New Strat, Thinking about Pickups

[NQbass7]

So I'm GASing for a new build, and starting to lay out what I'm looking for. One thing I like in my guitars is a bit of the classic with a bit of something different - for example, I got a Tele with a P-Rail in the neck (so I can still get close to standard Tele, but I can flip it to a humbucker or P90 if I want).

So I'm looking to build a Strat, and thinking about how I want to lay it out. I'm probably going to do a Canary neck, Alder body with either Flamed or Quilted Maple, and probably rear routed. I want to be able to do a typical Strat sound, but I'm thinking about putting a tappable humbucker in the bridge and maybe the neck too to give me other options.

So my main question is.. what do people think about EMG's? I like the solderless connection system - I have trouble committing to things, so being able to switch to a different pickup would be nice (though with a rear-route, it'd have to be the same shape). The downside is needing to worry about a battery, which I hate.

Other than EMG's, what else? I'm looking for good blues/jazz tones, and something that'll dirty up nice too. No metal or anything. I'm still researching pickups, but I thought I'd get some ideas here first.

 

[Strat Avenger]

I have no use for EMGs.

My preference for Strats is H-S-S configuration, but you said you want a 'bucker in the neck position as well.

You're gonna get a million suggestions for pickups here.  I like Dimarzio and Duncan. You'll get hundreds of suggestions for "boutique" pickups here, and although there is nothing at all wrong with them, if you can't find what you like from Duncan or Dimarzio, something's wrong.

The Dimarzio PAF Pro is a good all around 'bucker for the Strat. For more high-end, you may want a "Humbucker From Hell" for the neck position. I'd do an Area 67 in the middle for some really good Strat "quack".

As for Duncan, I'd probably go with a '59 at the bridge, and a "Jazz" at the neck, and the same Dimarzio Area 67 for the middle.

 

[NQbass7]

I'd be okay with a single coil in the neck - I'm not as sold on needing a bucker there. And if I end up doing a showcase body (which I will if the one I'm looking at is still there once I've saved up enough), it'll be rear-routed and I'm going to route for single coil - so I'd want buckers that fit in a single coil slot.

 

[pabloman]

I had a strats a with a Classic '57 Plus and some Custom Shop '69s. That thing was bad ass. Nice fudger and authentic strats tones too. Talk to Ken from Roadhouse. I have a set of his singles and they are great. Everything you could ever want from a 3 single setup.

 

[Strat Avenger]

I'd be okay with a single coil in the neck - I'm not as sold on needing a bucker there. And if I end up doing a showcase body (which I will if the one I'm looking at is still there once I've saved up enough), it'll be rear-routed and I'm going to route for single coil - so I'd want buckers that fit in a single coil slot.

There's a lot to choose from as far as dual rail humbuckers that fit in a single-coil rout. It's gonna depend on what type of tone you're looking for.  The hotter ones are going to have more bass and mids, and quite a bit less highs, which is great if you're wanting humbucker tone,
but if you still want somewhat of a single-coil attack, go with the lower output models, like the Duncan "Cool Rails", or the Dimarzio Cruiser or Fast Track-1.

 

[MikeW]

I have a Strat that's rear-routed with a S-S-S layout. I've currently got a Duncan Screamin' Deamon in the bridge, a Duncan Quarter Pounder in the middle and a Cool Rails in tne neck. I've also wired it with a 5-position switch so that in positions 2 and 4, the north (closer to the neck) coils on the buckers are tapped and mixed with the Quarter Pounder in the middle. It's an extremely versatile setup that way and can get everything from punchy hard rock tones to really nice SRV type stuff to very quacky single coil chime tones.

I thought about EMGs when I was planning this Strat, but decided against it because I didn't want to fool around with batteries. But I really have to agree with Avenger: " if you can't find what you like from Duncan or Dimarzio, something's wrong."

 

[NQbass7]

Mike, how do you combine for positions 2/4? Series or parallel?

Alright, after a little looking around at the ones you guys recommended, I'm leaning towards a Lil Screamin Demon in the bridge, Area 67 in the middle, and Cool Rails in the neck, with positions 2/4 splitting the 'bucker in neck/bridge and combining it with the 67. The only thing I'm wondering about is output level - would position 3 end up way lower than the other positions since it's the only position that's true single-coil? I suppose if they're mixed parallel it'd be closer, but that would leave 1/5 as pretty hot in comparison to the rest, wouldn't it?

 

[jrybicki]

lace sensor pickups cover every style and tone, zero hum and the prices are pretty low.  $62 to $99... check the descriptions on guitar centers web site..  i recommend golds and red. and duel.

