best set of pups for a custom strat project???

ardell henderson · #1 10-15-2002, 03:00 PM

Just curious if anyone has played around with pup sets in finding the coolest, most versatile set (single coil size).

I recently played a buddy's eric clapton strat & was really blown away at how the TBX worked with the pups to take it "over the top".

Is there any other sets of pups that might be of interest, anyone???

kennydoe · #2 10-15-2002, 04:37 PM

I had a strat with Texas specials in the Neck & Middle and a Dimarzio fast track 2 in the Bridge. Super versaitle and great sound.

I may have an mp3 if you'd like to hear it, e-mail me

~Kenny

gkelm · #3 10-15-2002, 04:46 PM

Might depends on which way you prefer to lean...more toward bell-tone, or more toward crunch? Here are a couple suggestions:

- Fender 60s CS - classic single coil
- Bill Lawrence - classic single coil tone with no hum
- TX Specials - fat single coil (less chime)
- SD Lil '59s in the neck and bridge and another single in the middle...with coil taps this would be very versatile

Greg

Drew · #4 10-15-2002, 06:14 PM

I've got a set of Gold Lace Sensors in my american standard strat, and theyre nice. Smooth, clear, approaching that magical "bell-like" thing, and pretty hot. Only thing is, they're probably not the ideal match for me- i like the fact they're silent, and WAY hot for a single coil, and i dig the fact that they excert almost no magnetic pull on the strings (do a trem dive on this thing, and you'll never want to use regular pickups again), but they're too, idunno, polished and "nice" for my tastes. I want something a little more ragged- those higher output dimarzio virtual vintage pickups are looking pretty nice. I'm probably not going to swap the thing, because, well, it needs one more string to really get the same playing time as my ibanezes, so it isn't worth the effort...

While we're on the subject, though, MAN does this thing sound massive tuned down to B. SOOO clear. Someday i'm going to have a custom 7 built with fairly clear humbuckers and an alder body- because alder really emphasises the upper frequencies more than say, basswood or mahogany, the low-end tightness and definition is RIDICULOUS. One of the heaviest rhythm tones i've ever heard, and if it had enough output at its disposal, it could kick for leads, too. Eddie, man, when i get the cash (i'm an american lit major getting ready to dive headfirst into a weak job market- don't hold your breath, lol), expect to hear from me.

-Drew

rlintz · #5 10-15-2002, 11:41 PM

I'm partial to G&L pups - as close to the sound of vintage Fender pups as you can find. And they're relatively cheap and sold via G&L's website.

Randy

sniperfrommars1 · #6 10-16-2002, 12:01 AM

I love emg sa single coils. Coupled with a midboost they give a tone to die for in my opinion. Really belllike and the midboost gives you alot of headroom and versatility

Kremlin · #7 10-16-2002, 12:07 AM

Lindy Fralin! Lindy Fralin! Lindy Fralin! Lindy Fralin! Lindy Fralin!

Lindy Fralin is the MAN!! I'm a strat fanatic, I have a 96 Special Edition, Anniversary Model Strat Plus with Gold Lace sensors and it's considered to be pretty damn good as far as strats go. But the BEST strat tone I've ever heard was a Squire with Lindy Fralins dropped in. Why someone would put ~$350 in pickups into a $100 guitar is beyond me, but the sound was incredible. They were Vintage Hots, I believe.

Mr Orange · #8 10-16-2002, 02:40 AM

I've heard nothing but good stuff about Kinman pickups.
The strat sound, but no 60-cycle hum. They have less noise than humbuckers! www.kinman.com

ScottB · #9 10-16-2002, 04:44 AM

The other guitarist in my band has a '54 RI strat with a set of DiMarzio Blue Velvet pickups. They are SCHWEEEET!

bduersch · #10 10-16-2002, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sniperfrommars1

I love emg sa single coils. Coupled with a midboost they give a tone to die for in my opinion. Really belllike and the midboost gives you alot of headroom and versatility

Though not cheap, I really like the DG-20 (David Gilmour) pickguard from EMG--it has 3 EMG single coils and 2 active tone circuits. One is essentailly a midboost, the other boosts high & low frequencies. The number of tonal options with this setup is amazing!

I had these in a 95 Strat Plus, and aside from the fact that I didn't like the guitar, I loved the sound. I'm now looking to buy a Carvin bolt and I'm going to install the EMG DG-20 set as soon as I get it.

--B

ardell henderson · #11 10-16-2002, 04:28 PM

hmmm, lot's of input - cpu overload! But, seriously, I appreciate the comments - where to begin. I guess I"ll start by asking for everyone's patience as I muddle my way thru this.

