Fralin Steel Pole 42 or 43. Any regrets?

[CS'56]

My main guitar for the last 5 years has been my Closet Classic '56 Strat. I moved the middle pickup's tone pot to the bridge and added a Fralin bass plate. This made a big difference in my bridge pup. Before doing these mods, the bridge pup wasn't even usable. I waited 4.5 years before doing the bass plate because I was afraid of messing with the bridge/mid quack. To my surprise, I actually liked the quack even more with the bass plated added.
Now I think I'm ready to make a bigger step and replace bridge pup. I thought about adding a Fralin Vintage Hot or Blues special bridge pup, but now I'm thinking maybe I should go all the way and try a SP42 or SP43. I've tried to do some research on these and it seems like everyone goes with the SP43 over the SP42. The 42 is rated at 7K and the 43 rated at 10K but Fralin's site say the 43 is only 5% more output. I will still keep the stock Time Machine neck and bridge pups in the guitar.

1.Has anyone added a steel pole to the bridge of a vintage style strat and converted back to a regular pup?

2.Has anyone had any problems with the steel pole being to tall to properly adjust the picup height? I read on another forum, a guy who had a '62 reissue with a steel pole in the bridge. He said the pickup routing was not deep enough to adjust the pickup properly.

3. Will my stock pup cover fit the steel pole or does it take a special size?

 

[Mikey Likes It]

I put a whole set of SP's on this strat...

I don't know how close the Padouk neck sounds to a maple neck, but I absolutely love this set. Definitely not a vintage strat sound, but just dripping with soul and attitude (great with all of my OD pedals). I have 42's in the neck and middle slots and a 43 in the bridge slot. No height issues, but I did have to ream out the holes in the pickup covers to make room for the pole pieces. Just used a round needle file.

 

[jamison162]

SP43 in the bridge of my Grosh. Love the output, mids and highs. My only would be complaint it that I could use more bass...but aren't all strat bridge pickups lacking in that aspect.

 

[Mike9]

SP43 is a wonderful pickup

 

[CS'56]

SP43 in the bridge of my Grosh. Love the output, mids and highs. My only would be complaint it that I could use more bass...but aren't all strat bridge pickups lacking in that aspect.

Do you have that paired with Vintage Hots or Blues Specials?

 

[Eugene]

I have a SP43 coupled with Vintage Hots in my Grosh....a terrific combination IMHO. I think the whole combination is enhanced with Don's blend control (neck/rear pickup). Its a great configuration...

Eugene

 

[jamison162]

Do you have that paired with Vintage Hots or Blues Specials?

Spec'd with underwound BS/BS/SP43. I don't really like the BS's, don't know if it's the strong A5 mags, number of turns or the SPN wire itself. I've exchanged them for VH's...I just got a Suhr FL Standard set in yesterday also. But I really like the SP43.

 

[Eugene]

Spec'd with underwound BS/BS/SP43. I don't really like the BS's, don't know if it's the strong A5 mags, number of turns or the SPN wire itself. I've exchanged them for VH's...I just got a Suhr FL Standard set in yesterday also. But I really like the SP43.

+1 on the VH's with the SP43. I much prefer that combo over the BS's...YMMV

Eugene