Mothers Milk RWRP or Stock?

[rperks]

Hi all,

I am currently thinking of getting MM pickups into my Strat to replace the Lace Sensors (blue, silver, red).  

Tim advised me on MM - I am after a gilmour-esque type sound, that kind of hollow tone (think Another Brick in the Wall solo, live - as it was recorded on a LesPaul ;-).  I also play a lot of Mark Knopfler type stuff.  I do like some of the tones from my Blue Lace Sensor in the neck position, but it is not consistent and only seems to be around playing at the 12th fret-ish position on the neck - I want more of this tone!

The bit I am stumped on is wether to go for a RWRP middle pickup?  Does anyone have any sound samples to compare the differences.  Tim has given be some good points (RWRP, more middle) but does anyone have any other opinions?

As this is a 90's Strat Plus Deluxe, I presume the standard pole pieces are what I should go for?

[DeanS]

I'd be interested in finding out about the vintage stagger thing as I too am looking at changing out the pups on a strat plus deluxe.

Although I like the vintage strat sounds I'm leaning towards two trilogies and a sinner......

[PhilKing]

I have the Apache's with non-RWRP middle and vintage stagger and the Irish Tours with RWRP middle.  The sound without is more subtle, and seems to be the 'vintage' tone, whereas the RWRP is more pronounced, and seems to have more scoop.

I am thinking of a set of MM and will get them with the standard and vintage stagger.

There are 2 vintage staggers (just to add to the mix!), the 54 and the vintage.  My apaches are the 54 stagger, this has the G magnet lower and A higher than the vintage , but still has E&B lowest, then E & G then A and D highest.

The vintage stagger makes the top E & B lowest, then the bottom E & A, with the D & G tallest.

I have flat in my Trilogy, and Slowhand and IT when using in a H/S/H or H/S/S set.

[rperks]

So which do you prefer?  RWRP or stock?

Too much choice ;-) !  For a new-ish strat as in the deluxe plus, what would be the correct stagger to get (if any)?

Cheers,
Rich

[Ced777]

In my opinion, staggering depends on:
- what kind of radius has your neck. Vintage radius = vintage staggering. Modern (flatter) radius = modern staggering or no staggering at all.
- if you use modern strings (with 3 plain strings) or older ones (with 2 plain strings)
- taste.

[PhilKing]

Sorry, I thought that I had answered it by saying I would order the standard set without RWRP.  RWRP only cancels hum in 2 out of 5 positions, so it isn't worth the compromise IMHO.

[Ced777]

Phil, let us know what you think about MM. Or a Apaches vs MMs for example!  :D

[Tim]

Hmm, RWRP is more hollow and scooped not more mid..........stock has more mid on the in between settings and also marginally more output over the whole set as all magnetic polarity is the same.

[lifted]

Tim or Ced,  I am not technical enough to understand the physics behind the reason you must consider the neck radius.  I was wondering if ya'll could explain it in a nutshell, Please?  By the way, Tim,  I have been playing my new IT/IT/Nailbomb  Super Strat w/ 11 pickup choices,  for 4 days now.  And WOOOOOOOW!   I have A Strat And A Tele And Les Paul AND a JEM  all in one guitar.  Sorry for the off topic, but its my first, ( of many sets) Cheers, Tim.

[rooky]

Tim or Ced,  I am not technical enough to understand the physics behind the reason you must consider the neck radius.

If your bridge saddles are set up to match the F'board radius, as they should be, then the radius will affect the height of the string over the pole pieces.
Strats vary between 7" and 12" radii; a considerble difference. The top of the pickup is basically flat so the protrusion of each pole piece is crucial to the proximity of the pole piece to the string and hence the pickups response to that string. Having said that; staggered poles were originally introduced to offset string to string output and tonal differences as well as the f'board radius. You'll notice that the B is typically low, this is to reduce some of the harmonics and other nasty overtones that the B is prone to produce. So; the staggered pole arrangement only really works on the finger board radii that they were designed to work with and with the guage/type of strings that were prevalent at the time.

[Searcher]

Check this out:

[lifted]

Thanks, Rooky, that explains alot.   Cheers,  Lifted