Pickup suggestions for a Strat: Hot and sizzly Ceramic firebreather?

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Rex Rocker

Rex Rocker

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Got a sweet new Road Worn Strat. Gonna try dropping a BW in there for now, but my BW is not a Trembucker, and visually, that kinda makes me uncofortable.

It's a nit pick, I know. The real reason is I want to try new pickups out.

My first condition is that it has to match the output of the 500T in my LP as closely as possible. I want a different EQ profile for this guitar, but I need the same output levels for my settings to be able to work without massive changes when changing the guitar.

My second condition is it has to be on the brighter side. The 500T is pretty bright in itself, especially since I use it only with a single 500K pot. I want this Strat to sound different. Less high-mid snarl, and more high-end sizzle. I want this Strat to sound like a Strat on mega steroids.

Right now, I'm thinking:

Duncan Distortion TB (can I order these without a logo?)

Duncan Dimebucker (might be able to be tamed by 250K knobs, right? Can I order it without a logo?)

DiMarzio D Activator (though I fear these might actually be fatter-sounding than the 500T?)

Bill Lawerence something? (are these even as hot as the Dimebucker?)


Other suggestions? Thanks!
 
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Rex Rocker said:
Got a sweet new Road Worn Strat. Gonna try dropping a BW in there for now, but my BW is not a Trembucker, and visually, that kinda makes me uncofortable.

It's a nit pick, I know. The real reason is I want to try new pickups out.

My first condition is that it has to match the output of the 500T in my LP as closely as possible. I want a different EQ profile for this guitar, but I need the same output levels for my settings to be able to work without massive changes when changing the guitar.

My second condition is it has to be on the brighter side. The 500T is pretty bright in itself, especially since I use it only with a single 500K pot. I want this Strat to sound different. Less high-mid snarl, and more high-end sizzle. I want this Strat to sound like a Strat on mega steroids.

Right now, I'm thinking:

Duncan Distortion TB (can I order these without a logo?)

Duncan Dimebucker (might be able to be tamed by 250K knobs, right? Can I order it without a logo?)

DiMarzio D Activator (though I fear these might actually be fatter-sounding than the 500T?)

Bill Lawerence something? (are these even as hot as the Dimebucker?)


Other suggestions? Thanks!
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I'd reach out to Planet Tone pickups and tell them what you are seeking. I dropped a set from them into my strat and could NOT be happier.

Highly recommend. They weren't even in my radar til I tried out this set and now I can't find pickups I like the sound of better in that guitar.

Good luck!
 
braintheory said:
Of what you listed I’d go Bill Lawrence 500XL. The vintage 500L’s or L90’s would be the way to go if you want the best quality sound and feel
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How are those different from the Dimebucker? I've had the DB on the past, and it was extremely bright. I figured I could tame it with 250K pots, tho. Are the BL's like that too?

GuitarGuy08 said:
I'd reach out to Planet Tone pickups and tell them what you are seeking. I dropped a set from them into my strat and could NOT be happier.

Highly recommend. They weren't even in my radar til I tried out this set and now I can't find pickups I like the sound of better in that guitar.

Good luck!
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Thanks! Gonna look into those.
 
Rex Rocker said:
Got a sweet new Road Worn Strat. Gonna try dropping a BW in there for now, but my BW is not a Trembucker, and visually, that kinda makes me uncofortable.

It's a nit pick, I know. The real reason is I want to try new pickups out.

My first condition is that it has to match the output of the 500T in my LP as closely as possible. I want a different EQ profile for this guitar, but I need the same output levels for my settings to be able to work without massive changes when changing the guitar.

My second condition is it has to be on the brighter side. The 500T is pretty bright in itself, especially since I use it only with a single 500K pot. I want this Strat to sound different. Less high-mid snarl, and more high-end sizzle. I want this Strat to sound like a Strat on mega steroids.

Right now, I'm thinking:

Duncan Distortion TB (can I order these without a logo?)

Duncan Dimebucker (might be able to be tamed by 250K knobs, right? Can I order it without a logo?)

DiMarzio D Activator (though I fear these might actually be fatter-sounding than the 500T?)

Bill Lawerence something? (are these even as hot as the Dimebucker?)


