looking to mod my strat with a gilmour loaded pickguard...

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JimmyDoomsday

JimmyDoomsday

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...but which one?

the emg-dg20 is apparently the one he used on his red strat:

http://backstage.musiciansfriend.com/ac ... 5000042000

while this setup is apparently the one he used on his black strat:

https://cgi.ebay.com/Duncan-Fender-Gilmo ... 19c59d7217

or should i go off the board completely and just purchase individual pickups? my strat is a USA '95 corona (serial n535141). sounds pretty decent as it sits, but in its 15 year existence, it probably hasn't been played at all in the past 10 years, so it's in some legit need of tlc. the input jack ALWAYS gave me trouble and no matter how much re-wiring and re-soldering i did, i could never defeat the constant off/on clicking i experienced. the existing pickups and screws all show significant rust and i was never a fan of its tremolo set-up (those familiar with this model will know what i'm talking about), so i'm also considering swapping that out for a different style if at all possible (or at least a newer version of the existing one as it, too, shows some rust damage). the neck and the tuners all seem to be in good shape though, so a good scrubbing and cleansing will fix all that right up. definitely could use a set-up once i've completed any modifications. this was my very first guitar and it's a shame that it's been relegated to its case in my basement for so long. but i've recently landed a good job and have the cash to put into some resto work, so any and all with strat experience, let me know how i can go about making this baby cry like gilmour's!
 
I used to have the DG loaded guard on a parts Strat. It sounded great for more processed tones (especially dirty) but I found it somewhat sterile and cold sounding for straight into the amp tones, especially clean and slightly dirty.
 
I had the EMG Gilmour pickguard in a strat which sounded great for a while. Then I put in an SSL-1/SSL-1/SSL-5 pickguard in it and thought that REALLY improved it. The EMGs were sterile and didn't have a lot of personality. The Scoop and Mid Boost knobs were fun, but in the end, I went passive and was more pleased with the results.
 
If going EMG, I would start with the EMG SA set and see if that floats your boat. I had three of the loaded guards (Hammet, Vince Gill and Gilmour) and after a while the they all sound kind of sterile. Not bad, they do what they do, but I would start with a basic set and see if you like them then add the SPC and EXG.
 
Make sure you get the SPC, especially when playing distorted.. I can't live without it.
 
rupe":240hu06c said:
I used to have the DG loaded guard on a parts Strat. It sounded great for more processed tones (especially dirty) but I found it somewhat sterile and cold sounding for straight into the amp tones, especially clean and slightly dirty.
Click to expand...
You nailed it here, I bought put it in a Strat and sold the Strat a week later. Just didn't care for it at all.
 
cool, cool, thanks for the input so far guys!

mysticaxe":3s3blrct said:
I had the EMG Gilmour pickguard in a strat which sounded great for a while. Then I put in an SSL-1/SSL-1/SSL-5 pickguard in it and thought that REALLY improved it. The EMGs were sterile and didn't have a lot of personality. The Scoop and Mid Boost knobs were fun, but in the end, I went passive and was more pleased with the results.
Click to expand...

would you suggest going with the pickguard i linked to on ebay with the two fender pups and the ssl-5 in the bridge? the only other preloaded ones i found with the ssl's were with all ssl-1's (although i'm sure i could easily swap out one of the 1's for a 5, i'd just rather not spend the extra cash unnecessarily like that).

and as far as the exact gilmour tone i'm going for, pretty much everything he's doing on shine on you crazy diamond - clean leads, (pseudo) dirty leads, clean rhythms, etc., but every video i see of them playing it live, he's using the cherry red with the emg's. the dark side clean tone is also a particular favorite of mine.
 
also, it seems that the US deluxe bridge (which is what my strat is equipped with) is not compatible with other strat bridge styles as it only has two main screw holes and most others i've been seeing have 6. will the 6-screw bridges fit?
 
i bought that pickguard setup years back and it was some of the best strat tone i ever had i felt. for whatever reason i sold the guitar, like always. its not the normal strat tone however, a different take on it, but still good, and noiseless.
 
rupe":283hh1d8 said:
I used to have the DG loaded guard on a parts Strat. It sounded great for more processed tones (especially dirty) but I found it somewhat sterile and cold sounding for straight into the amp tones, especially clean and slightly dirty.
Click to expand...
+1
 
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