Kennydoe - I'll take you up on the email.

I guess I haven't really thought this thru, but greg made a good point. Of course, I want the best of both worlds, and so I must assume some compromising along the way.

I definitely want a fat 'n hot pup for the neck; bridge pos should be fairly chime-like but not-too-bright, plus crunchy; I'm probably in the dark on the middle pups - but the 7vwh mid pup seems cool - just wish it was hum free. Also, I just picked up a Yngwie strat (newer model) & those pups seem fairly quiet. And of course, I want all the pups to be comparable in output levels. Plus I'm hoping that I can a system set up where if the vol is up to 10, then I've got tone, crunch & power, but if I roll off the vol, then it cleans up & allows more definition & maybe rolls off the bottom end some or conversely, adds some top end. Does this sound right? What got me thinking this way was the clapton setup.

Coil tap is to split a dbl humbucker into a single, right??? I'm confused about the purpose of coil taps on single coil pups. I'm not opposed to the stacked single coils - these are basically a dbl humbucker that just takes up a single coil space, no?? I'm not sure I have all the facts on these pup types - so feel free to share the path to enlightenment.

I agree with what Drew said about the too polished attribute - not for me either. I play 6-strings 99% of the time. One of my buds said to got with the hot rail seymour duncans, but when I mentioned that to my luthier he advised against it. So, from his reaction I guess the hot rails might be not the best choice for versatility.

I had a charvel with emg's but they were the humbuckers & ever since, when I hear the word "emg" I think too sterile, but in all truthfulness, I haven't checkout any of their stuff for quite some time now.

Hmmm, I'll make note of the Lindy Fralin products per Kremlin's post. What if I said that I want the set to be able to go from Jeff Beck-like honking to say lead tones that vary between SRV / Eric Johnson / Gilmour; on to maybe a chili peppers funk thing to say BB King / Eric Johnson clean - what set could possibly allow this kind of flexibility? Just hypothetical... I guess this is like my feasability study 8^).

Kinman - I'll have to do some homework on these, M.O.

Can u provide a more detailed account of SCHWEEET on the DiMarzio blue velvets, SJ7???

and yet another emg vote - now you've got me curious...

I'll need some time to digest the input - thank you to everyone for their time & input.

Kremlin · #12 10-16-2002, 08:15 PM

With my experience with Lindy Fralin Vintage Hots, they are THE vintage strat sound. Think SRV's Lenny. I played a Squier with Vintage Hots in it before, and it sounded exactly like the tone from Lenny. Also should get Eric Johnson very well, but non-traditional tones like Jeff Beck and Chilli Peppers might not cut it. Although EMG's are pretty different from Fralins, I don't think it would be difficult to get a Gilmour kind of sound with Vintage Hots. For that versatility, I'd get a Vintage hot in the neck, and another in the bridge with the bassplate (helps get that SRV sound) and possibly consider getting it overwound. Phone Lindy Fralin with any questions, he's REALLY good about suggesting pickup setups, etc. You could consider getting those two Fralins and something totally different for the middle position funk "spanky" kinda sound.

strat110 · #13 10-17-2002, 09:00 PM

DiMARZIO VIRTUAL VINTAGE 54B IN THE BRIDGE AND A YJM IN THE NECK, IT GET NO BETTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

kent · #14 10-18-2002, 12:01 AM

I've got to vote for the Dave Gilmore EMG setup. Especially if you are going to record. You can get every strat sound imaginable plus a very useful humbucking, lower-mid thump that completely kicks ass. In the studio I use a Jem, a Les Paul Custom and my Strat with the EMG DG setup and I have never gotten through all of the tracks for one song without adding the Strat for some part. What I am saying is that if you want a guitar that will perform the duties of a Strat and then some, I would go with the EGM DG set. You can get a really good deal on one if you look around.

Kent

wallopwallop · #15 10-18-2002, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kent

I've got to vote for the Dave Gilmore EMG setup. Especially if you are going to record. You can get every strat sound imaginable plus a very useful humbucking, lower-mid thump that completely kicks ass. In the studio I use a Jem, a Les Paul Custom and my Strat with the EMG DG setup and I have never gotten through all of the tracks for one song without adding the Strat for some part. What I am saying is that if you want a guitar that will perform the duties of a Strat and then some, I would go with the EGM DG set. You can get a really good deal on one if you look around.

Kent

I have to agree! This set is noise free and really versatile. Awesome stuff!!