Mothers Milk have arrived

[tomjackson]

I have just received my full set on mothers milk and I love the sound, they are a very pure and clean single coil sound.  But now I'm wandering whether I might need somehting with a bit moor oomph like Irish Tours.  Compared to my American standard pickups the MM bridge is way better, more twang and thump, the middle has more character and the neck is much clearer, but is also less fat and fruity.  I wandering whether I should have got the IT's or at least the IT neck for a fatter, grittier tone.   I thought the MM would give me that over Apache's and the IT's would be too much but the Mothers Milk actually sound like I thought the Apache's would sound.

So if anybody can advise I'd be greatfull. 

Maybe I need time to aclimatise but I can't help thinking I need something that barks a bit more when I dig in??

[AndyR]

Time to aclimatise :D

Also, I think you want to fiddle with pickup heights. I've just been posting one of my "essays" here http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=14664.0 to try and explain what I've learnt over the last few months, you can find all sorts of threads about it though (there was one by, I think, Hunter, about strat pup adjustments in Tech).

I've only experienced ITs, but to get fatter and fruitier at the same time (and we'll have different ideas about what that means!) I lowered the bass side of the pup and raised the treble side:

Higher treble side means "thicker" and more output.
Lower bass side means more clarity and, for me, therefore lower ouptut, capable of being "fruitier" (bubbly hendrix sort of sound).

Just measured it: on my neck pup, the pickup cover is almost 4mm lower on the bass side.

I'm sure someone might say - "are you sure you want an IT neck for what you describe? I'd have thought you want an Apache?" That was my first reaction here, based on "fruity"... but words to describe sounds can be misleading...

Anyway, it took me ages to really start loving my ITs. They were obviously better than what they replaced, but I was gripped with doubts as to whether I chose the right ones... I wouldn't part with them now (instead I want another few strats with different BKPs in :lol:)

[38thBeatle]

I would agree, give it a while to get used to them and also have a play with the heights as Andy has said. They  (Strat) pickups are very sensitive to height adjustment in my experience.Took me a while to get my Slowhands right.

[tomjackson]

Thanks guys, I was hoping the Strat faithful would chip in with some wise words.  Agreed, I'll check heights etc and have some settle in time.  I think I'm a bit taken a back by the new found clarity the pups have over the fenders.  I've also been thinking they will sound a lot fuller at a decent volume which I haven't even tried yet.  I think the truth is I'll have to work a bit harder with my playing, they show up so much more I'll have to adapt.

I've just posted the first clip here

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=14678.0

Cheers
Tom