Good stack pickup

[javashred]

Howdy,

Ok, just bought an old 69 strat. Great guitar but it needs aftermarket pickups in a big way. I don't want to ruin my investment by routing out the bridge for a humbucker. I have never played any stack pickup and need advice. I was looking mostly at Duncan's. I have a couple guitars with Duncan Custom and Custom Custom pickups and love em! Any cool beefy sounding stacks out there?

Thanks a bunch,
-Chris

[JESTER700]

If you're not DEAD SET on Duncan, I can recommend DiMarzio HS-2s. And many people really like Bill Lawrence 280s and 290s.

But Duncan singles I have no experience with.

[darren wilson]

For something a little different, you could also try Rio Grande, Joe Barden or Tom Anderson pickups.

[kennydoe]

I love the 'rock' sound i got from my Dimarzio Fast Track 2 in the bridge of my strat. Rounded out the texas specials in the neck and middle position nicely

~K

[VanWyck]

I'm using DiMarzio "Virtual Vintage" pu's in my strat, Blues in the bridge and original/classic in the neck. Also have played the Fender noiseless pu's - they sound pretty nice.

I've played with a Duncan JB Junior in the bridge position - but I forget if it fits in a standard silgle pu slot.

Congrats on the 69.

[JESTER700]

Originally Posted by VanWyck

I'm using DiMarzio "Virtual Vintage" pu's in my strat, Blues in the bridge and original/classic in the neck. Also have played the Fender noiseless pu's - they sound pretty nice.

I've played with a Duncan JB Junior in the bridge position - but I forget if it fits in a standard silgle pu slot.

Congrats on the 69.

A 'lil '59 will, so assuming the JB Jr. is the same form factor, it should. I like the 'lil 59, but it's not a great split sound. I actually prefer the parallel bucker wiring as a SC-ish sound on that one.

[frankfalbo]

If you want to retain the vintage look, then the side by sides are out, and so is the Tom Anderson, although I think sonically you would be happiest with the Tom Andersons. When you say you want them cool and beefy and you like the Custom & C.C, the Tom Andersons are your sound for sure. The sound descriptions are pretty accurate, so you can choose based on that.

The beefy sound is exactly the frequency range that is phase cancelled in a stacked humbucker. Where a side by side or full size humbucker sort of "doubles up" the dose of strong midrange, the stacks "double cancel" it. That's why stacks work well for thin glassy vintage sounds, but fat and beefy is rare. You can get more of a screechy aggressive midrange easily, but Tom Anderson is the only one that gets a smoother sound like the Custom Customs. The HS2 and HS3 could be your next best bet if you need the smaller vintage pole pieces. You won't like the Duncan Classic Stack because it is thin and glassy, and the hot stack is a big rod magnet I think, so if you were going to drop the vintage look, go with the Tom Andersons. At least they look a little more vintage than that.

[javashred]

Awesome! Thanks for all the input.

-CD

[sniperfrommars1]

Originally Posted by darren wilson

For something a little different, you could also try Rio Grande, Joe Barden or Tom Anderson pickups.

Ive heard great things about the rio grandes darren. By the way Ive got a dean evo here one of my friends is having me work one. Nice guitar. Got to play a dean hardtail today too. Great quality.

[_FR0D0]

Yes I know I'm a Dimarzio junkie

Try virtuals: a solo in the bridge, a blues in the midle and a heavy blues in the neck will do some nice tricks.

[javashred]

Ladies and Gentlemen....

We have a winner....

The new Dimarzio Tone Zone Single Coil.

I compared this little S**t to it's big brother and couldn't tell the difference. If anyone needs a good stack this would be my recommendation.

-Chris