Pickup for Hardtail Strat ???

[5150ed]

Hi I am choosing a set of pickup for my warmoth hardtail strat.

My guitar is Alder body with Indian rosewood fingerboard+maple neck. 

I am looking for vintage 60s tone; Robert Cray, John Mayer, Stevie Ray Vaughan kind of tone.
My choice are Mother's Milk, 59 slap board, 63 slap board and Irish tour.

Which one should I get?  :D

[PhilKing]

I was just speaking with Tim about pickups for a hardtail strat and he suggested Sultans or the 63 Veneer Board.   I went with the 63's, since I already have Sultans in another strat.

[gwEm]

rule out Irish Tours I think - not right for this job. Sounds like your after something a touch smoother

[5150ed]

I was just speaking with Tim about pickups for a hardtail strat and he suggested Sultans or the 63 Veneer Board.   I went with the 63's, since I already have Sultans in another strat.

How does 63's sound?

I used to own 59's. It really sound nice but I give it to my friend, he loves it so much.
His strat is the same spec as mine but with 6 points vintage trem.

The 59's to my ears is very musical pickup, fast, woody, clear, twang, pop high and balance. Very fun to play with.
The only draw back I can think of is it sounds slightly forward with the band but some people may like it. ^^

[Philly Q]

I ordered an Abraxas/Slow Hand HSS set for my hardtail Strat, but it sounds like you're after something a little more vintage!

I believe the '63 Veneer Board set is designed to sound just a little fatter than the '59 Slab Board set, but all three sets you're considering are not hugely different from each other.  I don't know what to suggest.

I'll shut up.  I was just interested because I like hardtail Strats.  :oops:

[Telerocker]

The 59 slab board, the 63 veneer board and the Mothers Milks are close to each other, all woody and snappy. I'm very happy with the MM's in my American Series HSS-strat. The neckpickup is instant Frusciante/John Mayer.

[5150ed]

Thanks you all.

I think I go with mother's milk.

I'll shut up.  I was just interested because I like hardtail Strats.  :oops:

No u don't have to :) Tell me more about hardtail strat, how it sounds difference that the tremolo strat?
I think it sound little bit more like tele.

Some said hardtail sounds more harsh but more sustain, projection and mid than tremolo one.

[Philly Q]

I don't think it really sounds like a Tele, because a lot of the Tele sound comes from that thin metal bridge.  It doesn't have that hollow/reverby element the tremolo brings to a normal Strat, but maybe it does improve sustain slightly and make the picking response a bit more immediate.

But the main reason I like hardtails is just the simplicity - no fiddling about with springs and all those extra screws!  I've never really liked trem systems.

[Telerocker]

More sustain and a bit more balls I would say.

[38thBeatle]

I have had a hardtail Strat for 30 odd years. Mine is a mid 1970's -so called bad period for Fender. Mine is a superb instrument and sounds terrific. It has Apaches in it and sounds like a great early Stat. I would say that in comparison to my trem equipped Jap Strat, it has a slightly warmer tone but there are too many variables to make a straight comparison ( my Jap Strat has Slowhands). I think that to an extent, the Slowhands compensate for the slight lack of warmth( I am remembering back to when it had stock pups) so it is hard to provide a clear opinion. I think it is more to do with the playability with a bit more "give" with the trem Strat.

[5150ed]

More sustain and a bit more balls I would say.

More balls, sounds interesting ^^

I have had a hardtail Strat for 30 odd years. Mine is a mid 1970's -so called bad period for Fender. Mine is a superb instrument and sounds terrific. It has Apaches in it and sounds like a great early Stat. I would say that in comparison to my trem equipped Jap Strat, it has a slightly warmer tone but there are too many variables to make a straight comparison ( my Jap Strat has Slowhands). I think that to an extent, the Slowhands compensate for the slight lack of warmth( I am remembering back to when it had stock pups) so it is hard to provide a clear opinion. I think it is more to do with the playability with a bit more "give" with the trem Strat.

I also have 76's tele, it sounds nice. A bit heavy but really sing through the band.

How Apaches sounds? I have a Ash body Maple neck Strat waiting in line to be made.
I also have Semour duncan Antiquity Texas Hot for the strat.
But after I hear 59' slap board in my friend Strat, I start a search on Apaches info.

The Antiquity really sound nice in vintage vintage tone, a lot of vintage ambiance and texture.
Bareknuckle 59's sounds to me in the difference way, more clarity,  contrast, dynamic and details.
Of cause, it sounds vintage but do not have the vintage ambiance and texture that Antiquity provide.

[Telerocker]

The Apaches are clean, but thick. Genuine fifties strat-tone. I believe Tim (the BKP-boss) has an Apache-bridge and two Mother's Milk in his strat.

As for the balls: that's the way we describe serious power here in Holland.  :)

[38thBeatle]

Apaches are warm and clean-lovely rounded strat tone with total clarity. But they are not just a one trick pony- crank things up a bit and they respond beautifully. My favourite is with an amp that is just breaking up because you get that lovely rich tone that cuts through nicely where you want it to. Back off the volume and they clean up nicely. I bought them about 6 years ago and have never ever wanted to change them.

[5150ed]

Thanks u all.

I got MM on hand now. Waiting to be hear. ^^

[38thBeatle]

I have played a Strat with MM's and they were superb- you will be happy I am sure.