Fender Am HSS Humbucker Replacement Suggestions

[DennyBob]

Hello All,

I have a new Fender American Standard HSS, Alder body, solid maple neck.

The stock Diamondback doesn't do it for me, so I want to replace it.

I like the sounds of the JB and the Custom based on YouTube & the SD sound clips, but would like some advice for my particular guitar.

I have a Mesa Express 5:50 2x12 (all tube class A & A/B) and use almost no effects.

I like Zeppelin, Clapton, Gilmour, etc. I'm specifically trying to get close to a Slash/Guns-n-Roses Appetite for Destruction Les Paul sound with my HB. (Love the LP sound, not the guitar)

Thanks,

Dennybob

[Diocletian]

I have no idea what an A2Pro will sound like in a strat, but that's the pickup for Slash. I love it for Slash type tones in my Epi Les Paul, but like I say, I've never tried it in a strat and I don't remember anyone ever posting about it before on here.

I personally like the DiMarzio Super Distortion, JB and Custom Custom in alder strat type guitars.

Judging a pickup from Youtube clips ain't gonna work BTW. You really need to try them in your guitar yourself.

[Kam]

A '59 could be your thing. I've heard that the AIIpro can be a bit thin and trebly in the bridge of a Strat.

You really can't go wrong with the Custom series but they might be a little too hot for your style.

I've heard that the PATB-3 can sound quite like a Les Paul even in a Strat but again it could be a bit hot for you.

[SFW]

I currently have a JB in my HSS Strat and love it, but I can understand how that sound is not for everone. I can go from classic rock to 80s metal to modern rock with ease. I think it's a great pickup in an alder strat. I'd also recomend the Pearly Gates or the Pearly Gates Plus.

[Jessie Sammler]

The Pearly Gates Plus is unbelievable in the bridge of a good Strat. They were really on to something with that pairing.

[oilpit]

The JB is my favorite bridge pickup for a Strat, for those who say it will be too hot, if you roll the volume back on the JB you'll get classic rock tone for days.

You could go with SSL-1's or 5's depending on what kind of sound your going for with the singles, however if your trying to cop a LP tone, the SSL-5 can do a very convincing humbuckerish, creamy lead sound.

[UberMetalDood]

What is wrong with the stock pickup? I heard the fender Diamondback is a Pearly Gates pickup. Similar output with a2 magnet. If anyone knows this for sure please comment.

[DennyBob]

The stock pickup is too muddy and midrangey. I like a "cleaner" OD sound (if that makes any sense). I like the notes well defined and more open.

I know it's not an amp issue, because my PRS, Charvel and my other Fender HSS strat from 1985 sound amazing.

Thanks.

[Benjy_26]

I remember reading somewhere that the Diamondback was made to ape the JB. For the styles you listed, I'd use a PATB-3. It makes my all maple Carvin sound damned close to a LP. As far as output, it's on par with the Demon and S Deco.

[SFW]

One thing that I forgot to mention; in my American Deluxe HSS Strat there was both a cap and a resistor in parallel across the lugs of the volume pot. Before you worry about pickups, try removing the resistor- if your guitar has one. On a whim I removed the resistor on mine, and the Fender Diamondback pickup came to life. It now sounds very much like a JB. In fact, it sounds so much like a JB that I no longer plan on sending my pickup to the Duncan custom shop to be rewound into a JB. I swapped the JB and the Diamondback back and forth in the guitar and found them to sound nearly identical.

At any rate, I just thought it was worth mentioning. The resistor is there to taper some of the highs out of cap, so that when you roll the volume, you don’t loose so much bottom end. (I know that’s probably not the best explanation of that, but you should get the idea.) By removing the resistor you open the highs back up on all of the pickups that was being rolled off by the resistor.

[brunogio]

Is that the Greasebucket thingy they mention in all their literature?

[SFW]

I'm not sure. Overall, it darkens the tone of the whole guitar. Once I removed it, the high end shimmer came back to the guitar and it seemed to let the guitar breathe.