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Post subject: Bridge Pickup for American Standard Strat
Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2015 10:26 am
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Of all my guitars, the one I like playing the most is my 1989 American Standard Strat. The neck pickup really hits the spot for me but I think the bridge pickup is a weak point for my taste. My favourite bridge pickup is the P-90 on my Les Paul 60s Tribute.

Is there a pickup I could put in the Strat bridge position that would sound like, or close to, a P-90? I would like to keep with a standard size single coil rather than fit a true P-90.


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Post subject: Re: Bridge Pickup for American Standard Strat
Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2015 11:38 am
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The DiMarzio Virtual Vintage Heavy Blues II will get you close. The Chopper is worthy of consideration as well.

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Post subject: Re: Bridge Pickup for American Standard Strat
Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2015 8:18 am
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Thanks for the suggestion. I may well give that pickup a try.

I recently bought an Okko Diablo Gain+ overdrive pedal that I am getting used to. I am beginning to like it a lot not least because I can get a good drive tone from both the neck and bridge pickups on the Strat without changing any settings thanks to the + (boost) function on the pedal. Whether or not it it good enough for me to keep the stock bridge pickup remains to be seen. At this stage I think I will end up changing the pickup.


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Post subject: Re: Bridge Pickup for American Standard Strat
Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2015 8:35 am
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Before you switch pups, run a bridge wire between the 2nd and 3rd contact on the inside row of your 5 way switch. This will connect your bridge to the 2nd tone pot.... I find that to be a needed mod in a sss stratocaster.

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Post subject: Re: Bridge Pickup for American Standard Strat
Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2015 9:26 am
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Couple of things to keep in mind, often a full size humbucker or a P90 will have a much different volume output and will seem odd when you switch back and fourth (try a Lonestar Strat, you'll know what I mean).

I suggest, however, is a Seymour Duncan Lil 59. I put on in my last Stratocaster. Good Rock tones in the bridge and left the bluesy tones in the neck.

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Post subject: Re: Bridge Pickup for American Standard Strat
Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2015 2:59 pm
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Thanks for the comments.

My Strat has always had the bridge pickup wired to the second tone pot. The pot was originally a TBX control but I recently replaced it with a "normal" tone control.

I do have another Strat, an American Special FSR, from a couple of years ago. That has Texas specials in the neck and middle and a humbucker in the bridge. I prefer the tone of the neck and middle pickups in my American Standard but I do like the humbucker in the bridge and don't really notice a volume jump compared to the single coils. One of the reasons I'm not keen on the single coil in the bridge of my American Standard is because is sounds quieter than the neck.

The biggest problem with my FSR Strat is that is simply does not feel like my American Standard. I've owned the Standard from new and after a few years I fell out of love with it and I rarely played it for many years preferring instead my humbucker equipped guitars. It came with a maple neck then last year I was in our local Fender dealer and saw a genuine Fender replacement neck that had a rosewood fretboard. So I thought I would replace the neck and ever since I can't get enough of it. There is something about changing the neck that has made it feel and play like a different guitar and I love it! I just want more from the bridge pickup.

I am great fan of Matt Schofield and he gets amazing tone from his bridge pickup. In fact most of his solos are played on the bridge pickup. I expect his Two Rock amp has a lot to do with it but the bridge sounds so fat.


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Post subject: Re: Bridge Pickup for American Standard Strat
Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2015 4:18 pm
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keep in mind that the P90 on a Les Paul andf on a Strat will have very different sound. A bolt on maple neck and alder or ash body versus a mahogany body and a set neck will give very different results... Years ago i installed Carvin HSS pick ups on my Strat but never did they sound like my Les Paul Custom...

Seeking to have a Gibson sound like a Fender or a Fender to sound like a Gibson is I believe missing the point... Both have their own voicings regardless of pickup choice...

As for the weak bridge, first check the impedance levels, it may be the bridge pup is the weakest and the Mid and neck are stronger.. Optimally it should be the bridge, followed by the mid then the neck as to output levels...
Of course the amp matters for 50% of that tonality but regardless of Schofield's amp choice, you can be assured his equipment has been reworked and dialed in.

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Post subject: Re: Bridge Pickup for American Standard Strat
Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2015 4:27 pm
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53magnatone wrote:
As for the weak bridge, first check the impedance levels, it may be the bridge pup is the weakest and the Mid and neck are stronger.


+1

As well, inspect the wiring for any signs of a marginal solder joint or corroded contacts on the selector switch.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Bridge Pickup for American Standard Strat
Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2015 6:59 pm
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53magnatone wrote:
Before you switch pups, run a bridge wire between the 2nd and 3rd contact on the inside row of your 5 way switch. This will connect your bridge to the 2nd tone pot.... I find that to be a needed mod in a sss stratocaster.

One of the first things I do. Except I connect to the neck tone pot.


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Post subject: Re: Bridge Pickup for American Standard Strat
Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2015 1:59 pm
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Duncan claims their Quarter Pound Flat SSL-4 to be P-90 like....from their site :

"description
More than twice the power of a traditional single-coil. The result is a fat, punchy sound; similar to a P-90. It's clean at lower volumes and screamin' when cranked. The hand polished, quarter-inch diameter magnets are matched with a powerful coil winding to deliver great sustain, making this one of our most popular single-coil pickups. Does not use a cover."

If you want to get "old school" try a Dimarzio SDS-1. That will def' "balls up" the bridge slot. It can be noisy though. From Their site :

"It might look like a Strat® guitar pickup, but the SDS-1™ adds punch, gain, and warmth reminiscent of the best old soapbar pickups."


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Post subject: Re: Bridge Pickup for American Standard Strat
Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2015 4:22 pm
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Hi there,
I recently wired one of my Strats with a Master tone, master volume and series blender configuration. By doing this you keep all the original electronics and you add two more sounds in addition to the standard five sounds. When you engage the second tone pot, you put the bridge and middle pickups in series or the neck and middle in series. The sound is thicker, takes distortion very well and you have a slightly higher output volume which is good for soloing. It's kinda of an humbucker. In addition the pickups being RWRP the two extra tones are hum cancelling!
My Strat now has it all, standard strat tones and more power when needed.
Cheers!


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Post subject: Re: Bridge Pickup for American Standard Strat
Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2015 9:02 pm
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DetroitBlues wrote:
I suggest, however, is a Seymour Duncan Lil 59. I put on in my last Stratocaster. Good Rock tones in the bridge and left the bluesy tones in the neck.


They're many choices you might expect from Seymour Duncan: Jeff Beck Juniors, Cool/Hot Rails and Lil' Screamin' Demons....


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Post subject: Re: Bridge Pickup for American Standard Strat
Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 4:01 am
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Hi, I happen to have Seymour Duncan SSL-4s in my '87 Japanese Strat, in all 3 positions. It's different from your standard Strat sound, much heavier, but sounds great. It's my go-to guitar when I go playing or jamming. I would say it's comparable to P-90s but not an exact copy. When cranked up, my Strat really rocks.


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