HSS Strat, updated, read now. NOW.

[badgermark]

Howdie, never thought I'd have to ask this but here it goes.

I'm considering a humbucker for my Strat. Right now the middle and neck mother's milk are awesome, really nice sounding and everything I want. Right now I have a Slow Hand bridge pickup, and as much as I like it I feel I still need more. Something only a humbucker can deliver.

So what goes well with the MMs? Been looking at the HSS sets Tim has on the site and I'm none the wiser.

Looking for a nice balance with the MMs, not too hot as I really like my clean tones, BUT has to be able to get dirty. Get suggesting and I'll hunt out clips. And I'm not looking to sound like anyone in particular, so can't help on that front.

Rock.

[Philly Q]

Without ever having actually played one  :roll: , I've always imagined the VHII would be a great Strat humbucker - not too powerful, but a big, open (slightly single-coil-ish?) sound.

But I see the "standard" VHII HSS set has Irish Tours, so maybe that's a lousy idea.  :?

[_tom_]

I recommend Mules all the time and will recommend one again! In my LP they are really versatile and I can play anything on this guitar. I think steve used to use one in his hss strat with slowhand neck+middles, that was ages ago though so I may be wrong.

[Will]

I was about to suggest the VHII as well, on the basis that TO has a youtube clip of one in a strat that sounded really good for a strat IMO.
(please correct me if I'm wrong, and it was actually another pickup)

[badgermark]

Ben has a VHII clip on youtube, and I'm not trusting it  :oops: Basically the tone he uses isn't for me. Sorray.

The Mule might be up my street, Tim shall get emailed tomorrow about my dilemma.

Feel kinda bad though, the Slowhand in my strat is great, no complaints at all. Just for the band I just joined I think I need something a bit chunkier. Shall think it over before narrowing it down, as the 14p in my bank account wont go very far in me achieving tonal nirvana.

[_tom_]

Do you like p90s? If so I have a prototype of a strat-size p90 by BG Pickups which I got given for free and I no longer use it, if you want it I'll send it for free? Would keep the sss strat look which is better imho and p90s tend to be a bit fatter than singlecoils.

[WezV]

I would go for a crawler with the MM's - infact i think thats what i have in my main guitar. I know i went for a crawler but have no recollection of the single coils i ordered to go with it.  Sounds good anyway

[PhilKing]

I have a Rebel Yell with MM's in a strat based on Tim's recommendation.  The RY might be a bit more than you want though.

[tremblox]

Well a happy camper vote for the Mule here. I have it in strat and find it balances wonderfully with the vintage-style strat pickups, (Sultans, Marvins etc.). I've never tried it with the MMs tho. I would highly recommend giving Tim a bell. I could imagine that a VHT2 would work well too.

  cheers,
         tremblox

[TwilightOdyssey]

Ben has a VHII clip on youtube, and I'm not trusting it  :oops: Basically the tone he uses isn't for me. Sorray.

No single clip is representative of how a pickup will sound.

I doubt very highly you would get the same tone as me even if you had the same pickup in the same guitar ('79 hard ash Strat with no volume or tone controls).

Like they say in the allergy medicine ads, individual results may vary.

[badgermark]

Ben has a VHII clip on youtube, and I'm not trusting it  :oops: Basically the tone he uses isn't for me. Sorray.

No single clip is representative of how a pickup will sound.

I doubt very highly you would get the same tone as me even if you had the same pickup in the same guitar ('79 hard ash Strat with no volume or tone controls).

Like they say in the allergy medicine ads, individual results may vary.

I'm not dismissing the pickup based on your clip, I'm just not taking your clip as an accurate description of the VHII, as your setup and tone is unique an not what I'm after.

To be honest I'm thinking of getting rid of the MMilk set all together, getting a chunky bridge humbucker and a fat neck single. Shall have to speak with Tim some more.

[badgermark]

Right, this is what I want. Last time people, lets make it good.


Emailed Tim and he hasn't got back yet, plus I want some other opinions.

Basically I want a chunky bridge pickup for my Maple necked Strat, something with good definition between strings while distorted, BUT needs to have an awesome clean tone, so nothing too hot. Ignoring the middle pickup, cos I don't use it, I need a single coil neck. Thinking Slowhand, as I want something slightly darker and rounder than most, the MMilk is a bit too twangy and woody. Not my bag baby.

So Bridge HB and neck single suggestions people, I'll get some clips once you lot get your recommendations on, you have until tomorrow afternoon. Get too it people.

[octavio_amzer]

Right now the middle and neck mother's milk are awesome, really nice sounding and everything I want.

 :roll:

[kevincurtis]

Ive got a crawler bridge that i am very very happy with, and it sounds pretty good  when coil split...however, I would ask what it is about humbucker that you want, that single coil doesn't deliver? would a boost pedal and/or a bit of eq thickening do the trick?

[Elliot]

I know what you want exactly: its called a Les Paul