Strat pickups?

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MattH
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Strat pickups?

Post by MattH »

What are your faves? Why?
All the gear... absolutely no idea...

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Re: Strat pickups?

Post by codedog »

Following...

I have only used 3 different sets.

SSL-1 neck and mid, SSL-5 bridge. It was nice, a bit hot but super crisp.
Stock Alnico 5 set in the Player Series. Pleasant enough, nothing to write home about.
SD Antiquities. Very nicely balanced, warm but clear and open. So far my favourite.

I also tried an Andy Timmons set, the one in his older signature Ibanez. It's basically DiMarzio Cruiser Bridge in neck and mid, and AT-1 in the bridge. The AT-1 was crazy bright on its own. The Cruisers were nice and mellow, but didn't sound like single coils to my ears.

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Re: Strat pickups?

Post by jeremyb »

I'm really new to strats, so limited experience is BKP Apaches in kdawg2a's blue Strat, Fender Tex mex's in my roadworn, much higher gain than the Apaches and sound fucking great, as do the Apaches mind you, I really dig the Nick Johnston set as well, but haven't tried them personally....
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Re: Strat pickups?

Post by Molly »

CS '69s for that big, sparkly thing. John Mayer's 'Where The Light Is' album has the greatest Strat tones IMHO. Really clear and incredibly strong - no ice-pick either. I think the Dumbles might help of course (a bit...) but the online blah blah I've read often suggests CS 69 pickups as being a good choice in recreating that album's tones.

I've also liked BK Irish Tours and what was probaby CS 60s in my last Strat. They had a really cool, dirty, gritty blues character to them. They were the ones with the beveled magnets.

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Re: Strat pickups?

Post by codedog »

Was hoping you'd jump in, Molly. I've been thinking about that set too. I think Cdog might have that set...

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Re: Strat pickups?

Post by kdawg2a »

The custom shop 69's are great. I love the SD ss-1l California vintage set. I also have the BKP apaches (as JB mentioned) and a set of 61's. They're all (+ more!) Going to get played this Saturday (21st) at Christchurch gearfest. Stay tuned for results!
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Re: Strat pickups?

Post by robthemac »

Voxshall has had a few in various Strats. I think there are Don Mare's in the one he sold me (but not 100%). They sound great, whatever they are.
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Re: Strat pickups?

Post by Molly »

kdawg2a wrote:The custom shop 69's are great. I love the SD ss-1l California vintage set. I also have the BKP apaches (as JB mentioned) and a set of 61's. They're all (+ more!) Going to get played this Saturday (21st) at Christchurch gearfest. Stay tuned for results!
Just a week away! Never realised. I'll bring my CS69 equipped Mexi though I think those pickups are better in a rosewood guitar.

All that said, the nicest sounding Strats I've had have had one thing in common. A light ash body. I had a blue, heavy relic '55 that I think wins for me. Always comparing with memory of course so not a true side-by-side and the amps would've been different too.

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Re: Strat pickups?

Post by Zaulkin »

I like SSL-1s for that vintage strat thing.

Kinda tempted to try the bridge cruisers again, although I had them once and they didn't work that well for me. Saying that, it's been years and I know a lot more about EQ now.

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Re: Strat pickups?

Post by Rog »

I have stock CS Fat 50s in one, Fender Lace in my fav and Bill Lawrence Keystones in my 3rd Strat
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Re: Strat pickups?

Post by MattH »

Thanks folks. Looking at a partscaster build, so most helpful.

Picked up an unused MJT body for a little less than I would have needed new, so now - as Danny said to me when I saw him last - it’s all over. I’m gonna have to keep going now!

Had my eye on some of the loaded kits at Stratosphere.

I had my eyes and ears on the ‘69s, so that feedback is great. Can get a pickguard loaded with CS ‘69s for around 450 landed. Seems to be a relatively good deal for someone who can’t solder for shit...

Now, to find a neck...
All the gear... absolutely no idea...

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Re: Strat pickups?

Post by Molly »

MattH wrote:Thanks folks. Looking at a partscaster build, so most helpful.

Picked up an unused MJT body for a little less than I would have needed new, so now - as Danny said to me when I saw him last - it’s all over. I’m gonna have to keep going now!

Had my eye on some of the loaded kits at Stratosphere.

I had my eyes and ears on the ‘69s, so that feedback is great. Can get a pickguard loaded with CS ‘69s for around 450 landed. Seems to be a relatively good deal for someone who can’t solder for shit...

Now, to find a neck...
Subscribed. :-)

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Re: Strat pickups?

Post by AiRdAd »

If I was you. I'd think about the amp(s) you're using now and work backwards from there. You want something that matches with the amount of 'juice' you give the amp to make it overdrive at the point you like it. Think about what guitars/pickup combinations work the best now? If those combinations are lacking, you could tyr and find something that fills the gap? Or if they are really good, find something of a similar output level? Also magnets etc make a difference. :-)
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Re: Strat pickups?

Post by Rog »

AiRdAd wrote:If I was you. I'd think about the amp(s) you're using now and work backwards from there. You want something that matches with the amount of 'juice' you give the amp to make it overdrive at the point you like it. Think about what guitars/pickup combinations work the best now? If those combinations are lacking, you could tyr and find something that fills the gap? Or if they are really good, find something of a similar output level? Also magnets etc make a difference. :-)
So true and two others I've found after years of experimentation are that pickup height and different strings can both make significant differences. I changed awhile ago to flatwounds and that changed both my tones and even my playing technique.
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Re: Strat pickups?

Post by Molly »

If I back-off the preamp on my RK50 from one o'clock to twelve I get a completely different dynamic thing going on that makes me favour one guitar over another. Strat on the lower, Tele on the higher. If I hit the boost it makes me want to play on humbuckers. So, yeah. Amps will play a part.

What tone do you have in your head?

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