What Pups for HSS or HH Mahogany Strat?

[Gooch]

I purchased the limited edition GC HSS Mahogany Fender Strat and I love it, but the pickups suck!!

I believe the guitar is routed for HSS or HH, and I'm thinking of making it an HH.

Also, it has the S1 switching and I'm thinking it would sound better, but I also want it to be purer, so I'm thinking of just ripping that out.

I play rock ala GNR, COC, AIC, Hendrix, Zepplin, Black Crowes. Do you guys have any suggestions on what pups I should consider for each setup?

Thanks!!

[CountFunkula]

Try the PATB-3. Great overwound PAF sound. You could definitely get it tight enough if you keep it somewhat low.

For a neck humbucker, you could go the PGn or APHn route. They're popular because they're great. If you go with HSS and have the $$, I would go with some surfers!

[Ed Hunter]

PG set

[Gooch]

Well, I've much reading online, I'm hearing positive things about a Custom or Custom 5 in the bridge and a Jazz in the neck for the HH setup.

I think I want to do the HH setup, b/c I already have a USA Fender HSS (first series Lone Star Strat) with a Custom 5 in the Bridge and Van Zandt's in the neck and middle.

What do you guys think of a Custom/Custom 5 bridge and Jazz neck?

Thanks!

[Ed Hunter]

Well, I've much reading online, I'm hearing positive things about a Custom or Custom 5 in the bridge and a Jazz in the neck for the HH setup.

I think I want to do the HH setup, b/c I already have a USA Fender HSS (first series Lone Star Strat) with a Custom 5 in the Bridge and Van Zandt's in the neck and middle.

What do you guys think of a Custom/Custom 5 bridge and Jazz neck?

Thanks!

i would go withe custom because the custom 5 is a bit too scooped unless you use a UOA5 magnet in it

[Gooch]

Just an update on this. I put the Duncan Custom in the bridge of my USA Deluxe Mahogany Strat and the Pearly Gates neck. The guitar luthier who did the work got the 5-way selections all screwed up. Only the bridge position and the bridge split position is correct.

When I get to the neck and middle positions, the guitar sounds muddy. So I'm am wondering if this particular guitar is just inherently dark or the PG neck is not the best fit.

Any thoughts?

[darthphineas]

for starters, a Custom or a '59 or a Hybrid would be good for the bridge position for that guitar and for what you are playing...if the PGn doesn't cut it, try a '59 neck. for singles, if you are wanting a traditional sound with a bit more output to match a humbucker, try the STK-S4s.

for the wiring, I'd pull some schematics from the Duncan site and go after it myself.

[Gooch]

Thanks guys. I'm digging the Custom in the Bridge but not the Pearly Gates neck. I had the PG neck in a USA Dean Caddy Time Capsule a while back and I found it a bit muddy in that guitar also.

Hmmm....

[Strat111]

The APH-1n (Alnico Pro I) would be a good match for the custom. I have it paired with a custom custom. I prefer A2 or UOA5 mag in the custom, rather than the ceramic mag, but that is my preference.