The chase of that godd**** elusive Strat bridge pickup!

[tc]

You see...I'm thinking of finally graduating from HSS to SSS...but I still want something slightly humbucker-ish in the bridge.

The neck has never been a problem IMO...neither the middle, they always sound great on most Strats I've played...but the bridge man...it's hard to find the right one!!

I've been looking at the DiMarzio HS-3. The HS-3 sounds rather smooth and maybe just a tad too dark so it might fit. That said I just want something that isn't 100% vintage A5 Strat...not quite as middy as the A2's I've tried either (Texas Special...too throaty....). I'm looking for something noiseless that has some treble rolled off. Kinda smooth, clear and definitely NOT too middy. Noiseless I think would be very helpful...almost necessary, since I still want some mean badass tones out of my guitar...I don't really play Drop-C balls out crank it up to 10 metal anymore...but I still wanna be able to rock out!

BTW, I want something that looks like a classic single, no rails or stuff like that, and we're talking strict bridge pup...with the neck/mid I don't really care about the noise.

Anything slightly off what I asked would be considered...just tell me your success stories with single coils in the bridge!

[Folo]

The HS3 would really depend upon what other pickups you would be using, for it to balance. The bridge should probably be a bit hotter than the neck and middle. If you are thinking about a noiseless single, then I would be tempted to try one of the new higher output classic stacks. Although I can't comment on it from my own experience, I do love the CS+.

Edit: Judging by the tone chart, the hot stack plus seems to be just what you're looking for, if you can live with the mids. I am jonesing to try one myself.

[Empty Pockets]

The Phat Cat is the Strat bridge pickup i always dreamed about.

[tc]

^Single sized, thank you.

How rude of me man! It'd go with a pair of Surfers.

[Benjy_26]

Custom Surfer for bridge then. Add a tap for the notch tones. Hum cancelling is not provided, but a good shielding job and judicious use of a noise gate would also work. If hum bucking is absolutely necessary, I'd use a Dimarzio Fast Track 1. It mixes very well with classic singles and can get heavier than heck when attached to it's own tone control.

[uOpt]

For a good Strat bridge sound, stop messing with the pickup and start messing with trouble boosters.

[jeremy]

always good to boost trouble when using strat bridge pups

the hot stack + might be too much for you but ive never heard it. there will be a pup between the hot stack and classic stack at some point and my guess is that is the one that would suit your needs best

[the guy who invented fire]

I use an SSL-5 and it just kills!

[Laughing Kookaburra]

Fralin SP 43 for a P 90 sound. Looks fairly traditional, too.

[scottish]

I use an SSL-5 and it just kills!

+ infinity

[tc]

I use an SSL-5 and it just kills!

Just how hot is it? I checked the chart and it measures out at 12k!

For my ear, the stacks don't have quite the true sound. I suggest a slightly overwound coil on A3 magnets. And a baseplate.

Check the OP, I'm not really going for straight up vintage.

[the guy who invented fire]

Just how hot is it? I checked the chart and it measures out at 12k!

Forget the numbers...they mean little to nothing in terms of tone...

The SSL-5 is a killer pickup. Blends nicely with the middle pickup for the 4 position tones, sounds great alone...still sounds like a Strat but thicker and more powerful...it's mean enough to allow you to play rock rhythm on the bridge of a Strat but still strat enough where you don;t really loose anything a stock strat offers...

[tc]

Oh something else I forgot to add, I don't want a hot pickup. I got to play a YJM strat and noticed the pups were real similar, almost 100% as far as output went. A later visit to the DMZ page confirmed it. I loved how balanced it was...no wonder Yngwie switches pups on the fly so much and it sounds so similar, yet different!

[frankfalbo]

Custom Stack Plus, to be released within the next couple weeks.

I would have said the Hot Stack Plus pulled away from the strings for balance, but if you've got Antiquities in there it is probably a little too hot. The Custom Stack Plus should be just the ticket. I'm out of town for a couple more weeks, so I'm not up on the day-to-day but I believe a dealer can place an order for one very soon, if not now.

[tc]

So what's the skinny on that bad boy Frank?

[ugameus]

How about the Wilde L-298. Supposed to go into P-90 territory.

http://wildepickups.com/Wilde_Bill_s_NF_Singles.html

[Rowan]

Not to Hi-jack but.........



Are there single sized pickups in the duncan line that sound like p90s?

[uOpt]

Not to Hi-jack but.........



Are there single sized pickups in the duncan line that sound like p90s?

Strabro90, kind of.

[jimijames]

Not to Hi-jack but.........



Are there single sized pickups in the duncan line that sound like p90s?

I've heard that the quarter pounder gets into P-90 territory, from the custom shop, the strabro 90 is really quite good, and at full output it really does sound like a p-90. It may not be spot on, but its amazing in its own right, really versatile with great attack, and this really gritty character that's not overbearing. Very pissed-off sounding.

[MattPete]

Twangbanger?