i just picked up a used 2005 Amer Deluxe Strat. Very nice upgrade to my Amer standard strat. Both are HSS. The new deluxe sounds sort of muddy compared to the standard, so I'm gonna put new pickups in. I like to play blues and classic rock, with the occassional hard rock. I never use the middle pup, but I use the bridge humbucker for classic and hard rock, and the neck pup for blues and some classic rock solos.

What would be a good option for pups? So many to choose from and I'm not familiar with what is best for this. BTW, I'm not a fan of EMGs.

Before you go putting out money for new pups try playing with the pup height. If it sounds muddy to you lower the pups.

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Chet Feathers

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

I did. From what I've read a lot of ppeople aren't happy with the pickups that came on this guitar...

Which makes one wonder why you felt compelled to buy it in the first place.....?

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Dennis in CR
Rockin' since 1963

Because it is an all around better guitar than the standard strat, and it was a great deal I got on one. I knew pickups could be replaced easily.

I have a 2011 Deluxe and was not happy with the pickups either. I always wanted to play around with different pickups so I got the DG20 preloaded pickguard, and then I also made my own preloaded pickguard with a set of texas specials.

I have the texas specials in it right now. I think I probably like them the best. second best (to me) is the DG20, and in last place is the N3 noiseless.

As far as the guitar goes. The Deluxes are awesome guitars, and much better than the standards (IMO). I got the sunset metalic with mint green pickguard.

I consider my Strat with the N3 Noiseless pickups to be the most versatile of my guitars as far as getting a variety of sounds. When I don't like what I hear, I turn some knobs on the amp. The nice thing is, they're quiet.

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'10 American Deluxe HSS Sunset Metallic
'10 JA-90 Thinline Telecaster
'15 Music Man JP-15 Blueberry Burst
'07 Les Paul Standard Faded LCPG #82
'14 Carvin ST300
'12 Carvin CS424S
'66 Guild Starfire IV w/Bigsby
'14 Warmouth Partscaster Daphne Blue

I'll buy a guitar that has bad pups in it if I love everything else about it. pups are cheap and easy to replace. Choosing between a guitar the sounds killer but a twisted neck or a great neck and bad pups, i'll take the great neck.

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Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. It is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self. Therefore, trust the physician and drink his remedy in silence and tranquility.-Khalil Gibran

quote]
I'll buy a guitar that has bad pups in it if I love everything else about it. pups are cheap and easy to replace. Choosing between a guitar the sounds killer but a twisted neck or a great neck and bad pups, i'll take the great neck.[/quote]

+1

I'm with Krab on this one. I have a Deluxe and I'm looking at options for different pups myself.

I have an HSS so yesterday I just ordered a set off ebay that are Texas Specials and the humbucker is a Pearley Gates Plus HSS. Reviews were pretty good on other sites. We'll see.

That's a good point, although the Deluxe pups were very muddy, so an EQ wouldn't fix that each note isn't coming out as crisp and clean as I'd like. But, where do you put your eq? In the loop or in the chain, and where in the chain?

i did on my HSS and what a difference GOOD Call

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2011 PRS 25th SAS
2008 Eric Clapton Custom Antigua Strat
2012 PRS Artist Package Studio Special Order

try some voodoos or tom shorts, many people make good pickups, not just the fender mafia

oh well, I see you have ordered a set already, too bad, now you can't join the formvar vs. enamel coil wire debate

I like my Deluxe pups. (for now)

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American Deluxe Stratocaster 3 colour sunburst
Gretsch projet Black
Legend Fake Strat (Very nice sound)
Mustang 3