Single Coil Pickups for a Strat

Cabb · Post by **Cabb** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 3:43 pm

Hey can anyone suggest some pickups to consider for a full set strat replacement? My current ones are icepicks so I'm thinking anything could be better. The current ones are american standard (fucking shit is what I would have called them, but I'm not from the states)

I have heard lace sensors and they were perfectly adequate, they are essentially my default choice, but I want to know more about P90 singles, and more sort of vintagy sounds, and also the stevi ray style pups. Very demanding, I know.

I'm not as good as Stevie, so should I get a pup like his?

Will any of the above choices be LESS versatile than my icepicks?

p.s less noise would be nice too, my current ones are so noisy!

Post by Bg » Thu Nov 29, 2007 3:53 pm

lace sensors will be way less noisy, I got some budget KA stacked humbuckers a few years ago and they suit me down to the ground - even with the 20Db boost I've built into my strat they are quiet and still retain a strat sound.

If its vintage styles you're after I also have Custom Shop 54's in my relic strat - very very authentic original strat tone and each one is hand rolled on a mexican's thigh - can be very noisy though, espec. as the middle is not reverse wound so no escape!

How about having a word with Mr. Glyn - he winds his own and can probably provide you with exactly what you're looking for?

sgt mukuzi · Post by **sgt mukuzi** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 4:00 pm

i had Bartolini VS Strat set in my old 76 they are great!
sound vintage but look 80`s with the black plastch housing etc
bloody good pups

Cabb · Post by **Cabb** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 4:10 pm

bluesgeek wrote:
How about having a word with Mr. Glyn - he winds his own and can probably provide you with exactly what you're looking for?

The problem is I don't really know what I want, what I do know is I like the single coil snarliness under distortion and the cuttiness... if that makes sense. Other than that, I don't really know what the difference is. I'd ask how the humbuckers sound but then that just doubles the number of choices!

Think I might take my time deciding this one. Are there any brands to stay away from?

How would I get in contact with him BG? Does he do guitar setups?

rocklander · Post by **rocklander** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 4:10 pm

I stuck a pair of SD texas specials ( I bought off Ash) in my ibanez roadstar, and (to me) it sounds as stratty as any strat I have heard

thehenderson · Post by **thehenderson** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 4:11 pm

I love the sound of my stock american strat! no ice picks for me!! I wonder if there is a big difference from pup to pup in the american stuff

Cabb · Post by **Cabb** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 4:13 pm

Yeah well I dono when mine was made, around 98 / 99. I imagine there is quite a large variance in their pickups both in quality and in parts.

crushing day · Post by **crushing day** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 4:18 pm

Here's what BG has

http://www.guitarparts.co.nz/cart/Detai ... &category=

good for the money

Here's what i use

http://www.guitarparts.co.nz/cart/Detai ... &category=

I like these better than any others i've tried. Darcy has a set of these in his Realtone Strat, so he may be able to give you a 'neutral' opinion

P90 in a single coil

http://www.guitarparts.co.nz/cart/Detai ... &category=

Ask BG about his Rio P90's

I'll be getting Lace in the new year if you want noiseless, but I'd personally still have a set of 'good' unadulterated single coils. You are always going to get some noise, but that's part of their sound.

sgt mukuzi · Post by **sgt mukuzi** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 4:18 pm

rocklander wrote:I stuck a pair of SD texas specials ( I bought off Ash) in my ibanez roadstar, and (to me) it sounds as stratty as any strat I have heard

roadsters are bloody good at sounding stratish

rocklander · Post by **rocklander** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 4:23 pm

well this one took on a whole new lease of strat persona life with the texas specials.. very SRV. I stuck a lil59 in the bridge, but I dunno.. a single coil packaged HB is exactly what Ash said it'd be.. not quite a single coil, and not quite a HB.. more an almost good enough bit of both, but can be disappointing ...

Rog · Post by **Rog** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 4:27 pm

Its a real minefield suggesting anything in the musical gear line. All most of us can suggest is what we find works for us. ymmv.

Here's my choice:
Bill Lawrence L280s in neck and mid, with an L250XL at the bridge. All Noiseless. For my tastes, they're just the ticket and since I also use D'Add Chromes (flats), I can get a lovely (to me) creamy tone from the guitar, as well as that Strat Bite, esp on the L250.

See photos in my profile for a closer look.

Cabb · Post by **Cabb** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 4:30 pm

I'm pretty tempted to just go for it down the p90 path, My impression is that I can't go wrong here. Those P90's aren't gonna be... all up in my face in the wrong way though are they? For example hitting the strings muted (chucka chucka) is quite harsh with my current pups, all of these options wouldn't be harsh doing that I'm thinking?

Post by Bg » Thu Nov 29, 2007 4:35 pm

Cabb wrote:
bluesgeek wrote:
How about having a word with Mr. Glyn - he winds his own and can probably provide you with exactly what you're looking for?
The problem is I don't really know what I want, what I do know is I like the single coil snarliness under distortion and the cuttiness... if that makes sense. Other than that, I don't really know what the difference is. I'd ask how the humbuckers sound but then that just doubles the number of choices!

Think I might take my time deciding this one. Are there any brands to stay away from?

How would I get in contact with him BG? Does he do guitar setups?

yes and he has an 'effin big banner shown at the top of the page

Post by Bg » Thu Nov 29, 2007 4:37 pm

just be aware if you go the P90 path you're still going to have noise! If you can live with the noise, my P90 beast is a killer - its a combination of the mahogony body and P90's though....

Vorbis · Post by **Vorbis** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 4:41 pm

Dimarzio virtual vintage, strat tone, more power, no noise.
Talk to Ash