• Registered: 2006-05-25
  • Posts: 444

Topic: Bridge Pickup - Strat - Need Advice

I have a new stock Strat, 08 Am Standard. The equipment I have is set up for my LP, and works fine for my strat as well. There are some things I will change (add a 4x12 marshall cabinet and a tubescreamer for my strat)

The tone of my bride pickup is too weak. It lacks "mojo" or "beefy-ness". A humbucker has high output, flat tone compared to a single coil and more bottom end and power. A single coil has less output, more twang and a bit less bottom. So I would like a strat pickup thats a single coil, but one that is a bit further towards a humbucker sound than what I have. I want a slightly hotter pickup, and most importantly a "beefier" and more powerful one. What is crucial though is that it can keep the twangy fender sound, if I wanted an all out humbucker I would just use my Les Paul.

I am currently playing through a 1x12 tube combo, and even through a 4x12 Marshall, the tone is too thin which means it's the pickup.

So what I am considering is the Seymour Duncan Quarter pounder. I was recommended it and by his description and tone sample it was supposed to have a nice balance between twang and power.

The second pup I am considering is the lace sensor silver, as used by Joe himself in his EJ strat. The *type* of tone I am going for is the kind that he has on his EJ strat in the NDY live dvd. A strong lead, twangy powerful strat tone.

From the description of the lace sensor I quote; "Low noise and high output for incredible response and sustain"
Low noise is an excellent feature, I'm not too keen on noise and I might be running some pedals that would be perceived as noisy with single coil pickups.

I appreciate suggestions of other pickups, but keep in mind; the tone I'm going for is a smooth strong twangy sound. Not a very typical rock gritty tone (like ACDC or whatever smile )

If you have tried any of the two pickups I talked about, please describe how you perceive their tone as objectively as you can.

Many thanks
/Sam

  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: Bridge Pickup - Strat - Need Advice

Have you considered something from Dimarzio?  They make quite a few noiseless humbucking strat pickups and true noiseless singlecoils.  I would suggest checking out the Dimarzio HS-2 or HS-3.  Don't be put off by the fact that Yngwie Malmsteen uses these pickups because IMO he has about as powerful a Strat sound out there.  Whether his playing is something you like is entirely different.  EJ has used the HS-2 for a while in the '80's-'90s IMO when his tone was THE BEST.  Virginia, his '54 Sunburst Stratocaster had the HS-2 in the bridge pickup instead of the stock one.  IMO the best bridge pickup strat tones ever recorded were from the '88 ACL EJ show and 95% was with that '54 Strat + HS-2.  Good luck man!

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.

3 Reply by ZampraZ (edited by ZampraZ 2009-03-25 22:42:02)

  • Registered: 2006-05-25
  • Posts: 444

Re: Bridge Pickup - Strat - Need Advice

Thanks for the recommendations. Though it's important to know, I don't care about noise that much, it's just a nice bonus.

Here is a chart kind of where I am, and how I want this new pickup to sound:
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h79/Z … HART-1.jpg

I want more beefiness, but I don't want more power in form of high gain, I just need a fuller low end. What Eric Johnson uses matters less, because his rig is so extensive I doubt pickups has a defining part of it. And I absolutely have never heard a tone I like from Yngwie, the pickup should be able to even produce as hi-gain tones as he uses.

  • From: Scotland
  • Registered: 2009-02-11
  • Posts: 453

Re: Bridge Pickup - Strat - Need Advice

As far as beefing up a strat bridge pickup is concerned you have a few options. The quarter pounder would be a good option. I personally had a strat with a JB humbucker in the bridge but got rid of it as I missed the bite of the single coil at times. The JB had coil split option but it just wasn't as good. My strat now has stock pickups in again. I recently purchased a Fret King super 60 SP which is basically a strat type guitar with a few twists and a P-90 in the bridge. This is a great combination of pickups. The P-90 is like a big brother to the middle and neck singles. It just has a bit more power and grit but still punchy. Here is the site for fret king super 60 SP. http://www.fret-king.com/super60sp_b.html

Another interesting pickup that would be very versatile would be the seymour duncan P-Rails. I have one on the bridge position of my PRS SE Custom Semi-Hollow and I plan to put one in the neck position at some stage. This pickup will give you a real P-90 tone. Adding the rail gives a humbucker or you can have the rail by itself.

http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/e … ils_shpr1/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZhJXcSVnfs

These are a couple fo the rcent experiences I have had recently. Hope you find them useful and not even more confusing. Pickup market is a mine field.

  • From: Harrison, Arkansas
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 3,155

Re: Bridge Pickup - Strat - Need Advice

ZampraZ wrote:

I have a new stock Strat, 08 Am Standard. The equipment I have is set up for my LP, and works fine for my strat as well. There are some things I will change (add a 4x12 marshall cabinet and a tubescreamer for my strat)

The tone of my bride pickup is too weak. It lacks "mojo" or "beefy-ness". A humbucker has high output, flat tone compared to a single coil and more bottom end and power. A single coil has less output, more twang and a bit less bottom. So I would like a strat pickup thats a single coil, but one that is a bit further towards a humbucker sound than what I have. I want a slightly hotter pickup, and most importantly a "beefier" and more powerful one. What is crucial though is that it can keep the twangy fender sound, if I wanted an all out humbucker I would just use my Les Paul.

