Thanks again:
I have a modern Alder bodied Standard American strat (9.5 radius, medium jumbo frets).
As is probably usual, I was considering the Apaches, then went on to the Mother's Milk idea from the reference tones on this thread by HJM (fantastic samples by the way!) and by listenng to the samples on the BK website:
http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1625.0I also saw Nolly had this to say on the MM vs Custom 62 thread:
"The '59s are actually have a brighter top end than the Apaches you currently have - with their A3 magnets the Apaches are smoother than you might expect given their wind. The '63s are a little smoother than the '59s but still brighter than the Apaches. Both do have a significantly woodier sound though. The Mother's Milks sit somewhere between the two, with a fatter low end than the '59 but a brighter top than the '63s.
As far as woodiness goes, any of those three would deliver in spades. Yes, they're brighter than the Apaches, but I'd wager with the reduced mid they would sound less "hard" when you dig in. "
This sort of explains what I am after - brighter than Apaches (and def the ITs), woody etc so I agree the 63 set should give me more top end, whereas the 59 set would be too much given I have the alder/maple/maple combination ?
Just to clarify, do you mean actually mail Tim some mp3's ? It would make sense ! If so I'll have to get my thinking hat on re what setup to record - any advice re what "reference" would mean in this case ?