Current state of strat noiseless pickups

[CharAznable]

So I have a stock Am Std Strat that plays like butter and sounds great acoustically, but I've never really bonded with the stock pickups. Kind of bright and thin and f*cking noisy to the point that I'm not even moved to plug it in.

So I'm looking to maybe get a replacement pickguard with two noiseless singles and a bridge humbucker, which would presumably give me versatility closer to my PRSi.

What are the current best options that I should be considering?

 

[supersoldier71]

Duncan Classic Stack Pus.

 

[stratadp]

My #1 is two Hot Noiseless and a Dimarzio Super Distortion.

 

[Lespaulsignature 74]

I recently purchased a Fender Elite Strat SSH and it has the newest version of their noiseless pickups (Generation 4) and a Shawbucker Humbucker in the bridge. The N4's are "fat" sounding pickups, the output of the middle and neck pickups are 10.3K . They really sing when hit with OD ...However I find the Shawbucker to be too bright, I would prefer a more rounded hum !

 

[sahhas]

there was this thread recently:
https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/question-about-noiseless-strat-pickups.2116871/

i have a set of Bill Lawrence Wilde pickups in my #1 guitar, it's not really a strat, but i like them.....i also have a Red Lace Sensor pickup in it that i like too...

 

[Tomo El Gato]

I use DiMarzios, no complaints.

 

[CharAznable]

I recently purchased a Fender Elite Strat SSH and it has the newest version of their noiseless pickups (Generation 4) and a Shawbucker Humbucker in the bridge. The N4's are "fat" sounding pickups, the output of the middle and neck pickups are 10.3K . They really sing when hit with OD ...However I find the Shawbucker to be too bright, I would prefer a more rounded hum !

How's the clean tone in the neck and middle?

 

[rawkguitarist]

Dimarzio Area's are amazing - IMO. Get a Dimarzio PAF of your choice (maybe 36th Anniversary?) and a 67 in the middle and 58 in the neck. I'm sure a 67 in the neck would be cool too.

I've loved every Area pickup I've used.

 

[sub rosa]

So I have a stock Am Std Strat that plays like butter and sounds great acoustically, but I've never really bonded with the stock pickups. Kind of bright and thin and f*cking noisy to the point that I'm not even moved to plug it in.

Which generation American Standard? Do you know what pickups are in it currently?

 

[thecornman]

As far as I am concerned Dimarzio nailed the noiseless thing years ago with their Area and Rail pickups! I have various different models throughout my guitars and love them all.

 

[CharAznable]

Which generation American Standard? Do you know what pickups are in it currently?

2010, should be Alnico V pickups

 

[sub rosa]

2010, should be Alnico V pickups

Same as mine then.

I whipped mine out for noiseless a couple of years ago, but not because of a tone thing.

Anyway, I went with Kinman Impersonator 56s, aka the “Knopfler” set, they sound really good in all positions.

A part of me wants to go back to non-noiseless though.

 

[doublescale1]

Get the SSL1's and an Ilitch Backplate Silent Single Coil system - that's the exact recipe that I put in an EC Strat - it sounded amazing, the SSL1's are classic mid-to-late 50's single coils and the Backplate SSC lets them carry on in full fidelity without the hum. Best solution - best single coil tone. I have that SSC factory installed on a Suhr S-Classic, and a Cavity Single Coil System in the back of a 50's Tribute Les Paul w/stock Gibson P90's - they really work. Finally sold the EC strat it was a very heavy production model - the Suhr replaced it with a Demeter Pat Control pedal on my board.

 

[Jarick]

I've tried practically everything and none of them stuck for long. Stacked coils sound dark and muffled especially in 2/4, blades can sound too hot or too thin.

If I were buying today, I'd look at the Fralin split blades and be ready to give up some of the traditional tone.

Otherwise as mentioned above, a set of SSL-1's with an Illitch system would be a good route to take.

 

[The Opera Panther]

I just installed the Ilitch SSC system in my Strat. It’s great. I always liked the pickups in my Strat, but had real hum issues in my room. The SSC took away about 80% of the noise. The 1/3/5 positions are as quiet as the 2/4. I notice no difference in the tone of the guitar- I’ve had those pickups for a decade, and would notice a change.

 

[gtrnstuff]

I've tried a bunch of them since the 80's and the Ilitch backplate is what I currently use with my favorite single coils.

 

[RicardoDiazHimself]

I would only use noiseless if I wanted that specific tone. Like the cruisers for an Andy timmons tone.
For traditional sc tone I'd get a SSC system Like the backplate one.

 

[EC Strat]

SD classic stacks 4 plus - nails a single coil tone

 

[smallbutmighty]

How's the clean tone in the neck and middle?

Be aware that the Fender Generation IV noiseless pickups are extremely deep...too deep to fit in many "standard-routed" bodies.

We've had several customers now who have encountered this problem; G-IV pickups too deep to fit in Warmoth bodies.

 

[_pete_]

Fishman Fluence.
For some reason everyone here is afraid of them but they rock.
I've been through nearly all the noiseless pups and these are the ones that will stay.