Strat pickup selection help

[Thurisarz]

Hi everybody!

I'm planing my "telestrat" at the moment and now i'm deciding what pickups to use. The strat sound i'm looking for is a non glassy, ultra quacky sound. I'm looking more for a "nicer", cleaner and jangly sound. I'm torn between using stacks or singles since i'm only having my guitar playing (i'm a bassplayer) at bedroom level or maybe in the future when i'm more confident in my playing join a coffeehouse gigging group.

I'm using a 3-way switch, i absolutly can't find in my playing any use of the 2nd and 4th position. I'll maybe add a mini switch to get the neck and bridge together.

The bridge pickup is the pickup that sounds weakest to me when i play strats. I want a more stronger sound which is beefy and can still give me that pop jangle. I have been think about a SSL-5, any other recommendations?

For the middle position i'm torn since this is the pickup that get's the least playing. I want to make this position fun to play. I want to think it's a joy to just switch and play the middle pickup. How can i get a useful sound which is fun to play? I have a strat sized lipstick pickup at home that i'm trying out first but it would be nice to hear your recommendations.

The neck pickup is the hardest one to choose since it has so many areas to cover. I want it to be jazz friendly, i know i'm aint getting that Wes tone but i want it to sound convincing in a jazz combo. I also need it to be a great thick blues/rock pickup that can deliver creamy solos and a sound people think sound super cool!

[Thurisarz]

bump

[Benjy_26]

I'd think a Hot Stack in the neck and bridge with th old Classic Stack in the mid would be cool.

[Laughing Kookaburra]

How about a DMZ Fast Track 1 in the neck? Warm, but not muddy. I've heard the SD Cool Rails described in a similar fashion, but someone that has used the CR in the neck may be better situated to confirm or deny that.

I use a Fralin Vintage Hot in the middle on my Strat. I would say it is the most useful mid pup I've had, although I have not fooled around much w/mid pups. You also may want to consider a Carvin AP11 in the mid. A bit more output than a standard Strat pup, but still clear.

My fave Strat SC bridge pups are the Fralin SP 43 (P90ish), and the Duncan Quarter Pounder. Both are very punchy, the Fralin cleans up to a jangly sound fairly well (but not pristine). It was yrs ago when I used a SD QP, and I didn't play clean then, so someone else may want to comment on the clean sound of a QP. You can get a tapped model, which will definitely clean it up.



I have not used the SSL-5.