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Post subject: Want to upgrade MIM HSS Pickups.... suggs and reccos
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 4:58 pm
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Have a newer MIM HSS. I want to upgrade the pickups.

I enjoy Clapton, SRV, and pretty much all classic rock. Trying to decide on keeping the HSS or going to a SSS.

What pickups for both set ups?

I know there are the purists that say SSS, but I was told the HSS was very versatile. I don't know much about pickups but I feel like something is missing.

I want to get the most out of this guitar as it was a gift and can't trade it in for something else. (don't want to offend the wife)

Thanks for the help!


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Post subject: Re: Want to upgrade MIM HSS Pickups.... suggs and reccos
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 6:18 pm
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Fat 50's or Texas Specials will deliver your bacon.

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Post subject: Re: Want to upgrade MIM HSS Pickups.... suggs and reccos
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 6:29 pm
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Should I just drop in a loaded pick guard Texas Special / Fat 50? Or should I piece it together?


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Post subject: Re: Want to upgrade MIM HSS Pickups.... suggs and reccos
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 8:23 pm
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Depends on your skill-set.

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Post subject: Re: Want to upgrade MIM HSS Pickups.... suggs and reccos
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 9:08 pm
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Skill set is average....but I am heading in that direction.


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Post subject: Re: Want to upgrade MIM HSS Pickups.... suggs and reccos
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 9:49 pm
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BMW-KTM wrote:
Depends on your skill-set.


+1

Loaded pickguards are convenient but be sure to specify a genuine Fender PG so the screw holes jive with what's already been drilled in your guitar's body. You might consider ordering a .022ufd or .033ufd tone cap when you lay out your specifications. I find these values more useful for traditional single coils than Fender's stock .047ufd fare.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Want to upgrade MIM HSS Pickups.... suggs and reccos
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 12:24 am
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You said something was missing. Just wondering what amp you are playing through. And if you have other guitars to play through it so we know if the missing something only applies to this guitar.

After playing acoustic for 30 years or so I got my first electric guitars but was awhile before I got a better amp. Used my solid state amp with no effects and neither electric sounded good. In fact my stock Squier Affinity sounded better through it than my MIM with Texas Specials(but the Texas Specials blow the Squier out of the water with tubes). Is a decent acoustic amp but everything electric sounded like it was missing something through it.

If you don't have a decent amp, take your guitar to your local music store and plug it into a nice tube amp. If you still think it is missing something there are alot of options but if a better amp gives you the sound you want then just find one in your budget and keep the pickups you have.

The Fender Twin Head in the Deluxe Lone Star is supposed to be good. The Diamondback is a good humbucker too. Most bigger shops should have an example of at least one you could check out. Just make sure it isn't your amp that needs the upgrade.

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Post subject: Re: Want to upgrade MIM HSS Pickups.... suggs and reccos
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 9:31 am
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If you can solder you can handle changing the pickups and keeping the old pickguard. However the prices are so similar I can see how loaded pickguards are tempting.

I put Fat 50s in my own MIM sentimental-value Strat. I like them a lot. Good and chimey and sweet or ballsy-sounding as needed. I put a 0.1 mfd capacitor in my MIM for what it's worth.

My other strat has N3 Noiseless which are very quiet but with a bit softer attack. Still so close I can't easily tell them apart on recordings. My intention was originally to change out the N3 noiseless for Seymour Duncan SSL-1, but turns out I like them.

HSS - I was thinking if I were to do it I was looking at Duncan Pearly Gates pickup for the bridge or maybe a DiMarzio Tone Zone. But I never got around to it.


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Post subject: Re: Want to upgrade MIM HSS Pickups.... suggs and reccos
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 3:15 pm
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Bit the bullet and bought the Texas Specials. Can't wait


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Post subject: Re: Want to upgrade MIM HSS Pickups.... suggs and reccos
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 3:41 pm
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ETEXAG wrote:
Bit the bullet and bought the Texas Specials. Can't wait

Great pickups these, I fancy another Strat with them in :)

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