Author Topic: Help me choose the right Strat pickups for my style (Read 15478 times)

elavd · « **Reply #15 on:** July 01, 2008, 12:52:34 AM »

Quote from: Philly Q

But if you want a traditional Strat sound you don't need the baseplate. The bridge pickup in most BKP sets is already overwound a bit to compensate for the thinner sound in the bridge position.

I think we get a bit over-excited about these baseplates - Fender never used them. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with them; just that they're hardly essential.

Are the baseplates permanently installed, or they can be removed easily?

Philly Q · « **Reply #16 on:** July 01, 2008, 01:03:43 AM »

Not 100% sure, but I think they're basically just held in place by the potting wax, so they can be removed easily.

Tomcaster · « **Reply #17 on:** July 03, 2008, 09:55:29 AM »

Well MM's seem to be ok but looking at the thing technically the Apaches would be closer because they use Formvar insulation, just like all the pre-CBS Strat pickups. Maybe you could discuss Alnico 5 Apaches with Tim.

Jimi also used a pre-CBS Strat for his whole first album.

elavd · « **Reply #18 on:** July 03, 2008, 10:38:28 AM »

Quote from: Tomcaster

Maybe you could discuss Alnico 5 Apaches with Tim.

I've sent him an email, but he seems to be away of work till 10 of July...

Will · « **Reply #19 on:** July 03, 2008, 10:44:17 AM »

Send a private message to Chris R, or give them a ring on the number from the email, friendly, but beware they don't have real Devonshire accents :P

PhilKing · « **Reply #20 on:** July 03, 2008, 01:44:51 PM »

Quote from: Philly Q

Not a suggestion... just an observation:

No-one ever seems to recommend the Sultans in these situations. I feel a bit sorry for the poor little chaps.

I actually have a Stormy Monday/Sultans HSS set, but haven't fitted it yet because I have been busy with other stuff, and so it is one pickup that I have never heard. Unless I've heard a pickup, I won't recommend it as I like t know that I am giving good advice. I will try to pull my finger out this weekend and get them fitted. Perhaps then you will see them recommended more often!

Philly Q · « **Reply #21 on:** July 03, 2008, 10:20:42 PM »

So does that complete your BKP collection Phil?

Elliot · « **Reply #22 on:** July 03, 2008, 11:40:13 PM »

'Jimi also used a pre-CBS Strat for his whole first album'

Parts of Are You Experienced were recorded with Noel Redding's 60s era Telecaster, including all of Hey Joe and Purple Haze.

Jimi also used a 64 transition logo Strat (which he later set fire to)

Fender occasionally bought plain enamel in the early 60s and moved over to plain enamel wire in their Strat pickups totally in around March 1964 - which was pre-CBS (just, as the CBS acquisition was early 1965). The transition logo would have had plain enamel wire.

Its real sad I know this stuff.

Tomcaster · « **Reply #23 on:** July 04, 2008, 08:41:23 AM »

Hi Elliott,

would the MM in the neck mix well with an Apache in the middle position?

AndyR · « **Reply #24 on:** July 04, 2008, 09:23:02 AM »

Quote from: Elliot

Its real sad I know this stuff.

So true! :D

But useful to the rest of us:

So, theoretically, if I have a 62 re-issue, and I wanted to get myself "authentic vibes" it's really a toss-up between Apache and MM?

I actually have two of them. One has the ITs in at the moment, but I might be considering replacing the Texas Specials residing in the other one, looking for lower "vintage" output.

So far my leaning has been towards Apache because the ITs are already V, the Apache is III, people rave about them, etc, etc... and towards the MMs because I thought that that's more likely to be the kind of pickup that what would have been in a real 62...

(One guitar is a JV Squier with a "liberated" basswood body - ie the poly's gone - the other is a recent Japan Non-Export with an Alder body. The IT's are in the alder at the moment)

Elliot · « **Reply #25 on:** July 04, 2008, 10:03:35 AM »

Tomcaster: I have tried a bridge Apache middle Mother's Milk combo and that worked OK -, but I can't vouch for other positions, especially given that the hotter bridge.may have levelled things out - With regard to P90s I was told by Mr Mills that A3 and A5 aren't great bed fellows.

AndyR - I found the Mother's Milks did not work in my JV: after a year I swapped out the MMs for Apaches - as Basswood is a middy-warm sounding wood the Milks were too dark and emphasised the middle range too much. The Apaches cured this, the less middy Alnico III made the JV really sing - the JV is now my main guitar and the poor Fender only comes out for quacking cameos. If you wanted an early 60s tone in a JV I would go Apache as the basswood contributes to make the sound a bit fuller

Tomcaster · « **Reply #26 on:** July 04, 2008, 10:43:06 AM »

What do you think about the following combo:

neck: Apache Alnico V
middle & bridge: Apache Alnico III

the Alnico V Apache would give you enough bite and brightness for the neck, while middle & bridge would be a tad mellower.

AndyR · « **Reply #27 on:** July 04, 2008, 11:28:37 AM »

Thanks for that Elliot - it seems to fit with the reponse I get from the Texas Specials in there (basswood) at the moment.

Would I be right in thinking that you suspect the ITs in the basswood might suffer the same way? One of my thoughts is to make the JV the "blues" strat for Rory/SRV type noodling using the ITs - obviously this is in my power to try out already, the possible darkness might actually be what I want, certainly for the Rory end of it.

Then the newer strat (which is my favourite, by the way) would become the "all-rounder" - I've just realised that it's actually this one, the alder, that my Apache/MM question really relates to.

I'm certain that as an "all-rounder" I'll still be able to get passable Rory/SRV out of it, but I'm looking for a more "classic" strat tone as well now - the only example I can think of at the moment is Steve Gaine's strat work on Lynyrd Skynyrd's "One More From the Road" and "Freebird the Movie".

Don't get me wrong (anyone considering ITs) I am very close to it already with the ITs , but I just have sneaking suspicion that Apache or MM might be the "magic bullet", as it were!

And seeing as the ITs appear (to me) to be a hotter version of MM, I lean towards the Apaches... (and it is Fiesta Red, after all :lol: , occasionally screaming "Hank" at me, even if it does have a rosewood board)

Twinfan · « **Reply #28 on:** July 04, 2008, 01:10:25 PM »

Quote from: Elliot

Jimi also used a 64 transition logo Strat (which he later set fire to)

That very same guitar is also in Guitar and Bass magazine this month....

PhilKing · « **Reply #29 on:** July 04, 2008, 01:26:35 PM »

Quote from: Philly Q

So does that complete your BKP collection Phil?

No - still don't have all the Tele pickups or a Sinner! TBH I probably won't get all the Tele's because the Yardbird set are almost the same as my 62 set, and now there is a new 52 (I think that's the name), blackguard set coming out, I will probably get that. Not sure on the Sinner at the moment either.