favorite single-coil strat pups

[glassjaw7]

Thinking about picking up a strat body for an old neck I've had laying around. If I do end up doing it, I'd like to get some nice pups that'll take me from soulful Gilmour singing leads to a little beefier hot-rodded vintage tones. Can the Dimarzio rail pups like the Fast Track and Pro Track do the vintage thing, or are they strictly hot and modern? Mostly looking for good balance and punchy output but with a voicing somewhere in between vintage 70s rock and some modern stuff. Cold and shrill are not my thing. Need warm and balanced. How about those Paul Gilbert Injectors? Too modern?

Not really looking for pricey boutique suggestions, but not opposed to hearing them I guess. Thanks!

 

[rokket2005]

I have some Suhr ML's in my G&L, and I really like them. They're warm, but still very articulate and straty sounding. Not any more expensive than a set of injectors.

 

[glassjaw7]

I have some Suhr ML's in my G&L, and I really like them. They're warm, but still very articulate and straty sounding. Not any more expensive than a set of injectors.

Checking them out now, thanks! Anyone else?

 

[racerevlon]

Dimarzio Virtual Solo or Injector bridge, Virtual Vintage '54 Pro or Area '61 middle, Injector or Heavy Blues 2 neck. You can get a rail-style pickup if you don't mind the non-vintage look and want more output. Air Norton S is an awesome rock bridge pickup; Fast Track 2 is more hard rock/metal. Chopper works well as a high-output neck pickup.

 

[Mudder]

I have a set of Rio Grande balanced singles in my strat. They do it all, clean/surf to rock.

 

[jcmlespaul]

Dimarzio fs 1

 

[supersonic]

Anderson Sa1.

 

[gibson5413]

I have some Suhr ML's in my G&L, and I really like them. They're warm, but still very articulate and straty sounding. Not any more expensive than a set of injectors.

+1

Put some in one of my guitars and really like them too.

 

[Man With Gas]

The very best single coils are Sliders.

The build and attention to detail is second to none.

Once you play them nothing compares and I've had them all.

https://www.myspace.com/slidersvintagepickups

 

[blackba]

I have some Suhr ML's in my G&L, and I really like them. They're warm, but still very articulate and straty sounding. Not any more expensive than a set of injectors.

+1

Put some in one of my guitars and really like them too.

+2 That is what I have in my strat (though mine were under the previous name Fletch Landau [FL]) I actually have a RWRP middle FL available if that is the way you decide to go. I put on a Ilitch backplate and so I needed them all the same polarity, so I picked up another 'neck' for the middle position. Mine are the standards, BTW, never tried the ML classics.

http://www.guitarnoize.com/suhr-fl-pick ... ged-to-ml/

 

[H Golf Sport]

Warm & balanced, take a look at Van Zandt vintage+.

 

[Code001]

I love these pickup threads. Whenever someone asks for a pickup suggestion, nearly everyone says something different. I might as well throw in another set to help add to the confusion - the Duncan SSL series is very nice, especially putting the SSL5 or SSL6 in the neck. Very hot, warm and thick sounding. Think of SRV on steroids. It keeps up with my JB in the bridge no problem.

 

[Heritage Softail]

Lindy fralin or Lollar.

Lollar Strat special set. If you see Nashville guitars, they normally put that pup in the bridge position. Great balance of cut and softer clarity. I put them in a 95 USA Strat. Just a little thicker and slight bit more output. The neck pup is the best IMO.

I also got the tone knob put in that has a notch in the middle and has a cool mid cut feel in one direction and normal tone adj the other. Not sure exactly what it is but some others may be able to chime in. That thing helps a lot with tonal variety.

I keep forgetting to ask my guitar guy wtf that thing is called.

 

[chunktone]

I have a set of Rio Grande balanced singles in my strat. They do it all, clean/surf to rock.

I'll second Rio Grande's. I have a Muy Grande set and they're great! I've never been happy with any hum cancelling "single-coil". I also really like duncan alnico II's and Quarter Pound strat pickups.

 

[blackba]

I love these pickup threads. Whenever someone asks for a pickup suggestion, nearly everyone says something different. I might as well throw in another set to help add to the confusion - the Duncan SSL series is very nice, especially putting the SSL5 or SSL6 in the neck. Very hot, warm and thick sounding. Think of SRV on steroids. It keeps up with my JB in the bridge no problem.

There are just so many pickup options, its mind numbing. Same thing with pedals, especially dirt boxes. Post a thread on dirt boxes in an effects forum and be prepared for everyone to offer up a different suggestion. Just goes with the territory.