Strat pickups: Need your opinion!

[JohnSykes]

Ok guys, this is what i have:

- Fender American Special Strat (great guitar), with 3 Texas Special pickups

- 2 DiMarzio HS-3

- 1 Van Zandt Rock bridge (this one is not noiseless)


What i have in mind :

- Van Zandt Rock bridge - Texas Special middle - HS-3 neck

- Van Zandt Rock bridge - " " " - Duncan YJM Fury Neck

- HS-3 bridge - " " " - Duncan YJM Fury Neck

- DiMarzio FS-1 bridge - " " " - HS-3 neck



Here is a little explanation lol:


- The FS-1 is my go to pickup, probably my favorite for a Strat, but id have to buy one new cause i cant find one used. About the YJM Fury, ive heard great things about the one for the neck, but never had the chance to try it.

- Id like to keep the Texas Special in the middle, cause i do like it and i use the position middle + neck a lot. Also, this is my main concern about the HS-3: being quite sterile for that and maybe the YJM could be better for that application.


- I like the clarity of the HS-3 in the bridge, but i guess i prefer that fat sound that only a true single coil can achieve (VZ or the FS-1).


So basically:

I gig with this Strat, no backup. I really like it, and the Texas Special are OK, but to be honest i only enjoy the neck + middle position (so i dont want to lose that one!). What do you think?


THANKS!

 

[AmpliFIRE]

I'd go with the Van Zandts out of those. Have you thought about Kinmans?

 

[JohnSykes]

I'd go with the Van Zandts out of those. Have you thought about Kinmans?

Not really, but ill check their website. Thanks!

 

[AmpliFIRE]

I'd go with the Van Zandts out of those. Have you thought about Kinmans?

Not really, but ill check their website. Thanks!

Their website is horrible...but their pups are great

 

[JohnSykes]

I'd go with the Van Zandts out of those. Have you thought about Kinmans?

Not really, but ill check their website. Thanks!

Their website is horrible...but their pups are great

Indeed. They are kinda expensive, but the Woodstock set seems cool.

 

[chunktone]

I'd go with the Van Zandts out of those. Have you thought about Kinmans?

Not really, but ill check their website. Thanks!

You may also want to check out Rio Grande pickups. I've got a Muy Grande set in my Carvin, and I'm really happy with them.

 

[gbsmusic]

I'd go with the Van Zandts out of those. Have you thought about Kinmans?

They're spendy but to this day the best Strat pickups I've ever owned!! Blues have a better vintage tone and the Woodstocks are thicker but make sure you get the + or special on the Woodstocks for the bridge, it sounds so much better!! Not thin at all!!

 

[70strathead]

Ok guys, this is what i have:

- Fender American Special Strat (great guitar), with 3 Texas Special pickups

- 2 DiMarzio HS-3

- 1 Van Zandt Rock bridge (this one is not noiseless)


What i have in mind :

- Van Zandt Rock bridge - Texas Special middle - HS-3 neck

- Van Zandt Rock bridge - " " " - Duncan YJM Fury Neck

- HS-3 bridge - " " " - Duncan YJM Fury Neck

- DiMarzio FS-1 bridge - " " " - HS-3 neck



Here is a little explanation lol:


- The FS-1 is my go to pickup, probably my favorite for a Strat, but id have to buy one new cause i cant find one used. About the YJM Fury, ive heard great things about the one for the neck, but never had the chance to try it.

- Id like to keep the Texas Special in the middle, cause i do like it and i use the position middle + neck a lot. Also, this is my main concern about the HS-3: being quite sterile for that and maybe the YJM could be better for that application.


- I like the clarity of the HS-3 in the bridge, but i guess i prefer that fat sound that only a true single coil can achieve (VZ or the FS-1).


So basically:

I gig with this Strat, no backup. I really like it, and the Texas Special are OK, but to be honest i only enjoy the neck + middle position (so i dont want to lose that one!). What do you think?


THANKS!

Man this is the reason I bring a couple strats to gigs. It really all depends on the sound you are going after. you've listed some cool pickups.
I can tell you that the YJM fury's are totally different than the Dimarzio HS-3/YJM ( HS-4). The YJM fury bridge is compressy and thicker than the hs-3, but is no way stratty. the YJM fury neck is not to far off to the Dimarzio YJM in terms of tone, but has more output and compression and a little more on the bottom end.

I also have the Kinman Blues set which are good for classic rock/hard rock as well, but they lask the single coil quack IMO. I used to play FS-1's back in the 80's and the YJM fury bridge is similar in output but obviously noiseless.

I have a couple strats set up with Dimarzio YJM neck > Dimarzio VV 2.2 > Dimarzio HS-3 . 2nd and 4th positions you can get close to a traditional strat sound if there are tunes that require it.
Also, if you can find them Dimarzio VV 54' Alnico 5 ( not the 54 pro) were great for the bridge for all styles.

I'm slowing going back to my old school ways and using traditional singles .. i like the Fender CU 69's, Tex Mex , FAT 50's and i'm really curious to hear the Lindy Fralin offerings.

good luck man!

 

[JohnSykes]

Thanks so true, only one strat is not enough lol!

A friend of mine did suggest the VV 2.1 and the 2.2. Like you said, i like the HS-3 in the bridge cause it is stratty, so i ill probably go with that one. Its really weird, cause it says in the website that the HS3 is from the 80's and 30 years later, its still the favorite pickup of a lot of people.

Also, i didnt know the HS4/YJM is close to the Fury neck, thats good to know. I had the YJM like 4 years ago and while i liked it, i did think it would be awesome if it had a little more output.

Anyway, thanks a lot for your post, i appreciate!

 

[70strathead]

Thanks so true, only one strat is not enough lol!

A friend of mine did suggest the VV 2.1 and the 2.2. Like you said, i like the HS-3 in the bridge cause it is stratty, so i ill probably go with that one. Its really weird, cause it says in the website that the HS3 is from the 80's and 30 years later, its still the favorite pickup of a lot of people.

Also, i didnt know the HS4/YJM is close to the Fury neck, thats good to know. I had the YJM like 4 years ago and while i liked it, i did think it would be awesome if it had a little more output.

Anyway, thanks a lot for your post, i appreciate!

yep no problem. And yes about the HS-3's from the 80's, and believe it or not, I actualy think the ones that were built in the 80's sound warmer and have a bit more expression. i know its weird, but PsychoDave can also relate to that. HS-3's and YJm are eq'ed almost "flat", which I htink is a great concept, but they are lifeless on a clean channell IMO. I heard Eric Johnsone uses the HS-2 on bridge and I think he wires it as a true single coil....always found that interesting.