Stratocaster Pickups

[msingh92]

What are some good pickups for the u2 tone on strats? I'm thinking WTSHNN, Pride, Bad.

I've heard to stay away from texmex. I think noiseless pickups will not sound quite right, unless others here have a different experience than me just hearing demos on youtube.

I've heard the Custom Shop 69 pickups will be great, but I was wondering if there were other pickup sets available.

I've seem people here using the kinman woodstock set pickups, but I don't want to spend $300 on pickups. I wouldn't mind used and I'm thinking $100-$200 for the set max.

I already have an explorer with seth lovers, les paul with 57 classic pups, and my trusty HSS strat (my first guitar ever), So I don't think I need a strat with the dimarzio fs-1 type pickup or any heavier strat sound. I want the classic U2 strat sound.

I want to upgrade my mim strat, I'm thinking that alnico pickups would work better than the ceramic already in there. And I hate the staggered poles. The middle pickup poles always get in my way so I have to set the middle pickup lower.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

I have the option of buying 1999 Fender American Standard strat pickups for $50. If that will get me close, I could stick with that, but I don't want to get those and be unhappy. I can't find the spec for them, so I can't tell if they're alnico or ceramic. The serial number places it as produced in 1999

[Jacques]

If you have a strat with hotter Bridge i think '69 is a good way to go. But also look at lolar blondes, or Fender '57 set. There are so many good ones? Or like Edge strat, set of fat50's? They seem to be very Fine too.

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[msingh92]

My strat is currently a fender special run mexican made single coil strat. I think it's from 2014, but I can check later at home. It's black with cream vintage colored pickups and accessories. I'm not sure how hot the pickups are. It says online it has 3 classic Fender single-coil pickups. I'd guess a shot as regular mexican single coil strats

[Jacques]

Btw, the fat50's can be set low, and (if i remember well) are nonstaggered. Try to find tests and reviews on them. They are good. They are on the edge strat (but with fs1 in bridge). If you want classic edge sound, use fender '69.

If you keep the hss strat, just get a complete set for your mexican set. I also have a strat with hotter bridge and a 'normal' classic edge strat.

I use the hotter one for other music like floyd, besides u2. The classic is fine for for example shadows etc.

[msingh92]

Btw, the fat50's can be set low, and (if i remember well) are nonstaggered. Try to find tests and reviews on them. They are good. They are on the edge strat (but with fs1 in bridge). If you want classic edge sound, use fender '69.

If you keep the hss strat, just get a complete set for your mexican set. I also have a strat with hotter bridge and a 'normal' classic edge strat.

I use the hotter one for other music like floyd, besides u2. The classic is fine for for example shadows etc.

My HSS and SSS strat are both made in mexico. I want my SSS strat to be classic edge tone with good 2/4 positions - so I'm guess the CS '69 pickups are the way to go then? I'll look into the fat 50's. The CS'69 pickups are all 5.8k I think. What pickups are you using in the "hotter bridge" strat?

[Kitch]

The 57/62 set has a great quack sound. $159.99 for the set, so right in your price range.

http://shop.fender.com/en-US/accessories/pickups/fender-original-%E2%80%9957%2F%E2%80%9962-strat-pickups/0992117000.html#start=1

[Kitch]

Seymour Duncan has a flat pole option:

http://www.seymourduncan.com/pickup/vintage-flat-strat-calibrated-set

The Fat 50's have staggered poles. I've got them in my strat and they are great but very bright.

http://shop.fender.com/en-US/accessories/pickups/custom-shop-fat-50s-stratocaster-pickups/0992113000.html

And a great explanation on flat poles from Lollar:

http://www.lollarguitars.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=flat-vs-staggered-pole-pickups

[msingh92]

Seymour Duncan has a flat pole option:

http://www.seymourduncan.com/pickup/vintage-flat-strat-calibrated-set

The Fat 50's have staggered poles. I've got them in my strat and they are great but very bright.

http://shop.fender.com/en-US/accessories/pickups/custom-shop-fat-50s-stratocaster-pickups/0992113000.html

And a great explanation on flat poles from Lollar:

http://www.lollarguitars.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=flat-vs-staggered-pole-pickups
Thank you for all that info, yours posts are very helpful!

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[Jacques]

Indeed. Fat50 are nonstaggered on Edge strat only.

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[schnitzolaus]

If you need something cheaper then you can try these: http://www.guitarfetish.com/Wood-Boxed-Slick-56-Flat-Pole-alnico-Strat-Complete-Set_p_11238.html

Alnico 5 is important!

[msingh92]

If you need something cheaper then you can try these: http://www.guitarfetish.com/Wood-Boxed-Slick-56-Flat-Pole-alnico-Strat-Complete-Set_p_11238.html

Alnico 5 is important!

