Strat bridge humbucker?

VellaJ

So after a looooong spell of literally just having time to pump out some power chords now and again, I'm trying to get back in touch with my curious side of guitar. One of the things I'm looking into it hotting up my Strat a bit.

Some of you may (but probably don't) remember that I modded my Epiphone HSS Strat to SSS configuration with Fender Custon Shop '69s. They sound awesome in the neck and middle positions, but it doesn't grab me in the bridge position, especially driven.

So I'm wanting to put in a decently hot 'bucker in the bridge so I can try using this axe for my band's music (grungy, punky rock kinda stuff). I've seen a couple of Seymour Duncans (Invader) and Dimarzio (Breed, Neck position) in the classifieds. Now while the Invader appeals more to me some how, it is double the price of the Dimarzio Breed (R1k vs R500) which is a lot of cash...

What would you guys suggest?

Gearhead

VellaJ wrote: Fender Custon Shop '69 {...} doesn't grab me in the bridge position, especially driven.

Find out why it doesn't work well. Is it close enough to the strings to balance with the other pups?

Psean

Dude, I wouldn't go as hot as an Invader for what you guys do. Your Valveking has more than enough gain to my ears so I don't see why you'd want to hit the front with something as hot as an Invader. I also assume it wouldn't match too well with the existing middle and neck. The Breed looks more dynamic (on paper; I've never played one). I'd look at slightly hotter than vintage 'buckers just to fatten up the bridge position.

AlanRatcliffe

CS69s are like that - I put a steel plate under my bridge 69 to boost power and mids a bit, but it still wasn't enough. That pickup is the very definition of "icepick".

Careful not to go too far though - If you put a high output full size 'bucker in the bridge of a Strat it completely overpowers the single-coils. Even a vintage bucker will have more than double the output of the sc pups. So I wouldn't use either pickup you have mentioned. I'd probably look out for a DiMarzio Chopper or ProTrack - bonus being it's still single-coil size.

[EDIT: too slow...]

Psean

James, what about something like a Duncan Quarter Pounder? Fatter, hotter single coil.
=

EDIT: 'Cause you already have two humbucker guitars

Tokai-SA

Custom Shop 69s are all 5.8k, so the bridge pickup sounds very weak.

The best stacked single coil bridge pickup (Noiseless) I ever had was a Di Marzio Virtual Vintage "Solo".
See if you can find one on eBay.

VellaJ

Gearhead wrote: Find out why it doesn't work well. Is it close enough to the strings to balance with the other pups?

I did try it at different heights, as the other guys have said it just seems to sound too weak and nasal...

Psean wrote: Dude, I wouldn't go as hot as an Invader for what you guys do. Your Valveking has more than enough gain to my ears so I don't see why you'd want to hit the front with something as hot as an Invader. The Breed looks more dynamic (on paper; I've never played one). I'd look at slightly hotter than vintage 'buckers just to fatten up the bridge position.

All true, as you say the Breed does look more dynamic. I'd ideally like to be able to play "Hey Joe" and then launch into "Smells like Teen Spirit" without changing guitars, just for something different ?

Psean wrote: James, what about something like a Duncan Quarter Pounder? Fatter, hotter single coil.
EDIT: 'Cause you already have two humbucker guitars

3 actually, if you count the Jazz guitar ? As mentioned above, I'm looking for something a little heavier than another single-coil, though a single-coil size would be good.

From what Alan and Tokai SA have suggested I like the sounds of the Chopper and the Virtual Vintage Solo. Dimarzio reckon the Breed Neck in the Bridge position gives a smooth, warmer sound than their PAF pups, but it is a humbucker size...

I'll have to wait a while though, at the moment can't find any of these under R1k in SA. Not too keen on eBay after their recent security breach...

Psean

VellaJ wrote: All true, as you say the Breed does look more dynamic. I'd ideally like to be able to play "Hey Joe" and then launch into "Smells like Teen Spirit" without changing guitars, just for something different ?

Then, from my limited experience, I'd say don't get something very hot. You've heard the Sabbath-y riffs that I sometimes play, and that's with single coils (admittedly with ceramic magnets, but still not as hot as a humbucker) , straight into the amp, and there's still room to push up the pre-amp gain if more dirt was necessary. That time I played your Lester, it pushed my amp quite a bit more. Using your pickup selector and volume controls I could switch between a cleaner sound for the intro and plenty dirt for the rest. So I'd be inclined to just continue using the Tokai or look at a bridge pickup that gives you something in that ballpark in terms of output, but that has a different voice.

VellaJ wrote:
Psean wrote: James, what about something like a Duncan Quarter Pounder? Fatter, hotter single coil.
EDIT: 'Cause you already have two humbucker guitars
3 actually, if you count the Jazz guitar ? As mentioned above, I'm looking for something a little heavier than another single-coil, though a single-coil size would be good.

From what Alan and Tokai SA have suggested I like the sounds of the Chopper and the Virtual Vintage Solo. Dimarzio reckon the Breed Neck in the Bridge position gives a smooth, warmer sound than their PAF pups, but it is a humbucker size...

I'll have to wait a while though, at the moment can't find any of these under R1k in SA. Not too keen on eBay after their recent security breach...

There are a lot of single coil sized humbuckers from Duncan as well. At one point, before I realised I actually really like single coils, I was looking at the Little '59 (but that's meant to be PAF voiced) and the Little Screamin Demon. There are others too.
http://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/artist-interview/the-story-of-george-lynchs-screamin-demon-humbucker/

Psean

Maybe chat to this guy:

Attila Barath wrote: Hey Manny

Please add to the list

I HAVE NO AFFILIATIONS WITH THESE CHAPS !!!

Rude Rock'N Roll Pickups Little falls Jhb west

Neil Pincus 072 301 2143

ruderocknrollpups@gmail.com

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Sebber

I agree with Psean, I'd look at a hotter single-coil unit for the bridge position, but I'm a single-coil fanatic. Perhaps look at a pick-up like the Duncan SSL-5, I've got one of them in my #1 Strat (and wired to my middle pick-up's no-load tone control that I've fitted to all my Strats except the Clapton one with the MDX/TBX tone controls) and allied with a pair of Duncan Alnico Pro II (APS-2) units in middle and neck positions it really works nicely. So much so that I've been planning to retro-fit the same in my other Strats (except the Clapton one).

Vintage-Vibe

If its grunge and u don't want to route wood (ie SC size HB) then Seymour Hot Rails ala Cobain's Jap strats OR full size JB (JB Jnr might be close haven't personally used one) The SD Little '59 is great for HB tone minus overpowering the CS69s for vintage blues/rock (a Hot Rails will drown out the CS69s) for another step up over the Little 59 a DiMarzio Chopper (+1 Alan) is great ... but it is "darker" and won't blend into the other 2 pickups like say a Fast Track 1 or 2 ...

It depends if u want a Gibbo HB tone stuck on to a Strat (ala Nirvana/early Green Day etc) OR if u want the bridge pickup to still sound Stratty but hotter ... Invader on a Strat isn't my cup of tea (think Blink 182) but up to u! Lower output stacks like the SSL5/STKS6 wont give you enough chunk for 90's IMHO (have tried both) ... it's not just how much output you want but how much more bass/lower mids you want boosted ... good luck!

PS ... since most Seymours are now going to retail for 15/1600 try offering the seller 750 for the Invader IF u like the tone/its in good condition ... NB Blink for eg couldn't actually record with Invaders because they clipped too easily on the studio desks ... they tended to record with vintage/traditional Strats & Les Pauls ... so what u hear on record VS live with a band isn't always the same source !