 

[NQbass7]

Oh yeah! I'd forgotten about lace sensors. I was thinking about those a year ago when I was looking at pickups for the Tele I built. I'll definitely look into those more.

 

[Strat Avenger]

lace sensor pickups cover every style and tone, zero hum and the prices are pretty low.  $62 to $99... check the descriptions on guitar centers web site..  i recommend golds and red. and duel.

Except they sound like cardboard.

 

[Strat Avenger]

Mike, how do you combine for positions 2/4? Series or parallel?

Alright, after a little looking around at the ones you guys recommended, I'm leaning towards a Lil Screamin Demon in the bridge, Area 67 in the middle, and Cool Rails in the neck, with positions 2/4 splitting the 'bucker in neck/bridge and combining it with the 67. The only thing I'm wondering about is output level - would position 3 end up way lower than the other positions since it's the only position that's true single-coil? I suppose if they're mixed parallel it'd be closer, but that would leave 1/5 as pretty hot in comparison to the rest, wouldn't it?

I would not coil split with an Area 67. It will hum (if you are playing with overdrive), and yes, there will be a slight volume loss when doing this with any pickups. The proper way to do this is to use a true single-coil pickup in the middle that is RWRP. This way, when you split the neck or bridge humbucker, it will be hum-canceling, and the only position that will have hum will be the number 3 (middle pickup by itself) position.

I had this set-up for several years, and while it worked pretty good (Steve Vai uses it), everything sounded even better when Iinstalled the Area 67s, and  returned the guitar to its standard wiring/switching configuration. The 67s are bright enough that coil splitting is really unnecessary.

 

[ORCRiST]

I have no use for EMGs.

...if you can't find what you like from Duncan or Dimarzio, something's wrong.

Ok, I'm gonna have to call bullshit here. The double D's might cover a lot of ground but if your opinion was even close, other pick-up companies would
have been out of business a long time ago.

EMG's f**king rock. Period. They're not for everything or everyone, but that goes for Duncan or Dimarzio too.

As far as the battery thing goes, don't worry about it. Oh noes! I have to replace a battery once a year... and I've gone longer.

If you want to go with EMG in the end, I would highly recommend David Gilmour's DG20 pickguard  - the ability for classic strat tones + 'different' capabilities
sounds exactly like what the OP is looking for. YMMV.

 

[Corey P.]

I have and love the EMG SA set, and the battery fits in the standard control cavity just fine.  The solderless connections were perfect for me, as I am the world's worst solder-er, and the everything winds up being very neat & tidy.

 

[MikeW]

Mike, how do you combine for positions 2/4? Series or parallel?

Alright, after a little looking around at the ones you guys recommended, I'm leaning towards a Lil Screamin Demon in the bridge, Area 67 in the middle, and Cool Rails in the neck, with positions 2/4 splitting the 'bucker in neck/bridge and combining it with the 67. The only thing I'm wondering about is output level - would position 3 end up way lower than the other positions since it's the only position that's true single-coil? I suppose if they're mixed parallel it'd be closer, but that would leave 1/5 as pretty hot in comparison to the rest, wouldn't it?

Here's the wiring diagram I used : http://www.guitarelectronics.com/product/WDUHSH5L1101/WDU-HSH5L11-01.html

As you mention, I did have a bit of a difference in output level between positions 2, 4 and 3. What I did to compensate was raise and lower the pickups until I could flick through all 5 positions on the switch with little difference in volume. And, yes, it does hum when I've got it in position 3 (just the single coil), but I've never been bothered by a bit of hum so that wasn't a big consideration when I chose this setup.

@ORC, it's not that I'm against EMGs at all. But the OP stated this : "I'm looking for good blues/jazz tones, and something that'll dirty up nice too. No metal or anything." He's already got his eyes on EMGs and given that he's looking for jazz/blues tones, I'm thinking that the EMGs would run too hot for what he's looking for. If he'd said "I'm going for deep growly stuff that will work for hard rock or metal", then I'd say he's on the right track.

 

[Tipperman]

I'll recommend what I always do. Bare Knuckle Pickups for boutique, three single coils. The Mother's Milk set is really nice. For non boutique, I still say three vintage style low output single coils. Your choice manufacturer. You can do pretty much anything with them.

That being said, take a look at Erik Zs Warmoth Strat. He has it up on his website, just google it. He did a pretty good setup with a ton of switching options. Really versatile. Too much for me, but it might be just the ticket for you.

 

[Corey P.]

@ORC, it's not that I'm against EMGs at all. But the OP stated this : "I'm looking for good blues/jazz tones, and something that'll dirty up nice too. No metal or anything." He's already got his eyes on EMGs and given that he's looking for jazz/blues tones, I'm thinking that the EMGs would run too hot for what he's looking for. If he'd said "I'm going for deep growly stuff that will work for hard rock or metal", then I'd say he's on the right track.

