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Post by nowhereismyhome on Nov 17, 2005 13:37:04 GMT -5
I want to change out the stock pickups on my Mexi Strat. The problem is, there are about a thousand different brands and subtypes within those brands of single coil pickups. I'm looking for advice on what kinds of single coil pickups I should buy. Here's what I want in terms of sound.
1) I want crispness and clarity (maybe this is an amp issue)
2) I don't like the muddy, mid-heavy sound. I want my leads to pierce and my chords to have a good low and mid end, so that strumming is clean but not super bright. I like Fender tube amps over Marshalls...maybe that's helpful?
3) I like overdrive more than distortion, and I'd like my guitar to have a good, clean sound that would work well with a modded TS-5 tube-screamer (which gives am overdriven tube amp sound, similar to the TS808 sound)
Ok, I know I'm going out on a limb here, but does anyone have any advice on pickups I should try? Brands, types within those brands, even general types of single coils? I know NOTHING about pickups, besides the difference between a humbucker and a single coil. Help me out here. Thanks.
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Post by Mini-Strat_Maine on Nov 17, 2005 14:38:03 GMT -5
Ok, I know I'm going out on a limb here, but does anyone have any advice on pickups I should try? Brands, types within those brands, even general types of single coils? I know NOTHING about pickups, besides the difference between a humbucker and a single coil. Help me out here. Thanks. Earlier this year, I didn't know a Strat from an LP, or a singlecoil from a humbucker. I'm still no expert, but I'm having a good time with it all.  Just thought I'd mention that Acme Guitar Works (one of the links that shows up at the top of Forum pages a lot) now has MP3 clips of many of the pups they sell. You can "kinda A/B" them to see what you like. DISCLAIMER: All this stuff is subjective, but what the heck. www.acmeguitarworks.com/Strat-Pickup-MP3-Clips-W1C28.aspxOne thing you might consider for your axe, with or without new pups, is a base (sometimes spelled "bass;" either/or) plate under the bridge pup. Listening to those sound clips, I believe there is a difference. I have one on order from Dirk at Singlecoil.com, singlecoil.com. (Look in his Webshop.) You can't just let the magnets hold it on, you have to "cushion" it with something, or you'll get some kind of atomic microphonic harmonics. ("It'll squal like a pig.") Dirk recommends silicone caulk or something similar; I think Lindy Fralin uses the same wax as he does for potting the pups. (Potting them is a good idea, too.) Okay, I'll step aside and let somebody who knows something answer. ;D -- Doug C. |
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Post by GuyaGuy on Nov 17, 2005 22:37:57 GMT -5
I want to change out the stock pickups on my Mexi Strat. The problem is, there are about a thousand different brands and subtypes within those brands of single coil pickups. I'm looking for advice on what kinds of single coil pickups I should buy. Here's what I want in terms of sound. 1) I want crispness and clarity (maybe this is an amp issue) 2) I don't like the muddy, mid-heavy sound. I want my leads to pierce and my chords to have a good low and mid end, so that strumming is clean but not super bright. I like Fender tube amps over Marshalls...maybe that's helpful? 3) I like overdrive more than distortion, and I'd like my guitar to have a good, clean sound that would work well with a modded TS-5 tube-screamer (which gives am overdriven tube amp sound, similar to the TS808 sound) Ok, I know I'm going out on a limb here, but does anyone have any advice on pickups I should try? Brands, types within those brands, even general types of single coils? I know NOTHING about pickups, besides the difference between a humbucker and a single coil. Help me out here. Thanks. sounds like you're going for a "vintage" fender tone. there are actually heaps and heaps of pickups made that promise that kind of sound. of course, as you say, it's difficult to choose from all of em. 1. for crispness and clarity, avoid high-output pickups. the texas style ones may even be too powerful for the sound you want. they're not shredder pickups by any means but lower-valued pickups will allow crispness. 2. that's known as "tight low end." part of that's from your pick up, part from the wood in your guitar. 3. so do i. my suggestion: MIGHTY MITES. that was my choice after looking at/playing all sorts of strat pickups. i got em for the same kind of sound you describe. (but i like a soft low end so i have a basswood body.) MIGHTY MITES are known for being pretty bright and crisp. they have alnico magnets, like the vintage fender and newer up-market pickpus... oh, and they're dirt cheap. around $40-50 for the SET. reviews: www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Data2/Mighty_Mite/MMVPSS-01.htmlyou'll also want to measure your string spacing. on most foreign-made guitars it's 50mm E to E. you'll want the polepieces to line up w/ the strings. the MIGHTY MITES are 50mm. if your spacing's different, go for GFS pickups or this seymour duncan:: www.seymourduncan.com/products/stratsdescr.shtml#VintageStaggeredforStratkinman has some really nice noiseless pickups but at a steeper price: www.kinman.com/ |
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Post by UnklMickey on Nov 17, 2005 23:02:36 GMT -5
i almost wonder if the stock middle and bridge would be augmented well with full-sized PAF in the neck.
but that would require a permanent mod to the pickguard. and that's a leap of faith on a guess.
