Hello All!

I'm hoping that someone can help me out here with a pickup recommendation. I'm currently in the process of rebuilding my MIA strat and am at a crossroads as to what pickups to put in. Looking for a pickup that has "classic" strat sound with some punch and warm tones, but yet able to handle screaming overdrive without becoming too muddy. Currently playing in a band that plays everything from blues to classic rock to 80's metal, and I'm gettin' tired of constantly switching from my strat (with the TS pups) to my SG depending on the song selection. Any pickups that can handle both sounds? Or any mods that can be done to the TS's (I prefer the feel of the strat to the SG)? Any help is appreciated!

I have been wondering the same thing for a Strat I want to modify.

I am considering the CS Fat 50's. Good reviews and the middle pickup is RWRP.

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Hi Jerry.

I am using the 1969's in the bridge and the neck and a fat 50 revers wound in the middle so I get hum canceling.
I am also using the aluminum pick guard for hum canceling, that with the five way switch works for me.

If you live near Portland Oregon, I will more then happy to meet up with you at a guitar store and let you take mine for a spin.

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Marriage is like playing cards...

At first all you want are Hearts and Diamonds.

But in the end, all you really want is a Club and a Spade.

is it SSS or HSS?

It's an SSS without room to put in a Humbucker unless I rout out the body -- which I personally should not do!

haha well if all you were looking for was extra punch and aggressiveness I would say go as simple as trying out the fender custom shop texas strat pickups. But if your looking to try and emulate some of those overdrive tones that you achieve through humbuckers, then I wouldn't quite know what to tell you.

heres just a suggestion... maybe try placing a seymour duncan SHR-1 Hot Rails in your bridge pickup. Its about as close as one can get to simulating a traditional humbucker in a single coil design.

Kinman Woodstock or Woodstock Plus set will handle anything you need it to.

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Blues with a feeling.

GUILD GUITARS: MADE TO BE PLAYED!

jerry

i was in your situation with one of my HW1's. i ended up putting
69's in the middle and neck, and using a seymour duncan JB jr in the bridge.
best all around strat i have now. i can get good rockin crunch out of the bridge
(think maiden or 80's metal) and solid blues from the middle and neck
just by rolling off the volume a tad bit.
i wouldnt change a thing on this guitar now as far as tone goes.
perfect for your situation i believe.

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

I would suggest Lace sensors Hot Golds. All colors are great, and noiseless. But you want classic tone and clean muddy-less distortion. That's it...these are the best.

I have a Blue in the neck position, a Gold in the middle, and a set of Red Duallys in the bridge on my Ultra.

I will change the PU's in my 1970 Stratocaster to the Golds, one day.

Link: http://www.lacemusic.com/

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2007 Classic Player Baja Telecaster
1991 Strat Ultra
1990 Gibson ES-347
1986 Yamaha SBG2100
1980 Gibson L6-S
1971 Stratocaster
Fender Stage Lead Combo
Marshall MOSFET 100 watt Amp

I was in a similar position as you are now.

I found my Bill Lawrence SCN pups in my Deluxe Strat did the job just fine for those Strat tones I needed and for those Humbucker required tracks.

Of course there is nothing like the real deal of the actual instrument itself because there are a lot of different build dynamics of either instrument opposed to each other that make them so unique.

Bill Lawrence SCN's as the Deluxe set up should do you fine.

Looks like I have some homework to do. Lot of great suggestions from everyone. I currently have Texas Specials in my other Strat, and they just get really muddy when then OD is kicked on -- even if I roll off the bass and mids from the pedal. I guess now I just need to experiment with different combinations of pickups -- I at least now have some direction as to which ones to try. I'll post which ones I choose. And if I don't find that "winning" combination maybe I'll have to change pedals.... or join a different band! Thanks again!

--Bud


Keep on pickin' -- what else is there?

Before I forget -- I want to say thanks to Jeffytune for the invite, but I'm in snowy Upstate New York -- not exactly a short drive to the music store in Portland!!

--Bud



Keep on pickin' -- what else is there?

I really think the problem is likely to be with the eq settings on either your amp or drive pedal, rather than the pickups themselves. If anything the midrange increase of texas specials should help the sound stay defined when suffering drive, where a scoop would exacerbate the problem.
Look at your eq and drive pedal before you go wasting money mate.

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No no and no

I've adjusted my pedals and amps so many times that there's no numbers left on the dial! I use an ART Xtreme, Ibanez TS808, and a Morley wah/volume in my lineup, running through either a '69 Super or a '73 L5. Maybe I should get an inline eq or a different pedal? Still have to get pickups as the guitar currently hasn't any, so maybe this is a great time to revamp the whole setup.

--Bud

Keep on pickin' -- what else is there?

you could always try lindys blues specials.

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."