Author Topic: New strat needs new pickups - you know the drill (Read 3377 times)

axg20202 · « **on:** April 10, 2008, 10:02:58 PM »

Hi all,

I've asked Tim and he recommended ITs but I thought I'd also get some user views from you good people to help make my decision even harder :)

I have a new model (2008) US standard strat with a maple neck. It's soon to receive a Calaham block upgrage.

I like to play a variety of styles. Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Floyd, funk and general blues/rock, but also fusion jazz and I'm definitely fond of mellow noodling. I like to occasionally turn up the gain a bit (Fuzz Face, ProCo Rat, Tonebender). My preference for the strat is for typical vintage-to-contempory sweet strat tones with bell-like chime, harmonics and cut, but without losing warmth and body. I actually thought the Fender stock pickups were not all that bad when squeeky clean (I have no other strat to compare them to though) but soon felt a bit lacking in depth once I'd realised it was the actual guitar I was loving!

Basically. I want versatile classic strat tones to cover a lot of ground for clean and dirt. But WARMTH in tone (not necessarily output) is key.

Tim recommended Irish Tours based on the maple neck and perhaps a need for slightly hotter pickups, but before he recommended these I thought I would be ending up with Mothers Milk. Man I'm confused.

I think I have decided to get RW/RP.
Not sure about pole piece stagger - the neck is 9.5" radius.
Also, what's the deal with the baseplates and should I be fitting any?

Really appreciate any help guys.

Jonny · « **Reply #1 on:** April 10, 2008, 10:08:38 PM »

Tim suggestion > User suggestion

Quote

What are zinc plate steel baseplates?
Zinc plated steel baseplates for Strat coils add more bottom end definition, clarity and power to the coil. They work on the same principle as a Tele bridge baseplate with tapped mounting holes so height adjustment screws thread directly into the baseplate ensuring it will never fall off. The baseplates are waxpotted with the coil to provent microphonic feedback. Whilst it is most common to fit one to the bridge coil only, the zinc plated steel baseplates work well on middle and neck coils too.

everton_fc · « **Reply #2 on:** April 10, 2008, 10:09:46 PM »

I had a USA strat, Maple neck with a Callaham block. First I had Irish Tours for about 18 months. Great pickups. Cutting, powerful, and the bridge, although bright at first, when you get the "feel" of it, it absolutely screams, and is brilliant. Neck is good too! But I swapped them for Apache's. They were BRILLIANT. Awesome Strat tones throughout. You can be mellow yellow or rock out with the best of 'em.

When I get another Strat, and if I was to load BKP's in it, I would choose Apache's everytime. Very versatile.

If your into the Strat sound, Apache's will give you a hard on.

axg20202 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 10, 2008, 10:15:37 PM »

Oh man, I thought I'd already dismissed the Apaches for being too vintage and not hot enough. Blimey its not easy picking from these sets is it?! I was under the impression that the Apaches were not a great match for maple necks (too bright) and that the Mothers Milk were a better choice?

So you found the Irish Tours to be a bit too hot? Would you say the ground you want to cover is the same as mine?

everton_fc · « **Reply #4 on:** April 11, 2008, 08:15:56 AM »

I wouldnt say I found the Irish Tours too hot. They are great pickups. It's just that I wanted more classic Strat tones, a bit more mellow pups. The Apaches nailed it perfectly.

Mind you I'd definately be interested in hearing some Mothers Milks to. Too much choice!

prozacbear · « **Reply #5 on:** April 11, 2008, 08:34:02 AM »

I have Irish Tours in my strat and they are awesome, very versatile. I've never been tempted to go with anything else.

axg20202 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 11, 2008, 10:58:00 AM »

Cool. Good to know. So do you think the ITs still have plenty of vintage jangle and chime, just with a hint more power on tap? I really don't want to lose the vintage vibe and sweetness.

