I have an 87 American Strat with stock pickups and I want less hum and more power without going to a humbucker. I want the Strat sound. What does anyone recommend? I was thinking about Lace sensor hot golds in the neck and middle (6k) with the hotter gold in the bridge position (13.2k). Is this a good idea?
How about the Fender hot noiseless pickups?

You can go noiseless or use a slave coil.

Lace is the way to go. The Blue is also good in the bridge. My fav guitar has a gold/silver/blue set. I am going to get a set of hot golds for my other strat. FYI, I'm a little biased when it comes to Lace Sensors
I love them.

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Live guitars: 2009 LTD Truckster, 1989 Strat Plus, 2001 Am Standard Strat, 1996 MIJ Jaguar, 2007 Gibson Explorer 76 reissue, 1999 Ibanez RG7621, LTD MH-301, LTD FM400, 1999 Jackson Kelly, Mystery Les Paul, Hamer Chaparel, Fender FM 62SCE A/E Mandolin

Will you get the 3 gold sensors the same or the hotter one at the bridge?

I personally believe the vintage noiseless are the way to go. The Eric Clapton signature strat uses those. The Fender American Deluxe uses Fender SCN Noiseless, another fine single coil for a little more then vintage noiseless run.

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"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


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stacked dimarzios like a pro 54 or heavy blues 2 warm up the sound very slightly and cancel hum so you get a really nice lush single coil sound

There are a ton of great PU's out there. Fralin's are great too. Expensive, but great. Personally, the hum is part of the vintage signature tone of a strat. I actually like it. People know you're ready to rock when they hear the hum....

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"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


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I know they're not the most popular around here but I love the Fender Samarium Cobalt Noiseless (SCN's) pups on my Amer. Dlx. They are noiseless and provide a very Strat like sound as well.

Russ

Thanks, These look great!

First have you confirmed the hum is your guitar?

If not try this:
Try the pickup selector on a humbucking (essentially noise canceling) setting. Plug straight into your amp with a few different cables. Don't use pedals. Try clean channel with moderate EQ settings. Does it improve?

Another fast way to diagnose the problem is to take the guitar into the nearest music store and test out one of their amps.
Do other SSS strats have the same hum problems on your amp?

Sadly its not just pickups that make noise. If your keeping the guitar you might want to shield the pickup cavity, pick guard and spring cavity with copper. See how you like it.

You can also change the volume pot to a 500K or 1M. It will let a lot more highs through. If you want more crunch then go for an over wound pickup.

But if you looking for a different sound and just worried about pickup created hum/interference then change the pickups.

I like the Dimarzios (area series). They are quiet and sound like classic single coils.

I think the environment for the true single coil has become very difficult.
In the 50s and 60s you may have had neon beer sign to contend with, but now you have all kinds of things creating noise that can sound like a chainsaw with singlecoils.

-Eddie

I recommend looking at Bill Lawrence ( www.billlawrence.com ) or WCR ( www.crcoils.com ). WCR only makes a limited number of the SR sets a year and they are not on his website.

If you need something to do with them stock pickups I'll give you my address and you can give them to me.

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Chet Feathers

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

Have you heard of or used Klein pickups?

No, I have not.

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Chet Feathers

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F/A Official Southpaw Compliance Certification Tester http://faamps.com/

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

The Lace Sensors seem to be a love 'em/hate 'em affair. I have just recently become a huge fan as I have them on my strat pluses.