Author Topic: Pickup Suggestions (Read 2951 times)

WelshBoyo · « **on:** October 01, 2005, 04:55:21 PM »

Hi,

I recently bought a US Strat with maple neck. I love the tone that comes out of it but really want to put in a set of punchy/funky pickups. My influences are...

John Frusciante
Tom Morello
Jim Hendrix
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Joe Perry
The Edge
Dave Gilmour

Anyone have a pickup recommendation?

HJM · « **Reply #1 on:** October 01, 2005, 05:25:45 PM »

Hi there!

I have a set of Mothersmilk, Apache and Irish tous in strats at the moment. The irish tour sound the thickest so I'm not going to recommend them. Out of the others the Milks have a woody but bright tone that may work well, but being A5 I'm not sure how they will work on a maple board guitar??

I really like the Apache set, they 're twangy, stratty, woody all in one, can handle everything - even high gain tones in a Jake E Lee kind of way. But again that's on a rosewood board - anybody else tried the Apaches on a maple board, I'd uess they'd just have a touch more bight and brightness. I doubt there'll be a problem as they're not a brittle pickup, more of a full range tone.

PhilKing · « **Reply #2 on:** October 01, 2005, 06:54:26 PM »

I have the Apaches, Irish Tours and a Slowhand in a neck position. I have the Apaches on my 57 strat which has a maple neck and they are the best sounding strat pickups (though I haven't tried Mothers Milk). The IT's are very bright with a maple neck. The Slowhand is a nice sound too, but has a darker more middy sound.

Looking at what you like, I think the Apaches will be perfect. Don't think of them as a Hank Marvin pickup, they are a hot 50's strat pickup, but not overwound, just like the odd ones that Fender used to make with a few more windings than normal.

Johnny Mac · « **Reply #3 on:** October 01, 2005, 07:17:08 PM »

Phil,

Have you got any Strats with Sultans in? I fancy building a Strat one day and for a really nice clean sound and wondered what they compare like to Apaches.

HJM · « **Reply #4 on:** October 01, 2005, 08:55:05 PM »

I've had a set of Sultans and Apaches in the same strat, I think the difference is in he midrange. Where the Apaches can be snarly or twangy depending on the amp setting, the Sultans crisper and glassier. How do you rate the differences Phil?

PhilKing · « **Reply #5 on:** October 01, 2005, 08:59:25 PM »

Hi Johnny,
my 60 Strat has a BK rewind of one of the pickups, but I don't really know if it is a Sultan wind. I think it is a bit more Apache'ish. I think someone posted some Dire Straits clips using Apache's, but I think Hayden or Tim will have to tell you the real score on the Sultan sound.
Cheers
Phil