Middle position single coil recommendations

[autospork]

I have an H-S-S Kramer; the stock bridge pickup sounds pretty solid and I recently got an HS-3 in the neck.

Wondering what would make a good middle position pickup. HS2? Fast Track? Stick another HS-3 in the middle? A fridge magnet? The stock middle single-coil sounds decent clean, but lacking any definition whatsoever distorted. Soundwise, I guess I'm just looking for a typical middle-pickup Strat sound.

[SliderJeff]

I think most of us around these parts either use the Blue Velvet or an HS-2. My S540 has an HS-2 as the middle coil and I have an HS-3 in my Fender HM Strat. Both get the job done, but it depends on the voltages of the surrounding pickups whether a given pickup will be overpowered or too overpowering in that position.

Later,
Jeff

Originally Posted by autospork

I have an H-S-S Kramer; the stock bridge pickup sounds pretty solid and I recently got an HS-3 in the neck.

Wondering what would make a good middle position pickup. HS2? Fast Track? Stick another HS-3 in the middle? A fridge magnet? The stock middle single-coil sounds decent clean, but lacking any definition whatsoever distorted. Soundwise, I guess I'm just looking for a typical middle-pickup Strat sound.

[nickcoumbe]

I have a custom strat (HSS) with Paf pro/hs3/hs3. If you look at the Dimarzio page (as I am sure you have already) they suggest hs 3/2/1 from bridge to neck, or all hs3. I get really nice strat tones from mine clean, and OK distorted tones in the neck and middle.

I would go with the hs3. Although I have to say that I am thinking of putting something hotter in the neck position to try and give more of a HSH feel.

[kennydoe]

I like the REd VElvet or the Virtual 2 bridge model in the middle.
~K

[Mandrak]

Why donīt you install your hs-3 in the middle position and buy a Fast Track I or a Chopper for the neck position?

The HS-3 in the neck position will sound too weak if you use one of the Velvets as your middle pickup.

[Kontalonis]

Andy timmons uses the Cruiser model. You might want to look into those.

[carlos seo]

For a Strat middle pickup sound, I recommend the Fender Texas Specials. They're really good!

[superpato]

i have an S470 (2001) and i am thinking of swapping the pups (AH series)

my question is this: according to the tone charts at dimarzio.com the velvets are very bright, how do they compare to the stock pup in my S470? that is a very bright pup and not in a good way, its kind of harsh and thin sounding i often find myself rolling the tone or volume knob down when using the middle pup.

I am thinking of getting one of these combos:

Evo bridge, HS-3 middle and humbucker from hell
Super distortion bridge, HS-3 middle and humbucker from hell
Evo bridge, HS-2 middle and Evo neck

i play in a cover band and i need good distorted sounds and clean clear sounds in one guitar

i run my guitar into a POD xt and a open back 2x12

[7 Dying Trees]

Blue Velvet, sounds ace, nuff said

[EnigmaUV7]

Get the Dimarzio HS-3 or YJM, they have true single coil tone and noise cancelling. I hate blade type humbucking single coils, they defeat the purpose of a single coil tonewise and have too much bass/midrange.