Those seem like a good deal, I'm just concerned about the output ratings. Those wood boxed ones are 6.7/6.4/6.0 in bridge/middle/neck but the CS '69's are 5.8/5.8/5.8 and fat 50's are 6.3/6.3/6.0. What major differences will these make on tone? Is it better to have them all rated the same? Or should they be different?

Though I'm leaning on the wood box ones, it seems like a really good deal. I was leaning on CS9's previously, I might go with these. I found '69 mint condition on a pick guard with upgraded pots and wiring for $120. Also seems like a good deal

[Jacques]

Output is important, but not main thing on sound. Fat50 sound different from '69 . Lollars again sound a little different. And kinmans again sound different. They are all single coils ofcourse, but they vary a small bit in tones. I cannot comment on the wood-boxed, but i had another set from guitarfetisch which sounded ok. But thats a long while ago, so cant compare them nowadays.

I tried to have the non staggered lollar blondes (with special in the bridge) sound like the edge strat; you can hear its (very) close, but still something distinct in sound.

Its so much a matter of taste.

[msingh92]

Output is important, but not main thing on sound. Fat50 sound different from '69 . Lollars again sound a little different. And kinmans again sound different. They are all single coils ofcourse, but they vary a small bit in tones. I cannot comment on the wood-boxed, but i had another set from guitarfetisch which sounded ok. But thats a long while ago, so cant compare them nowadays.

I tried to have the non staggered lollar blondes (with special in the bridge) sound like the edge strat; you can hear its (very) close, but still something distinct in sound.

Its so much a matter of taste.

I guess I have a lot of demos to review lol. I think I'm probably going to get the cs '69s.

[maplebeans]

i have the CS69's and like them. One thing I wish was different though is that they offered noise cancellation in the quack positions. Playing U2 stuff that tends to be where you live and it would be nice to have it noiseless.

[msingh92]

i have the CS69's and like them. One thing I wish was different though is that they offered noise cancellation in the quack positions. Playing U2 stuff that tends to be where you live and it would be nice to have it noiseless.
Why would there be noise in the quack position? I thought that was I here try a hum canceling position. I've never had any hum in the 2 and 4 positions

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[maplebeans]

Because the CS69 set does not have a RWRP (Reverse wound, reverse polarity) middle pickup. It's more true to vintage form, but it doesn't give you the noise cancellation most modern strat sets offer.

[msingh92]

Because the CS69 set does not have a RWRP (Reverse wound, reverse polarity) middle pickup. It's more true to vintage form, but it doesn't give you the noise cancellation most modern strat sets offer.
Are you happy with the CS69 pups for u2 sounds?

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[maplebeans]

Are you happy with the CS69 pups for u2 sounds?

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I liked them in all aspects except for the hum. I've since bought an RWRP Seymour Duncan SSL5 and put in in the bridge. Now I get noise cancellation and a beefier bridge tone.

I also have a squier strat with the duncan designed pickups, and I must say they are argueably just as good. Not as glassy sounding as the cs69's but they still sound good. Both are good upgrades over the MIM stock pickups IMO.

[msingh92]

I liked them in all aspects except for the hum. I've since bought an RWRP Seymour Duncan SSL5 and put in in the bridge. Now I get noise cancellation and a beefier bridge tone.

I also have a squier strat with the duncan designed pickups, and I must say they are argueably just as good. Not as glassy sounding as the cs69's but they still sound good. Both are good upgrades over the MIM stock pickups IMO.
I'm just torn between the CS69 and fat 50's. I can get a CS69 for about 120, don't know about the fat 50's yet though.

I would like a good quack sound with hum cancellation. What do you think about the CS69 with a fat 50 rwrp middle pickup? I like the CS69 bridge and neck tones, but I really want some hum cancellation.

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[maplebeans]

If i was doing it again I'd likely do the fat 50's. You should be able to get them for about the same price. Besides they're Edge approved!

That said the CS 69's are nice, just noisy. (And for full disclosure I've never had fat 50's)

[Jacques]

Mind you edge strat fat50 are flatpoled, 'normal' fat50 staggered. It's just in the sound details, but anyway. And check the edge strat thread, the output of the fat50's are different, as is the bridge pu ofcourse. Which doesnt mean the normal fat50's set aren't a good choice! They sound very 'full'... fat ;-)

If you are able to go to a guitar shop, there are a few strats with those pu's there. Browse throught the fender site, check what strat has which pu set and look for those in a guitar shop and just try them. Hopefully they are both there to be compared and tested.

[drumu2]

I have an Edge Strat as well as a Strat with Lollar Blondes, flat-pole.

I'll try to get some clips together.

They are different, although I lean towards the Lollars. You just can't go wrong with anything he makes.

My absolute favorite Strat pickups are out of my '77, although the bridge is a little more thin sounding.

[Jacques]

I have an Edge Strat as well as a Strat with Lollar Blondes, flat-pole.

I'll try to get some clips together.

They are different, although I lean towards the Lollars. You just can't go wrong with anything he makes.

