replacing a full set of strat pickups.

[Pauldem]

In addition to my baritone stuff, I currently have an ESP strat that has an SD SSL-1 set installed. I very much like the neck noise but overall the set seems pretty low output. Any recommendations for hotter replacements? I want to maintain the strat tone on the neck but give it a boost and I really want to fatten up the bridge.

Cheers

Paul

[Elliot]

Sounds like Irish Tours to me!   

[Pauldem]

Are the Mothers Milk set more of a vintage sound?

[FernandoDuarte]

Are the Mothers Milk set more of a vintage sound?

Yes... Irish Tour would be a little more hot...

Perhaps some vintage on middle and neck and a Irish Tour or Slowhand on bridge??? (with nickel base-plate on the bridge one, for extra hotness)

[Pauldem]

This could well be the most helpful and genuinely pleasant forum I've ever logged into! :D Many thanks for everyones help.

[AndyR]

It is, isn't it :D

Welcome!

I'd say Irish Tours. I'm getting a plenty vintage vibe going with them on something I'm working on at the moment, but I'm not sure I'm going to able to post it in the Players section (it's a full cover with vocals - and sounds daft/boring without them! :roll:).

I've never tried a base-plate on a strat pickup, so I'm not sure how much extra punch it gives, but I must admit I don't think I'd need it on my IT bridge - it's the most usable strat bridge I've ever used.

[Pauldem]

Very kind :D I signed up some moons ago, but failed to keep up appearances. Looking forward to nosing round for a time.

I was looking at something like a rails pickup for the bridge, as I'm a bit of a gain idiot. (Mostly to mask my playing!) So i'm almost looking for a humbucker noise whilst maintaining that strat throatiness at the neck.

[MrBump]

It is, isn't it :D

Welcome!

I'd say Irish Tours. I'm getting a plenty vintage vibe going with them on something I'm working on at the moment, but I'm not sure I'm going to able to post it in the Players section (it's a full cover with vocals - and sounds daft/boring without them! :roll:).

I've never tried a base-plate on a strat pickup, so I'm not sure how much extra punch it gives, but I must admit I don't think I'd need it on my IT bridge - it's the most usable strat bridge I've ever used.

You really MUST post it!

[AndyR]

I'd say Irish Tours. I'm getting a plenty vintage vibe going with them on something I'm working on at the moment, but I'm not sure I'm going to able to post it in the Players section (it's a full cover with vocals - and sounds daft/boring without them! :roll:).

You really MUST post it!

Oh, I'd love to - once I've sorted out the drums, and possibly put backing vox on it - but is that "cool" in the players section? It's not a "clip" as such, although you can hear the magnificence of the ITs in all their glory "in context" (ie in a mix)!!

Sorry for the slight hijack Pauldem :oops:

I was looking at something like a rails pickup for the bridge, as I'm a bit of a gain idiot. (Mostly to mask my playing!) So i'm almost looking for a humbucker noise whilst maintaining that strat throatiness at the neck.

Ah, I used to have a hot rails many years ago, I'm not sure that the IT bridge would get you that far, even with a baseplate. You might want to be looking at Sinners? I don't know much about them, but I understand they get pretty hairy :lol:

[FernandoDuarte]

Just to add, Tim won't make a rails pickup...

[Pauldem]

Just to add, Tim won't make a rails pickup...

Not that I'd ask the man, but is there a reason why he wouldn't build a rails? I'm thinking maybe the Trilogy Suite sigles now although I'd need to know how they compare to the Dimarzio YJM set. I wasn't too keen on those when I had the YJM sig model. Scratchy at the bridge although the neck was cool.

[Philly Q]

Just to add, Tim won't make a rails pickup...

Not that I'd ask the man, but is there a reason why he wouldn't build a rails?

I don't want to put words in Tim's mouth, but he's a believer in true single-coils and regards rails, single-coil-sized-humbuckers, stacks, actives etc as compromised attempts to get the "real" s/c sound. 

I think he's also said that he doesn't believe a humbucker with rails (à la Dimebucker) offers any advantage over a humbucker with polepieces.

And, of course, it would be expensive for a small business to tool up to build pickups that the proprietor doesn't personally regard as worth the effort.