Bridge pickup recommendations

I'm primarily a tele player, but i'd like to use my Fender CS '56 Stratocaster a bit more - problem is that I really don't rate the bridge pickup - compared to my Tele, it's harsh and a bit gutless - so any good bridge PUP recommendations that will give a bit more fat twang but still retains a good amount of clarity - I tried a set of texas specials years ago and wasn't too fussed by them - I just want a more tele like response from the bridge - although the physics says that can't really be, but is there anything about that can get a good way there?


thanks

D.

GFS Hendrix pickups?

"More tele like" - your options are Rio Grande Muy Grande, Fralin with a baseplate, Duncan Twang Banger or Harmonic Design STP. Off the top of my head.

Or consider the Duncan 5-2 for just a clear, balanced strat bridge PU tone.

I dont know what pups are stock in the CS56 strat you have, but I have found the SC54 bridge pup to be excellent-with clarity and twang that gets into tele territory.

I think that's the rub - i'm not after a 'traditional' Strat bridge tone - I want much fuller twang. The fact it's mounted to a plastic pickguard and the strings anchor to a pivoting cast block don't help complared to the Tele's metal plate screwed to the body, with the strings anchored to the same block of wood. How good are those Duncan Twang bangers? It'd be great if all pickup companies had audio clips...

A lot of that tele twang is coming from all of the metal around the tele bridge pickup, including the base plate.

You're going to have a hard time making a strat bridge sound like a tele.

Now, I can make you something fatter, but still with a mostly single coil character. Our Fat Single Special fits that bill. Plus it's hum-cancelling.

Check it out, starting at 3:55. Then 4:36, I think you'll hear something you really like.

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Here's some audio. These are actually with a potted pickup. I stopped potting a while ago so what you would get is more open than this, but with the same basic voice. The one in the video is unpotted. Don't worry, microphonics are not an issue:

moderate gain (http://www.zexcoil.com/Scott%20Lawing%20-%20Adam's%20Orange.mp3)

high gain (http://www.zexcoil.com/Scott%20Lawing%20-%20Big%20Chords%20bridge.mp3)

Actually, it is pretty dang twangy, isn't it?

Klein Broadcaster or Duncan Antiquity. My two favorite pickups to date.

I just realized, I asked this question last year. Losing track of what and who i've posted on/to.

I put a base plate on the stock bridge PUP last October or so- it tamed the highs a little but it was still lacking that 'ooomph' when I needed it. I don't know about getting pickups above 7k - the mids tend to take over and I still want that twang. I'm not really into doing the S.R.V thing. Zexcoil - it sounds and looks really good, but I kinda want to keep the stock appearance on this '56. My Tele bridge pickups are perfect and as i've - and you have - said, the bridge plate effects things so much.


This Strat bridge tone always appealed to me - it's Mark Knopfler playing his fiesta red '61 Stratocaster through a brownface Vibrolux.

Solo starts at 1.19

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Right i've gone for a Seymour Duncan twangbanger - they're readily available over here in England and should have it early next week.


Thanks for the replies anyhow.