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Conference napalm::guitar

Title:GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3280
Total number of notes:61432

3115.0. "Upgrading my Strat" by CHEFS::BRIGGS_R (they use computers don't they) Tue Sep 12 1995 15:06

    
    I know there are plenty of Strat topics but I wanted to home in on the
    subject of pickups. Hence the dedicated note.
    
    I have a Japanese Strat with 'standard' pickups. I want to upgrade to
    the genuine article and am wondering what the pros and cons of various
    pickup configurations are. Eg, standard versus Lace Sensor (?) versus
    active pickups versus a humbucker instead of one of the single coils.
    What should I go for? I am primarily after the classic Strat sound but
    can't help thinking I need a good thick overdrive sound occasionally.
    
    Richard
    Reading, UK
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3115.1CHEFS::BRIGGS_Rthey use computers don't theyTue Sep 12 1995 15:064
    Perhaps I should make it clear I want to trade the whole guitar in, not
    just do a pickup change.
    
    Richard
3115.2some ideasRICKS::CALCAGNIsalsa sharkTue Sep 12 1995 16:1031
    The industry standard "superstrat" configuration is single coils in
    the neck and middle positions and a humbucker in the bridge.  If the
    humbucker has a coil cut, you can get all five standard Strat sounds
    in addition to the beefier bridge sound.  This seems to be the most
    generally useful setup.
    
    Some people like Lace Sensors, I don't.  Among Lace Sensors, I prefer
    the golds over the other colors; again, personal taste.  If you buy
    a Beck Strat, you get the sing-sing-hum configuration with all gold
    Lace Sensors; if I wanted Lace Sensors, this is the guitar I would buy.
    
    I've yet to hear a set of stacked-coil Strat-style pickups that I liked.
    I would go for regular single coils.
    
    I have heard some active systems I liked, most notably EMGs, but not
    enough that I would pick them over a good set of passives.
    
    I have never heard anyone say an unkind word about the Seymour Duncan
    Jeff Beck model humbucker (notice a trend here :-).  This is what I
    would pick if I were looking to upgrade a bridge hummer.
    
    One of the best deals going right now I think are the Yamaha Pacificas.
    These are modern/traditional hybrid Strats with the sing-sing-hum
    setup; well built and cheap (especially on the used market).  Buy one
    of the cheaper models, upgrade the pickups and maybe tuners/bridge with
    your choice and get a great Strat-style for still low bucks.
    
    Just my opinions of course
    
    /rick
    
3115.3USCTR1::pelkey.ogo.dec.com::pelkeylife aint for the squeamishWed Sep 13 1995 18:5326
I was thinking about the pickup upgrade thing
on my strat, but who knows...

anyway, I'd probably be inclined to go with a
Seymore Duncan upgrade....  usually a winner...

(Got a Jap-USA Prototype... Jap next, US
body and guts...)

I was also looking to do a whammy, beyond the 
stock hit-it-once-tune-it whammy that they come
with..

I dunno, it plays great, sounds o.k.,, but I was
looking for something with a little more bite,
but ya hate to make changes to a stock
MINT condition peice, albeit, I'm only into it
for about 4 bills...

And I'm really not into going for a new usa strat
right now.. 

Got a nice USA tele though,,,


/r
3115.4RICKS::CALCAGNIsalsa sharkThu Sep 14 1995 13:044
    Check out the Wilkinson VSV; direct drop-in replacement for vintage
    Strat style trem (so you can always go back) with improved tone and
    performance.
    
3115.5USCTR1::pelkey.ogo.dec.com::pelkeylife aint for the squeamishTue Sep 19 1995 12:177
re: last..

Excellent, I'll look into it...

thx...  

/pelkster,.