Author Topic: Pickups for a Strat? (Read 2475 times)

jimmy_fowler · « **on:** June 03, 2007, 04:03:34 PM »

Hey guys,

At some point soon I'm looking to either build a custom Strat, or buy one and do some pretty hefty alterations. Was hoping to get some recommendations for pickups, cos I want some BKPs!

It's a strat so obviously an Alder body, probably with a maple neck and and a rosewood fretboard. I'm going to be running a H-H setup. My amp is an ENGL Screamer 50 combo (12AX7's and 6L6's with a V30 speaker, just in case it helps with recommendations).

I play punk, hard rock and a bit of metal. The songs I write for my band are punk, but much riffier and aggressive, with some soloing and leadwork, somewhat similar to later Sum41 (although not as whiny and emo - louder and more abrasive).

Thus my needs are; for the bridge, something high output and built for riffing, lots of chugging and fast palm-muting work, etc. Not too compressed, but very tight sounding. It needs to compliment Alder well. I like Alder and Strats because they are punchy and really cut through, but I don't want too much mids and highs - I like the punch and cut, but I get that from the guitar so I don't want the pickups to push it too much. Perhaps the pickups should be warmer/bassier to compliment? I don't really use the bridge much for cleans, so it doesn't matter how high output it is.

For the neck - this is what I use for cleans, but I don't use cleans as much as distortion, so it only needs to be passable - my amp has a very very good clean sound and I can soften it with EQing and a touch of chorus, so I can cope with only useable cleans. What I do need is a gorgeous lead - tone - think "Fade to Black" from Metallica - warm and thick and fat. I have an OD which I use for a bit of a boost and to alter the EQ, but I don't like to add too much gain after the guitar - I think it sounds more natural when the distortion and overdrive for my solo tone is coming from the pickup itself, so it needs to be a slightly more gainy neck pickup.

Thanks for any/all recommendations guys! Sorry to have posted a long post, but hopefully that's given you lots of information!

DeanS · « **Reply #1 on:** June 03, 2007, 05:03:51 PM »

You 're covering some ground there, however I'd say Crawlers or even Rebel Yells , but this is only from what I've heard and not first hand experience......

Philly Q · « **Reply #2 on:** June 03, 2007, 10:41:02 PM »

I have an HH Strat pretty similar to the one you've described (it's a Fender Double Fat, hardtail with rosewood board). I'm used to mahogany SGs and things, so to me the Strat seems quite bright with its current pickups (SD Pearly Gates Plus and '59n).

If/when I get BKPs for the Strat I'll go for pickups with plenty of warmth - VHIIs, Crawlers, maybe Holydivers. I think RYs might be too bright, and based on the existing tone I'd steer clear of more "vintage" pickups (even though BKPs certainly don't have the harshness of the Duncans). If you're thinking higher output, I don't know what to suggest.

(Sorry, all of this is a bit "what I'm planning" rather than offering any useful ideas for you!)

jimmy_fowler · « **Reply #3 on:** June 06, 2007, 12:06:12 PM »

Cheers, anyone else agree?

38thBeatle · « **Reply #4 on:** June 06, 2007, 06:15:21 PM »

I can't help here as I prefer Strats as Leo intended but from my limited knowledge of h/bs, I would say that Philly is in the ball park as our American cousins might say.

jimmy_fowler · « **Reply #5 on:** June 06, 2007, 09:38:52 PM »

So would the Holy Diver be warm enough/hot enough/bassy enough to compliment both the Alder guitar and the music I play? As Philly Q said, something vintage or bright would give me too many high mids/trebles...

Philly Q · « **Reply #6 on:** June 07, 2007, 12:45:54 AM »

Can't comment from personal experience, but have a look for Antag's clips in the Players forum. He has HDs in (amongst others) an alder Jackson RR1T, I believe. That's a neck-thru, so probably a bit brighter than a Strat, but a good basis for comparison.

If you want warm and hotter, you might be looking at a set of alnico Warpigs, I guess.

_tom_ · « **Reply #7 on:** June 17, 2007, 10:22:59 PM »

I tried my Rebel Yell out in my strat earlier (ash body, maple neck), it actually sounds really good. I used 250k pots though to tame the brightness a bit, but it all seemed to balance out pretty well and sound really good, great for hard rock and 80s metal! Sounds pretty similar to how it does in my Charvel really, which is basswood body/maple neck, with 500k pots.

I dont have any clips though because the RY didnt stay in, due to my pickguard being cr@p and not lining up with any holes! I think I will get 2 if I ever make up a HH strat though :)