Single Coil Bridge PUP for Strat?

GuitarSmith · July 18th, 2003, 06:42 PM

I have a Jimmie Vaughan Strat with Texas Specials and after much tweaking I am very happy with the "quack" of pos. 2/4 and the neck PUP (useable), but the Bridge PUP alone is hurting my ears! I'm looking for something that could get a good clean Tele sound as well as a nice overdriven/Hi Gain lead sound -- without losing pos. 2 "quack". Any ideas?

Mark Davis · July 18th, 2003, 07:32 PM

Had the same problem with my JV tried 5 different sets of different pickups couldnt get a thick tone out of it so sold it. What I should have done was replace the poplar body with an alder or ash body.

Look for a hotter bridge pickup it will have more mids and less highs.

Might look on the Seymour Duncan site they have the tones the pickups have on a graph might pick one with alot of bass and mids.

Kevin · July 18th, 2003, 10:41 PM

Any time you mess with the bridge pickup, you're gonna change position #2 (bridge and middle), as well.

You might find that when you get a thick bridge sound, the "quack" position is now mud.

Strats have a thinner bridge sound, period. Putting a baseplate, or a hotter pickup in the bridge will, IMHO, ruin the "strattiness" of the guitar.

I would venture that you're better off to put a hot humbucker -- say a JB -- that sounds decent when split in your guitar. That way, you could use the full humbucker when you want a heavy bridge sound, and split it for the "quack."

bek · July 19th, 2003, 03:00 PM

Wait until KBR comes around and sings the praises of the Rio Grande Stelly. Should be exactly what you are looking for. Other than that, I would check out S.K. Guitar Specialties and see about their S-90s. Might do the job.

Kevin · July 19th, 2003, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bek

Wait until KBR comes around ...

I think he left in a huff...

John Harrison · July 19th, 2003, 04:29 PM

I'd disagree with the opinion that putting a baseplate on a Strat's bridge pickup degrades any tones of the guitar. From my experience:
(1) It's a cheap fix, especially when compared with experimenting with body and/or pickup swaps. Especially on the JLV models, it seems to be the consensus that the stock pickups are a great fit for the poplar (?) body.
(2) It provides a marked improvement in tones from the bridge pickup - since that pickup is involved in the #4 position, if it sounds better, how could that degrade the quack? It doesn't in my guitar.

I have a set of Rio Grande Vintage Tallboys in my '62 Strat (alder body/rosewood fretboard). They were a major improvement over the stock pickups, the Seymour Duncans, and the Lace Sensors (gold) that were initially in the guitar. The guitar came alive. A friend, who's a pro player and noted tone connisseur (read: snob - and he hate's Strats!) can't put my Strat down and is now a Rio Grande "pusher". When I had him put the baseplate on my guitar's bridge pickup, he rolled his eyes and told me I was crazy. When the solder cooled, he was blown away with the improvement and now recommends the mod.

If for no other reason that economics, isn't it worth a minimal investment (~$20) before you get into anarchy?

bek · July 19th, 2003, 06:14 PM

I think he left in a huff...[/quote]

What's this about?

GuitarSmith · July 20th, 2003, 12:17 AM

Thanks for the input thus far.

I guess I'm leaning toward the Stelly or perhaps a humbucker (Duncan Custom Custom or JB).

Were you guys saying you thought I needed the bridge plate for the single?

Also, any thoughts on the "blender" pot to mix neck and bridge?

Brick · July 20th, 2003, 03:04 AM

Very strong tele sounding PU worth trying in the bridge of a strat if you want something different. A bit o tele and a bit o P90 in one PU. VZ Rocks are good too.

Tom P. · July 20th, 2003, 10:20 AM

Lawrence 290/280/280. Beef in the bridge, plenty of quack, dead quiet, very inexpensive, sell 'em for what you paid if you don't like 'em (but you probably will). Can't loose IMHO.

