software

I own two stratocaster type of guitars which have alder bodies,rosewood fingerboards and vintage style whammy bars.
I am looking for two different sounds on each one.
On both cases I need a full sized humbucker for the bridge position.
The point is that most humbuckers are usually made for les paul guitars which are totally different compared to a strat,so reading a description about a humbucker cant make me make up my mind about which is the one I should try.
here are the two sounds I try to achieve (on each of the guitars seperately)
I will be using various amplifiers (and effects) with them according to what sound I will be trying to achieve.

1) I want a sound that could be quot;cleaned upquot; on lower volumes and maybe have a bit of twang (although I know its hard)
I dont like to coil tap or split a humbucker so I prefer to do it by rolling the volume down a bit...On the right amplifier it can be possible to get a descent clean sound this way.
this guitar will be used for blues and rock...think creedence/fogerty ,zz top,gary moore maybe a bit of srv (with the right equipment and playing style of course)

2)a rammstein-ish sound(or any similar) for rythm playing and as far as lead is concerned just a high gain FAT sound (and generally smooth not too harsh and trebly)

I would apreciate any recommendations and opinions.Of course Id prefer to hear examples from people who have used humbuckers on alder strats.

Excuse my english

I'd say the 59 trembucker for 1) because if you turn down the volume it cleans up nicely and is good for rock and blues. I would try to get the trembucker model once you choose your pickup because strat bridges are wider, so going with these models the pole pieces on the pickup match up on the e strings.

Welcome to the forum. (And your English is perfect.)

I like the Custom 5 for a quot;bit-o-twangquot;. Thats why I moved it to my Tele.
As soon as I heard it, I thought . . . country.

For the first one, I would look into PAF voiced humbuckers with low to medium output. There are a lot of options there, but I would first look at the 59. You won't nail all of those tones you're looking for based on the body wood you're working with, but you should be able to get close.

I can't help you with the second tone. The pickups suggestions I'd like to make are the Distortion or the Invader, but I have no experience with either pickup.

In both cases, you'll want to find a trem spaced version for the bridge pickups no matter what pups you go with.

jazz for one, dimebucker for the other?

I think the Pearly Gates is voiced better for a Strat than the 59 is. I would go with that for your quot;cleanquot; one. It works great for my Strat: I can get everything from George Harrison to Eddie Van Halen on that pickup.

For the high gain one, I don't know personally, but I'm sure someone else does.

In general, Strats have a bit more treble and a lot less bass response than a Les Paul, so choose your pickups accordingly.

Best of luck!


Originally Posted by greendy123I'd say the 59 trembucker for 1) because if you turn down the volume it cleans up nicely and is good for rock and blues. I would try to get the trembucker model once you choose your pickup because strat bridges are wider, so going with these models the pole pieces on the pickup match up on the e strings.

Me too. I like the 59 Trembucker best of all, especially if I'm using vintage output Strat single coils for the neck and middle. Any hotter than the 59 and the bridge humbucker is just to loud to balance with the lower output of Strat single coils. When I asked Seymour this question, he advised going even lower in output than the 59B or 59 TB and recommended the JAZZ NECK humbucker used as a bridge pickup. Lew

Lew