Brow · « **Reply #7 on:** April 11, 2008, 12:22:10 PM »

I have ITs in the neck and middle of a 93 Standard Strat (with a Rosewood Fretboard) and a set of Mothers Milks in a mongrel strat with a Mahogany/Ash sandwich body and a maple neck/fretboard. Soon to have a set of Apaches in an Ash bodied Strat with a rosewood fretboard, but will reserve judgement on those for a bit :)

Both Mothers Milks and ITs sound GREAT in the guitars they're currently in (I haven't tried them in anything else). The Mothers Milks in the Mongrel, although on the brighter side, to my ears, still sound like a great traditional Strat should. They're never thin sounding nor are they shrill, but very full sounding.

The ITs on the other hand sound slightly darker to me and smoother. I imagine they'd be great for the SRV strat kinda sound, very full, but not shrill and with a rounder sounding top end.

PhilKing · « **Reply #8 on:** April 11, 2008, 12:44:35 PM »

The Apaches are the Maple neck pickup (50's strats), and the Mother's Milk are for rosewood basically. However nothing is written in stone and people have used them in both types of guitar.

AndyR · « **Reply #9 on:** April 11, 2008, 01:06:43 PM »

I had the same worries as you when I was choosing my first set.

I eventually went Irish Tours, prepared to sacrifice the real vintagy-straty-"you-know-wot" sort of tone because I definitely wanted the Rory Gallagher & SRV type of bite. However, once I got them, I didn't think I'd sacrificed anything at all.

I've recently been revisiting all my amp patches (I'm a POD XTLive user) in the light of getting a Gibson Explorer a few weeks back, and I discovered that all my patches were a little bit muddy. Now all my guitars are sounding much better - after that exercise I'd say the ITs easily do "that sound" with the right amp settings. I've also heard someone playing ITs (probably someone here I guess) in Feline's shop, not sure what through, but for me it was "classic strat sound" in spades...

Having said all that, I'm in the middle of resurrecting my old JV Squier strat - once that's done, I'm planning on a set of Apaches as well (sorry to confuse you further!). The idea is I'll swap them around until I get the best out of both guitars...

I've yet to ask Tim for advice myself, but I would say that if he's advised you a set, they are probably what you want!

axg20202 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 11, 2008, 02:35:07 PM »

Thanks all. I guess I'll go for ITs then and keep my fingers crossed.

Only two questions remain:

1) Should I order the base plate for the bridge (I have a maple neck strat and it will soon get a Calaham block upgrade, which will probably add some meat already) and on the mid and neck or should I leave them stock?

2) Should I get flat pole pieces or staggered (neck radius is 9.5")

Thanks!

AndyR · « **Reply #11 on:** April 11, 2008, 05:26:35 PM »

Baseplate, I didn't go for one. I find the bridge plenty meaty when compared with the middle and neck. In fact, best strat bridge I've ever played.

I can't really offer much help on the polepieces except to say: I went for staggered because I've got a vintage radius (7 something?) and I'm used to staggered anyway. The pickups I was replacing were staggered.

I understand on a flatter radius you don't need the stagger, but you can also get away with having it (I've read that some people don't like the stagger because their pick/fingers get caught on them).

I see you've already decided on RWRP - I went for that, and I'm happy, but if I go Apaches on my next set I'll go standard. I think that standard is probably nearer the vintage sound, and the RWRP only cancels hum in positions 2 & 4 anyway. I heard somewhere RWRP gives more "quack" in those positions, which is why I did it, and indeed the ITs seem to have more than my JV's old pickups, but I suspect I prefer it more "traditional".

axg20202 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 12, 2008, 12:09:47 AM »

Well, thanks all. Placed my order: Irish Tours, RWRP, vintage stagger, no base plates.

38thBeatle · « **Reply #13 on:** April 12, 2008, 12:10:37 PM »

I have come at this rather late but for what it is worth, I would say go with Tim's recommendations. As much as I recommend Apaches to anyone, I think that if Tim suggests something then it must be for a good reason. I look forward to hearing what you think of the IT's.

axg20202 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 13, 2008, 08:18:03 AM »

Yeah, that's what I figured. If the reviews I've read about the ITs are correct in that they are definitely a vintage classic strat tone but slightly hotter, I'll be happy. I have BKPs in my Tele and they blew me away, so I know the chances of a big grin with the ITs is high!

Cheers,

Andy.