My absolute favorite Strat pickups are out of my '77, although the bridge is a little more thin sounding.

Is the strat with lollars a nash strat? I have one and i love it a lot. Mine has normal blondes set in neck/middle but a 'special' in the bridge. Kinda like edge strat.

Can't say i like one over the other. They are different, but also alike.

[drumu2]

Is the strat with lollars a nash strat? I have one and i love it a lot. Mine has normal blondes set in neck/middle but a 'special' in the bridge. Kinda like edge strat.

Can't say i like one over the other. They are different, but also alike.

It's not, although I had a Nash Tele briefly and was quite impressed with it. He makes good stuff but I don't care for his level of relic'ing.

It's a JW Van Strat, and is loaded with Lollar Dirty Blondes I believe, so they are a little hotter than his other set. They sound really good.

[msingh92]

Anyone have experience with the symore duncan vintage flats (SSL-2)? I'm most likely going to get the fat 50's, but was wondering if anyone had used those and how they sound for U2 stuff. I was thinking back to an article where edge was explaining why he went flat pole vs staggered.

[mUadzIn]

If you absolutely have to have fat50's that are flatpoled you can always push them in. There is a slight chance you might damage them but usually it works fine. I did it with some Texas Specials and they still sound alright.

[maplebeans]

Based on the pickup conversations, I thought it would be interesting to upload an audio file of 3 different types of stratocaster pickups. They are in order of value:

Stock Duncan Designed pickups in a Squier VM 70 modified strat
A MIM Fender Standard Stratocaster with Stock pickups
A MIM Fender Standard Stratocaster with a Duncan SL5 in the bridge, and CS 69 in the neck and middle.

Now for some disclaimers. I'm new to this recording thing, and I can't say I'm overly impressed with my results. I tried to equalize them as much as possible, but I wasn't as successful as I liked. To add to that, the guitar playing is a little rough in spots too.

Anyway let me know which one you think sounds best. they are recorded one after the other.

I'll tell you which is which after a few people have a chance to tell which they like best. (i'm trying to see if upgrading pups is worth it!)


https://soundcloud.com/maplebeans/3-pickups-streets

[Jacques]

Based on the pickup conversations, I thought it would be interesting to upload an audio file of 3 different types of stratocaster pickups. They are in order of value:

Stock Duncan Designed pickups in a Squier VM 70 modified strat
A MIM Fender Standard Stratocaster with Stock pickups
A MIM Fender Standard Stratocaster with a Duncan SL5 in the bridge, and CS 69 in the neck and middle.

Now for some disclaimers. I'm new to this recording thing, and I can't say I'm overly impressed with my results. I tried to equalize them as much as possible, but I wasn't as successful as I liked. To add to that, the guitar playing is a little rough in spots too.

Anyway let me know which one you think sounds best. they are recorded one after the other.

I'll tell you which is which after a few people have a chance to tell which they like best. (i'm trying to see if upgrading pups is worth it!)


https://soundcloud.com/maplebeans/3-pickups-streets

Thing is, they all have a little distortion going on, a bit recorded to loud? First two sound very much alike, third one has little less treble. Sofar i would choose number 3. But if possible, rerecord without the distortion, just the main intro for a few secs, all three in a row.

[maplebeans]

Ok I'm back. I took Jacques advice and did another recording with more of a clean sound for comparison. Streets comparison is first with a little crunch from the SDD pre-amp, Still haven't found is second with a cleaner tone. Recording through an Ac10 miced with a SM57.

For someone who might be interesting in upgrading their MIM or VM70 strat hopefully it proves to be a worthwhile comparison. You can tell me whether or not you think upgrades were worth it.

Order is:
Squier VM 70 stock
MIM with CS 69 and SSL 5 in bridge
MIM stock

https://soundcloud.com/maplebeans/3-pickups-streets-and-still-havent-found

[Bruce365ms]

thanks for that maplebeans MIM with CS 69 and SSL-5 in bridge sounds good
to my ears more clarity and output im hearing.i have a SSL-5 and a whole bunch
of other pick ups duncans,fender, dimarzio so i may try sum stuff out.

[macphistoo]

I had a strat with CS69 (it was the classic player serie) but I never really found them that good for U2 stuff. They actually are a little bit thin.

[maplebeans]

I had a strat with CS69 (it was the classic player serie) but I never really found them that good for U2 stuff. They actually are a little bit thin.

I found the CS 69's a bit think too, and what really bothered me was the lack of noise cancellation in the quack position where you tend to live for U2 stuff. That said I found adding the SSL5 in the bridge to it was great upgrade. I bought an RWRP SSL5 so now I have noise cancellation, and the extra power beefed it up, while still maintaining the chime.

I've since bought an American standard with the Fat 50's. I like those pups out of the box, but I do feel like I need a little more meat in the bridge. A Dimarzio FS-1 might be in my future. As they stand now, I slightly prefer my CS69 with the SSL5 for U2 tones.