I am currently playing through a 1x12 tube combo, and even through a 4x12 Marshall, the tone is too thin which means it's the pickup.

So what I am considering is the Seymour Duncan Quarter pounder. I was recommended it and by his description and tone sample it was supposed to have a nice balance between twang and power.

The second pup I am considering is the lace sensor silver, as used by Joe himself in his EJ strat. The *type* of tone I am going for is the kind that he has on his EJ strat in the NDY live dvd. A strong lead, twangy powerful strat tone.

From the description of the lace sensor I quote; "Low noise and high output for incredible response and sustain"
Low noise is an excellent feature, I'm not too keen on noise and I might be running some pedals that would be perceived as noisy with single coil pickups.

I appreciate suggestions of other pickups, but keep in mind; the tone I'm going for is a smooth strong twangy sound. Not a very typical rock gritty tone (like ACDC or whatever smile )

If you have tried any of the two pickups I talked about, please describe how you perceive their tone as objectively as you can.

Many thanks
/Sam

For the record, the guitar Joe uses in ANDY Live is an Eric Clapton Strat.

"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make"

My ReverbNation page for Dees & Friends - check us out!
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  • Registered: 2006-05-25
  • Posts: 444

Re: Bridge Pickup - Strat - Need Advice

Deezer wrote:
ZampraZ wrote:

I have a new stock Strat, 08 Am Standard. The equipment I have is set up for my LP, and works fine for my strat as well. There are some things I will change (add a 4x12 marshall cabinet and a tubescreamer for my strat)

The tone of my bride pickup is too weak. It lacks "mojo" or "beefy-ness". A humbucker has high output, flat tone compared to a single coil and more bottom end and power. A single coil has less output, more twang and a bit less bottom. So I would like a strat pickup thats a single coil, but one that is a bit further towards a humbucker sound than what I have. I want a slightly hotter pickup, and most importantly a "beefier" and more powerful one. What is crucial though is that it can keep the twangy fender sound, if I wanted an all out humbucker I would just use my Les Paul.

I am currently playing through a 1x12 tube combo, and even through a 4x12 Marshall, the tone is too thin which means it's the pickup.

So what I am considering is the Seymour Duncan Quarter pounder. I was recommended it and by his description and tone sample it was supposed to have a nice balance between twang and power.

The second pup I am considering is the lace sensor silver, as used by Joe himself in his EJ strat. The *type* of tone I am going for is the kind that he has on his EJ strat in the NDY live dvd. A strong lead, twangy powerful strat tone.

From the description of the lace sensor I quote; "Low noise and high output for incredible response and sustain"
Low noise is an excellent feature, I'm not too keen on noise and I might be running some pedals that would be perceived as noisy with single coil pickups.

I appreciate suggestions of other pickups, but keep in mind; the tone I'm going for is a smooth strong twangy sound. Not a very typical rock gritty tone (like ACDC or whatever smile )

If you have tried any of the two pickups I talked about, please describe how you perceive their tone as objectively as you can.

Many thanks
/Sam

For the record, the guitar Joe uses in ANDY Live is an Eric Clapton Strat.

I know, just a silly type error smile

7 Reply by Deezer (edited by Deezer 2009-03-26 03:57:04)

  • From: Harrison, Arkansas
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 3,155

Re: Bridge Pickup - Strat - Need Advice

Just making sure. Nothing against the Eric Johnson Strat though, those are sssssswwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetttttttttttt. big_smile

"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make"

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www.reverbnation.com/deesfriends
  • SgtB
  • Platinum
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  • Registered: 2009-03-08
  • Posts: 309

Re: Bridge Pickup - Strat - Need Advice

I prefer the 57/62 pickups. I have them in my 1992 MIJ 62 RI and I am going to use the same ones in my project strat.IMHO  I think they are they best sounding Strat pickups

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  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Bridge Pickup - Strat - Need Advice

Have you ever considered keeping the pickup but changing your wiring?  You could add a switch to turn on say the neck or the bridge all the time that way you could run the Bridge with the neck pickup or all three pickups at the same time.  I've done this to my strats before with really good results, it sounds fatter, but slightly brighter then a humbucker.  Here is a link http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wi … witch_f_bp

and if you want other ideas here is the link for that http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/

Also I have american series pickups which is the same thing in your gutiar.  The Bridge pickup has 2 black metal screws in the back of it.  Those screws help fatten up the tone of that pickup, You have 5 holes for these screws.  So add 3 more screws and do what lindy Fralin does with his strat pickups to fatten it up.  All that he does is either solder on a metal plate or use steel slugs for the pole pieces and then uses bar magnets on the back of the pickkup.  So when you add steel it will give you more power to your sound.  Good luck and I hope I've spurred some ideas.

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  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Bridge Pickup - Strat - Need Advice

If you want a powerful bridge pickup, check out the GFS rails. they are hot 10-12k.

