Author Topic: strat neck PU recommendations... (Read 5358 times)

big steve · « **on:** August 08, 2005, 07:36:47 PM »

hi all,
i have an HSS strat, which i'm looking to get a lot of versatility out of (i will be using it for a music course). i have a reasonably hot humbucker in the bridge, a super-clean middle singlecoil and the neck pickup which i don't like. i got it when i was younger and more foolish and though an a2 neck singlecoil would give a good, warm sound. turns out i was wrong, for anything apart from one-string-at-a-time stuff it just turns to pure mud and mush. so, of course, i'm looking to BKP it...
i'm looking for a quite fat, bluesy sort of tone. i'll be using it clean, or maybe with a wee touch of 'drive. i was thinking maybe oof an IT? would that work well? what else would fit loosely into the blues vibe well? any experiences?

cheers
steve

_tom_ · « **Reply #1 on:** August 08, 2005, 07:43:49 PM »

I dont own any BKP single coils but there's an Apache recording in the Players forum that sounds really good.

HJM · « **Reply #2 on:** August 08, 2005, 09:01:26 PM »

The Apache is the ultimate classic strat tone - but the Tours keep the vintage tone, just with more fire and midrange - a thicker rockier/bluesier sound. So...it depends exactly what you want to do with it. The Apaches have the edge clean IMHO, but the IT sound great with a bit of dirt (as do the apaches if you put a bit more effort in.)

Does the guitar have a trem (esp Floyd)?

Elliot · « **Reply #3 on:** August 08, 2005, 09:42:04 PM »

I have mothers milk neck - A5 in design, to me a classic mid to late 60s tone - nice clean, hots up, great neck sound.

Apaches are also cool - real 50s strat vibe.

38thBeatle · « **Reply #4 on:** August 08, 2005, 11:24:26 PM »

I have Apaches- they get plenty filthy if you want but they are so musical. They are Tim's favourite and that is good enough for me.

Ced777 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 09, 2005, 09:44:46 AM »

Quote from: Elliot

I have mothers milk neck - A5 in design, to me a classic mid to late 60s tone - nice clean, hots up, great neck sound.

Apaches are also cool - real 50s strat vibe.

And for the early 60's ? (like the strat "L " series)
Mother Milk or Apache?

Elliot · « **Reply #6 on:** August 09, 2005, 10:40:38 AM »

I think Tim or Mr Pig would have to answer that one :D

Ced777 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 09, 2005, 10:47:11 AM »

Here is a tone I really like. The guy is Thomas Blug, Fender European winner of the year. Watch the "I'll be there" and "Love crimes" clips. It's tone is to die for (a bit of video compression though).

:arrow: http://www.guitarplayer.de/band/video_clips.html

Ced777

big steve · « **Reply #8 on:** August 09, 2005, 11:20:06 AM »

Quote from: HJM

Does the guitar have a trem (esp Floyd)?

no FLoyd, it has the standard trem but it makes the guitar go way out of tune (i never use it anyway) so i'm just going to put 4/5 springs in the back to make it stable for tuning.

i always that the Apaches were for more of a "twangy" sound? the mother's milk sounds good though, i would play a bit of RHCP

HJM · « **Reply #9 on:** August 09, 2005, 11:45:12 AM »

If your blocking the trem, go for Apaches, Sultans or Milks. With the trem screwed down you can really hit the guitar hard if you want the texas tone, and all three of these deliver.

Sultans sound like early 60s to me, Apaches have a touch more twang and 50s straty tone, Milks a touch glassier.

big steve · « **Reply #10 on:** August 09, 2005, 06:57:45 PM »

i just listened to the sound clips for the Apache and Mother's Milk... I'm sort of leaning towards the MM, but that may be because of steve's excellent playing...

so basically, the Apaches have that "twangy" sound, and the Mother's Milks are smoother?