HSS: Abraxas, Apache, PAT PEND '63

[henriFIN]

Hi!

I've got a poplar Strat with a maple neck and rosewood fingerboard.

What are your opinions on this HSS combination for versatility? Abraxas, Apache (middle), '63 Veneer Board (neck).

I'm looking for as many tones I can get out of my only strat. The sounds I need are for variety of genres: pop, soul, funk, jazz, blues/rock and rock.

Thanks!

[darkbluemurder]

For the styles you mentioned you are on the right track by going low/medium output.

I have very limited experience with the BKP single coil range (only Slowhand so far) but I can say that the Abraxas does very well as a bridge pickup in a HSS configuration. Works great split as well.

My favorite HSS strat wiring can be done with the stock 5-way switch. The pickups are wired to the switch in the normal fashion (#1 = neck, #2 = neck + middle, #3 = middle, #4 = bridge autosplit + middle, #5 = bridge as full humbucker).
I would use one volume control, one tone control and one blend control. The blend control will allow you to have bridge + neck in #1 and #5 of the switch and all 3 pickups together in # 2 and #4 of the switch. That will give you 7 tones. If you use a push-pull pot (does not matter which one) you could individually split the humbucker which will give you 2 more sounds (humbucker split in #5 plus humbucker split + neck in #1 and #5). So you have 9 different sounds in total on tap, and just in case this appears confusing you can use the standard 5-way selector and ignore the additional options. 

Of course there are even more options if you use one of those 5-way 4-pole switching beasts but it is very easy to lose control in a live environment.

Cheers Stephan

[Telerocker]

When I remember well our honourable forummember Nolly has Abraxas, Pat Pend 63 and Slowhand in his strat.
I'm just a bit puzzled why you pick a probably fatter sounding Apache for the middle and hollower sounding Pat Pend for the neck. Maybe I'm wrong, but would that provide an ideal blend in the second position? If the in between position is less important to you, I see no reason why you shouldn't order this combo.

[henriFIN]

Thanks for your answers!

UPDATE:

I listened to all the apache clips in the players section and I'm pretty impressed. That's the strat sound for me! :)

If I order Apaches for both neck and middle would the Abraxas still be a good fit? Or would the Mule be more appropriate?


Thanks!

[Marco78]

I'd not use a PAF type pickups on the bridge of superstrat... For me the ABR is better...

[darkbluemurder]

If I order Apaches for both neck and middle would the Abraxas still be a good fit? Or would the Mule be more appropriate?

I think it would still be a good fit. It will be louder than the single coils when used in humbucking mode but should match well if you use an auto-split in #4. That would be my preferred set up - to have more crunch on tap from the bridge.

If however you are only after a warmer tone from the bridge pickup with only a bit more output and don't want to split the humbucker in #4, then Mule.

Cheers Stephan

[Zaned]

I'd not use a PAF type pickups on the bridge of superstrat... For me the ABR is better...

..Van Halen wouldn't agree with you  :lol:

-Zaned

[darkbluemurder]

I'd not use a PAF type pickups on the bridge of superstrat... For me the ABR is better...

..Van Halen wouldn't agree with you  :lol:

-Zaned

At least for some time in his career he played a PAF from an old ES 335. At other times he was reported to have played a DiMarzio SD, TZ and Seymour Duncan JB and Custom. Who knows what he played when. Regardless, I think his tone on the first albums was killer.

Cheers Stephan

[Philly Q]

At least for some time in his career he played a PAF from an old ES 335. At other times he was reported to have played a DiMarzio SD, TZ and Seymour Duncan JB and Custom. Who knows what he played when. Regardless, I think his tone on the first albums was killer.

That's interesting, I never heard about him using DiMarzios, except the signature models in his Music Man guitar.  But yeah, certainly heard the ES335 PAF story.

[Telerocker]

If I order Apaches for both neck and middle would the Abraxas still be a good fit? Or would the Mule be more appropriate?

I think in general a non-mahogany strat performs better with a beefier bridge-hb, so I'd take Abraxas over Mule. Besides that, the splitted tones wll be more balanced.
Of course the bridge will be a bit louder then the Apaches, but it's not that big a gap. I have no problems with my Crawler/Irish Tours-combo.

[Mr. Air]

I got Apache middle and neck hooked up with a Stormy Monday bridge in my Warmoth/All Parts strat build (alder body, maple neck, rosewood board) and the combination works well. The SM can be a bit trebly (I'm not good at trebly tones so it might just be me), but that's nothing a bit of amp tweaking can adjust. So I think that a Mule would suit you fine along with the Apaches. I would be affraid that the Abraxas might overpower the Apaches, but I can't say for sure.

[fdesalvo]

Late to the party here, but let me speak to the Abraxas + 63 combination in a mahogany tele.  Perrrrfectly balanced and excellent 2/3 position tones. 

Also, I have an alder HSS G&L Legacy (Strat) with Abraxas + Apaches and it's a very balanced and toneful combination.  I'm tempted to try the Crawler +IT or MM combo in my next one out of curiosity.