I'm looking at buying a MIM Strat and want to know some good pickups for that bright, snappy, clean rhythm guitar for funk/disco. Something that won't sound muddy when strumming fast 16th note chords, and just that basic clean/crisp funk sound overall.

Some examples of the sound I'm looking for:

Get down on it - Kool n the Gang
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXQ2KNoSvpk

I want to be your lover - Prince
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo7nTT_gcoY

I'm coming out - Diana ross
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-mjl63e0ms

September - Earth, wind, fire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQf9dtrc26A

They don't have to be the top of the line, though I am interested to hear what the best would be, but just something good for that sound. My current guitar is an Agile-2000 (LP copy) Goldtop w/ p-90's and it just gets real muddy anytime I try to play rhythm chords. Not really happy with it for the style of music I'm looking for, and think a strat is better, so I want to make sure I don't invest in a new guitar and end up with the same problem. and want to find out ahead of time the best setup for Funk guitar.

Thanks

I gig with a funk/r&b/rock band. A stock American Standard Strat does everything I need. Very clean, bright and funky. Sounds great with a Voodoo Lab wah pedal. I have tried to use my Am.Dlx. Tele for funk but the n3 neck pickup sounds like crap, it just doesn't have the tone I'm looking for. A Strat does it well.

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Tim

Great to hear thanks. Do you think if I put American Strat stock pickups on a MIM I'll get the same results? I know the tone won't be quite as good, but in terms of clean bright, funky and not muddy.

btw, what kind of strings do you like?

Prince plays a Tele. I've managed to get some pretty funky rhythm sounds out of mine. As far as Strats go, I would go for any low-output vintage-y pickups. I guess for me personally I kind of think of John Frusciante as one of the guys who took all that funk rhythm guitar stuff and combined it into one package, and he always played vintage guitars, so that's kinda my reference point. The pickups in my Classic Series '70s Strat were PERFECT for all that scratchin' stuff. Especially with the maple board. Plus the big headstock/logo just exudes the right vibe.

I have vintage-style pickups in my white Strat, but kept the TBX tone control. I almost never use it, but the treble-boost function can make some interesting, bright 80s-style funk sounds. So you may want to consider adding the TBX control if you get a MIM Strat.

Prince plays a Hofner tele copy and is an exceptional guitarist. Tone is in the fingers as well as the gear. No matter how you look at it a Tele can not achieve that same glassy out of phase sound as the neck and middle of a Strat. Not that there is anything wrong with what you get out of a Tele, frankly I love em' but the Strat is what is behind bands like the Isley Bros. and 70's dance music like Chic. Or how about a modern funkster like John Frusciante. I gig weekly, own both guitars in question and choose the Strat when I need authentic, rhythmic and tonal recreations of the funk tone in the tunes our band plays.

Why spend money on a Mex Strat and then more on pickups. Save your money and buy an American Std. or buy a used one. Really, I would not be surprised if the mex Strat did the trick un-modded.

I use 9-42 Ernie Ball Super Slinky.

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Tim

A lot of tele players in the 80's were getting that funky rythm sound by using a seymour duncan in the bridge and rolling the highs off a bit on the tone.
You should get a good funky sound from a strat, even with stock pick ups. A 5-way switch gives plenty of options for tone.

I've got a set of Van Zant True Vintage pickups in my Strat and I feel like they would work.
They are made by 1 guy, Van Zandt's Nephew. I really like them.

You could also look into using '69 or '70s style pickups.

I hope this helps.

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1975 Sunburst Stratocaster rosewood finger board
1979 Stratocaster with roseowood finder board
2001 Candy Green Clapton Stratocaster
2007 Andy Summers Inspired Telecaster
2007 '51 P-Bass
2012 Taylor 110
2015 Mystic Ice Blue Deluxe Stratocaster Plus