Strat pickups - on the hunt

[ZEN Amps]

To set the record straight - I don't own tan pants or listen to Mayer, and I think "grab n' go" and "pedal platform" are phrases for the weak.

But.... I do like classic Strat tones. I have a nice rosewood slab thing with Van Zandt pickups and the low output, vintage thing isn't as much fun as it used to be. Looking for something that mostly retains the vintage voice, but is say 25% hotter, A5 I guess. A little more mids and less high end is a non-issue, and expected.

Fralin blues specials have been recommended by a friend, what does RT have to say? No I'm not going to strap in a JB and shred.

 

[ChurchHill]

The Fralins are really good. I've also had luck with the SD Antiquity Texas Hot or the BKP Slowhand. The BKP Trilogy is even hotter but still sounds like a Strat. I like the EMG SA, too, more like Gilmour than vintage.

 

[stratjacket]

The Seymour Duncan YJM’s are pretty good. BKP Cobra and Trilogy as well. The best sounding single coil neck pickup I’ve tried is the Badlands M81 single coil mainly because it’s actually hot.

 

[TheGreatGreen]

Dimarzio Area 58 and Area 67 are great. Very stringy and stratty but bold and punchy. Lots of high treble emphasis. They’re also noiseless but don’t sound muted or dulled like a lot of noiseless singles.

The YJM pickups are really nice too. They’re a little smoother, a little more emphasis in the mids instead of the highs and lows, they sound great.

If you want something unorthodox, you could always try the Dimarzio Cruisers like Andy Timmons uses.

 

[Fiesta Red]

To set the record straight - I don't own tan pants or listen to Mayer, and I think "grab n' go" and "pedal platform" are phrases for the weak.

But.... I do like classic Strat tones. I have a nice rosewood slab thing with Van Zandt pickups and the low output, vintage thing isn't as much fun as it used to be. Looking for something that mostly retains the vintage voice, but is say 25% hotter, A5 I guess. A little more mids and less high end is a non-issue, and expected.

Fralin blues specials have been recommended by a friend, what does RT have to say? No I'm not going to strap in a JB and shred.

Fender Pure Vintage 61s are great for blues and rock. The 73 set is also really nice, and a bit hotter.

This is my favorite set of strat pickups currently -- Brickhouse Toneworks 63s
https://www.brickhousetone.com/products/brickhouse-63-stratocaster-pickup?variant=42021548392529

Two other suggestions -- Rocketfire True 60s and K-Line 64s.

 

[jski59]

I really like Suhr’s single coils. For a little hotter the Suhr V63+. (Used to be MLs)

 

[Kelly]

Check out the Fralin SP42s and SP43s.

 

[VonBonfire]

I don't own tan pants or listen to Mayer, and I think "grab n' go" and "pedal platform" are phrases for the weak.

Denial isn't just a river in Egypt, it is commonly the first, often unconscious stage in recognizing a serious problem or addiction, acting as a defense mechanism to avoid confronting painful realities.

 

[LP Freak]

Definitely the Fralins

 

[Hiwatts-n-Gibsons]

To set the record straight - I don't own tan pants or listen to Mayer, and I think "grab n' go" and "pedal platform" are phrases for the weak.

But.... I do like classic Strat tones. I have a nice rosewood slab thing with Van Zandt pickups and the low output, vintage thing isn't as much fun as it used to be. Looking for something that mostly retains the vintage voice, but is say 25% hotter, A5 I guess. A little more mids and less high end is a non-issue, and expected.

Fralin blues specials have been recommended by a friend, what does RT have to say? No I'm not going to strap in a JB and shred.

Gold Lace Sensors do exactly what you ask in terms of more mids and smoother highs, and they play very well with high gain. They aren't noiseless, but are very low noise.

 

[67mike]

Lollar.

 

[VonBonfire]

Lollar.

Tan pants approved.

 

[Meanjoegreene]

Rocketfire