Author Topic: Apache single coil sets in a 50's classic strat (Read 6212 times)

Darren5591 · « **on:** August 06, 2007, 10:53:21 PM »

Hey guys,

I've just bought a Fender mexican 50's classic strat, it's a brilliant guitar but it lacks just that little something. I took a suggestion from a friend to check out a set of Bare Knuckle Apache single coil pickups, and I listened to some samples on this forum.

The tone was EXACTLY what I was after, but i'd be interested in some information from anyone that has done a similar combination with a guitar like mine before I spend £165 on a set for a guitar worth £400. Do they handle distortion well? I'd be running it through a keeley modded DS-1 and a vox valvetronix amplifier and i'd like a bluesy tone that could handle good cleans. I know they feedback (wouldn't be a true single coil otherwise!). I read the review in Guitarist a while back, and was interested in knowing more (this was before I bought the strat).

Do I have to buy online?

I'll probably come up with some silly questions :roll: , but hopefully you will be able to resolve my queries.

Regards,

Darren

everton_fc · « **Reply #1 on:** August 06, 2007, 11:26:01 PM »

I got a set of Apaches in a USA strat. Best sound Strat pickups from BKP in my opinion. They DO handle overdrive fairly well to a point. In my experience of these pups, if using a valve amp, they will sound much better if cranking your amp - you can wind your amp up a bit more with these pups too as they seem a bit weaker than standard Fender pups so gives your amp a bit more life & tone.

I used a Keeley modified DS-1 for a while but ditched it. I'm in the process of ditching all my pedals, as I've found cranking the amp, and using the guitars tone and volume controls gives the best tones hands down... but horses for courses. Didnt think my strat sounded that good through the DS-1 - a bit to "fake" if you know what I mean.

The Apaches are great pickups, if you are after classic Strat tones. But you may want to check out the Mothers Milk - but, for stunning clean Strat tones that deliver when overdrive is needed, Apaches kick ass.

I'm using a USA strat with Maple board & Callaham Trem Block just if you are interested to know the guitar specs.

Darren5591 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 06, 2007, 11:54:12 PM »

Thanks for your reply.

I mainly use my Ds-1 for the distortion on my les paul, but I felt like playing a new style and the strat was feel and brightness of the tone was brilliant (maple fingerboard on a daphne blue body).

I reckon the apache's would be great, because I need clean tone that can handle overdrive. I read the reviews, the seem extremely positive and everyone seems to be talking about them.

38thBeatle · « **Reply #3 on:** August 07, 2007, 07:32:43 AM »

Apaches are excellent-they give the true Start tone though they are vintage inasmuch as they will give you 1950's Strat tone. I have them in my USA 1970's Strat because I very much wanted to get the classic tone and succeeded. They do work well with distortion but, like Everton above, I by far prefer the pure guitar/amp combination and always have but even more so now that I have the Apaches-driving the amp is far more satisfying thesedays but having said that, I have got some filthy sounds out of them when required using pedals.For blues they are brilliant and I recently lent the guitar to a mate who is a real old fashioned blues player and he loved them so much, he bought a set for his Strat.I see no reason why it won't work brilliantly well with your Strat.I have had them about 18 months and love them more than when I first got them.

Elliot · « **Reply #4 on:** August 07, 2007, 10:55:57 AM »

They are the best Strat pickups about in my view (well, I prefer Mother's Milks by a milimeter or so) - I have a set in a Mexican 60s classic - the difference between the whiny, trebly stock pickups and the Apache is night and day. Also they don't feedback uncontrollably like the stock Mex fenders unless you whack up the gain to full.

I have a home modded DS1 based on the Monte Allums tri gain circuit - if that is what the Keeley is like, its an extreme modern distortion that is going to colour the sound of any guitar. My Apaches still work well with it, though, especially on the LED based gain.

As to hot-ness - I genuinely believe that the secret of good strat tone is having weaker pickups - you have to work harder - but that classic Hendrix or SRV type strat distortion comes from a cranked amp, not hot pickups. Apaches are not underwound by any stretch - compared to real 50s strat pickups they are in a genuine but hotter zone of that era.

To my ears, when compared to the Mother's Milk set, the Apaches are much ruder and have a more rich and bluesy distortion when cranked - in a maple necked 50s classic they are going to rule.

nfe · « **Reply #5 on:** August 07, 2007, 01:20:25 PM »

Quote from: Darren5591

Thanks for your reply.

I mainly use my Ds-1 for the distortion on my les paul, but I felt like playing a new style and the strat was feel and brightness of the tone was brilliant (maple fingerboard on a daphne blue body).

I reckon the apache's would be great, because I need clean tone that can handle overdrive. I read the reviews, the seem extremely positive and everyone seems to be talking about them.

I have the exact same guitar with a set of Irish Tours and I absolutely can't recommend them enough, still got all your vintage strat tones in spades but really sit well in distortion too.

Darren5591 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 08, 2007, 10:12:21 AM »

What single coil pickup set would be good for Mark Knopler tone, think brothers in arms (single)?

I reckon I should get the aged scratchplate too, got to keep in with the 50's look!

Philly Q · « **Reply #7 on:** August 08, 2007, 11:26:41 AM »

I'm probably way off the mark, but didn't Knopfler use a Les Paul on Brothers in Arms (the song, not necessarily the album). I'm just going by the video, I'm not a Straits fan.

PhilKing · « **Reply #8 on:** August 08, 2007, 12:14:28 PM »

This is a shot of my aged Apache set (with BK aged knobs and scratchplate). They are on a 57 strat and look just as old as the guitar! The other strat in the picture is a 60 strat. Tim rewound one of the pickups for me as it had shorted out.

For a great strat sound on a maple neck guitar, the Apaches rule.

WezV · « **Reply #9 on:** August 08, 2007, 12:32:33 PM »

what ever happened to the originals phil?

Darren5591 · « **Reply #10 on:** August 08, 2007, 05:16:03 PM »

Thanks for replys guys,

Aged plate looks perfect, and I reckon the apache's will be great.

Phil, Did you have to custom order the scratchplate?

PhilKing · « **Reply #11 on:** August 08, 2007, 07:42:39 PM »

Quote from: WezV

what ever happened to the originals phil?

I bought it on ebay and it had the strangest scratchplate (enamelled white metal), with diMarzio pickups and Schaller machines, and an old (lots of lacquer cracks) white respray. Since I think I only paid about $1,600 for it, I wasn't complaining :D The neck is amazing - it is quite a hard V, but feels really nice.

Quote from: Darren5591

Phil, Did you have to custom order the scratchplate?

I asked Tim if BK could make me an aged set on a single ply scratchplate with all aged plastic. It came back and is brilliant, there are even wear groves where the screws touch the sides of the pickup covers! It takes longer because of the aging, but if you have an older guitar, it is really worth it.

Darren5591 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 08, 2007, 08:08:02 PM »

Cool, how much did it cost if you dont mind me asking?

If i'm going to spend £170 on pickups, I might as well go the hog and get matching scratchplate!

PhilKing · « **Reply #13 on:** August 09, 2007, 10:41:45 PM »

I don't remember! I bought it a couple of years ago, I think their might be prices on the products page, or you could just call direct. I remember thinking that it was a pretty good price for everything though.