ok I love the feel of the MIM strat and the sound is great, but I'm a big fan of VanHalen & Hendrix, so I really want to upgrade the pickups in my MIM strat.

I really want that dirty strat sound but the ability to go clean as well. this is my first single coil guitar so im pretty clueless on pickups and hardware. so what do i need to know about single coil pickups ?

suggestions would be great

thanks

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Fender Standard (upgraded) 2008
Fender deluxe blackout telecaster
LTD F-2E 2007
Schecter Hellraiser 2006

blackheart little giant 5w head
blackheart 1x10 killer cab

Custom Shop Texas Specials.

Higher output and a really good snarl compared to the original MIMs. I had em fitted to my Strat back when I had it and they were really good.

There's plenty of pickup threads on here so do a search (even down in the pickup and accessoried section - plenty of good info there!)

Cheers.

If you're looking for that kinda Van Halen tone, then switch to alnicos. I once read that EVH used Gibson PAF pickups in his guitars, so maybe try out some Gibson humbuckers? Or some Seymour Duncan alnicos?

And just because its a SSS doesn't mean that you can't replace the bridge position. Just cut your pickguard out to fit the humbucker (and make sure the pickup cavity in the Strat can hold it).

Personally, if you want that old-metal kinda tone, I'd recommend the Seymour Duncan '59 for the bridge. But you'll need to try out some other guitars with other pickups to get a real opinion.

Can't comment on Van Halen tone, but I can tell you that both Fender Vintage Noiseless pickups and Fender Tex-Mex pickups sound great for Hendrix tone.

The Texas Specials have a beefier tone than either of those and are my personal favorites.

I'd suggest trying guitars out that are equipped with different pickups to find the ones you like or search youtube for videos of people playing with a certain kind of pickup. I decided on the Texas Specials because of a youtube video and I can say that I'm even happier with them than I thought I would be.

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My MIM Strat has T/S`s....sounds nice

i added a set of Fender SCN and the sound is awesome >>> check this deal out online >> http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0340532050

There's always pedals. Fuzz, distortion and overdrive...

You can always put a Hot Rails in the bridge position, you'll have a fairly high output humbucker that'll fit in the single coil slot. On a side note, i replaced all my pups with 2 Dimarzio Area 58's in the neck and middle, and an Area 61 in the neck. I have to say those are the BEST vintage sounding pickups I've used to date. I love the quietness of noiseless pickups, but always thought they all had no real personallity to them. These on the other hand sound really close to the pickups they're trying to emmulate ( I've played them on a friends stupidly expensive vintage) and have to say, they're really close. They're a bit on the pricey side, but if you're looking for a good replacement pickup, those are them.