Replacement Strat Set

[uneducatedweasel]

Greetings all!

Replacing the pickups in my squier strat, as they've gone done broked themselves. Not complaining, as I found the guitar gathering dust in our shed, but there's some life in her yet.

From what I have read, my two best options seem to be either the Irish Tour, or trilogy. I'm looking for a modern sound that can handle high gain, but also clean up nicely. Sort of Biffy Clyro/ Billy Talent sound. Something that can handle some grunt nicely, but doesn't lose the "strat" sound. Any particular thoughts? Was going to get them prewired in a scratchplace, as this one is a bit destroyed, and I could do with some new controls. Would I have to get a set to do that, or can I mix and match?

On a completely different matter, what are peoples thoughts on colour. Personally I like the original white pickups/plate on blue that it currently has, just interested in other peoples tastes. Any fans of more esoteric design here?

Ta for any help offered

[PhilKing]

I would look at the Irish Tours or Slowhands for the Biffy Clyro tone.  The Irish Tours are a bit brighter where the Slowhands have more mid.  The Trilogies are great, but I'm not sure that you want the higher gain of them for the sounds you are describing.

BK will do a fully assembled scratchplate with any of their pickups, it doesn't have to be a set.  I like white against blue too.

[uneducatedweasel]

Thanks for the helpful reply!

Would an IT in the bridge suffer from being ridiculously bright? If so I would probably have the slowhand there. I think a little extra brightness in the neck would really help push it through the mix. What difference would the base-plate make, and do you think it would make a significant improvement?

[PhilKing]

The baseplate focuses the sound and makes it a little thicker with more bass.  I have 2 Apache sets, one without baseplates in a 57 Strat and the other with baseplates on every pickup on a Partsocaster with a Swamp Ash body, wenge neck and bloodwood (satine) fingerboard.  The 57 sounds everyway that it would have done had it got original pickups on it, whereas the Partso sounds much more EMG'ish.  I know that some of that is also the inherent sound of the guitars but the pickups do contribute too.  The IT bridge with a bass plate will probably give you an amazing bridge tone.  If I was doing a mix and match set, I would probably do the IT with Baseplate/Slowhand/Mother's Milk, to cover a lot of bases!

[uneducatedweasel]

So IT with baseplate in the bridge, with sh/mm in middle and neck? Actually thinking about it that makes sense. If I go for IT in the neck with SH in the bridge they would average out a bit. Reversing them would mean that I get a more varied tone. Probably will go with SH neck and IT bridge. Not sure in the middle. Probably IT, so that I can get a good bright humbucking tone in positions 2 and 4 (reverse wound). I think it is better to go bright and reduce it than dark and brighten it.

[Tero]

From what I have read, my two best options seem to be either the Irish Tour, or trilogy. I'm looking for a modern sound that can handle high gain, but also clean up nicely. Sort of Biffy Clyro/ Billy Talent sound. Something that can handle some grunt nicely, but doesn't lose the "strat" sound. Any particular thoughts? Was going to get them prewired in a scratchplace, as this one is a bit destroyed, and I could do with some new controls. Would I have to get a set to do that, or can I mix and match?

Hi Weasel!

I'm currently waiting for my custom handmade Strat (Finlandia Instruments is the builder if someone is interested in). I decided to get BKP Irish Tour set for it. Otherwise it's going to be sort "replica" of 50s Fender Strats, with ultra comfort shapes of 50s Strat, with soft V-shape neck changing to fat C-shape along the neck. Maple fretboard and so on...

I'm currently using BKP The Sultan's set on Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster, and those three babies work like a swiss clock. Totally great vintage-type sound and "klang". Some could find those pickups "weak" or lacking bottom end, but as far as I'm concerned I get enough low end from the neck pickup (for that creamy and bluesy sound) and enough bite and brightness from the bridge pickup. Altogether The Sultan's set is a great thing for anyone who digs vintage and old Strat-sounds.

So, if you are looking for something hotter, I'd guess Irish Tour's the thing! For what I have tested and heard, it cleans up nicely, it has more punch than typical vintage Strat-pickups. I'd go for that... no wait... I'm going down with that already :)

[uneducatedweasel]

Damn, now I want a custom strat as well as new pickups :P. Oh the lack of money as a student. Went ahead with IT in the bridge and middle, slowhand for neck to get a really mellow sound. Might have a look at finlania, add it to the never-gonna-happen wishlist.

Ta for all the help