surfers
Seymour Duncan Antiquity Texas Hots
Seymour Duncan SSL-1s
Seymour Duncan YJM
Fender Custom Shop 69's
Fender Custom Shop 54's
Fender Custom Shop 57/62's
Fender Custom Shop Fat '50's
Klein Epic Series 69's
Klein Epic Series 63's
CMDaugherty Custom '59's
Fralin Vintage Hots
O.C. Duff Slab'sters
Chubtone 69's
DiMarzio Area
Jacew
New member
Re: What's your favorite strat pickup?
I can't say I have favorite: It depends on the guitar and how they're wired and all the rest. So I just try and listen what's in whatever situation.
I ha SSL-1 in middle of this one strat, where it sounded really bland and lifeless. I replaced the middle with SSL-5, which sounds incredibly good there. Perfect balance.
I moved the SSL-1 to neck position (replacing the SSL-7, which was useless there. For the bridge those are just perfect for classic rock tones). SSL-1 turned out to be muddy mess in there.
So switched it out and replaced it with VZ Blues pickup, which is quite perfect. Nails that classic strat neck I was hunting. Howevere I installed the SSL-1 to the neck of my other strat while ago, and there it does exactly the same. Really good, just didn't work with that particular guitar.
I can't say I have favorite: It depends on the guitar and how they're wired and all the rest. So I just try and listen what's in whatever situation.
I ha SSL-1 in middle of this one strat, where it sounded really bland and lifeless. I replaced the middle with SSL-5, which sounds incredibly good there. Perfect balance.
I moved the SSL-1 to neck position (replacing the SSL-7, which was useless there. For the bridge those are just perfect for classic rock tones). SSL-1 turned out to be muddy mess in there.
So switched it out and replaced it with VZ Blues pickup, which is quite perfect. Nails that classic strat neck I was hunting. Howevere I installed the SSL-1 to the neck of my other strat while ago, and there it does exactly the same. Really good, just didn't work with that particular guitar.
gimmieinfo
New member
Re: What's your favorite strat pickup?
I always seem to come back to fender and i feel like they just have the longest experience and most resources. Once again that come to fruition with a set of fat 50s recently. My fav strat set to date. No magic here, just a tone that works and allows the guitar's voice to come thru. They replaced my highly regarded van zandts and are staying to be sure. It's that sound where you just don't wanna put it down. YMMV but if you are into vintage strat sounds i doubt it will.
I always seem to come back to fender and i feel like they just have the longest experience and most resources. Once again that come to fruition with a set of fat 50s recently. My fav strat set to date. No magic here, just a tone that works and allows the guitar's voice to come thru. They replaced my highly regarded van zandts and are staying to be sure. It's that sound where you just don't wanna put it down. YMMV but if you are into vintage strat sounds i doubt it will.
Lewguitar
New member
Re: What's your favorite strat pickup?
The Strats that sound best to me are early 60’s Strats. 61 - 64. 62 might be the best year.
So Antiquity Surfers for that sound.
Or Fralin Vintage Hots.
I have a set of each and the two sets have similar output and sound very similar.
My #3 choice, especially for someone on a budget, is the SSL-1. Sounds very similar to the Surfer and VH.
I have never liked the bridge pickup on a vintage Strat.
Too weak. But too strong and you lose the middle/bridge pickups combined sound.
I like a Fralin Steel Pole 43 for the bridge pickup. Sounds a little like a P-90 but it combines well with a stock Strat middle pickup and retains most of that classic M & B Strat tone.
I have a Tele bridge pickup from the Custom Shop in my other Strat...an Alnico 2 Hot For Tele Tapped.
The Strats that sound best to me are early 60’s Strats. 61 - 64. 62 might be the best year.
So Antiquity Surfers for that sound.
Or Fralin Vintage Hots.
I have a set of each and the two sets have similar output and sound very similar.
My #3 choice, especially for someone on a budget, is the SSL-1. Sounds very similar to the Surfer and VH.
I have never liked the bridge pickup on a vintage Strat.
Too weak. But too strong and you lose the middle/bridge pickups combined sound.
I like a Fralin Steel Pole 43 for the bridge pickup. Sounds a little like a P-90 but it combines well with a stock Strat middle pickup and retains most of that classic M & B Strat tone.
I have a Tele bridge pickup from the Custom Shop in my other Strat...an Alnico 2 Hot For Tele Tapped.
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Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
Re: What's your favorite strat pickup?
Lace Sensor Hot Golds
Lace Sensor Hot Golds
stupendous silly
New member
Re: What's your favorite strat pickup?
There sure must be great sets out there I have no idea about, but everytime I am playing Fralin Vintage Hots I am feeling right home... it is great clean or dirty, it is the most classic strat sound we all know and love and at its best. I have some higher output Lollars in another guitar which are great but they are more a thing of their own. I would like to try that Bare Knuckle Apache set mentioned if I had a spare (and suitable) strat for them, that was a most interesting and inspiring sound I heard in demos.
There sure must be great sets out there I have no idea about, but everytime I am playing Fralin Vintage Hots I am feeling right home... it is great clean or dirty, it is the most classic strat sound we all know and love and at its best. I have some higher output Lollars in another guitar which are great but they are more a thing of their own. I would like to try that Bare Knuckle Apache set mentioned if I had a spare (and suitable) strat for them, that was a most interesting and inspiring sound I heard in demos.
Tone Meister
New member
Re: What's your favorite strat pickup?
I'm still in love with my Lollar Blackface set, although they're definitely not vintage correct. But just a great set for my tastes, and they cover all the music styles I love to do. For Rock, I still love the Lace Sensor Red, Silver, and Blue set from the early 90's in my 73 Strat.
For authentic vintage Strat tones, though, my Klein S7's are pretty much on the mark.
I'm still in love with my Lollar Blackface set, although they're definitely not vintage correct. But just a great set for my tastes, and they cover all the music styles I love to do. For Rock, I still love the Lace Sensor Red, Silver, and Blue set from the early 90's in my 73 Strat.
For authentic vintage Strat tones, though, my Klein S7's are pretty much on the mark.
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: What's your favorite strat pickup?
I got decent sounds out of Texas specials. I have a heavy hand sometimes and they are a little stronger than a regular pickup so it seems like I was always slamming the front end of whatever I was playing through a little harder than it wanted me to.
Have you guys ever played a squier affinity Stratocaster? It comes with utterly basic single coil 101 Mickey Mouse pickups and sounds closest to what a stray sounds like in my mind. Insane to think that the classic tone in particular is even more present when the ingredients are basic and functional instead of trying to be fancy pantsy.
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I got decent sounds out of Texas specials. I have a heavy hand sometimes and they are a little stronger than a regular pickup so it seems like I was always slamming the front end of whatever I was playing through a little harder than it wanted me to.
Have you guys ever played a squier affinity Stratocaster? It comes with utterly basic single coil 101 Mickey Mouse pickups and sounds closest to what a stray sounds like in my mind. Insane to think that the classic tone in particular is even more present when the ingredients are basic and functional instead of trying to be fancy pantsy.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
