Good SSS config for heavy/classic rock?

[Stratovarious]

I was thinking of getting 3 hot stacks, for my custom strat which will be an ash body with birdseye maple neck and fretboard, Floyd Rose (non recessed)

I want a good rock tone, I play lots of rock, lots of Van Halen,Iron Maiden, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Satriani, all kinds of stuff.

I want a good solid fairly hot rock tone,
and a good clean tone, would 3 hot stacks give me a good sound? are they good rock pups?

I was considering getting a little 59 in the bridge for the good ROCK bridge sound, but wanted to ask what you guys think for a good rock setup on a strat, they might have to be dark sounding pickups (because of the floyd) so it doesnt get uncontrollably bright

you dont have to include any hot stacks,I just want a good sounding SSS combination,versatile too, cause I dont know Seymour Duncan pups that well, but I know you guys do so
GIMME SOME SUGGESTIONS

[Farkus]

Hey Stratovarious-do we have to stick with S-S-S? LOL.

Here's my question for you...how Strat like do they need to be? I see that you're thinking about the lil 59 for bridge, but what about the other positions?

I currently use a Hot Rails neck, Fender middle pickup and a Hot Rails bridge in my '76 Strat as it is routed for S-S-S. I think that the Rails sound great. I use them for VH songs...probably not as close as a CC or EVH but still gets the job done. I even use it for Purple stuff, though I don't sound like Blackmore with Rails.

I don't have any experience with them, but some folks swear by the Cool Rails and combos of it with the Hot Rails for more versatility...I can't speak about the Hot Stacks as I have never used them at all.

[nuntius]

If you want a hot bridge single coil size, it's the hot rails.

Personally though, I'd prefer a full size humbucker in the bridge - is that going to be an option? I noticed you used future tense, implying the guitar isn't finished yet.

[Stratovarious]

well from what Ive read the hot rails are TOO hot,

I want a fairly FAT sounding bridge, but I love the neck single coil sound, humbuckers in the neck dont do it for me, and I think im the only one , but the middle pup by itself gives a creamy tone and I love it

I want SSS for the sake of looks..HSS looks ugly IMO :P but Little 59's are SUPPOSEDLY meant to sound like Humbuckers so would it work? or would I be better off with a stack or rail

like I said from what Ive read, the hot rails are WAY too hot

[idsnowdog]

If I was to go for a strat that was 3 singles I would go with a Bare Knuckle Sinner at the bridge and Trilogy at middle and neck. It sounds like an interesting combo.

[Stratovarious]

something I didnt mention, is that they must be noiseless

[Farkus]

well from what Ive read the hot rails are TOO hot,
I want a fairly FAT sounding bridge, but I love the neck single coil sound, humbuckers in the neck dont do it for me, and I think im the only one , but the middle pup by itself gives a creamy tone and I love it

Okay, this is a good start. I had multiple ideas for you until I read:

something I didnt mention, is that they must be noiseless

LOL. Well, if you must look single coil-y, you could always go with DiMarzio HS series pickups (which I have years of experience with...I don't like them much though). They sound somewhat single coil-y, but also kind of 'flat' sounding to me though. Another option would be the new Duncan noiseless...these I have no experience with, but some folks on here (whose ears I trust) really like them.

In terms of the Hot Rails being too hot, that's why I mentioned the Cool Rails as well. They won't look stock but may be a viable alternative for you as they are noiseless and designed to be lower output than the Hot Rails.

I use a stock middle Fender pickup in my Hot Rails equipped Strat b/c I like to have a 'true' single coil tone available to me. I've never played any stack or rail that really nails that single coil tone.

[Benjy_26]

This sounds like a job for:

The EMG DG-20 Gilmour set.

I have one in my '77 strat (maple fret board, ash body) and it's great for anything you'd use a great strat for, along with metal and heavy rock with no noise.

[Stratovarious]

EMG's would cost too much , I dont have too much to spend, and when I saw single coil tone, I dont mean TOO single coily, I guess, I did think about the Hs-3's cause i love Malmsteen's sound but you have to push them real hard to get that sound and then the bridge sounds too metally,

the more I think about it the more I want the hot stacks :S

does anybody here have any experience with the hot stacks? Ill use the search engine too

[theodie]

^ hard guy to please?????

Cool Rail/vintage rail/Vintage rail and be done with it.

[Stratovarious]

what noiseless pups will get me a ritchie blackmore tone?

[ErikH]

Without reading all of the replies, Little '59 in the bridge, SSL-1's in the neck and middle, 250k pots all around. Screw the noiseless bit. If you don't want to spend a large amount, don't look at noiseless. With good shielding and grounding, regular single coils can be very quiet.

[Davey]

how much are you willing to spend?




TRILOGY SET! FTW!!!!

[Farkus]

I'd love to try the Trilogys myself...but they are pretty expensive for us in the USA...

[Davey]

says the guy with 7 guitars lol

[erikm5150]

Dimarzio Virtual Vintage solo / solo pro in the bridge
Dimarzio Area 58's in the middle and neck

[modophoto]

everything strat set

jb bridge
duckbucker mid
lil 59 neck

[Farkus]

says the guy with 7 guitars lol

What can I say? I work my butt off for 'em, lol. That doesn't mean I like to burn money though. I've done alot of trading and so on to get my stuff where it is...still not where I want it, but I'm getting there.

[Davey]

i assure you, a set of BKP's is so far from burning money it's not even funny..

[WGTP]

I found the Hot Rail too hot. What about a JBjr. or Screamin Demon Jr. for a little more umph than the little '59.