July 18th, 2003, 06:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
GuitarSmith TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 43	Single Coil Bridge PUP for Strat? I have a Jimmie Vaughan Strat with Texas Specials and after much tweaking I am very happy with the "quack" of pos. 2/4 and the neck PUP (useable), but the Bridge PUP alone is hurting my ears! I'm looking for something that could get a good clean Tele sound as well as a nice overdriven/Hi Gain lead sound -- without losing pos. 2 "quack". Any ideas? __________________ Repetitio mater discendi "Repetition is the mother of learning"

July 19th, 2003, 04:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
John Harrison Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Corvallis, OR Posts: 1,043	And now for something completely different I'd disagree with the opinion that putting a baseplate on a Strat's bridge pickup degrades any tones of the guitar. From my experience: (1) It's a cheap fix, especially when compared with experimenting with body and/or pickup swaps. Especially on the JLV models, it seems to be the consensus that the stock pickups are a great fit for the poplar (?) body. (2) It provides a marked improvement in tones from the bridge pickup - since that pickup is involved in the #4 position, if it sounds better, how could that degrade the quack? It doesn't in my guitar. I have a set of Rio Grande Vintage Tallboys in my '62 Strat (alder body/rosewood fretboard). They were a major improvement over the stock pickups, the Seymour Duncans, and the Lace Sensors (gold) that were initially in the guitar. The guitar came alive. A friend, who's a pro player and noted tone connisseur (read: snob - and he hate's Strats!) can't put my Strat down and is now a Rio Grande "pusher". When I had him put the baseplate on my guitar's bridge pickup, he rolled his eyes and told me I was crazy. When the solder cooled, he was blown away with the improvement and now recommends the mod. If for no other reason that economics, isn't it worth a minimal investment (~$20) before you get into anarchy?

July 20th, 2003, 12:17 AM	#8 (permalink)
GuitarSmith TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 43	Thanks for the input thus far. I guess I'm leaning toward the Stelly or perhaps a humbucker (Duncan Custom Custom or JB). Were you guys saying you thought I needed the bridge plate for the single? Also, any thoughts on the "blender" pot to mix neck and bridge? __________________ Repetitio mater discendi "Repetition is the mother of learning"

July 20th, 2003, 03:04 AM	#9 (permalink)
Brick Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Jose Age: 58 Posts: 785	Rio Stelly Very strong tele sounding PU worth trying in the bridge of a strat if you want something different. A bit o tele and a bit o P90 in one PU. VZ Rocks are good too.

July 20th, 2003, 10:20 AM	#10 (permalink)
Tom P. Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Eastern Ct. Posts: 909	Even more different... Lawrence 290/280/280. Beef in the bridge, plenty of quack, dead quiet, very inexpensive, sell 'em for what you paid if you don't like 'em (but you probably will). Can't loose IMHO. __________________ Just Pickin'

July 18th, 2003, 07:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 58 Posts: 12,745	Had the same problem with my JV tried 5 different sets of different pickups couldnt get a thick tone out of it so sold it. What I should have done was replace the poplar body with an alder or ash body. Look for a hotter bridge pickup it will have more mids and less highs. Might look on the Seymour Duncan site they have the tones the pickups have on a graph might pick one with alot of bass and mids.

July 18th, 2003, 10:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
Kevin Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Terre Haute, IN Posts: 2,967	Any time you mess with the bridge pickup, you're gonna change position #2 (bridge and middle), as well. You might find that when you get a thick bridge sound, the "quack" position is now mud. Strats have a thinner bridge sound, period. Putting a baseplate, or a hotter pickup in the bridge will, IMHO, ruin the "strattiness" of the guitar. I would venture that you're better off to put a hot humbucker -- say a JB -- that sounds decent when split in your guitar. That way, you could use the full humbucker when you want a heavy bridge sound, and split it for the "quack."

July 19th, 2003, 03:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
bek Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: California Posts: 555	Wait until KBR comes around and sings the praises of the Rio Grande Stelly. Should be exactly what you are looking for. Other than that, I would check out S.K. Guitar Specialties and see about their S-90s. Might do the job.

July 19th, 2003, 06:14 PM	#7 (permalink)
bek Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: California Posts: 555	I think he left in a huff...[/quote] What's this about?