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I have a nagging thought in my head regarding the strat I assembled. I love the way the thing plays, but I just can't come to terms with the tone. I know a lot of it is the single coils, and the rest is probably the alder. I'm a big fan of humbuckers and woods like mahogany and basswood most of the time, so the strat was definitely a departure from the norm for me.

I am currently considering selling off all but the neck (love the USACG birdseye piece and will be taking it to the grave with me) and getting a new body to slap it on. I would go dual humbucker hardtail, and either go with clear finished black limba (to kill the yearning I've had since the busted JS project some of you might recall) or with mahogany painted some form of white.

I just can't decide if doing that is a good idea or not, and keep going back and forth about it .

try some single coil size humbuckers first...alder kills as a tone-wood in a bolt on....with the right pups, alder can get thick as hell...Jake E lee... Gary Moore (84-88-ish)...John Norum.....

JB jr.. in the bridge...or a lil 59....l59 in the neck...I usually screw the middle pup down and dont use it so its out of my way for picking.....

I gotta agree with Jeff. If you haven't tried them yet, I love all the non-traditional Strat pups: The Classic Stack, Hot Stack, Lil 59, Lil PG (Custom Shop), and, as you can see by my sig, I love those Cool Rails.

They're just quot;offquot; of traditional Strat tone, but each with its own unique character. There must be something in there that you'ld like.

Artie

Edit: Oh yeah . . . and tapped Quarter Pounds also.

I've heard and played on the JB Jr. and the Lil' 59 before and haven't much been impressed. If I want the tone of those hummers I'd much rather just go with the real thing . I haven't tried the Rails series or the Stacks though.

I had a set of Fender Lace sensors that I was VERY impressed with! They were the Red, Silver, Blue set! The have single coil sounds in the notch positions but, in like position 1 and 5, it sounded alot like a GOOD bucker!


Originally Posted by FretFireI've heard and played on the JB Jr. and the Lil' 59 before and haven't much been impressed. If I want the tone of those hummers I'd much rather just go with the real thing .

True. Of the ones mentioned, those are the least unique. Stacks and Rails are worth checking out though.

I put a Little '59 back and my Strat and wonder why I ever took it out in the first place. Was playing through my big rig yesterday (with master vol at 5) and it sounded so sweet. Now I just need to beef up the mid and neck single coils. I have another alder Strat-shape with dual humbuckers, JB/Jazz combo. Sounds killer. Probably the best sounding axe I have although my Epi LP is becoming a close second now that it has a CC in the bridge. Speaking of, the CC in alder is so smooth and sweet, just another option.

If I go with hummers in this axe I'll use the Bill Lawrence L-500R and L-500C I have sitting idle, the only problem is that the current body is routed H-S-S .


Originally Posted by FretFireIf I go with hummers in this axe I'll use the Bill Lawrence L-500R and L-500C I have sitting idle, the only problem is that the current body is routed H-S-S .

Where's my router? !!!!!

That's what I'd do. Route the cavity out a little, slap 'em in a H-X-H pickguard and put it on. If you got 'em and that's what you want, do it. That little bit of wood removal isn't going to hurt the tone.

Next time, get the swimming pool route so you can swap back and forth to your heart's content.


Originally Posted by ErikHWhere's my router? !!!!!

That's what I'd do. Route the cavity out a little, slap 'em in a H-X-H pickguard and put it on. If you got 'em and that's what you want, do it. That little bit of wood removal isn't going to hurt the tone.

Next time, get the swimming pool route so you can swap back and forth to your heart's content.

Don't forget that Lawrences aren't quite full size buckers, so I'd either need a custom guard or their special mounting rings . The plot thickens...