I don't find my guitar any louder than a passive, I think they're mainly active to allow for lower magnetism/less string pull.  Dave Gilmour and Steve Lukather are a world away from the Zakk Wyldes and James Hetfields of the world.  I'm not even trying to steer anyone towards using EMGs, I just feel like there's a weird stigma attached to them that isn't, y'know, accurate.  :dontknow:

 

[Patrick from Davis]

I don't use EMG's because my playing style doesn't seem to work well with them.  They don't sound bad, just not right for me.  I would suggest the boards TroubledTrebles Roadhouse Pickups as a more affordable way to go for custom/boutique jobbies.  They sound good and you can talk with him if you want it to sound like a particular setup.  Other than that, I have a set of the Callaham Fralin SRV/H pickups, and they are very nice pickups.  They are not cheap any way you cut it, but they sound really good.  For a one time investment I decided it was worth it.  Looking back, I'd go with the Roadhouse Pickups now, I think it is a better overall value, but I would not have known if I hadn't gone this route.
Patrick

 

[Strat Avenger]

I'll recommend what I always do. Bare Knuckle Pickups for boutique, three single coils. The Mother's Milk set is really nice. For non boutique, I still say three vintage style low output single coils. Your choice manufacturer. You can do pretty much anything with them.

That being said, take a look at Erik Zs Warmoth Strat. He has it up on his website, just google it. He did a pretty good setup with a ton of switching options. Really versatile. Too much for me, but it might be just the ticket for you.

Nothing wrong with Bare Knuckles, but the idea that Duncan and Dimarzio don't know how to make a pickup as good as they do, is simply ludicrous. Besides, what the hell kind of name is "Mothers Milk" for a pickup. That alone is a turn-off for Me. :evil4:

 

[Strat Avenger]

I have no use for EMGs.

...if you can't find what you like from Duncan or Dimarzio, something's wrong.

Ok, I'm gonna have to call bullshitee here. The double D's might cover a lot of ground but if your opinion was even close, other pick-up companies would
have been out of business a long time ago.

EMG's f**king rock. Period. They're not for everything or everyone, but that goes for Duncan or Dimarzio too.

As far as the battery thing goes, don't worry about it. Oh noes! I have to replace a battery once a year... and I've gone longer.

If you want to go with EMG in the end, I would highly recommend David Gilmour's DG20 pickguard  - the ability for classic strat tones + 'different' capabilities
sounds exactly like what the OP is looking for. YMMV.

The double D's might cover a lot of ground but if your opinion was even close, other pick-up companies would
have been out of business a long time ago.

How do you figure that? There is absolutely no truth to that statement, especially since there is enough business to go around. If Ford made the best cars (not saying they do), there would still be a GM and a Chrysler, as well as a Toyota, Nissan, and Honda.

EMG's f**king rock. Period.

Yeah, whatever...So do many passive pickups, so why bother with the active $#!t?  I had set of EMG 81s, so I know what I'm talking about. Do they suck? No. Are they all that? Hell no. Are they a better choice than passive? Hell no. Not only is there the battery issue, but they simply do not respond the same way that good old-fashioned passives do.

F#ck EMGs.  :evil4:

 

[Tipperman]

I'll recommend what I always do. Bare Knuckle Pickups for boutique, three single coils. The Mother's Milk set is really nice. For non boutique, I still say three vintage style low output single coils. Your choice manufacturer. You can do pretty much anything with them.

That being said, take a look at Erik Zs Warmoth Strat. He has it up on his website, just google it. He did a pretty good setup with a ton of switching options. Really versatile. Too much for me, but it might be just the ticket for you.

Nothing wrong with Bare Knuckles, but the idea that Duncan and Dimarzio don't know how to make a pickup as good as they do, is simply ludicrous. Besides, what the hell kind of name is "Mothers Milk" for a pickup. That alone is a turn-off for Me. :evil4:

Commence rambling!

I believe he named it after what he based it on, which I would guess is Frusciante's tone on Mother's Milk. Duncan and Dimarzio are great. The Green Manalishi (Surf green LP), as doug named it, had Dimarzios and SDs before those. Then I got rid of it. Great pickups, but for a single coil I prefer a 100% vintage style. No RW/RP (I've gone mad!) no hum cancelling none of that jazz. Then again, I can manage the buzz now so I guess I'm used to it. I still get buzz, sure...

Back on point, Dimarzio and Duncan have some great options. One of my favorite pickups (and I loath humbuckers. They don't do it for me) is a Pearly Gates. I'd recommend you get a strat and pop in some of Mother's Milk.... the pickups. End rambling!