Replacement Pickups Advice

ChrisParryPhoto

Hi Guys, Here's my first love, a 1983 Squire Japan Stratocaster, currently back home in England. We'll be reunited next April when I go for a visit. I purchased her 2nd hand when I was 14, the previous owner put in Select EMG pickups in the middle and bridge positions. The front pickup looks original, though I haven't looked under the pickguard in years. I want to replace the middle and bridge with as close to original pickups as I can. I know it's modelled on a 57 Best choices...? My other strats are Eric Clapton models, so I love the 25db boost, but don't want to add this in the Squire. Looking at Bare Knuckle Slowhand Models.

V8

I saw a original set of MIJ Strat pups a few weeks back - was heavily tempted to drop them into my strat (it's MIJ, but I'm suspecting the pups are not). But I kinda dig the low-fi grit I get out of it compared to a stock MIJ.

Like the idea of bareknuckles - especially considering you can collect (no shipping/vat), so if you don't like them, you should get your $ if you wanna sell locally. Lotta love for bareknuckle pups and I ain't seen a single coil set for sale locally.

There was a lot of love for Kinmans (the classic blues set in particular). Though it might have been a phase a few years ago when peeps were looking for authentic sounding noiseless start pups. I had a set of wookstock+, sounded killer with gain, but the cleans were a bit sterile (pretty much like everyone said). Apparently, the blues sets were what I should have tried.

Good luck!

studmissile

WOW How beautiful is that? That original pup could/would of been a Vintage American Reissue. So maybe an SD antiquity or 57/62s or custom shop fat 50s might be in order?

guidothepimmp

Nice...

I used kinmans in a strat i had once... they were cool, but they lacked a little something. Cant say what to be honest. Maybe it was the guitar..

I really really like my bareknuckle irish tour single coil, great sounding pup.

fender fat 50s are also good sounding

Jozi

http://axetec.co.uk/guitar_parts_uk_113.htm

Seeing as you're in the UK, check the above out. Affordability and quality.

Ciao

Jozi

ChrisParryPhoto

Thanks Jozi,

I'll have a look when I head to the UK next April.

Chris