HSS Set for Strat

[Tetsudo]

Hey Guys,

i am looking to upgrade my Stratocaster, rosewood neck. I have practically decided on PAT PEND set. There is not much written about them but based on the clips, they sound fantastic. I am mostly interetsed in SRV, Kenny Wayne Shepard type tone...

But  i am also considering an HSS set for a slightly more versatile guitar. So i need y0ur advice on:

1. What humbucker would work best with PAT PEND neck and single coils?

2. I love the tone of Lollar blackface - black face - Lollar imperial low wind humbucker my friend has. What would be the most similar BK setup?

3. Which HSS set you think is best for the mentioned type of music?


Thank you for your advice!

[Telerocker]

If you want a good split tone (coil of the humbucker with middle pickup) you need something vintagehot with enough mids. Like the Abraxas. A Mule could be too thin in a strat.

[PhilKing]

I have a couple of strats with HSS setups for blues & rock playing.  My favourite is the Stormy Monday/Sultans set.  These are all AII magnets and give some great cleans with lots of harmonic feedback when pushed.  Another set I would recommend, if you want more of the rockier end, would be the VHII/Mother's Milk set.  These are all AV magnets and give a bit more drive, at the expense of the smoothness of the SM/Sultans.

[Tetsudo]

Thnx guys! SM/Sultans really does seem most similar to Imperial/BF specifications i liked from Lollars. I am more inclined toward BK as i dont have their set yet.

But based on the soundclips, PAT PEND single coils are fantasic. At least for the neck and middle. Are these the pups in the Fender custom shop Knuckle strats?

I am interested if id put P90, maybe a Missisipi queen instead of the HB.... That could've been cool too.


Thank you for your suggestions.