Firstly let me tell you that I am a more mature player who plays in a covers band on weekends as a hobby - said band plays everything from Pink Floyd to AC/DC to ZZ Top to Rory Gallagher and a bit of Pink to boot . Live I currently use a Gibson Standard exclusively as I am having difficulty as set out below with my strat.
I am hoping someone can solve a query I have as regards an intended pickup change I am contemplating to my 2005 Fender Highway 1 Lefty. I understand it came loaded with "3 Hot Single-Coil Strat® Pickups with Alnico 3 Magnets and Reverse Wound/Reverse Polarity Middle Pickup".

Since these seem to a bit "thin" when trying to do various songs in my band that require an increase in gain I am contemplating a replacement with the Hot Noiseless Fenders. However having reviewed the specs for these two pickups are they not essentially the same pickup?

Alternatively can you suggest a replacement pickup set that will still give me some of the Fender jangle/glass and still have the capacity to do some more high gain leads etc when required??

I really want to start using this guitar live (as it is actually an "easier" guitar to play) and not rely upon my Gibson standard for all songs and need your advice....anyone help

The simple answer is to get a clapton strat. They jangle when you want and howl enough to shame all but EMG 89's, when you want. You need to learn to control it though.

Highway1 pickups are alnico3 and only noiseless(ish) in positions 2&4. The rwrp middle pickup affects the sound of those 2 positions too much for my ear.

Hot Noiseless are ceramic magneted and are noiseless wherever you have the selector switch.

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No no and no

After a lot of testing and pickup changes I settled on the Dimarzio area pickups. Specifically (from nec to bridge) the area 67, area 61 and Heavy Blues.
This strat nails the classic Pink Floyed sound and can easily do ZZ Top. (I play both A LOT). It has more output than my les Paul but still sounds very Stratish.
If im doing ACDC I have to use my LP but it can do the other jobs nicely.

Just get a Gibson Les Paul.

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James Burton Upgrade Telecaster
Hot Rodded Am Fat Strat Texas Special (now featuring Kinman Traditional II pickups)
Fender Blues Jr.
SWR California Blonde
Pedals Pedals Pedals

First, Did you say you are currently using a Gibson Les Paul Standard? If you are, most strats will sound thin in comparison, as they should. However, if you like I was, are convinced you need to change, here's where I would look.

Browse through some of user "Martian"'s post from the last 2 months or so. His opinion is among the most respected here, and he has posted about this in detail. I will try to find it for you, give me a few minutes.

I found this buried on page 26.

http://fender.com/community/forums/view ... hp?t=30256

My first suggestion is to play with pickup height for starters. Moving the pickups closer to the strings will take the tone in the direction you want. You will lose some sustain though.

My second suggestion is to play with your amp/fx settings as Strat Single Coils are very different from LP Humbuckers.

Lastly, If you are still not happy with your tone contact Jim at WCR ( www.crcoils.com ) and see if he has a set of SR's made up. The SR's are not by any means inexpensive, but they will give your sound the kick in the arse you are looking for. I have a set and love them!!!

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Chet Feathers

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