New HSS set for Fender lonestar strat (maple neck)

[Rory_Knopfler]

Hi all,

I own a Fender Strat, (lonestar made in USA with alder body, maple neck/fretboard, HSS) and I'm looking for new pickups. Even though the pearly gates humbucker is pretty nice, it gets muddy and fuzzy very fast, especially when you crank up the gain a bit more. (And no, I do not use too much gain) (Amp is a Crate voodoo 60 alltube combo with 1 Vintage 30 speaker) The texas specials had been okay too, but sometimes I thought that they sound muddy as well. Moreover I didn't like the pearly gates together with the texas special at the middle position. They didn't like each other. They did not make my strat sound like a strat at all.

Do you know Rory's tune "Bad Penny" or "Silvertown Blues" by Mark Knopfler? It are those tones I adore. In other words, I require a new HSS set. I'd like powerful humbucker, (high gain is not required) but at the same time singlecoils that fit to the humbucker. The texas specials had been the right direction, as well as the pearly gates, but I hope to find pups with more clarity and "clean dirt."  I hope you get my point.
I was looking at the Irish Tour/ Holy diver set. What do you think? I am always a bit afraid that pickups may not like the maple neck.

Thank you very much for any help!

[shobet]

I've got a set of Irish tours in a maple necked strat and they sound perfectly fine to my ears. I can't comment on the suitability of the bucker, but I'm sure folks with experience of the holy diver will chip in.

[Telerocker]

I think a Mule and two Mother's Milk is what you're looking for. The Mule is versatile (from clean, classic rock to metal), balanced and splits well.  I have a Crawler/IT HSS-set in my swampash-strat which is an amazing combi too. Crawler splits very well with the middle-IT. But, my fretboard is ebony, which rounds the bright tone of the IT's. For your style and guitar (alder/maple neck) I would select the Mule and MM's. My friend installed these just in a Squier HSS-set strat and he is very satisfied.
The Holy Diver is more of an '80-metal-pu. I reckon this is not what you're after.

[shobet]

I would have thought ebony would have added brightness?

[Telerocker]

Ebony enhances the uppermids, but at the same provides stronger bass and pickattack (punchy). Compared to rosewood somewhat brighter.  In general maple will be a tad brighter. In my guitar the IT's are perfect, far from too bright, but several forummembers stated the IT's can be on the bright side with maplenecks.

[WhiteRam]

I think a Mule and two Mother's Milk is what you're looking for. The Mule is versatile (from clean, classic rock to metal), balanced and splits well.  I have a Crawler/IT HSS-set in my swampash-strat which is an amazing combi too. Crawler splits very well with the middle-IT. But, my fretboard is ebony, which rounds the bright tone of the IT's. For your style and guitar (alder/maple neck) I would select the Mule and MM's. My friend installed these just in a Squier HSS-set strat and he is very satisfied.
The Holy Diver is more of an '80-metal-pu. I reckon this is not what you're after.

+1, after taking all in of the OP, Telerocker is spot on IMO.

WR

[Doadman]

TBH, I'd go with an Abraxas bridge as I think the EQ suits the Strat better and certainly counts as powerful but not high gain. I'd pair that with either Irish Tours or Slowhands.

[Rory_Knopfler]

Thanks you very much everyone.

Okay so far I favor the mother milks. I think they might sound a bit warmer and less bright than the ITs in my maple neck strat, did I get that right?

I heard that the mule humbucker also gets fuzzy when you crank up the gain a bit. I think the direction of 80's metal is not entirely wrong.  I meant I do not play nu metal high gain. Sometimes I play Van Halen, and sometimes AC/DC, Punk 'n'Roll, Iron maiden...(I know AC/DC is different) Whould the VHII fit for me? 

[Telerocker]

You're right about the MM's. The VHII is great too and can, as some stated here on the forum, a singlecoil-like voca quality. I don't think the Mule is fizzy. Very open, thick and wide, yes.  But you can ask the BKP-team for advice. Just send a mail.