Strat Pickups

[ajclee]

Hi all,

I'm looking for a new set of pickups for some long awaited upgrades to my SSS MIM strat and was hoping I could tap into the collective genius of this forum!

I play mainly rock/blues/alternative - with a large emphasis on bluesy classic rock. Basically looking for a raw, gritty, bluesy tone when it's all on 10, but with a nice mellow, woody tone when things calm down a little.

Guitarists whose tone I'm looking to try and get somewhere in the ballpark of:

Gilmour
Mike McCready
Frusciante
SRV
Hendrix

Currently thinking about an IT set - heard a lot of good things - one which currently sticks out now is 'by turning down the vol. control, you get a nice woodiness, ideal for hendrix/frusciante etc.', can anybody attest to that?

Will be e-mailing Tim/BKP to get some advice and ask some other questions soon enough, just want to see what the forum thought as well? (On that, I can't seem to find my last e-mail from him, anybody know what address is best to e-mail?)

Cheers,

Adam

[Telerocker]

Currently thinking about an IT set - heard a lot of good things - one which currently sticks out now is 'by turning down the vol. control, you get a nice woodiness, ideal for hendrix/frusciante etc.', can anybody attest to that?

Yes they do this. I have both, IT's and Mothers Milks, and the IT's are a sort of overwound MM. The MM's are a touch woodier, the IT's have more meat, especially very noticeable in the neckposition. You can order a baseplate for the bridge for some extra beef. IT's clean up great and I'm able to get Frusciante-tones too, just by steering the vol.knob. For your style definitely IT's.

[ajclee]

Cheers for the reply. They do seem exactly what I'm looking for! About the baseplate - from what I've seen it just boosts the bass & mids a bit.

Does it change the output much? Just wondering as to whether it would negatively affect the balance between the P/Us if I got one on the bridge?

[Telerocker]

No it doesn't, it just give you a bit more bass and lower mids.

[djl]

Most people like the baseplate addition - it makes the bridge p/u position on the strat much more useable on its own, a bit more tele like. Without the baseplate, some strat bridge p/us can sound a bit weak.

Both the ITs and Mothers milk would almost certainly cover the sounds you're after - I must say I prefer going for slightly lower output and using a boost for extra rather than starting with high output and rolling off the volume, but both options are good ones.

[Telerocker]

I would say IT's are not particularly hot, just a tad more output then MM's.

[AndyR]

Yep, ITs is what you want - it's what I use them for.

I've never tried a baseplate myself, but I've always shied away from them - I tend to think "I have teles that sound like teles..."

I have to say though, I do actually play the bridge pickup on its own quite a lot, something I never did before getting ITs.

[Slartibartfarst42]

Most people like the baseplate addition - it makes the bridge p/u position on the strat much more useable on its own, a bit more tele like. Without the baseplate, some strat bridge p/us can sound a bit weak.

What about baseplates on neck and middle position single coils? Isn't that a good idea?

[Telerocker]

Most people like the baseplate addition - it makes the bridge p/u position on the strat much more useable on its own, a bit more tele like. Without the baseplate, some strat bridge p/us can sound a bit weak.

What about baseplates on neck and middle position single coils? Isn't that a good idea?

I'm afraid that the neckpickup can get a bit boomy, though it depends on your guitar and ampsettings. I don't like them in the neckposition.

[ajclee]

Well, I went ahead and ordered the ITs (with a baseplate on the bridge). Thanks for all your help guys.

Wasn't sure about the baseplate, but I guess I'll find out soon!

[Telerocker]

I you don't like the bridge with baseplate you can always ask BKP to change it for a regular IT-bridge.
Hope you gonna like them.