I've only spent a very short amount of time at my local GC's playing blacktop strats and tele's. The pickups are advertised as "hot alnico" but that doesn't really mean much. Anyone own a blacktop? Humbucker-wise how do these "hot" pickups fare? Let's say compared to Duncan JB, Dimarzio Super Distortion, or something like that. I'll probably buy a blacktop anyway just because, but I'd like some feedback on the hotness, tone, and "feel" of these pups. Thanks in advance.

Bro you have to remember, what every we say here is just our personal opinion and taste. Every ones differs from the next. IMO, they were not hot as I know high output pickups to be. The neck pickup didn't have enough definition for me, and would sound muddy. The bridge was, eh, ok but didn't sing the way I wanted it to. I did like the switching configuration though. I plan on putting some Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro's in my Blacktop.

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+1

It's all matter of tastes & how you find them with your own ears..btw, mine's with EMG's now (DG20 set with 3 EMG SA's)...but i kinda liked the oem Humbuckers..just not what i'm looking for in a strat

I like them for cleaner passages. Very weak compared to my other guitars.

I have a stock loaded pickguard I'd get rid of quite easliy, they weren't for me.

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All in all I think they are OK for MIM. I agree with another post that the neck is slightly muddy. I'm thinking of swapping and putting a set of SD Hot Rodded Humbucker's in mine. SH-2N, and SH-4JB. These are super sweet.

I just switched out mine with one of these...


DG20 David Gilmour

I found a short tremolo here http://www.stratcat.biz/4027.shtml

So now I have a Red Gilmour strat, sort of...

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First I'll say that I really like the sound of the Blacktop pups just the way that they are. Sweet, solid, warm cleans, especially the neck. The bridge is great for rock, and crisp, crunchy drive as well as jangly cleans.

Comparing my Blacktop to a couple of Les Pauls, the Blacktop pups aren't nearly as loud. The Blacktop pups seem more like hot single coils to me, but with better low-end, beefier sound.

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I guess I forgot to mention that I do like the stock pickups, they sounded really good through my Blues Deluxe and Blues Jr and I did not have to crank up my OD's as much as I did with my other Strat with Vintage Noiseless pup's... The stocks were pretty hot by themselves...

I have been wanting a guitar with EMG's for awhile so I made the switch on the Blacktop. I might get that new Blacktop with the Floyd Rose...

_________________
In the hands of the right people it can change the world. Not bad for a hunk of ash, a few magnets, and some wire.
Band Site
http://www.reverbnation.com/bigskybluesband
Demos
http://www.youtube.com/user/bigskybluesband

I owned a Blacktop a few months ago, then the Floyd Rose version came out. I used my Blacktop as a trade in for a different Strat.


I just put money down on another Blacktop with the Floyd. Playing both guitars the pickups in positions 1,3,and 5 sounded muddy to me. Positions 2 and 4 sound very Strat-like. I am changing mine to a HSH configuration with SD Pearly Gates, Rw alnico 2 single coil, and JB. I also plan on coil taps for the humbuckers as well.

The Blacktops I have played all play well which is why I am getting another. It is my opinion the the original humbuckers are best suited for Blues and Rock.

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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