Sorting my strat out single, HSP90 content

[Nerd]

While waiting for new set of HB's from BKP for my Paul Reed I though I will start nearding out about bringing my strat alive. Its 2016 American Pro. I had few pickups changes with it in past, 2 sets of Kinmans, blade Dimarzios that still lives inside this guitar. Its the most neglected axe in my arsenal and it deserves more. I've beat the living cr@p out of it since I got it and it used to be my go to axe. I'm sorted with HB guitars and i was thinking to do it HSP90 and 2xSC. I could never make bridge SC work with my applications and I kinda dig my jam mate LP Junior. So what I want the pickups to do is give me Red House tone foundation at neck SC, and middle SC and HSP90 to pair well. I like good string separation at the bridge so that would be also beneficial. I have to little experience with P90s to be fully aware what I really want so I'm hoping to pick up some brains here.

My rig otherwise - Boogie Fillmore, couple of pedals - EP Booster, Vemuram Shanks ODS, Kingtone Octaland

Thank you   

[Telerocker]

I would go Nantucket + Irish Tours here. The Irish Tours are a bit meatier than Mother's Milk or the Pat Pend Series, but they clean up very well. Hendrix, RHCP and SRV are all in there. The Nantucket oozes the classic LP Junior raw blues/rock tone.

[Nerd]

See I was thinking Irish Tour too but to pair it with Blue Note

[Telerocker]

See I was thinking Irish Tour too but to pair it with Blue Note

That would work too! Personally I would go Blue Note + Pat Pend 63 or Nantucket and IT's, the first set a bit cleaner/glassier, the latter one a little raunchier, but hey, it's your party!

[b.gandt]

I'd agree that either P90 would work.  I've used them both in somewhat similar gutars.  I prefer the extra push of the Natucket, but the Blue Note does have a cool sound under gain.  Talking more the hard end of classic rock.

I don't know the Strat single coils.

Off topic...how's that Fillmore?  Which one do you have?

[Nerd]

See I was thinking Irish Tour too but to pair it with Blue Note

That would work too! Personally I would go Blue Note + Pat Pend 63 or Nantucket and IT's, the first set a bit cleaner/glassier, the latter one a little raunchier, but hey, it's your party!

See thats great info right there. IT is most likely solid choice as of now. Its just the HSP90 to pair it with.

[Nerd]

I'd agree that either P90 would work.  I've used them both in somewhat similar gutars.  I prefer the extra push of the Natucket, but the Blue Note does have a cool sound under gain.  Talking more the hard end of classic rock.

I don't know the Strat single coils.

Off topic...how's that Fillmore?  Which one do you have?

Another vote for Nantucket, then :)

I have Fillmore 50 head and 2x12 Fillmore cab. The cab was a bit stiff when I got this set but once I broke it in its a fab amp. The way I like to often describe it is as swiss army amp without swiss army control layout. You can do a lot with just 3 band correction but you need time to learn it. Its not usual fender or marshall tonestack. Usual approach to Mesa amps still applies here. The way I have it now is left channel does cleans, Fender-esquire with touch of breakup if you dig in with bridge pickup, totally clean on neck. Right channel light overdrive - again - when you dig in and touch responsive crunches otherwise. You can go from almost clean to quite gainy with the force of pick - this is the main reason I like pickups responsive to pick attack, I want to enhance the best quality of my amp - this is the main reason I love it. My high gains are this + EP Booster. I don't use 3th gain settings  - they are great but I don't want to sacrifice cleans and crunches + EP takes me to nuke territories. While cleans are Blackface-ish the drives are classic in heritage with strong Boogie DNA. This amp doesn't try to be your fender/marshall, has its own thing going on. Popular complaint is low volume but its more the volume knob taper than available power. The volume progression is very slow with the biggest jump is around 3/4th. Makes sense if you want to dial in bedroom levels easier. The power amp is biased rather cold - mine is 55% plate dissipation so its difficult to get PA distortion but I see it more as a positive. Master Volume is spectacular. I bought mine with Fryette PS which I used only once and sent back - it's simply not needed. I get great tones on any volumes. I'm in Gloucester, UK - get in touch if you local, more than happy to give you a test drive

[b.gandt]

I appreciate the review, and also your kind offer to allow a test drive of the Fillmore.   Unfortunately (for more than one reason), I'm a Yank in Phoenix, Arizona.