Favorite Strat Pickups

[Intune]

That’s not really a blind shoot out. You have two known-quantities with which there is a big divergence. Not the biggest challenge in the world.

What’s the point of a blind test though? Dollar store pickups or the most expensive ones ever produced. If one sounds better that’s the set I’m buying.

So I’m not sure what the point was other then to point out we’re all crazy, all pickups are the same no matter what brand or price point or am I missing something?

 

[SomeAverageGuy]

That’s not really a blind shoot out. You have two known-quantities with which there is a big divergence. Not the biggest challenge in the world.

If by "blind shootout" you mean "correctly identify which make and model pickup you're hearing right now" with no frame of reference whatsoever, then no, nobody could do that. Not Seth Lover, not Seymour Duncan, not Larry DiMarzio, not Lindy Fralin, not even Rick Beato or Nigel Tufnel. I didn't get the point of the original comment. Nobody could do that. So what? That doesn't mean all pickups sound the same. Not even close. We all develop our own frame of reference with regards to what we like and don't like.

 

[Strat Jacket]

Can't vote...none of the above!
My favorite is the late '70s DiMarzio Fat Strat I installed in the bridge of my '65 Strat, which ironically, I'm thinking of removing to have the original '65 bobbin rewound to 65 specs during my ongoing re-restoration.
If I do, I'll certainly have to use in on something else because it really rips.

 

[Mbroady]

What’s the point of a blind test though? Dollar store pickups or the most expensive ones ever produced. If one sounds better that’s the set I’m buying.

So I’m not sure what the point was other then to point out we’re all crazy, all pickups are the same no matter what brand or price point or am I missing something?

Ha , I don’t know, I didn’t ask the question . But considering there are millions and millions of different types of (blind) shoot outs available to Peruse through, whether they be microphones, converters. Amplifiers, guitars, etc. shows that we as a species seem to indulge in sometimes pointless endeavors. And I can’t deny that I’ve indulged in a few pointless blind shootouts myself, more so for acoustic guitar amplification/pickups, but I wouldn’t spend too much time indulging. I would rather be playing.

 

[GuitarsFromMars]

I am playing my "stratothingy". It has a set of JBE/Bardens. Sounds like the best of hum free/vintage grade units.

 

[Mbroady]

If by "blind shootout" you mean "correctly identify which make and model pickup you're hearing right now" with no frame of reference whatsoever, then no, nobody could do that. Not Seth Lover, not Seymour Duncan, not Larry DiMarzio, not Lindy Fralin, not even Rick Beato or Nigel Tufnel. I didn't get the point of the original comment. Nobody could do that. So what? That doesn't mean all pickups sound the same. Not even close. We all develop our own frame of reference with regards to what we like and don't like.

Not one to drink too much of the blind shoot out Kool-Aid. But they can be helpful in helping narrow down choices. With that said, I agree, no one can pick out a pickup and tell you the brand or model. Perhaps if there the one playing it they can tell whether its low or high output, or if it is single vs humbucker.......

 

[wooders]

I picked my pickups on research and blind faith. Been really lucky. Next up the. PV59s. Desperate to get the build finished now to try them.

 

[Willmunny]

I enjoy Texas Specials when I have had them.
I have been digging the stock pickups in my 2001 American series. Especially the hot bridge.
I don't think those are quite "vintage" yet lol

 

[Nick L Plate]

I enjoy and can work with virtually every mainstream Strat pickups I've encountered. Between the tone controls on the guitar and the amp (and pedal) controls, it's generally not hard to get most tones. The CS1960 pickups in my 1960 Strat (not "60s') are the type I prefer: medium output, very clear, no unusual voice or output (moderate). They're as good as it gets for my purposes. Touch-sensitive and responsive beyond belief with that great clarity and detail that a HB will never possess.

 

[mrmarbles048]

Tried many, but always go back to my stock pickups in my 1989 American Strat. Nice bell like, glassy tones. I think they are very much underrated.

 

[dbb541]

Of those on the list I only have Texas Specials, haven't played the others. I really like the Texas Specials. Other pickups I have are Fat 50's, a set out of a Robert Cray strat, a set out of a Jimi Hendrix strat, an early 80's Dimarzio set. I can't pick one I like the best. They're all good.

