Author Topic: American Standard Strat Pickups - Any good? (Read 9615 times)

tomjackson · « **on:** January 25, 2008, 09:07:17 AM »

Hi folks,

I'm looking to replace the pickups on my trusty 1994 strat. I was just wandering what BKP's would be in the same tonal ballpark, but better. I find the stock pickups okay but lack a little sweetness that I now want and also mush up with distortion.

Has anybody upgraded an American Standard strat and to what pickups?
Or are there some fans of them?
What is the output of the stock pickups?

I was thinking Irish Tours but I think Apache may be more versatile?

Your thoughts appreciated!!

Tom

kellar · « **Reply #1 on:** January 25, 2008, 09:48:22 AM »

I don't really have any experience playing strats, but I have a good friend with an American Strat that put a set of Irish Tours in his and it sounds brilliant! Really those Stevie Ray Vaughan tones and some great blues tones. Seems pretty versatile.

tomjackson · « **Reply #2 on:** January 25, 2008, 09:56:02 AM »

Irish tours were my initail plan, and I've never heard anything bad about them. My only concern would be that they could be agressive rather than sweet.

I have Stormy Monday's in my GS2 and they are really sweet pickups, so looking at that end of the scale, albeit with single coils.

Also wandering if any are not as suitable for a rosewood board, I take it IT's certainly are....

kellar · « **Reply #3 on:** January 25, 2008, 10:04:18 AM »

I am thinking about a Stormy Moonday in the neck of my Les Paul. I need something a bit sweeter than the Mule. How is the Stormy Monday??
Maybe some of the other Strat guys here can help you out a bit more. Good luck.

tomjackson · « **Reply #4 on:** January 25, 2008, 10:38:55 AM »

Stormy monday is sweet, balanced and articulate. I've not tried the mule but from the clips it sounds like they have more in the mids, wheres the SM is fairly even accross the range (with a solid mahogany GS2.60 anyway)

I was in a guitar shop the other day trying out small valve amps with the SM's and a guy in there asked how I got that sound and that he was looking for a sound like that. I said it was the pickups....the neck has such a round, musical attack, So think T-bone Walker, BB king and (out of phase sounds aside) Peter Green. They put a smile on my face everytime I play!!

So for clean Jazz and sweet blues these are on the money....

Twinfan · « **Reply #5 on:** January 25, 2008, 10:39:31 AM »

I've got a USA Strat from '91. The stock pickups are very cold, sterile and uninspiring. I now have Fender Custom Shop '69s in the guitar and it's more Hendrix-y, but still not ideal. Very stereotype Strat which is good, but not enough character for me.

I need to get some Irish Tours for it at some point to beef it up a bit. It's not the best wood in the world either on that particular guitar.

I'd say Apaches for classic Strat clean sounds and they're probably the best all rounders. The Mule of Strats, if you will. Maybe Mothers Milks would be good for you too?

I'd take ITs for dirty blues 8)

tomjackson · « **Reply #6 on:** January 25, 2008, 10:57:44 AM »

I know what you mean about the wood, or at least I'd know if there wasn't a fat layer of plastic on it! Well it's good to hear with different pickups they sound better, even stereotype strat sounds better becuase the stock pickups have little strat character although I don't find them that bad.

Irish tours is sounding good for dirty blues....but what about John Mayer sweet and clean. If they can do that I might be sold!

That or a second mortgage for a custom shop '62.....

Twinfan · « **Reply #7 on:** January 25, 2008, 11:08:49 AM »

Don't bother with the US reissues. What you want is a Japanese '62 for around £550 then replace all the electronics. For around £700 you'll have a world beating Strat ;)

Mr 38th Beatle is the clean Strat tones man around here. Hopefully he'll chime in and recommend you something. I think Apache's could be the "do it all"s for you though.

lulusg · « **Reply #8 on:** January 25, 2008, 03:41:12 PM »

Hi there, We have Apaches on a 50 th anniversary Strat, and Trilogies on another and they are way better than the pickups that were in those guitars, Way.....!

tomjackson · « **Reply #9 on:** January 25, 2008, 03:48:50 PM »

Sounds good, I like what I'm hearing. Nothing like new pickups to give a guitar a new lease of life. Still deciding between Apache, MM and IT's is the hard part....

38thBeatle · « **Reply #10 on:** January 25, 2008, 06:27:51 PM »

I would definitely consider the Apache set if I were you. They give you bucket loads of wonderful classic Strat tone but can kick it out when required. They are very sweet. I have not used ITs or MMs though so I cannot give you an objective comparison. I am toying with the idea of posting my bands myspace page address as we have recently recorded a demo and my Apache laden Strat appears on it. I am, however, about to go out to a gig.

AndyR · « **Reply #11 on:** January 28, 2008, 09:23:05 AM »

Hi, I have exactly what Twinfan describes - a Japanese 62 (the "non-export" version) with all the electrics replaced with BKP stuff. It's a killer guitar.

I went for ITs, but 38thBeatle's posts over the last few months nearly swayed me to Apaches. I believe that the Apaches would be more versatile than the ITs, but I was surprised to find the ITs are actually pretty versatile themselves.

I went the IT route because I wanted a grittier Rory Gallagher sort of tone most of the time. But with cleaner amp settings and the volume rolled off on the guitar (and the right attack from the fingers etc) they will happily wander off into the territory that I believe Apaches cover more naturally.

I might be wrong, but I'd ask which tone do you want to use most of the time? If it's "Gritty strat" like Rory Gallagher or others - then I'd choose ITs. If it's "Classical bell-like strat" - then I'd choose Apaches on recommendations from people like 38thBeatle. As far as I can make out from the clips I've heard, Mother's Milk might do something in between.

Bottom-line though, I don't think you can go far wrong with BKPs. My ITs replaced stock Texas Specials. I like the TSs, but I prefer the ITs in this guitar. The guitar just seems more versatile, expressive, and is even more of a joy to play. The TSs are in old Squier now. I may eventually get Apaches as well and swap the ITs/Apaches between the two until I get the best out of both.

tomjackson · « **Reply #12 on:** January 28, 2008, 08:39:05 PM »

That's the question....gritty strat or the bell like strat as you say. The only answer is both really.....!

But from what everybody has said so far to my original question, any BKP strat pickup will be an improvement over the stock pickups, which I maintain aren't bad, just don't contain the extra dimension that vintage strats seemed to have. I think in that respect Apache or IT's will work for me, I'll just taylor my playing to suit.

What about the non-export Japanese strat, where can you get them from?
Also thinking about a tele at some point.....

38thBeatle · « **Reply #13 on:** January 28, 2008, 08:55:16 PM »

A non export Japanese Strat can be had from here:

http://www.fareastguitars.co.uk/

guitartango · « **Reply #14 on:** January 28, 2008, 09:09:25 PM »

Just brought the BK apaches for my American Highway strat. Soon as they have been fitted I will post some clips. Lets hope for £150 they will sound good.