Need Help With Bridge Pickup Recommendations:

[Inspector #20]

That absolutely sucks man! That would have been a really awesome guitar to still have. Really awesome guitars in the spirit of an Explorer but by that era, they had really became their own guitar altogether. I always loved them from seeing them in early videos from Def Leppard, Iron Maiden and WASP on MTV

I got an issue of Creem (IIRC) magazine with a photo of Phil with his Destroyer in it. I picked up the phone and made it happen

 

[Amp Mad Scientist]

Hey, Gents...

On "Junkyard Strat," I am in a quandary of sorts (with regards to my bridge pickup) and would appreciate some direction from you fellows who have likely install far more pickups than me.

Currently, I'm running 500k pots (all 3 positions) and my wiring is modded to give me tone control over the bridge pickup. I will be sticking with H-S-S configuration.

The hum canceling single coils are made by Artec. They are made like a humbucker with bar magnets and screw poles, so even at 2/32" from the strings, there is zero magnetic pull. Despite measuring only 6k each, they are very hot and well balanced.

The bridge pickup was something I had here on the bench and I used it just to get the Strat up and running.

It's a Guitar Madness clone of a 'Dirty Fingers' neck pickup, having triple ceramic magnets and measuring 9.45k @ 75°F. It has twin rows of adjustable poles and it is 4/32" from the strings.

Brand new and free, I threw it in for testing.

The interesting thing is, the pickup is great for power chords and solos, but it has such a strange response to the g/b/e being stummed.

Let's say you play a G major as an arpeggio. For some reason, the g/b/e get lost in the mix...its as if the pickup "cannot hear them" when they (g/b/e) are played in a chord...if my description makes sense.

@Cadorman summed it up best by saying the Yellow Stratocaster sounded "very one dimensional."

Naturally, my bridge pickup will need to be potted for me to control it on small stages at high volumes. Beyond that, it's needs to have good clarity and articulation, good midrange response and tight bottom end.

I've been disappointed in the past with the Seymour Duncan JB (SH4?) because it seemed to lack clarity on the heavy, palm-muted passages I so frequently play.

I was looking at a vintage DiMarzio DP100 Super Distortion, but held off completing the order to give this more thought.

I want to try and avoid just throwing pickups at this randomly, and really do my homework.

When I look back at my own personal experiences with pickups, it isn't helping me much.

I've used Calvin M22SD's, DiMarzio Super 3's, Super 70's, Super Distortions, and those experiences are so long ago that I really can't recall much about what they sounded like 20 plus years ago.

I just spent $300 on a custom neck, and I am having a stock Fender tremolo made from solid brass, so project funds are at a minimum.

I want to avoid the boutique pickups with high price tags. I see no sense throwing in a set of War Pigs into such a budget project.

Also, I'm not opposed to used pickups and there seems to be so many guys putting in new Duncan's and DiMarzios, then ripping them out in a week to go a different route.

Your general thoughts on this subject would be appreciated.

- Rob

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Bridge PU: Gibson Angus Young
Other PUs: JBE Gatton
Although mounting Charlie Christian PUs in a strat works well with Loller PUs.

 

[Ebidis]

it's needs to have good clarity and articulation, good midrange response and tight bottom end.

I know you said that the Duncan '59s did not have enough output, but if clarity is what you want, you can't beat them, or a good low wind PAF style humbucker.

I actually use a '59 NECK pickup in the bridge of this guitar.



It is low wind (about 7.5k), very articulate, with great mid response, and a tight low end. Everything you say you want.

Keep in mind, the hotter the pickup the less articulation you will have (generally speaking). If PAF style humbuckers do not have enough output for you, maybe you can try a boost pedal.

 

[Inspector #20]

I know you said that the Duncan '59s did not have enough output, but if clarity is what you want, you can't beat them, or a good low wind PAF style humbucker.

I actually use a '59 NECK pickup in the bridge of this guitar.

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It is low wind (about 7.5k), very articulate, with great mid response, and a tight low end. Everything you say you want.

Keep in mind, the hotter the pickup the less articulation you will have (generally speaking). If PAF style humbuckers do not have enough output for you, maybe you can try a boost pedal.

Good points!!!

I have an Artec Classic Standard. It's 8.2k with A4 magnet, wood spacers and nickel-silver baseplates. GREAT pickups, but they just don't hit the amp hard enough. If I switch guitars mid-set, I have you change EQ and volume levels, something I don't want to contend with...


By the way...I run a Tube Screamer and all my gain settings are maxed out.

Dig it....

 

[Inspector #20]

Let me throw this out there...

My Schecter has an EMG 81TW.

The Jackson has a (experimental) 2001 GFS 'Double-Slug' humbucker measuring 14k.

Both guitars sound similar enough that I can switch between them and never tough my EQ or volume settings.

 

[Ebidis]

Let me throw this out there...

My Schecter has an EMG 81TW.

The Jackson has a (experimental) 2001 GFS 'Double-Slug' humbucker measuring 14k.

Both guitars sound similar enough that I can switch between them and never tough my EQ or volume settings.

That's a thought. Active pickups, like EMG's might be the way to go.

 

[Clockworkmike]

Bridge PU: Gibson Angus Young
Other PUs: JBE Gatton
Although mounting Charlie Christian PUs in a strat works well with Loller PUs.

The Angus Young is a very cool, hot rodded 57 classic Plus PAF essentially. The PAFs are actually one of the best overall sounds of a humbucker, which goes without saying since they are THE original humbucker, via Mr. Seth Lover. Interestingly enough, lots of newer hi gain, metal guitarists are starting to discover the value of PAFs over hi output pickups, especially in recording, because they capture more sound

 

[Inspector #20]

The Angus Young is a very cool, hot rodded 57 classic Plus PAF essentially. The PAFs are actually one of the best overall sounds of a humbucker, which goes without saying since they are THE original humbucker, via Mr. Seth Lover. Interestingly enough, lots of newer hi gain, metal guitarists are starting to discover the value of PAFs over hi output pickups, especially in recording, because they capture more sound

I've got so much data to pour over now that I will be up all night!!!!

 

[SkyMonkey]

I would throw in the DiMarzio Tone Zone.

Someone suggested an X2N, and I have an X2N equipped guitar too, but the Tone Zone beats it hands down for tone and versatility.
They are at the opposite ends of the DiMarzio High Powered range.
The X2N is often a bit too much, but the TZ works well for clean and high gain equally.
It splits nicely too.

I originally bought the TZ as a neck pup to use with the X2N, but putting in the bridge was a revelation.

 

[Inspector #20]

I would throw in the DiMarzio Tone Zone.

Someone suggested an X2N, and I have an X2N equipped guitar too, but the Tone Zone beats it hands down for tone and versatility.
They are at the opposite ends of the DiMarzio High Powered range.
The X2N is often a bit too much, but the TZ works well for clean and high gain equally.
It splits nicely too.

I originally bought the TZ as a neck pup to use with the X2N, but putting in the bridge was a revelation.

Yes, I have been up looking this morning...That's one I had not considered...