Author Topic: Strat recommendation (Read 4287 times)

Blueflowerpower · « **on:** April 11, 2007, 04:52:10 PM »

Hi This Is my first post, Just bought an 88 MIJ 72 Reissue. Amazing acoustic tone, very resonant Basswood body and a great maple neck and fingerboard. Only problem is the slightly boring pickups, they just dont have enough definition and the bridge is just too thin and trebly to be a usefull pickup.

Im currently looking at getting some apaches and was hoping to get some advice. Basically I want to sound as much like Hendrix as possible (How Original) but i also need something with great clean sounds for funk soul reggae and pop.

Thanks

Blueflowerpower · « **Reply #1 on:** April 11, 2007, 05:05:45 PM »

Sorry that doesnt really sound very clear. Would Apaches be the best pickups for those kind of tones or should i go for something else

Twinfan · « **Reply #2 on:** April 11, 2007, 06:56:45 PM »

Mothers Milks are the Hendrix-ish pickups I believe...

38thBeatle · « **Reply #3 on:** April 11, 2007, 06:58:26 PM »

Hello, welcome to the forum. I can only partially answer your question. I can get the Hendrix tones from my Apache laden Strat. Apaches offer classic Strat tones and are very full and satisfying to play. You could get a "hotter" set if you wanted but I would suggest sticking to the spec that would have been around at the time that Jimi was playing. I have no experience of Mothers Milks but they are similar to late 1960's spec pickups and might suffice. I think Elliott could add something and some of the other guys.

steve · « **Reply #4 on:** April 11, 2007, 07:10:55 PM »

Hi, this may help. Click the link below and have alisten to my track "steve's blues". It uses mothers milks in a strat, played in a SRV/Hendrix kinda way. It may help.

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/stevegladman

Track 7 "steve's blues".

Twinfan · « **Reply #5 on:** April 11, 2007, 07:15:14 PM »

I did some digging before buying some new Strat pickups recently and from what I'd read the Milks were closest to late 60's spec single coils. If they're anything like the Fender Custom Shop '69s I bought in the end (sorry Tim :oops: ) they'll have a slight mid scoop giving that distinctive late sixties tone.

Blueflowerpower · « **Reply #6 on:** April 11, 2007, 09:06:58 PM »

Cheers for the advice guys. Mothers Milk sound like they'd be exactly the kind of tone I'm after. Especially after hearing those sound clips, nice playing man, that is THE tone I'm trying to recreate. How do you like those pickups when u roll up the gain for aggressive lead playing.

I also emailed Tim Mills and he recommended a set of Irish Tours. What would you guys see as the main advantages one pickup would have over the other. I know the Irish Tours are alot higher output but would i not be sacrificing some tone for that power?

Thanks again

steve · « **Reply #7 on:** April 11, 2007, 10:06:07 PM »

Quote from: Blueflowerpower

Cheers for the advice guys. Mothers Milk sound like they'd be exactly the kind of tone I'm after. Especially after hearing those sound clips, nice playing man, that is THE tone I'm trying to recreate. How do you like those pickups when u roll up the gain for aggressive lead playing.

I also emailed Tim Mills and he recommended a set of Irish Tours. What would you guys see as the main advantages one pickup would have over the other. I know the Irish Tours are alot higher output but would i not be sacrificing some tone for that power?

Thanks again

I would always go with Tim's advise to be honest, he knows what will work best in a individual situation. The Irish Tour singles are very versatile but with that true strat voice.

BloodMountain · « **Reply #8 on:** April 11, 2007, 10:07:39 PM »

Quote from: Blueflowerpower

I know the Irish Tours are alot higher output but would i not be sacrificing some tone for that power?

that's not the case with BKPs.

Blueflowerpower · « **Reply #9 on:** April 11, 2007, 11:45:56 PM »

Yeah your both probably right I'll go with Tims suggestion and get the Irish Tours. I just cant wait to get to get some bareknuckles into this strat.

Philly Q · « **Reply #10 on:** April 12, 2007, 12:13:10 AM »

I'm sure Tim's right. The extra power of the ITs should work well with the basswood, as it's not usually the most "toneful" of woods (although you did mention that your Strat is a resonant one).

I had a basswood MIJ Strat years ago and found it thin with the stock vintage-style pickups. It needed a bit more grunt to bring it to life.

(I should say that I don't own any BKP single-coils, so can't comment on the tonal differences - just think the extra power's a good idea!)