Which Pickups...

[Mr Joe Bass]

I have recently acquired a Squire Stratocaster "Bullet Series". It was a gift & actually doesn't sound too bad & plays very well. I know it isn't the good old American Fender but I would like to do a little mod on it to get it up to the standards of my Ibanez Artist. I modded it with (2) Duncan Custom Customs years ago & it gives me almost anything I ask for. The Squire I am looking at putting a SSL-1 Vintage in the bridge & a STK-S2 Hot in the neck. My question is, what would your reccomendations be for the "Middle" selection or just leave it alone?? When I listened to the Sound clips on the website here they gave me the sound closest that I am looking for...Thanx for any input....

 

[Kommerzbassist]

Re: Which Pickups...

Uhm... hi there, welcome to the forum...
I'm not sure if I got you right, but are you looking for a Custum Custom Sound with Single Coils?

 

[Mr Joe Bass]

Re: Which Pickups...

I'm not trying to get the "Custom Custom" sound, just the same gain. I've never used a Strat of any kind before, I've always liked the sound, I just want to tweak it up a bit. The Squire Bullet Strat I am not even familiar with so that's why I listend to the tone on the Duncan site. I picked out the (2) pickups for the bridge & neck that i like but am not sure of what to use for the middle pickup or just leave it stock... Any suggestions there would be helpful..

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Which Pickups...

I think you'll want to go with something at least as hot in bridge as you choose for the neck. So if you want the hot stack in the neck, maybe three hot stacks? (2 neck and one bridge) Keep in mind that stacks cancel hum, and a single coil like the SSL-1 will not (however, many think that the true single coil is the oly way to go).

If you don't mind the hum you could go for the Custom SSL-5 or Hot SSL-3 to match the gain of the CC's in your Ibanez. It sounds like you like the standard Strat sounds, maybe just beefed up a bit in gain?

Also, if you only use the bridge and neck pickups, never use any of the combo sounds with the middle, then maybe just leaving it stock will save you money.

 

[Mephis]

Re: Which Pickups...

You might also want to consider the Rio Grande dual calibrated set.


http://www.allthingsguitar.com/2004reviews/Rio-Grande/riogrande.htm

heres a complete soundclip recap of all the pickups in the set and all the positions, amazing if you ask me.