 

[MGW-AB]

There was no "other" on the poll so I didn't vote. I've tried more Strat pups than I could possibly count over the years including almost all of the ones mentioned in this thread so far. The ones that finally gave me what I wanted are kind of a hybrid pup; like a cross between a regular Strat pup and a P90. Fralin Steel Pole 42. It still sounds Stratty and has plenty of quack and chime but it definitely has more girth in the low-mids.

 

[Wulfrik]

I'll bet dollars to donuts there isn't one person on strat talk that can pick out any particular strat pickup in a blind shoot out.

I posted this in another thread on the subject, but:

My son and I share a Mexican strat with Bareknuckle Mother’s Milk pickup set in it, and we keep it in the loft room where the amps are (he had his Ibanez and a Squire in his room with a modeller and his computer monitors).

I keep my Special (with Texas Specials and a Shawbucker) up there too, but as it’s my working/gigging guitar I prefer him not to use it without asking — usually because I’ve restrung it for ‘work’.

A while back I was out walking the dog and when I came back up the road I could hear my son playing in the attic — he had the window open — and I could absolutely tell it was the neck position Texas Special in my AmSpec and not the Mother’s Milk in our MIM standard.

Sure enough, I was right. There’s an ‘edge’ to them that isn’t there with most other strat pickups.

 

[Willmunny]

I may be easy to please though.
I love the ceramic pickups that came in my 2013 58 reissue.
They are the only Strat pickups that I would describe as creamy.
Just roll that tone back to 5 or less.
to be fair, they are a 1 trick pony.

I enjoy Texas Specials when I have had them.
I have been digging the stock pickups in my 2001 American series. Especially the hot bridge.
I don't think those are quite "vintage" yet lol

 

[Electgumbo]

Mark Foley Lonestar set… and
@grumpah
@Bodean

 

[Stu78]

My favs are CS69's, they nail that sound of a late 60's early 70's Strat. My everyday utilitarian player pickups would be Tex Mex's, the "does what it says on the tin" sound. Works for me.

 

[joebtone]

Adjustments matter as much if not more than just the choice of part sometimes.

The Planet Tone 1969 Voodoos that I just sold and the Planet Tone 1962 Scooped I just sold are real nice.
I have another set of each I hope to put in a build some time.

Texas Specials are the only ones from the list that I have actually tried.
I have set of those stashed for build too.

I have just put together another set of Fender Vintage Noiseless that sound pretty darn good…as the neck pickup does not have the tendencies like a Texas Special neck pickup does toward stratitis if you don’t have it adjusted real low…they are a good choice for those who are not into dealing with Stratitis tendencies and want noiseless. (I use it in my sounds)

The 1969 voodoos I mentioned needed to be low too.

I have set of Bootstraps too and they are very nice. (Sun City
Selects)

Original 57/62’s are nice but a bit too scooped for me...
I have a set of those to try again with some different wiring on next. .1 uf cap might tame it a bit?

 

[jvin248]

...And - What would you suggest I should check out and why?...

I tend to avoid Duncan pickups because they are too often too muddy for me.

I used to swap pickups frequently until I figured out how much influence the other factors had to push tone around... Pickup heights, pickup tip bass or treble, screw poles if in the pickups, and the pots and caps. Swap the $10 parts not the $100 parts.

For pickups I'll leave stock, grab some ebay $15/pair sets, or even put ceramic Squire pickups in something like a heathen. Pickups don't really matter to the degree some get wound up on while forgetting setting heights by ear and the control parts.

.

 

[SurfsUp]

I've 4 Strats. In each, in no particular order:
Lace Sensor Silver/Silver/Blue
Lace Sensor Golds
Tonerider "Classic Blues"
Fender N3 noiseless

And the winner for me, is the set with the worst rap on the internet. The N3's.

To me, they sound great, and are dead silent which I need.

I probably just made a lot of you all roll your eyes, lol.......but tone is subjective. I've had Lace Hot Golds, Fender PV '65's in their place, always went back to the original N3's.

 

[Bladesg]

I’m not sure I have a fav set, there’s so many great sets out there these days.

Some I consider special are (in no particular order…)

Lollar Blackface
Rocketfire Total 60’s
FCS HW Ancho Poblano
FCS HW 60/63
Sliders 69