questions regarding strat pickups - late 70s timbres

[gwEm]

i'll be asking tim obviously, but i like to inform myself with all possible advice, you know ;) just to start i have a SSS ash/maple MIM 70s reissue strat - it goes without saying this will be a bright guitar. i would have thought irish tours are out of the question for this reason.

what would be the vintage correct pickups for this guitar? mothers milks? will i be able to play power chord riffs with whichever pickups under moderate gain like i mean business?

how are a5 apaches sounding different from regular apaches? am looking at apaches as number 1 choice at the moment due to their well known versatility.

my three favourite strat artists are uli jon roth, fast eddie clarke and richie blackmore. based on these three artists, again which would be the best pickup?

i'll prefer a vintage option if i can do the previously mentioned moderate gain power chord riffs on the bridge. if not, i'll be considering the trilogy or sinner.

definitely open to getting a baseplate, on the bridge at least - is this even necessary on trilogies or sinners?

essentially i want the guitar to sound like a strat and be able to take jcm800 gain levels, in fact i will be using the guitar on a 2204 mostly. i already have slowhands which can work into this amp. ideally i'd like to get something other than slowhands this time. but then again - if slowhands would be the best set, then i'll go for those.

[Philly Q]

i'll be asking tim obviously, but i like to inform myself with all possible advice, you know ;) just to start i have a SSS ash/maple MIM 70s reissue strat - it goes without saying this will be a bright guitar. i would have thought irish tours are out of the question for this reason.

Are Irish Tours really all that bright?  I've seen some comments saying they are, others saying they're not.  I've always had the impression they're grittier and tougher-sounding than the Slowhands, but not necessarily particularly bright.  Anyway, I have a set for my swamp ash Strat (although that does have a rosewood board).  Wish I had it put together so I could test out the pickups and tell you what they're like!

I don't know which BKP models would be vintage-correct, but for late '70s authenticity you should definitely have non-staggered magnets.

[HTH AMPS]

If you're gonna be using the guitar into a 2204, I'd either go with Slowhands if you want to err on the vintage side, but my gut feeling is to go for Trilogies.

Every time I look at the BKP Strat range, I always think theres a gap in output between the hottest 'vintage hot' (7.6k Slowhand) and the next hottest Strat p/up (the Trilogy, 15.5k).  The Trilogy is more than twice as hot - I'd like to see something in the 10-12k range.

My fave Strat single coils back when I persevered with that tone was Duncan AII Pros (middle/neck) and a Duncan 'Seymourized' bridge model.

[Mark66]

i'll be asking tim obviously, but i like to inform myself with all possible advice, you know ;) just to start i have a SSS ash/maple MIM 70s reissue strat - it goes without saying this will be a bright guitar. i would have thought irish tours are out of the question for this reason.

Are Irish Tours really all that bright? 

I've never thought of my Irish Tours as being particularly bright. I can't comment on comparisons to other BKPs,
but I wouldn't rule ITs out if you're looking for vintage.

Every time I look at the BKP Strat range, I always think theres a gap in output between the hottest 'vintage hot' (7.6k Slowhand) and the next hottest Strat p/up (the Trilogy, 15.5k).  The Trilogy is more than twice as hot - I'd like to see something in the 10-12k range.

The Trilogy really is hot! Off the top of my head I think ITs are also about 7.6k.

[gwEm]

If you're gonna be using the guitar into a 2204, I'd either go with Slowhands if you want to err on the vintage side, but my gut feeling is to go for Trilogies.

Every time I look at the BKP Strat range, I always think theres a gap in output between the hottest 'vintage hot' (7.6k Slowhand) and the next hottest Strat p/up (the Trilogy, 15.5k).  The Trilogy is more than twice as hot - I'd like to see something in the 10-12k range.

My fave Strat single coils back when I persevered with that tone was Duncan AII Pros (middle/neck) and a Duncan 'Seymourized' bridge model.

I hear what your saying HTH regarding the 2204 and the single coils. I've found that using a booster - treble booster and crunch box are my favourite for this - its possible to tame those highs a bit. I'll have a look at those Duncans.

[gwEm]

I don't know which BKP models would be vintage-correct, but for late '70s authenticity you should definitely have non-staggered magnets.

Default Fender pickups in the reissue are staggered, but that may mean nothing.

No idea if the ITs would be too bright, but they have a bright reputation. I'll wait for some more replies to inform myself and then call Tim.

[Philly Q]

I don't know which BKP models would be vintage-correct, but for late '70s authenticity you should definitely have non-staggered magnets.

Default Fender pickups in the reissue are staggered, but that may mean nothing.

I'm not sure if the '70s Classic is meant to be early or late '70s, I guess early since it has the white scratchplate.  Staggered magnets would be right for early '70s, I think the flat poles started in '74.

[Elliot]

From looking at second hand pickup market over the years the Mother's Milk are about correct for early 70s - about 5.8k and plain enamel wire.  Later 70s the bridge only got hotter (so-called X1 pickup) more like an Irish Tour.  Fender may have moved to polysol wire.  I think Mother's Milks neck and middle with an IT bridge would capture the late 70s strat sound.

[gwEm]

i might spend the effort to throw the slow hands from my cyclone into this strat. if it works, then cool - i can order a middle slow hand, and a pair of sinners for the cyclone :twisted: If it doesn't work, at least i have something to discuss with Tim.