software

Alright so I have an American Series Fender Stratocaster (2003).

Rosewood fretboard, 3-tone sunburst body, and I want to take the stock pickups out and finally put some Seymours in it.

Neck position:

I'd like to put something warm in it, nothing bright, I want warm tones in my neck for cleans. But sounds good distorted too.

Middle position:

As for the mid I'd like something a tad bit brighter for cleans as well partly.

Bridge position:

I want metal, I want rock, I want susatin, soaring harmonics.

Then I want to use my 5-way pickup selecter to create the ultimate versatility between them all. With an S/S/S and seymour duncans, it should be an ultimate stratocaster.

And since you all have good experience in the pickups, I'm wanting some suggestions, advice.

Help me out, I got to have this strat dominating my RR. I'm nearly tired of the RR3 and the distortion trem bucker recently. So I'm probably going to be looking for a different tone.

So hook me up with some tips on the strat before I go pestering Martinsixstring customs.

Hot Rails/Vintage Rails/Cool Rails

JB Jr./Duckbucker/lil 59

(replace the VR/DB with a CR/lil59 if you want more power in the middle, but with these, you should be able to select just the middle pickup for a brighter tone, then go to the neck for a warmer tone. I might actually recommend the Hot Rails for the bridge no matter what, I really like it in a Strat for heavier stuff.)

Thanks for the tips, but I need some more peoples input. What has everybody else put into their strats to meet some of the tones I have in mind in my previous post?

I do a SSL-3 Hot bridge. Duckbucker middle. DMZ fast track mid.. Rather you go cool rails.


Originally Posted by jonyI do a SSL-3 Hot bridge. Duckbucker middle. DMZ fast track mid.. Rather you go cool rails.

I'm with jony on this. I don't care much for the Hot Rails. The Cool Rails is a great pickup IMHO. But I'm a vintage sort of guy. The pickup you described for the bridge sounds just like the Hot Rails to me though.

Warm neck: APS-1

Bright mid: SSL-1

Bridge: JB Jr.

Cool Rails, Vintage Rails, amp; Hot Rails at the bridge. Add a pair of push/pulls to switch the CR amp; HR to parallel and you'll have a bunch of good, useful tones.


Originally Posted by Benjy_26Cool Rails, Vintage Rails, amp; Hot Rails at the bridge. Add a pair of push/pulls to switch the CR amp; HR to parallel and you'll have a bunch of good, useful tones.

I was thinking of that too. The JB jr. did come to mind. I was thinking of just putting a vintage rails in the neck too. Do those sound pretty warm with cleans too?

I'd like to get all these pups in black too, with the white pickguard and the sunburst body it should look pretty sweet.

I think Hot Rails/Vintage Rails/Cool Rails is a good idea.

Hot Rails Bridge - This would be really HOT. but you would get the soaring harmonics with it. It wouldn't clean up very well, but it would still work. If you find it too muddy, dropping a Cool Rails in the bridge as well as the neck would work really well IMO.

The only problem with this setup is that with all rails in the pickup slots, it loses it's traditional stock Strat look, but if that doesn't bother you, then fair enough.

I'm not too worried about the traditional strat look. But I mean does the cool rail have good harmonics in the bridge? I think it gives it a radical traditional look honestly.

I like the design of the HR and CR. I just want some wicked tone out of it, I mean as expensive of an axe as it is. I gotta get some wicked sounds out of it then these stock pickups.

I have 2 Strats so here we go:-
Rock Guitar - GTR1
I have SSL-3 (Bridge) - man this is HOT!!! But NOT hum cancelled!!!!
I have STK-1 (Middle) - this is nice and hum-free - however the optics are wrong because of the stupid rail...
I have a Screamin Demon - (Neck) - this is HOT and hum-free - however the optics are wrong because of the colour and rails...
Rock Guitar - GTR2
I have SSL-3 (Bridge) - man this is HOT!!! But NOT hum cancelled!!!!
I have Di-Marzio SH3 (Middle and Neck).