Let me clarify - real strats with single coil pick ups. If you put humbuckers in the guitar it is not a strat anymore, in my opinion. There is nothing wrong with doing that, but it is not a stratocaster. EVH, Jake E Lee, et al did not use real strats. They hot rodded them with humbuckers and they sound great. They don't soound like SRV, though, which is the strat sound.

I know what yer goin for.
I have a highway one strat with the alnico 3's. The pickups are the one thing I really like about the guitar. Great for metal/ rock. I'm gonna pick up another loaded pick guard off ebay to put in the warmoth I intend to build. I've always been a humbucker guy but these single coils have a lot of output and crunch. You can probably get a bridge pickup for $20 or so on ebay.

Did you take that .022 cap out and put a .1uf in?

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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

When have you ... EVER ... seen Halen with single-coil pups? Everybody you named predominantly plays humbuckers along with a rackful o' gear, especially Eddie.

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Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...

I disagree. Ritchie Blackmore invented hard rock on a stock Stratocaster.

Try some DiMarzio Pro Tracks instead of the 69's. Much better "hard rock" choice since they are single coil sized humbuckers.

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"Life is like eating jalapenos. What you do today may burn your arse tomorrow"

I'm sorry but I have to -completely- disagree with that sentiment. I have Duncan's in my '96 MIM and they don't change the fact that it's still a Strat at all. If anything saying that my Strat is anything other than a Strat just because I've chosen to mod it to my own personal taste is actually rather insulting. Yea, my old Kramer is nice and I've played some decent Jackson's and such over the years but very simply I play Strats because I like Strats...and having humbuckers in there doesn't change that one lick. Also, considering the number of Fender Strats that have come from -Fender- with humbuckers in them, with the Stratocaster name on them over the years...not to mention the Strats that come with Lace Sensors...you can't really argue with the folks that make the product there dude.

I could be wrong here but your perception of what makes a Strat seems as though it may be based on what Leo put out back in 1954 and while those are certainly fine instruments with a very coveted sound to say the least, that really shouldn't discount the evolution of the instrument as a whole. I'm sorry but to me that kind of logic is along the lines of saying that anyone who like's Ford Mustangs should all be driving '65s and that newer Mustangs aren't really "Mustangs"...which is obviously a load of hooey. A given individual may prefer the originals or "vintage" over the new but that doesn't make the new any less than what they are.

One of the truly beautiful things about a Strat...in my humble opinion at least...is that they are so easy to "personalize"...different necks, different hardware, different pickups...doesn't change the fact that they're still Strats! I mean honestly...if you think that having something other than single coils in a guitar makes it something other than a Strat, do you feel the same is true of the necks as well? Should Strats only have -one- neck shape? Are they all supposed to have the 6 screw trems...after all a lot of Am Std owners do actually like the 2 point trems...are those not Strats as well? What if someone chooses to replace their bridge saddles or nut with something like an after-market graphite...does that mean the guitar is no longer a Strat?? Are you -really- serious???

You are of course welcome to your own opinion but in this case I -really- have to disagree with it.

Jim

While I think that Joelski's comments may have been worded a bit...ummm...crudely, I have to agree with the sentiment. Personally I'm a big Duncan fan as well...I tend to favor the Hot Rails myself but either way if you're looking for a specific sound, perhaps you should have done some more research...buying those '69s was probably a poor choice for the style you are after. If you're going to be pumping thru an old Fuzz Face in to a Marshall stack trying to get a Hendrix-like sound, yea...those '69s would probably be pretty great. If you're trying to get a good smoking blues sound, same thing. For a more modern hard rock sound though? While I don't really believe there is a "right" or "wrong" in regards to this, I think you (the OP) would have been much happier with either Duncans or DiMarzios or something in a nice stacked bucker package.

That said, I would also have to make another comment here as well...while the poor choice of pickups are likely a portion of the problem, you later stated you were using a Line 6 Spider...if you look around on these forums as well as the internet in general, those aren't exactly "great" amps...not by a long shot. -Any- guitar is only going to sound as good as the amp that it's running through and at the risk of being insulting here, those little Line 6's are basically inexpensive little modeling amps and nothing more...and they tend to sound like it. It doesn't really matter how "accurate" a digital model might be...you'll never get a little $200 combo amp to sound like a Marshall stack if that's the sound you're really after. If you really want a good hard rock sound, maybe you should be looking at something like a Marshall or something similar instead.

I'm not trying to be rude here...I'm really not but to me it doesn't sound like there's a problem with the pickups you installed as much as simply a poor choice in equipment all the way around.

Just my opinion as always,
Jim

I also go for a fairly heavy tone with an SSS Start thru a Line 6 head (driving a cabinet w/ two old EVM 12Ls) with a Digitech RP350. I know people here like to hate on solid state, but I get massive tone. The Strat is a MIM Std Strat w/ Tex Mex pups. I also have a '79 Gibson SG Std w/ ceramic 496R/500T humbuckers. I get a great heavy tone with the Strat, but it -- because of the single coils -- sounds a lot "thinner" than the creamy SG. But I can make the Strat sing, getting a tone -- to me -- laying halfway between late '70s EVH and Robin Trower. But when I want that heavy crunch it sounds like you are seeking, I grab the Gibson. Honestly, one is not better. They are totally different, and I love them both. But don't be so quick to discount the CS '69 pups ... it sounds like they are delivering some tones that you were not looking for, but may learn to really enjoy and explore.

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Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...

One thing puzzles me,if these pups are true representations of the original 69 why do they sound poor?Jimi Hendrix played a lot of his hard rock on 69 Strats and I'm pretty well sure that the fabled Woodstock Strat is in fact a 69.Maybe you need a Marshall,works for me.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Er, yeah. Get a different amp. Marshall anybody?

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-Kirk

GUITARS
'12 Sonoran Acoustic - black (dated 10/31/12)
'13 Standard Strat
AMP
Vox ac4c1-bl
PEDALS
Compressor
Big Muff
Vox Stomplab 1G
Carbon Copy Delay

Ok...Point taken. Btw, I guess my Mahogany strat really isn't a strat because it came from the Fender factory with a humbucker. I wish Fender would heed your advice and change the name accordingly. What should we call em?

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10-4 good buddy, over and out!

Well crap! It says "Fender Stratocaster" on the headstock... I guess I got ripped off.

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60th Anniversary AD Strat, Deluxe Nashville Tele, Player's P Bass. Mesa/Boogie Mk IV combo, Marshall JCM800, 1960A cab, Genz Benz El Diablo 60, Genz 2x12" cab, too many neat little practice amps and kit projects!

Okay, that's one. How about the other million people that do play a strat for the specific sound it makes?

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60th Anniversary AD Strat, Deluxe Nashville Tele, Player's P Bass. Mesa/Boogie Mk IV combo, Marshall JCM800, 1960A cab, Genz Benz El Diablo 60, Genz 2x12" cab, too many neat little practice amps and kit projects!

Take it easy O1-whatever, I wasn't talking about the type of pu's, I was referring to some hard rocking musicians who have used strats. You know what, who cares, I'm out.

BUT, if it's important for you to be right, your right and I'm wrong. Hope that makes you feel better.

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10-4 good buddy, over and out!