Got my Apaches!

[B3]

Hey Dave :)

I'm thinking about getting a set of BKP singles for my strat, and I was just wondering how the hum is with the apaches? I have a SD SSL1, and it's a liiiittle annoying buzz-wise. I'm waiting on a new amp, which might make some difference. I love the single-coil tone, but I'm just trying to figure out how I feel about singles generally, and BKPs in particular, if that makes sense.

Also, if you have a rwrp middle coil, how effective is the humbucking in the 2 and 4 position? Is it just like a humbucker?

Thanks in advance!
-Liam

My advice is to go with true single coils since anyting else is a compromise tonally. If noise is a problem for you, get the Suhr noise cancellation system. It really does work!

[Fikealox]

Thanks guys, I appreciate it :D I make such a meal out of choosing pickups!

[Philly Q]

If noise is a problem for you, get the Suhr noise cancellation system. It really does work!

The only problem with the Suhr system is that part of it is built into the tremolo spring cavity cover plate - and both my Strats are hardtails!  

I wish they'd come up with a way of building it into the pickup or control cavities.

[B3]

It's only the aerial part that's on the backplate. I believe if you ask, it can  be attached to the underside of the pickguard around the pickups instead for hardtail models. It only works for standard Strat pickups though, not with the reverse middle pickup.

[Philly Q]

Interesting, thanks for that info!   :)

[Prawnik]

If single-coil hum is bothering you, proper shielding will help a lot; either an aluminum plate under the scratchplate or one of those gold-anodized aluminum pickguards that some vintage Fenders had.

The gold-anodized setup is dead-quiet.

[JamesHealey]

my apaches turned my strat into an spectular instrument.. but unfortunately the pickups and guitar are having to go due to financial reasons.. (bought a gibson and a marshall)

[FernandoDuarte]

It's only the aerial part that's on the backplate. I believe if you ask, it can  be attached to the underside of the pickguard around the pickups instead for hardtail models. It only works for standard Strat pickups though, not with the reverse middle pickup.

And in a hardtailed Strat with no pickguard? :D  

I'm always going for the hard way :(

[WezV]

It's only the aerial part that's on the backplate. I believe if you ask, it can  be attached to the underside of the pickguard around the pickups instead for hardtail models. It only works for standard Strat pickups though, not with the reverse middle pickup.

my understanding of the backplate is that it is similar to a built in dummy coil.  there fore it wont work with the middle RWRP pickup... but surely if you revese the phase of the back plate coil it will work the same way it works for the bridge and neck, ok not at the same time but it wont need to since those settings are hum cancelling anyway.

just pondering really but wouldnt it be possible to wire up a superswitch so that the dummy coils phase was reversed in the middle position.. and if that wasnt possible at least a normal phase switch could be added to flip it round when in the middle position and needing hum cancelling

i may be wrong!!

[B3]

It's only the aerial part that's on the backplate. I believe if you ask, it can  be attached to the underside of the pickguard around the pickups instead for hardtail models. It only works for standard Strat pickups though, not with the reverse middle pickup.

And in a hardtailed Strat with no pickguard? :D  

I'm always going for the hard way :(

Then you could fit the aerial into the front of your shirt, although I suspect you also play nude, in which case I won't make any more suggestions.