I have read about several interesting pick up combinations, such as as:

69 custom neck
54 custom center
texas special Bridge

I curently play a 2006 stock std strat, a 2001 texas specail with texas customs, a 2003 deluxe with 69 customs in place of the s1, and a 54 reissue.

I like the tone from my 54 reissue and the deluxe with 69 customs best, the std and texas specials seem flat in comparison. I play blues/ blues-rock.

What is the experiece of the fourm members in mixing pick ups to find that perfect tone?

J

Well Jeff, you're talking my language here as our stylings are essentially the same. I'm glad to see that you're not afraid of 60 cycle hum either.

It is understood that although we are of the same ilk musically, we still strive to have our Strat(s) as versatile as possible. To this end, I am firmly convinced that NO one specific set of pickups is capable of this. Brand, yes; three of the same model within the brand, no.

I have mixed and matched for over 40 years looking for what I feel covers anything and everything (that I'd ever play any way). You name it, I've probably tried it. Ironically, I've found three Seymour Duncan production models believe it or not which suit my needs perfectly. They are: SSL-2 in the neck, SSL-6 in the middle (no RW/RP) and an SSL-3 in the bridge. None are tapped versions either. I get bells, balls and everything in between with this combo! I do have the guitar wired so that I can neck and bridge pickups on together instead of neck and middle.

_________________
You dig?

That’s what I do as well. Mine is a similar configuration but the Dimarzio "Area" closest equivalent.
Area 67 - Neck
Area 58 - Middle (Considering trying the VV '54 Pro)
Virtual Vintage Heavy Blues 2 - Bridge

I like having the brightest pickup in the neck because it tends to give you that wide scooped tone, and then something very dark in the bridge to prevent the ice pick.
This gives you a Wide to focused tone range instead of dark to bright. I find this more useful because I can use my tone control to change how bright the tone is.