strat pickup recommendations

I use Hamel Strap pups and they're the best I've ever heard. You can hear them here

The slide solo (I use my Strat as a dedicated slide guitar) has Hamels. The rhythm guitar is a Tele with Hamels.

 

I bought a used set of Lollars from a fella that replaced them with Hamels. While he had nothing put praise for both sets, the Hamels were the ones that did it for him.

After using 6-7 pickup sets from vaious makers over the last 20 years...my search stopped the moment the Lollars went in.

I'd love to try the Hamels, but the Lollars sound so damn good, they ain't coming out of this guitar!

 

Suhr V60's
your search will be over.
:AOK

Richard

 

I'm digging my Van Zandt vintage plus/ rock combo but I haven't tried the previously mentioned pups either. Not going to mess with a good thing.

 

Can nobody tell us WHY they so like XXX pickup so much instead of YYY which sounds almost the same in a clip???

 

I've really grown to love my Vintage Vibe set. To my ear, they maintain a great balance from the low end *through* the mids to the highs. It's sort of the opposite of the new John Mayer "Big Dipper" set in that there's not really any drop off or drop out through the middle. What I get are five great, slightly "hifi" tones with a comfortable top end. I'll typically find two positions on any given Strat - one of the in-betweens and whichever single pickup is really *right* - that I dig, but these have set the bar for me from here on out.

Hope that helps.

Michael

 

Although i agree with you, this site has a very wide collection of samples which IMO help to spot a few differences among models.

I repeat that the best way is to test them "in person", but clips might help narrow one's quest.


btw, WCR SRs are the best Strat pickups i ever played-owned...

 

After trying dozens of pickups in my Strats over the years, I've come to the conclusion that, due to the interaction of the pickups and the wood in the tone creating process, you have to try pickups out on YOUR guitar until you find the right one's. I've had pickups sound bad in one Strat but sound excellent in another.

Clips can narrow the field a bit but, in the end, there's only one piece of wood in the world exactly like the one(s) in your guitar. And, don't forget to experiment with pickup height....it can make a big difference. Use your ear and not a ruler. Strings can also make a big difference.

 

as resident cheapskate I can whole heartedly endorse the GFS "texas" alnicos, I like em as well as anything I've ever used, the price is too good to be true but it is!

 

I have one strat with the SCN, another with the Hol Gold Lace Sensor, and the last one with the CS Fat 50's

The CS Fat 50's are my preferred. Why?

Around 6.5k, slightly louder than standard PU's.
Neck and middle PU are very balanced and clear. Glassy highs, smooth mids. Bridge PU could be better, because is a little thin. I think the CS54 are better is this position.
Classic sound and sings with OD

 

i have yet to see anybody else on this forum talk about using Seymour Duncan's Antiquity line of pups. I have the Antiquity II's which are 60's style pups wound on Alnico 5 mags and they totally smoke. I like the Fralins too, but the Antiquity II's have a little bit more raw tone to them, slightly more agressive, but not at all overwound and dark sounding like some pups. I highly recommend them and i had to choose between the Fralins and Antiquity II's, for playing blues and rock, i would go with the aniquity II's.

 

Very well said.....!!!
couldnt agree more.....

Shane...:AOK

 

Lollars .... I have never been so impressed with a pickup. They are just wonderful sounding. You really can't go wrong with them IMO.

I've been really digging the Van Zandt Blues & Rock pickups lately too.

 

Since we're all just posting our favorites, here's mine:

Fralin Vintage Hots w/SP43 in the bridge

Fralin Blues Specials

Fralins have a gorgeous chimey and throaty tone that is quintessential Strat-O-Caster.

 

Kinman

 

Bill Lawrence. VERY quiet and great tone. Read the reviews on Harmony Central . .

. . . and call and talk to Becky Lawrence . .