Need some advice for a HSS strat.

[The Norwegian Guy]

Hi guys!
I'm new to this forum :)

I'm a warmoth-guy, and I'm just about to assemble my third guitar from warmoth.
'till now, I got Seymour Duncans in my guitars, and have decided to try BKP.

This project features a HSS routed swamp ash strat body, and a maple w/ebony neck.

I'm looking for a "bluesy" sound, and was wondering if you guys could help me out choosing pickups.
I have listened to alot of sound clips, and have come up with this;

Neck: The apache
Middle: The apache
Bridge: Stormy monday

How does the output on these pickups differ to each other? And does anyone have any other combinations that may sound better, or that you are satisfied with yourselves?

Apologize my bad english.
- AndreasM

[MDV]

Your english is better than many natives. Perhaps its your linguistic skills that the girls appreciate.

I'm a long way....a really really $%&#ing long way from a blues guru, but I dont see any reason not to go with that combo, from my understanding of the sounds of the pickups.

And welcome.

[The Norwegian Guy]

Thanks for the reply!
I'm not really a blues-guy either. I just wanted versatility in my guitar wardrobe 8)
I only got dual humbucker guitars, besides my MusicMan Steve Morse signature - but I barely uses its singlecoils, because I really don't like'em. I don't really get the singlecoilfeel out of them.

I got a warmoth 50's replica coming up, just have to send the body back to america for refinishing, since the custom nitro paintjob didn't stand the travel from USA to Norway during the hot summer. That one will offcourse be fitted with singlecoils - but as every other guitarist, I just can't get enough guitars, so I thought that a HSS strat would be nice to have in the collection.

 :lol: :lol:

[MDV]

Well, if its any help, I do enjoy blues quite a bit, but am primarily a metal player.

I set about pickuping an Epi LP for pure blues detail, and spoke to tim about it. He said 'crawlers' right off the bat. I was all for getting stormy mondays. But, tim reasoned that for a heavier player the crawlers would give me authentic blues sounds and also be able to let loose if I wanted them to. I got them, I was very pleased with them. Among the bluesy sounds I wanted were peter green and paul kossoff, and I mentioned these to tim.

Also, Irish tours - the can handle everything you throw at them, so long as you dont expect it to be a humbucker sound. The have enough power on tap to play metal leads to, but are very happy to provide Rory Gallacher, SRV, hendrix etc.

So, if youre not a blues player by default, perhaps a Crawler/IT/IT set would suit you well? They most certainly gave me convincing blues sounds, but, again, I'm not a blues player; perhaps more discerning ears would find them lacking. In which case the choices you've laid out already seem pretty optimal to me.

[The Norwegian Guy]

Thanks for another great reply! I really appreciate it!

I'm not a blues player by default - but I like to just turn the gain down on the amp and let the feelings flow, if you know what I mean. And I often go to bars and jam along with other musicians - and they often play blues schemes because that is easy to improvise to, and it is something that everyone is familiar with.


A video of me noodling.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVUagm6l99w

This is what I like to play, so If you mean that the configuration you just suggested is versatile - I'm probably going for it.

[MDV]

From the playing styles you go for there I would stand by my Crawler/IT suggestion. However, from the way you have the sound dialed in, it suggests you like a bit more top end than the crawler bridge provides in my experience. Perhaps a Mule and irish tours.

If you think that those vidoes are a bit bright sounding, then crawler, if you think they sound ballanced the way you want your sound to be, then mule.

Quite welcome, btw.

[The Norwegian Guy]

The video is recorded with a webcam microphone, so it doesn't justify my real sound. But I'll check out some samples of the different pickups you've suggested!

Thank you very much :)

[Telerocker]

HI welcome here. I have Crawler/IT's in a MXG Customstrat (swampash body, maple neck, ebony fretboard). Tim suggested me this combination. He also recommended a Mule, but I went for the the Crawler. It depends on your music style, but the Apaches are great too, just tonally different. More huge fifties-style as the IT's have more sixties-vibe. Great for Hendrix and Chili Peppers-stuff. Or blues. Splitted the Crawler is very balanced with the middle-IT. Crawler cleans up very well when turning down the vol.knob on the guitar. I'm happy with these puppies.

[The Norwegian Guy]

Thanks for replies, guys!

I'll do some sound-research and go thru a shiteeload of different soundclips on the forum and try to make up a descision.

Another quick question. What pots should I use? I have both 250k and 500k. Could I use a 500k volume pot, and 250k tone pots and use some kind of capacitor on the humbucker?
In that case. Which capacitor value?

[Mr. Air]

I had a STormy Monday/Apache combo in a HSS strat for a short while. Really sounded good to me. Great for blues and classic rock (There's a few clips at the players lounge). Tim recommended me 300k pots and they worked fine. Only problem is that 300k pots don't come in push/pull as far as I know.

Tim also suggested a Mule/Mothers Milk combo for blues and classic rock...

[The Norwegian Guy]

Would zink plated steel base give the singlecoils more fullness?

[Nolly]

Would zink plated steel base give the singlecoils more fullness?

Yes, but the likelihood is that there is another pickup in the range that would offer what you want without resorting to that.
The Slowhands, for example, are an excellent choice for those who want a warmer, fuller single coil sound.

[The Norwegian Guy]

I went for:

Crawler - MM - MM

[Telerocker]

Congrats! The Crawler is very versatile. You'll love it. Splitted it will do great quacky tones with the MM.