I have never really given boutique pickups much attention ..The i fell into a set of John Suhr V60's..I have also checked out a set of Fralin Blues specials..I have to admit there is something to these hand wound boutique pups..
Until trying out these two set's of pups i had always thought that the Lace Red,Silver,Blue or Hot Golds were the best pups for a Strat out there..Along with the Pearly Gate and two Texas specials on the lonestar Strat..But after installing these John Suhr V60's all i can say is wow..
Whats your opinion?

I wouldn't say there is one set of pickups that puts every other one to shame that I can truly classify as "the best." Too many different tones and sounds to really narrow it down to one set. If I were to choose one set based on mah limited experience, I'd say the Seymour D SSL-2 neck/mid SSL-6 bridge is my favorite. I won't say they're the best, but they give me the clarity, sustain, and tone that makes me

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I traded my car in for a microphone.

I agree there is no best type pups thats why i left it as an opinion ..I mostly would like to hear of some combination i never heard of before ..Or pups i don't have any experience with..
After all i stuck with the basic texas specials and alinco's and comon pups for years only to find there is a much larger selection out there..
Tone is up to the individual...
But i find asking other players what they think gives me an idea were to start my search for the next guitar build..

You are correct there are a lot of great pickups around. Also Texas specials are alnico's (5's). Alnico is a type of magnet not a pickup it refers to the alloy the magnet used is made of.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

The best pickup is in the EAR of the beholder. Some people like super hot Duncans some people like very mellow alnico pups. Myself, I really like the Fat 50s. What type of music do you like to play?

i have to agree i really dig the fat 50's but its really reliant on what sound the player is looking for. texas specials are right up there too.

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"coretta" '71 tele thinline
"domino" '97 lonestar strat
"marie" squire strat
"lexy" jag-stang
"owa" martin 000

tone=fingers; fingers=tone

Let me list the ones I've actually used. Not in any particular order.
Fender CS Fat 50's
Fender CS 69's
Fender SCN
S. Duncan SSL-5
Fender Alnico V's

"What do you think the best pickups are for a Strat?"

Anything close to Leo's original specifications: Alnico pole pieces and a few thousand wraps of 42 gauge wire.

They don't have to be expensive, IMO, but they do need to be low output.

For example, the pickups in the Squier Classic Vibe look to be fine:



Thanks to flanker35 for the image.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

I just got a set of Fralin Blues Specials but have not got the guitar back together yet. I will let you know how they are. I think i am going to be very happy with them, though. I have pretty much always been a Dimarzio guy and have written off boutique pickups as overpriced, but a while back I took the plunge and tried some Bareknuckle pickups. Since then I have been sold on hand made pickups. I have since made 4 BKP purchases and they have all met my expectations and then some. With the Strat I wanted pure vintage American tone so I strayed from BKP and went Fralin. I don't think Lindy will disappoint me. Hopefully tommorow I will finish it up and let you know.

i prefer the SCN pickups and the EMG SA pickups with the exp and spc circuits

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I'm going with a SD Lil '59 in the neck and Cool Rails for the mid.

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Stagemaster
Roadhouse Strat
Epi Traditional Pro Les Paul
Ovation Celeb
Esteban Celestial Night(nicely tweeked)
Blackheart tube amp

my american deluxe has the scn 's to tell the
truth the tex-mex in my tele sounds better and it is MIM
telecaster the scn just feel like somethin is missing i am
looking at the fralin blues specials i have read like
100 reviews on harmony and not one negative

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1956 Gibson CS Lemon Les Paul
1957 Fender CS Aged Cherry Strat
1958 Gibson CS Pg 85 Les Paul
1960 Fender CS 3tsb Strat
1961 Gibson SG Wildwood Pelham blue
1966 Fender CS Firemist Metallic Silver Strat

My fave p/ups (that I've tried so far) in a Strat are a Seymour Duncan Alnico 2 Pro set with flat pole slugs. Slightly hotter than Vintage but not by much. Lovely sophisticated tone with plenty of 'movement' between initial strike and sustain phase, but still sound very Fender like.

In another strat I have the same pickups but with a Seymour Duncan 'lil 59 in the bridge position for a bit of extra humbucker grunt.

In a Squier strat I have a set of VERY high output single coils SSL5 or 6 at 14k+ These are very disappointing, flat and extremely dark with no crack or edge. Further work required on the pots/caps I think to get the best out of these.

I tried a set of SCNs in my new Highway Strat but was very disappointed. They're very bland and with no movement as the tone decays from initial pick. They are though, absolutely, almost spookily noise free - just as advertised infact.

The stock Fenders in my Classic 60s are pretty good - ceramics I think. The stock Alnico 5s in the Highway I changed out quickly - quite spiky and lacking some body - better tan the SCNs though..

Big dippers for me, sound so tasty. I heard they might be releasing them separate from the guitar which would be awesome.
Then obv Texas Specials because they don't stray to far away from the dippers imo.

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Turn the drums up in the umm, ear goggles

I have Fralin Blues Special on my Strat bridge position. Although I dont use the lead PU much I do like the sound.

I dream of a website where you could choose a guitar, a set of PUs, an amp and effects and compare the results. All with easy drop down boxes. Cant just someone please design that.