Upgrading a cheap Squier. But its made in Japan - Irish Tours Maybe?

[Ratrod]

I put a Blackguard in a Squier.

There's something very cool about that "How come that Squier sounds so damn good?"

[syr2012]

I put a Blackguard in a Squier.

There's something very cool about that "How come that Squier sounds so damn good?"

+1
I have two Squiers, one with a Mississippi Queen and the other with a Holy Diver. They definitely sound better than the entry-level Fenders I would have gotten if I could have at that time. Plus, you can move pickups from guitar to guitar with relative ease (unless you've cemented them in). There's no reason to punish yourself with a shitee sound just because you can't afford something more expensive.

[Monkeyzak]

For me in a guitar, the neck is the biggest deal.  I really struggle to get ones that feel right.  When I get this one back I'll play it and if it still feels as good I'll go for it.  THe guy in the store thats setting up recommened the Irish TOurs. 

I'll find out more and see whats best. 

I fancy putting a set of P90s on my PRS SE too.  I'll do the strat first. 

[Monkeyzak]

Which pickups for the strat should I be looking at???  I've got a few guitars the do distortion great.  Like my Matons and LP.  BUt I have nothing that does a good clean sound.

I'm looking for something really versatile.  Are these Irish Tours versatile?

[BigB]

Which pickups for the strat should I be looking at???  I've got a few guitars the do distortion great.  Like my Matons and LP.  BUt I have nothing that does a good clean sound.

I'm looking for something really versatile.  Are these Irish Tours versatile?

From the description, from the obvious Rory Gallagher reference and from the clips and samples I've heard, I'd think the IT would be a bit on the bright/gritty side - think Rory, SRV etc.  Mother's Milk might be more what your looking for if you're after vintage stratty cleans. Now I don't have any direct experience with neither, so take this with the appropriate quantity of salt  8) .

Also, the unplugged tone of the guitar is an important factor - is it dark, bright, or well balanced ? is it very resonant or a bit "tight" or.... etc. Think about what you like from the unplugged tone, and what you'd like to balance or favor in it... And then, as usual: AskTim(tm)  :lol:

[38thBeatle]

If you want really good quality clean Strat tones I would say look at Apaches or maybe Sultans, I cant comment on the latter but on the former I can. Great pickups-warm and clear. Not powerful but that is what you have asked about so I assume it is not a problem for you.
Mothers Milks are another good suggestion.

[gwEm]

mothers milk are great pickups, but i worry about them in basswood

[Monkeyzak]

What about the other Hot Vintage ones???  The Clapton ones??? Slowhand is it???

I'll research into it.  I just want the most versatile I can get. 

[38thBeatle]

I love the Slowhands-warm tone-not that hot actually- very versatile.Mine are in a basswood Jap r/i. There are times when I am gigging that I just want to play it and I play it all night ( tis my back up guitar). That doesn't tell you much I realise except that there seem to be more mids but the clarity is still there. Cranks up very well and like all the BKP's I have tried, allows the character to remain.

[Monkeyzak]

Its going to be a nightmare deciding which ones to get!!!!  :(  Only to make sure I get the right ones!!

[BigB]

Its going to be a nightmare deciding which ones to get!!!!  :(  Only to make sure I get the right ones!!

AskTim(tm)  8)

[gwEm]

i have slowhands and they are massively versatile. if mr38th says they are good in basswood i believe him

[Monkeyzak]

THe guy in the shop advised Irish Tours but I'm thinking for my own needs, I'm thinking Slowhands how. 

I like the hot vintage sound.  I have a Strat Highway One for a while when I lived in Australian.  Much malligned and a great guitar.  Very underrated in my opinion.  That has more of a hotter than standard strat. 

I think the Irish TOurs might be too gritty and trebbly for my needs. 

Sounds like its Slowhand for me.  I like a strat a bit hotter.  I used to have a Vox Standard 25 Strat with Dimarzzios.  They were mellow, warm and amazing when you wanted, and great when you drive them.  Pity I sold that guitar.  Whoops

[BigB]

Sounds like its Slowhand for me.  I like a strat a bit hotter.  I used to have a Vox Standard 25 Strat with Dimarzzios. 
They were mellow, warm and amazing when you wanted, and great when you drive them.  Pity I sold that guitar.  Whoops

I do have a Vox Standard 25 - still with the stock DiMarzio FS-1. They are "not bad" and probably do a good job at balancing the extreme brightness of the Standard 25, but they somehow lack this open, fluid clarity and the dynamic I'd expect from a sss strat-like. FWIW, they are way hotter than the Slowhands IIRC about 12 or 14k.

Now the Standard 25 is a special beast - thick maple body, thick maple neck, maple touchboard (mine at least - there also was a rosewood version), I don't think you can go much brighter (nor heavier :lol:). If your Squier has a basswood body, it's unplugged tone will be way different - darker and with way less complex overtones.

[AndyR]

I'm not sure ITs will be too gritty and trebly.

I do use mine for Rory/SRV type-stuff, but they come in nice for funky strat work as well.

They're extremely versatile - at the moment I'm using them for Hank Marvin stuff (Apache, Atlantis, other things I can't remember the name of...)!

I'm not sure they're what you want from some of the things that you've said, but they are "vintage hot" and they are very "stratty".

I do think this is a case of "ask Tim" though...