Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: Armotron on June 16, 2005, 09:49:36 PM
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Hello,
I'm new here, thinking about a first Bare Knuckle purchase for my Fender Stratocaster( Alder w/ Maple Neck/Fretboard). I currently have 2 SD Antiquity Surfers for my neck and middle pickups and a Lindy Fralin SP43 in the bridge. I want to change my pickguard to HSS and throw in a BK Humbucker in the bridge with low output.
I'm basically looking for a nice warm vintage tone, and a pickup that I can use for the "woman tone" when i roll down the tone knob. I've heard that Clapton was using Alnico 5 humbuckers in his SG, so I wonder if maybe the Stormy Monday w/ Alnico IV would be good because my Strat is a bright wood? I'm not a BK expert so what would you recommend?
Thanks-
Alex
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Mule (58/9 paf) for claptons Les Paul tone, or a Stormy monday (60s PAF) for the SG one perhaps!
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Hi Alex, welcome to the forum.
Alnico V's always bring out the best in an SG but you're right an AlnicoIV would sound better in a lower output siuation with your Strat. I think the Mule would be my choice over the Stormy Monday which would probably sound too bright.
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Thanks Tim and HJM,
Alnico V's always bring out the best in an SG but you're right an AlnicoIV would sound better in a lower output siuation with your Strat. I think the Mule would be my choice over the Stormy Monday which would probably sound too bright.
Tim, I think your right, The Mule probabally would be less bright in the Strat due to those extra winds? Would those extra lows help me to get the Clapton SG tone in the brighter strat possibly?
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While you're at it, get some slowhand single coils to go with the Mule.
You'll have to save up a bit more but I think you're gonna want to do it in the future anyway.
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While you're at it, get some slowhand single coils to go with the Mule.
You'll have to save up a bit more but I think you're gonna want to do it in the future anyway.
What would those pickups give me that the Surfers don't have? I'm not really looking for claptons single coil tone if thats what you mean, are those pickups much better than the singles I already have?
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There are plenty of Strat players on the forum. Most use Irish Tours and Apaches. Most of them used to have Duncans in their Strats. I'm sure they'll be happy to tell you how they compare.
Personally, I think you'll find the improvement astonishing. And if you get 'em as a HSS set, they will be calibrated to work together.
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Anitquities are nice ... Joe Bardens are better ... Irish Tours rule alllll!!!!!
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Daaang, you guys are making me want to spend even more money now, haha. Guess I have to save up a little more money maybe, can anyone tell me the difference between Irish Tours, Slow Hands, and The Apaches? I don't think there are sound clips for all of them?
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Irish Tours: Blues, Rory Galagher, Texas Specials a la Aston Martin.
Apaches: Vintage '50's Strat with bite.
Slowhand: Clapton, blues, hot
There are some clips of the apaches and Irish tours in the players section.
Also check out the Uber single coils that are posted.
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I have to make a clip for WFD this weekend, so I'll do a neck pos. Irish Tour clip, as well. :)
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Would the Slow Hands get me that nice Hendrix clean tone somewhat also? I think the Irish Tours are a little to clear and bright for my tastes, not really looking for that percussive Stevie Ray tone. Maybe something a little more middy. not as much bite, and just a tad bit beefier, yet very gentle and warm and smooth, but still low output, Im thinking the Slow Hands might work quite well?
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From what you are saying I would say Mother's Milk - The Duncan Surfers (as I understand it) are based on a '63 strat pups - i.e. the era of the strat guitarists of the High tide of Surf Guitar: Belairs, Chantays, Dick Dale and the Surfaris - Looking in my Fender boys book of facts, these were Alnico 5 bevelled magnets with (what we now call) vintage windings - Well that is the Mothers Milk to a tee. I have them in neck middle on my strat - they are woody, bassy without too much bass and heat up when driven. They have that Belairs: Mr Moto acoustic sound.
Apaches are also good for that sought of sound - but a more bit trebly and bright - ie more 50s Strat than 62 strat.
I could be wrong - I am not an expert, but they are s**T hot pups for the classic strat tone.
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Ya you're right Elliot, but I'm looking for a somewhat different sound than the surfers, I notice now, they are somewhat thin for my tastes, I think im gonna try to improve on that and change it up a bit, try to get the sound I stated previously.... something maybe more britsh in character persay, not so bright or thin, but middy, warm, somewhat ballsy low output. I'm thinking Slow Hand, but I may be wrong?
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The Slowhand singles are exactly what you're describing -they have extra beef in the mids without sounding honky and I'd describe them as a Brit sounding single as opposed to a US single which is characteristically smoother in the mids.
The SHs are hot without being over the top and definately not thin sounding.
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So when do I get my comission? :lol: :wink:
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Same time I get mine :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Sounds Great! The Mule in the bridge for the Clapton cream era tones and the slowhands for that Strat tone im looking for, but one last question, what pot should I use for this setup, 500k or 250k?
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I believe it's 500k for the humbucker and 250k for the single coils.
If you only have one volume knob, I'd go for 500k.
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This is always a tricky one-Fender get round it by fitting 2 vols and 1 tone-the humbucker goes to a 500K and the single coils to a 250 or 300K.
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Hmm, well Tim, I'll probabally be getting you to do a prewired pickguard for me with a calibrated set when I do purchase this, so whatever you think will be best I guess. Your the professional. :D
I would like to have separate tone controls, 1 for the bridge and 1 for the neck and middle, that probabally wont be possible if we do the 2 volume pots though? Maybe if I did 1 500k and then just rolled off the brightness on the singles with the tone control?
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Or go for a 300K as a halfway house.
I must admit, a 500k is better for the humbucker and the mid/neck benefit too-the majority of prewired HSS I do are all 500K vol.
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Im thinking 500k would be alright? I think as long as the bucker is good, then I could really just use the tone control to shape up the neck and middle? I'm gonna leave it up to you to decide what would work best, when I make the purchase.
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There are plenty of Strat players on the forum. Most use Irish Tours and Apaches. Most of them used to have Duncans in their Strats. I'm sure they'll be happy to tell you how they compare.
Personally, I think you'll find the improvement astonishing. And if you get 'em as a HSS set, they will be calibrated to work together.
I am one of those players!!!! And my opinion is, get rid of those Duncans and grab the BK singles that work best for you!!! After providing a good sound description, Tim will now exactly what you need. You won´t look back...