Hey guys,

I'm looking for that vintage Strat tone from my new Standard Stratocaster. It's a 95 MIM with original '62 electronics and stock pickups, and I want to upgrade those.

I'm torn. I want a really sweet, vintage, classic Stratocaster tone, but I love the upper midrange John Mayer and Eric Clapton get on their live leads...

What pickups should I get? I can't stand the muddy, clunkers that came with my guitar...

Thanks!

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Devon

'08 Standard Telecaster
'80 Gibson Sonex Deluxe
'95 Standard Stratocaster ('63RI)
Hot Rod Deville 212

I hesitate to mention them because they're pretty expensive, but Seymour Duncan Antiquities are as good a Vintage pickup as I've ever heard.

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!

If you're going for the ultimate vintage tone and money isn't an option there is one option:

Kinman MK-III traditional zero hum

http://www.kinman.com/Shop/strat.php

Otherwise I like the antiquities that were mentioned, they are very vintage sounding. The Lollar Blackface pups are super as well.

Another thing you could look into is finding a person who winds their own pups and have some wound to your specs which would be even cheaper and help you achieve the tone you want to your own specs.

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Blues with a feeling.

GUILD GUITARS: MADE TO BE PLAYED!

Fender Fat '50s or Fralin Vintage Hots.

Arjay

Fender 57/62's or Tonerider Pure Vintage Set

John Mayers mids aren't nearly as high as the clapton ones, personally im not a huge fan of the super high midrange. I'd say look at the Dimarzio Area pickups bcuz they've been given amazing reviews and their noiseless as well so you wont get the hum you would get from any fender vintage pickups

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2008 American Stratocaster
Customized Epiphone Les Paul Standard
Fender 65' Twin Reverb Reissue <3
Fulltone Fulldrive 2
Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive
Danelectro Drive
Big Muff Pi w/ Tone Wicker
Dunlop Hendrix Wah

Seymour Duncan makes several that will do for a very reasonable price:

SSL-1's
SSL-2's
& APS1's

I currently have the APS-1's in my MIM Strat with a baseplate on the bridge. They are really good sounding and definately 'vintage' to my ears. I scored them locally 'used' for $75.

~VtG~

The BareKnuckles slowhand set.

Very vintage clapton sounding.

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No no and no

Don't forget Lace Sensor Golds. Great early strat tone!

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September 18th, 1970
There were none better before him.
There have been none better since.