Not for nothing, but I prefer to have a distinct output and tone from my LP to my strat. So I'd stay away from lil'59's that may fit into that bridge pickup.

Something else to consider, especially before you invest in a new pickup
1.  put a 1meg volume pot in your guitar:
http://torresengineering.stores.yahoo.net/1megpot.html

2. relocating the middle pickup's tone control over to a bridge pickup tone control,

3. and if that doesn't do enough get a Volume Kit from TorresEngineering:
http://torresengineering.stores.yahoo.n … mekit.html

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
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  • Registered: 2006-05-25
  • Posts: 444

Re: Bridge Pickup - Strat - Need Advice

AD3THREE wrote:

Have you ever considered keeping the pickup but changing your wiring?  You could add a switch to turn on say the neck or the bridge all the time that way you could run the Bridge with the neck pickup or all three pickups at the same time.  I've done this to my strats before with really good results, it sounds fatter, but slightly brighter then a humbucker.  Here is a link http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wi … witch_f_bp

and if you want other ideas here is the link for that http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/

Also I have american series pickups which is the same thing in your gutiar.  The Bridge pickup has 2 black metal screws in the back of it.  Those screws help fatten up the tone of that pickup, You have 5 holes for these screws.  So add 3 more screws and do what lindy Fralin does with his strat pickups to fatten it up.  All that he does is either solder on a metal plate or use steel slugs for the pole pieces and then uses bar magnets on the back of the pickkup.  So when you add steel it will give you more power to your sound.  Good luck and I hope I've spurred some ideas.

Some really interesting things here, I will try some of it now smile

What I mean by powerful is not hi-gain, just a thicker sound

  • From: N. Little Rock, AR.
  • Registered: 2007-03-02
  • Posts: 463

Re: Bridge Pickup - Strat - Need Advice

I also think the 57/62 PUs are the stuff! (Early 802 versions).

    And the QP is a KILLER! Kinda like a cross between a normal Strat, and a P-90. The Rio Grande Muy Grande SC is similar.

    Putting a Fender "Mid Boost" circuit in the guitar may be what you want. That's what gives the EC Strat those thicker Tones.

    And yeah, a steel plate DOES beef things up.

    Also, you may want to try a boost pedal. Some of my favs are the MI Audio Blues Pro (Early ZZ Top-In-A-Box),  a Timmy, or a FD2.

    Another thing you may want to experiment with:

    The Tone and Volume Knobs on your Strat.

    I ride the Volume and Tone Pots on my guitars. And I LOVE how the Tones get not only cleaner, but also warmer.


One thing I like to do, is set the Highs WFO on the amp. Then, I turn the Tone Pot down on my guitar. I slowly bring the Tone Pot back up, until I find a "sweet spot" that sounds nice. Usually, this will be between 3-7 on the Pot. And I always have more high end on tap, right at my fingertips.
In fact, I often find that the extra highs available, really allow me to cut through a band mix, without chabging volume. Very useful.
Plus, I find that the Highs from the Amp often sound sweeter and thicker than the Highs from the PUs.

Another thing I like about these techniques, is that they not only change the Highs and the Gain, they also change the response. So, texture and approach are all affected. So, for me, it's a lot more than how the Highs are changing.


    It's a totally different thing than playing a Les Paul. So, if you approach it differently, you can probably discover a lot of cool Tones and Textures.

    Here's somebody who uses either Alnico Pro 2, or Suhr PUs. And HE gets some serious MOJO going!:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reuK2msTzec

    And, not a Strat, but still a cool clip:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZBeerUD-zc

    Hope this helps.

Early 80's 1957 U.S. Vintage Reissue Stratocaster (Surf Green)-Warmouth Soloist  Pearly Gates Neck, Pearly Gates Bridge- Larrivee D-03 (Mahogany/ Spruce)
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  • Registered: 2006-05-25
  • Posts: 444

Re: Bridge Pickup - Strat - Need Advice

Very cool. Thanks for all the great responses guys.

Would you describe the QP (with a lead/solo tone) to be closer to the p90 or closer to the strat sound?

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Bridge Pickup - Strat - Need Advice

I think if you combined your bridge and neck pickup together you'll get more of a P-90 sound.  Also I highly recommend GFS as well.  I have 60's Set that is over wound and they are killer.  You could replace all your pickups with one of their sets for the price of one Seymour Duncan pickup, or DiMarzio pickup.  But the sound you get from a bridge and neck together is not a high gain sound its a sweet sound that is twangy, but you can use your tone controll on both pickups to dial in the highs to very beautiful tones.  A push/pull volume pot is only like $10 or $12 bucks as opposed to a new pickup that would be anywhere from $50 to $75 bucks.   You could also consider a few new pots you already have at least one good CTS pot in the bridge and middle position.  Swap those out and that could help you to.  Last switch out the CTS Pot for the Bridge and Middle position.  The "Delta Tone" Circuit is basically a no load switch when you put the pickups tone on 10 so its like its wired straight through.  Try Backing it off to 9 or 8 and see if that makes a difference.  If it does you should get rid of the Delta tone pot.  Thats all I can think of for cheap little mods now I'll be back with more tomorrow.

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