Pickups For My Strat

[ekul785]

Hey guys,

I'm currently using Kinmans in my Strat which I do love, however I keep getting the urge to go back to regular single coil pickups, I almost miss the noise!

I'm a big fan of this guitarist, who's tone is always "big" "natural" and "woody" if that makes sense?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8r__OBtY1s

I also love the tones that Oz Noy gets: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ez3uXUuT00

I'm also a big fan of John Frusciante, so anything that get me that classic Strat sound would be great. I realise that there are a lot of variables when it comes to tone, but these three players are a sort of starting point in my search.

I spoke to Tim about the Patent Pending sets, and he says either will be fine, but I thought it'd be good to get a few suggestions from you guys if possible :)

[BigB]

Hi

I don't have much experience with BKP strat pups (had a TS bridge / SH mid and neck in a strat like a couple years ago and that's it) nor with strats in general FWIW (I'm mostly a gibby guy), but for the kind of tones you mention you obviously want some kind of late 50s / early 60s type pups. The "PAT pend" are good candidate, but you may also want to consider the Mother Milk or - for a more powerful tone - the Irish Tour, that are designed to help us mere mortals get into the Rory Gallagher / SRV territory.

[ekul785]

Thanks for the reply BigB,

I had previously looked at the Mothers Milks and have definitely been considering them. I don't think I want to go as far as the Irish Tours.

Does anyone know how the '59 slab boards would sound on a non-slab board Strat? They say that they're for that 59-62 sound which could be pretty much perfect for what I want.

[Telerocker]

Mother's Milk for a rosewood board, or Pat Pend 63 if you're strat has a maple board or - if it is rosewood - is on the bright side acoustically.
I have Mother's Milk in an ash Fender HSS-strat and they have all the Frusciante-woodiness and sparkle. The Irish Tours are a bit fatter and grittier, but turn the volumeknob. a tad down and you are in Mother's Milk-terrority. IT's are more or less overwound Mother's Milk.

[ekul785]

Thanks for the advice Telerocker! I spoke to Tim regarding the MM's and he says that the PAT Pending series are definitely the two I should be looking at. I'm leaning towards the '63s at the moment. 

[Telerocker]

Thanks for the advice Telerocker! I spoke to Tim regarding the MM's and he says that the PAT Pending series are definitely the two I should be looking at. I'm leaning towards the '63s at the moment. 

Tim knows his pickups best. Listen to the man!  :)

[ekul785]

Thanks for the advice Telerocker! I spoke to Tim regarding the MM's and he says that the PAT Pending series are definitely the two I should be looking at. I'm leaning towards the '63s at the moment. 

Tim knows his pickups best. Listen to the man!  :)

Definitely! He was right about the Riff Raffs for my SG, so I think he'll be right here.

Does anyone have any opinions on the two PAT Pending sets?

[38thBeatle]

Hi, if you have already had Tim's advice then you can't get better than that. I am sure that you will be more than happy with the outcome.

[ekul785]

Hi, if you have already had Tim's advice then you can't get better than that. I am sure that you will be more than happy with the outcome.

Definitely, I think i'm going to order the '63s soon as they seem to be the right ones for me :)

[ekul785]

I just ordered the '63 set in a loaded pickguard :) Can't wait for them to arrive!

[dingleberry]

Please review asap!  Tim has recommended the 63 set for my incoming ash/maple strat so I'm very curious as to how you get on with them.

[ekul785]

Please review asap!  Tim has recommended the 63 set for my incoming ash/maple strat so I'm very curious as to how you get on with them.

Will do dingleberry :) out of interest, what did you ask Tim for that resulted in him recommending the '63s?

[Telerocker]

The Pat Pend-series and Mother's Milk are very close to each other. They differ in nuances, but blindfolded I could not  tell which is what. Just take the 63 Veneer-board. You'll be pleased.

[ekul785]

The Pat Pend-series and Mother's Milk are very close to each other. They differ in nuances, but blindfolded I could not  tell which is what. Just take the 63 Veneer-board. You'll be pleased.

That sounds perfect Telerocker :) I was extremely close to picking the Mother's Milks, so that's made me more confident in the 63's.

[Telerocker]

I don't know if BKP has a turnback-guarantee, but if you don''t like them and you contact BKP immediately, I guess there's no problem to trade them for other pickups. Anyway, fiddle with the height since to find the sweet spots. Scatterwound pickups are sensitive for that. BKP's also have enormous clarity, so you might to have to adjust your amp-eq.