loudest strat pickups?

[appar111]

I'm looking for a louder set of strat pickups for my rock strat.

Right now I'm using some Dimarzio FS-1's (with 500K volume pot) and they just don't have enough volume or punch for my needs. I'm comparing them to my main tele, which has a Dimarzio Pre B-1 in it-- just a loud, ballsy, great sounding tele bridge pickup.

I don't necessarily need something bassier sounding, just something that sounds like a strat, but with more power than the FS-1's are giving me. And not alot of compression in the sound-- something open sounding.

And it might even be that I don't need something more powerful output-wise, just something that sounds louder to the ear? More perceived volume vs. actual output... does that make sense? I've been using less gain w/ my setup too, so that things don't mush out.

Here are some others that have also tried and failed my power requirements:

Dimarzio Injectors (but they did sound nice!)
Dimarzio VV Heavy Blues 2

I was thinking about the SSL-5, but I've read that they sound more compressed sounding. SSL-3's supposed to be pretty powerful, but not very stratty.

Maybe some Bare Knuckles of some kind?

Ideas? Suggestions?

[ratherdashing]

Turn up your amp?

Or am I completely misunderstanding you?

[AlexR]

The loudest will be the lower output.....as you hit the strings harder they will give more output in the range your ears perceive as both heavy and harsh. Hotter pickups will drive the amp harder, but the thicker tone won't give you more punch, just more drive saturation.

Your tele won't sound like your strat no matter what pickups you load into the strat. You could probably get the best result with a Twangbanger bridge though.

[DeanSweden]

DiMarzio SDS-1

[appar111]

Not trying to get it to sound like a tele, just more punchy like the tele (which may not be possible).

Turning up the amp doesn't really work-- I've tried, and it still sounds anemic compared to my tele (and my other tele w/ a full size humbucker in the bridge).

I think AlexR may have it pegged, and the thicker tone I've been getting from these higher output strat pickups is actually counter to what I'm going for.

Seems like there are a million low output strat choices--- I've got a feeling my head's going to be spinning trying to decide on one!

[KRKBAB]

Twangbanger is a great pick-up- but I don't know if it will get you where you want

[KRKBAB]

don't know if they still make it,
but the Classic Stack (with pole pieces) was pretty loud and it did have a ton of bass

the top ended compressed a little, but the extra bass pumped the over all sound

[firebirdV]

Maybe get a clean boost?

[appar111]

I've tried the boost option, and it only ended up giving me more saturation, not more punch. I recently switched amps and am getting my gain/distortion from overdriving the front end of the amp w/ an overdrive pedal. If I could put a boost after the amp distortion, that might get me there though...

I think getting louder pickups (maybe lower output, but with an EQ spread that seems louder) is going to be the way to go.

Just to be clear for those recommending the Twangbanger, I'm not trying to get the strat to sound like the tele, I just want it to have the same punchiness.

[JeffB]

I have been reading your threads about this for the past few months. IMO, You are trying to get apple juice out of an orange.

The tele bridge, and how the pup is mounted to the bridge, more mass in the body with its slab singlecut, along with a neck pup screwed into the wood dishes out alot more beef than any strat can.

My tele has a super hot set of handwounds..10k/8k broadcaster types, and my strat as good and punchy as it is, and with the much hotter FS1, cannot compare in the beefy and punchy department to the Tele. Not with drastically different pickups screwed into a plastic pickguard that is mounted to a body with much less mass and neck to body contact. And an entirely different bridge system.


That said, KK Downing was able to hang with twoFS1 loaded strats alongside Tipton with Super D and PAF equipped SGs, Les Pauls, and strats, with the same amplifiers from the mid 70s though the early 1980s. IOW, I dont think the pup is the issue.

[ImmortalSix]

Dude, get a Wilde L-298.

[ImmortalSix]

Dude, get a Wilde L-298.

L-298S bridge, L-280 middle and neck. I have had SSL-1s, Hot Rails, JB Jr., Little '59, and the Wilde pickups take the cake. Think P90.
http://wildepickups.com/Wilde_Bill_s_NF_Singles.html

[CountFunkula]

BKP Slow Hand. Very stratty and clear as a bell, but punchier and stronger-sounding.

[idsnowdog]

Quarter Pounders are loud, hard and fat but they are true single coils.

[Hellion]

Not trying to get it to sound like a tele, just more punchy like the tele (which may not be possible).

One of the best comparisons that I've ever heard regarding Teles vs Strats is that "Teles punch, then sing. Strats sting, then scream." I think you're going to have difficulty getting what you're wanting, in regards to your Strat. However, having said that, I agree with idsnowdog, the QP series is plenty loud. You might also think about DiMarzio's YJMs.

[appar111]

Jeffb
I think ur right... i dont think its possible to get the strat to match up to the tele. Too many structural differences between the two.

Given that i love a strat with a humbucker i think im finally going to just go that route. Its about the only way to get the output and punch closer between the two.. Definitely going to go full size on the humbucker though.

Thanks guys for the advice and knowledge!

[RayBarbeeMusic]

DiMarzio YJMs (HS4 now) are very low output pickups, even compared to other single coils. Most definitely not what the OP described as wanted. Area '67s are half again as powerful, and have lower string pull so can be placed closer to the strings, so in actual use, probably twice the output.

[crusty philtrum]

Joe Bardens.

[LReese]

This is probably where the Hot Rails come in...

Maybe try a series/parallel switch when you want to get yer Tele' on....

Just sayin'.