Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: Twinfan on November 02, 2006, 04:12:11 PM
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My Fender Strat is far too clinically clean for my liking. There's no bite and punch to it, which I suspect is a combination of the body wood and the standard pickups.
Which singles still sound like a single coil, but have plenty of bite and attack (still with a nice full tone) to really liven up the guitar? Irish Tours?
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Twinfan, whats the strat details, body wood/neck/bridge type and current pickups?
Is it mainly for blues/rock tones?
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i'd go ITs
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Mother's Milk.
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Twinfan, whats the strat details, body wood/neck/bridge type and current pickups?
Is it mainly for blues/rock tones?
It's a '91 USA standard strat - Alder body and maple neck with rosewood 'board. Bog stock with standard pickups.
I have an '83 Squier that I have tuned to Eb for SRV/Hendrix tones. I'd be using the Fender for a good solid Strat tone e.g. Pink Floyd, Clapton, Chili Peppers, Dire Straits - bit of everything really.
The guitar just doesn't feel "alive". I'm after a set of pups that will overcome what I think is a dull piece of wood and give the guitar a personality. So IT's or MMs are the suggestions?
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chances are all the BKPs will make it feel more 'alive'. Thas why they sell so well :D
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Mother's Milk will give it more 'zing'. :)
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Now you just know what I would say, me being a vintage Strat fan and all that. Has to be Apaches or, from what I have heard, Mother's Milks. They are not at sterile and have all the character you'll need and will give you back what you put in.
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Although I've not tried the IT's I went for the MM's as I wanted a bit less midrange. IMO the MM have to be the most versatlile strat pickups- superb cleans, will easily do SRV, Gilmore, Blug tones and I'm really suprised how good they sound with silly amounts of gain and dirt. Mine originally had lace sensors which were completely toneless and were pretending to be strat pickups.
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Hmm. I tried some vintage style pickups in this Strat and it didn't really help. They were David White Old Glories which are now fitted to my JV Squier and sound great - proper "old school" strat.
I'm after something a bit different for the Fender - a bit more modern and zingy/edgy. Would that still mean MMs would fit the bill?
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Id go Mother's Milk - I have a set in my 83 JV squier - I think it would give you the best versatility.
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Given what you say and Elliott's comments then MM's might be the way forward. I heard a MM strat a couple of weeks ago and they did sound great though obviously I have to allow for the fact that the guy playing was a superb player and he was using a rather nice old Marshall Plexi.
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If you like Claptons tone wouldn't you want Slow Hands??
Just a thought,
RorySRV,
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If you like Claptons tone wouldn't you want Slow Hands??
Just a thought,
RorySRV,
Slow Hands = darken the tone
Mother's Milk = liven the tone
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What do ITs do for the tone?
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i think they're similar to the black dogs (although a SC version) i think they would add more bite to it, and more attack, kinda like Rory Gallagher's playing
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NEW BODY !!
If the unplugged sound isnt good - it is hard for the pickups to make the difference.
I'm with TO on the Mothers milk otherwise, but wood is so important
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What do ITs do for the tone?
They'll cover it in Texas BBQ sause, that's what they'll do :D
I know they're called Irish Tours, but for me they're the classic sound of Texas Blues. If you love the tones used by guys like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Albert Collins you'll love these pickups.
They'll still do all the classic strat tones when you want them to, but they also have a little extra sizzle for when you want to really let rip.
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I've had a set of irish tours in my alder bodied Jap strat for 2 years now and they're great.
Admittedly I've never tried any other BK pickups apart from checking out the sound clips on the forum, I went for the Irish tours as I love Rory gallagher, jimi hendrix, srv etc. I was slightly worried that they would be too much overkill for more sensetive playing such as Dave Gilmour type tones but they can do everything - hot texas blues, mega heavy metal, subtle twangy blues, chilli peppers, buddy holly, comfortably numb solos - 1 and 2 !!
Although they're aimed at getting you in the same ball park tone wise as Rory Gallagher they really are very flexible tone wise - classic strat distortion, grinding neck pickup, sparkling chimy cleans etc. all you have to do is just back off the vol. control and they clean up great.
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Now I am back on line I can comment without having to check for the boss!. Someone mentioned Slowhands-I love them too and, given the right circumstances they do a great job. I love them for the great blues tone-rich and full and the in between tones really stand out-more so, to me that the Apaches. After recently hearing the mother's milks however I would concur with what others have said but consult the oracle-Tim or Steve for a definitive answer.
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The Irish Tours are supposed to be the fat strat sound. Like Rory Gallagher (hence the name) and texas blues like Stevie Ray Vaughan.
If I ever get a strat, that's what's going in there.
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I was gonna put some Irish Tours in my Strat, but I dont know if I can face changing it from stock after hearing all these stories of guys from the 60's changing their Les Paul originals from stock and losing a significant amount of value.
Then again I cant see myself selling the Strat at all let alone anytime soon, so why not?
What do you guys think??
As you can see I'm a big fan :)
RorySRV,
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As long as you keep the stock pickups then you can restore the guitar to original spec should you ever decide to sell.
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Aaah Good idea Beatle :wink:
I feel more saving coming on :wink:
RorySRV,