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Post by dunkelfalke on Nov 18, 2005 3:09:49 GMT -5
Ok, I know I'm going out on a limb here, but does anyone have any advice on pickups I should try? Brands, types within those brands, even general types of single coils? I know NOTHING about pickups, besides the difference between a humbucker and a single coil. Help me out here. Thanks. oh yeah, i think i know something for you entwhistle-white pickups |
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Post by nowhereismyhome on Nov 18, 2005 12:53:54 GMT -5
Thanks, all of the suggestions have been extremely helpful. I plan on checking out all of your recommendations this weekend and making my decision from there. Tell me though; do you think I can get a playably good sound out of a MExi Strat with new pickups, or is the wood going to have too much of a negative effect on the sound? Also, how hard is it to install your own pickups if you've never done it? I've done some soldering on pedal circuit boards, but never installed pickups. Is it worth paying someone to do, or is it a feasible project for a novice who wants to learn? Thanks again for the already great advice!
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Post by GuyaGuy on Nov 18, 2005 13:02:47 GMT -5
Thanks, all of the suggestions have been extremely helpful. I plan on checking out all of your recommendations this weekend and making my decision from there. Tell me though; do you think I can get a playably good sound out of a MExi Strat with new pickups, or is the wood going to have too much of a negative effect on the sound? Also, how hard is it to install your own pickups if you've never done it? I've done some soldering on pedal circuit boards, but never installed pickups. Is it worth paying someone to do, or is it a feasible project for a novice who wants to learn? Thanks again for the already great advice! nah, it's easy peasy. especially if you've soldered before. easier than a pedal circuit cuz there's more room. good sound from a MIM strat? sure. the wood only slightly colors the sound. |
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Post by GuyaGuy on Nov 18, 2005 13:03:33 GMT -5
i almost wonder if the stock middle and bridge would be augmented well with full-sized PAF in the neck. but that would require a permanent mod to the pickguard. and that's a leap of faith on a guess. no, sounds like nowhereismyhome is going for more of a classic fender sound. |
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Post by GuyaGuy on Nov 18, 2005 13:04:17 GMT -5
[quote author=nowhereismyhome board=wiring entwhistle-white pickups entwhistle pups? |
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Post by UnklMickey on Nov 18, 2005 13:28:09 GMT -5
... no, sounds like nowhereismyhome is going for more of a classic fender sound. i was thinking he wanted to keep the "ice-pick in the ear" (don't know who brought that phrase to this forum, but i kinda like it) sound for the lead, and he wanted to add bottom end for chords (not a stock fender characteristic) it seemed like a reasonable approach. that would give him the original sounds in 3,4,and5. plus a full bottom end in 1, and ? in 2. i'll be the first one to admit that i'm NOT a pickup expert. i probably misunderstood what the goal was here, and i'm not even sure the approach i suggested would get him to where i thought he wanted to go. "it happens" -- Forest Gump |
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Post by nowhereismyhome on Nov 18, 2005 14:19:37 GMT -5
Let's see if I can explain the sound I want a little better, since it seems like there is some debate. I have, currently, modded a DS-1, an SD-1 and a TS-5 tubescreamer, of which I only would ever play with the tubescreamer. I don't want punk distortion, I don't want meaty, humbucker mids. I want a clean, boosted sound that overdrives well. I'd say that the classic fender sound is a good way of putting it. I'm playing through an old Fender '64 concert tube amp, and the sound I get is clear and sharp. I already play a G&L Comanche, which I love the sound of, but I have this stock MIM Strat and I'm trying to improve the tone so I can then start adding onboard effects. I'd like to do the job myself, and a lower price is a plus. The Mighty Mite reviews sound pretty good, but I'm going to check out the Acme website this weekend and listen to their pickup samples. Does this help?
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Post by dunkelfalke on Nov 19, 2005 5:19:02 GMT -5
yep. they sound really good. have sold them only because of upgrating to active pickups |
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Post by GuyaGuy on Nov 20, 2005 22:58:39 GMT -5
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Post by dunkelfalke on Nov 21, 2005 4:26:21 GMT -5
yep, exactly these
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