Strat neck pup, which is best.

[Scotland]

Which pickup (neck) for a Strat is the best for clean style picking? Ash body, maple neck.
I have some opinions but would like to hear some of yours.

[GuitarJonz]

I like Duncan SSL-1s alot, and they are easily available and cost effective. However, when using an ash body for a strat, the SSL1s can be a bit bright, varies from one ash body to another. With ash, i'd probably try something just a tad darker, maybe a Duncan Alnico II, Rio Tallboy or a Van Zandt Vintage Plus.

[Roel from Holland]

Originally Posted by Scotland

Which pickup (neck) for a Strat is the best for clean style picking? Ash body, maple neck.
I have some opinions but would like to hear some of yours.

Fralin Vintage Hot is excellent....but I think you have those pickups in your Strat already 8)

[TheGoodTexan]

Originally Posted by GuitarJonz

I like Duncan SSL-1s alot, and they are easily available and cost effective. However, when using an ash body for a strat, the SSL1s can be a bit bright, varies from one ash body to another. With ash, i'd probably try something just a tad darker, maybe a Duncan Alnico II, Rio Tallboy or a Van Zandt Vintage Plus.

I love a Tallboy in the neck spot of a strat. Not too bright at all.

[Kevin]

Well, John, the one I kept has SSL-1s in it, though it is an alder body....

As we've discussed, the Fralins are great in the bridge and middle of the MK, but the neck pup sounds a bit dark...

I wonder if changing the neck tone pot to a 500K or 1 Meg would help?

[shakedancer]

I was curious. Your profile suggests you are a big Tele man. Is this fascination with the strat something new since you got that beautiful Mary Kaye or has there always been an attraction?

[Scotland]

I love Tele's to bits and I am never without them. I've rarely been without a Strat either.
Two different animals really but I couldn't live without them both.

[Mark Davis]

If the Fralin Vintage Hot is too dark for your tastes the Fralin Vintage might do the trick its a 5% underwound version of the VH.

I would mess with string brands and find some brighter strings way easier than changing pickups or pots.

Personally I think the Fralin VH are perfect you have to set the neck pickup real low in the guard.

[Kevin]

Hey, Mark...

That pup was almost flush with the guard when I sent it to him. He's got it even lower, now.

It's a really good sounding pup; it just seems that both Scotland and I prefer a brighter neck pup.

I had a treble bleed cap on the volume pot (don't know if John left it on there), but what I found was that I got the best neck pup tone if I rolled the volume back to about 8, so that the highs could cut through a bit more. I could always turn it up for more body....

Of course, a lot of it has to do with pick attack, too. I hold the pick funny (thumb and middle finger), which gives me a different angle of attack -- one that contributes to a slightly-less-bright tone to start with....

[Scotland]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Hey, Mark...

I had a treble bleed cap on the volume pot (don't know if John left it on there), but what I found was that I got the best neck pup tone if I rolled the volume back to about 8, so that the highs could cut through a bit more. I could always turn it up for more body....

I left the bleed cap there and have been doing as you did, turning it down a touch.
I have it lowered well into the guard now. Pick attack seems to affect it, when I hit it lightly it has a better sound. I won't give up on it yet though.

[Mark Davis]

I set mine slightly above the guard. SO sounds like you tried that. I also set the treble side of the neck pickup higher than the bass side.

Have you tried different caps .05 .022 .01?

A 500k pot might make the mid and bridge too bnght.

Fralin will exchange any pickup thats purchased from him to the original owner for another one of his pickups.

Might try the Vintage model thats 5% less winds sounds like that would be perfect for the sound you guys are hearing.

[Scotland]

Originally Posted by Mark Davis

Fralin will exchange any pickup thats purchased from him to the original owner for another one of his pickups.

Might try the Vintage model thats 5% less winds sounds like that would be perfect for the sound you guys are hearing.

How long do you get to change it ?

[Kevin]

Don't get too excited, John...

I bought these pickups from a dealer (which shouldn't matter) over three months ago.

Originally Posted by Lindy Fralin

Our products are guaranteed against defects in materials or workmanship for 10 years and may be exchanged for tonal reasons for up to 30 days (emphasis added). Both exchanges and any warranty work require pickups to be UNALTERED (do NOT cut leads short), UNDAMAGED (we cannot cover punctures or corrosion due to beer, sweat, etc.). On exchanges, customers pay shipping. Pickups that are damaged by customer will be repaired at half the cost of a rewind (see rewinding information).

Now, I didn't cut a lead short, but I had to replace one of them (can't remember which) cos it was cut too short to start with. If I'd known I'd be selling the guitar, I would have just dropped it by Lindy's shop to have it done (it's two miles from my office), but that wasn't my plan at the time....

[Scotland]

I'll hold on to the pup anyway. His site quotes "VINTAGE HOT - Our best selling set! The neck and middle pickups are average 50's specs, while the bridge is as hot as possible with this wire. A 5% underwind is available for an even brighter clearer tone".
How easy / how long / how much... is it to get a neck one with 5% underwound ?
Y'know, this is all really quite funny Kevin, we have the same taste in amps (Peavey C30), Tele pickups (Broadcaster and 52 neck) and now we find the same taste in Strat pups...in each position !
Will ya marry me ?

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Scotland

Will ya marry me ?

Let me ask my wife if I can....