I'm a newbie and have very little experience with strats. I have seen many well versed members here and was hoping you could guide me.

I just purchased an 08 Fender American Special Mahogany Deluxe Strat. It is completely stock. It has an HSS setup and S1 switch. While I love the guitar, and the single coils are not horrible, I am very dissapointed with the nasty hum. However, as I play an array of styles I really need kick when going into lead gear. The point is that I am very dissapointed on the loss of gain on the humbucker when one uses distortions to lead... I use a PRS 22 Custom and a 78 BC Rich Mockingbird Supreme each with dimazio or seymor duncans and they are warm and full. The strat is great with clean sounds but lacks on the other side.

Is this a pickup problem or is it a wood density problem?

I'm considering installing some Lace Alumitone's and somone also suggested to replace them with Shur FL's.

Can someone with experience fill me in on these pickups, setup mod, or is there something else I might consider?

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08' Fender American Special Mahogany Deluxe Stratocaster || PRS Custom 22 || 78' BC Rich Mockingbird Supreme - USA Stock || Taylor 814CE || Takamine CT Classical || Cordoba Classical

Have you tried to adjust pickup heights? On this Forum you can do a search for "Nickel Method." I find this a good starting point for pick up adjustments, then zero in from there.

You already know how the Seymore Duncan and Dimarzio pick ups sound. I am not sure about the Lace Alumitone's sound; however, I have seen at least one Strat on this Forum with them in. Maybe that forum user can shine some light on thise pick ups for you.

Usually in positions 2, 4, and 5 should not have that nasty hum. I have a HSS Highway 1 (I know not the same guitar, but...) and it has stock Alnico III's in the bridge and middle. I installed a Dimarzio Super Distortion DP 100 in the bridge. I do get that 60 cycle hum in positions 1 and 3. That is where those single coils are by themselves. I tend not to play Metal or music that requires high gain through those posititons. There are also noise supressors on the market that can help eliminate the hum as well. There are also noisless pick ups on the market as well.

The Stratocaster is a different animal than the BC Rich and PRS guitars. I suggest playing around with your gain and pick up heights. If you plan on using a lot of gain, avoid the neck and middle pick ups on their own; or learn to turn down the volume when you are finished playing a song.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

rkreisher,

Thank you so much for your kind response. I have looked into the Nickel Method and I will adjust the pickups to improve the sound. I believe that your counsel is quite prudent.

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08' Fender American Special Mahogany Deluxe Stratocaster || PRS Custom 22 || 78' BC Rich Mockingbird Supreme - USA Stock || Taylor 814CE || Takamine CT Classical || Cordoba Classical