Author Topic: Pickup Advise: Looking for "that Perfect Strat Sound&qu (Read 9804 times)

hunter · « **Reply #15 on:** May 27, 2007, 10:14:49 AM »

Pretty much set on Apaches now.

Final question to you strat specialists:

A. Reverse wound middle or normal wound?
B. Staggered pole pieces or flat?

jordan · « **Reply #16 on:** May 27, 2007, 10:24:52 AM »

A. I have RWRP, and find that positions 2 and 4 are two of the sweetest tones I've heard anywhere. I think I'll always stick with RWRP now.

B. There's alot of talk around this subject, with alot of people saying that staggered poles don't work well with a flatter fretboard radius. My Apaches are staggered as when I first got them I had a 7.25" radius strat neck. I then moved up to a compound 10-16" radius Warmoth neck, and can tell no difference whatsoever. I emailed Tim with regard to this and he assured me the staggered pickups would be fine with the compound radius, and they were. That said, if you have a very flat radius all over, I can't see how a set of flat poles would be bad.

Hope that helps.

38thBeatle · « **Reply #17 on:** May 27, 2007, 10:35:09 AM »

I'd agree with Jordan Hunter both in respect of the RW/RP and with the staggering. I look forward to hearing what you think when you get them.

hunter · « **Reply #18 on:** May 27, 2007, 11:14:37 AM »

Thanks a lot guys.

So RW/RP for those sweet in-between tones ... I agree, just hope they aren't much weaker than the singles solo.

As my fretboard is vintage with lots of radius, then it should probably be staggered ones.

Hmm, just something else came to my mind: anyone using a "tele switch"? Is that a very cool sound?

sgmypod · « **Reply #19 on:** May 27, 2007, 12:04:36 PM »

tele switch is that so you can have neck and bridge together..if so got that and sounds cool...can have all 3 on at once as well

Philly Q · « **Reply #20 on:** May 27, 2007, 12:28:32 PM »

Quote from: sgmypod

tele switch is that so you can have neck and bridge together..if so got that and sounds cool...can have all 3 on at once as well

Is that using a push/pull pot to add the neck (or bridge) pickup to whatever's selected on the 5-way?

Apparently the Fender (Mexico) Classic Player '50s Strat is wired so you get neck+bridge in position 4 on the switch (position 2 is normal bridge+middle). I'd love to know how they do that.

38thBeatle · « **Reply #21 on:** May 27, 2007, 12:46:00 PM »

Hunter, yes I have a push/pull pot for bridge and neck together.Very usable-a little like the Tele mid position. I can get all three going but was warned that it isn't that great-probably better if the pups were in series. Lately, I have found myself using the bridge and neck quite a lot. I would say definitely go for it.

Elliot · « **Reply #22 on:** May 27, 2007, 01:36:08 PM »

I have a Rothwell Neck Adder blender pot - nicer than switch as you can as much or less neck as you want.

To my ears there are two sweet spots - 50% neck added and 90% - the 50% calms the bite of the bridge: it is where the telecaster middle tone is (as the tele bridge pickup is brighter than the Strats due to the brass plate) - 90% is a nice smooth 'tween' position tone - like the neck middle position but with a bit more treble - good for Hendrix cleans (eg. Wind Cries Mary) - all 3 pickups together is somewhat disappointing.

Peter Antal · « **Reply #23 on:** May 27, 2007, 01:36:44 PM »

Stewmac has a 5-way switch - Megaswitch E-model, I think - where the 3rd position is neck+bridge instead of the middle pickup.

Philly Q · « **Reply #24 on:** May 27, 2007, 02:01:12 PM »

Quote from: Peter Antal

Stewmac has a 5-way switch - Megaswitch E-model, I think - where the 3rd position is neck+bridge instead of the middle pickup.

Well done Peter, I'd forgotten all about those Megaswitches! It is the E-model, I've got one in my spares box somewhere. Wonder if it still works after all these years?

Canadian Steve · « **Reply #25 on:** May 27, 2007, 02:29:06 PM »

I've been through 3 different sets of pickups on my Strat and I would recommend Apaches, although for the Blug sound, Irish Tours appear more suitable. I would also go for a stock middle instead of a RWRP, as it helps to combat Stratitis.

hunter · « **Reply #26 on:** May 27, 2007, 06:09:14 PM »

Quote from: Canadian Steve

I would also go for a stock middle instead of a RWRP, as it helps to combat Stratitis.

If you have NOT RW/RP on the middle, will you then have practically humbucker when the in-between positions are selected?

And ... what exactly is stratitis?

Elliot · « **Reply #27 on:** May 27, 2007, 06:35:46 PM »

1) RWRP does not make a strat sound like a humbucker

2) Stratitis is the condition caused by too much pull on the magnet - normally associated with overwound strong magnet type pickups - causing out of tune wobbles and tonal dead spots. I don't think non RWRP or RWRP apaches will suffer from this, although tonally I think non RWRP have the advantage - and hum is a feature of strat pickups anyway.

My Apaches are non RWRP and they don't suffer from it - nor do my Mother's Milks which are Alnico V and are RWRP (great Blug/clean Hendrix pickups btw). In the sub 6k range of pup your not going to get stratitis.

Canadian Steve · « **Reply #28 on:** May 27, 2007, 06:41:37 PM »

Look hear for a definition: http://www.sweetw@ter.com/insync/word.php?find=Stratitis
The pickups on vintage strats came with a stock middle. The in between sounds will not be like a humbucker, as they are selected in paralel and not in series.

Philly Q · « **Reply #29 on:** May 27, 2007, 06:55:51 PM »

With or without a RW/RP middle pickup, the pickups are still in parallel and in phase with each other. The RW/RP middle gives you hum-cancelling in positions 2 and 4; it doesn't (IMO) massively change the sound in those positions, but it does seem to slightly emphasise the "hollowness" of the tone (maybe just because there's no hum?).

To get a humbucker-like sound from a Strat you'd need 2 (or more) of the pickups to be in series.