OK guys, I'm looking at several strats, all seem pretty good but outfitted quite differently. The American special has the Atomic Hum in the bridge, the Lonestar has the Pearly Gates, the American Standard just says that it has an Alnico V Hum in the bridge and the Road Worn has the Atomic as well I believe. I know what a Pearly Gates sounds like, but I really don't know much about the other pickups. I've played lot's of Fenders for years, now currently playing a LP and a Jimmie Vaughn Strat but kind of looking for that Go To live axe that will do it all. Had an HSS set up Strat years ago but after a buddy gave me for free a cheapo Ibanez set up like a Strat HSS, I realized what I was missing. This Ibanez ain't bad, plays ok and sound ok for a cheap guitar with Ceramic pups, so it really has me looking seriously at a strat hss again. I love the midrange growl of my LP but really miss the strat sound on stage and the snap of a 25 1/2" scale guitar. Any thoughts on these guits above?

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"I'd rather live in Bedford Falls than live Pottersville" ~ me

I have tried all of the HSS configurations. The HSS with the Diamondback is about the closest to matching the two SS tones overall. IMO. All are good players. It just depends on the tone your looking for. I settled on mine with the Diamondback because I play more in a RR and Blues vein on the "Clean to verge of Breakup" side. It has a very clear tone that is nice in a HB pickup.

A side note: Fender calls the single coils I have "Tex-Mex", they are not the same as the Tex-Mex you can get as a set. They are more similar in tone the Custom Shop Texas Specials I have in another Strat.

Get the pickups for the type of music you play and you'll be happy.

Your going to get really fine and sincere responses around here but, in the end, you've got to get out to a vendor and play those guitars and listen for yourself with your ear. Tone [according to a great series of articles in Premier Guitar] is a very personally perceived characteristic of music.

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"Another day in paradise!"

I personally do not like the Atomic Humbucker. I do like the Diamondback and Pearly Gates humbuckers. As someone has already stated, I recommend that you play models that have these and see which is best for you. Happy Hunting.

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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