Other suggestions? Thanks!
Click to expand...
I would go with the Duncan Distortion Trembucker. It's a classic ceramic-sounding humbucker with cutting highs, sharp lows, and a lot of midrange "grunt." If you want it without a logo, just order it through the SD Custom Shop.
 
Rex Rocker said:
How are those different from the Dimebucker? I've had the DB on the past, and it was extremely bright. I figured I could tame it with 250K pots, tho. Are the BL's like that too?


Thanks! Gonna look into those.
Click to expand...
Iirc they were (it’s been a while), but you asked for bright and aggressive highs. The vintage BL’s are midrangey, while the recent ones and Dimebucker I remember being more scooped
 
braintheory said:
Iirc they were (it’s been a while), but you asked for bright and aggressive highs. The vintage BL’s are midrangey, while the recent ones and Dimebucker I remember being more scooped
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I kinda like the idea of it being scooped. My 500T is pretty mid-forward.

Like I said, I want more or less the same output level, but different EQ's.

I always associate Strats with scooped trebly tones anyway. I just want this Strat to sound like a Strat on mega steroids.
 
Rex Rocker said:
I kinda like the idea of it being scooped. My 500T is pretty mid-forward.

Like I said, I want more or less the same output level, but different EQ's.

I always associate Strats with scooped trebly tones anyway. I just want this Strat to sound like a Strat on mega steroids.
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Ah, then I'd recommend the Duncan Custom or if you're open to Alnico 5, the DiMarzio Humbucker from Hell.
 
hellzington said:
Ah, then I'd recommend the Duncan Custom or if you're open to Alnico 5, the DiMarzio Humbucker from Hell.
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But neither of those are as hot as the 500T. Especially not the HBFH.

It's been a while since I had the Custom, but I remember it being JB-levels if not a little quieter?
 
Rex Rocker said:
But neither of those are as hot as the 500T. Especially not the HBFH.

It's been a while since I had the Custom, but I remember it being JB-levels if not a little quieter?
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Correct, neither are as hot as the 500T. What you’re asking for it’s pretty tough. Typically, the hotter wind on a humbucker, the more midrange and darker top end it has. A ceramic magnet will help bring some brightness and cut but it won’t likely be scooped like a Strat.
 
Rex Rocker said:
I kinda like the idea of it being scooped. My 500T is pretty mid-forward.

Like I said, I want more or less the same output level, but different EQ's.

I always associate Strats with scooped trebly tones anyway. I just want this Strat to sound like a Strat on mega steroids.
Click to expand...
They may work for you then. If you get an SSS type strat the BL’s for that sound even more strat-like even though I think they’re meant to be sort of a single coil sized 500L/XL

The Lundgren M6 or Wolfetone Blisterbucker can maybe fit the criteria too. Better quality tone/feel than recent made BL’s and of course over Duncan’s and Dimarzio’s too, but not as good as vintage BL’s or other vintage pickups. Once you go down that rabbit hole you’re not gonna wanna go back to the comparatively bland/flat recent made stuff
 
Wolfetone Blisterbucker could be an interesting choice, but I’ve only used it in Gibson type guitars, but did compare it directly to the 500T. I’d say it feels similar in output, is brighter (though not sizzly or zingy like I think of the Duncan Distortion), and a whole lot clearer. To me it had kind of a broad midrange sound, not poky or honky. The only other pickup it reminded me a bit of was a Duncan Custom with an AlNiCo 8 magnet in it.
 
Rex Rocker said:
Got a sweet new Road Worn Strat. Gonna try dropping a BW in there for now, but my BW is not a Trembucker, and visually, that kinda makes me uncofortable.

It's a nit pick, I know. The real reason is I want to try new pickups out.

My first condition is that it has to match the output of the 500T in my LP as closely as possible. I want a different EQ profile for this guitar, but I need the same output levels for my settings to be able to work without massive changes when changing the guitar.

My second condition is it has to be on the brighter side. The 500T is pretty bright in itself, especially since I use it only with a single 500K pot. I want this Strat to sound different. Less high-mid snarl, and more high-end sizzle. I want this Strat to sound like a Strat on mega steroids.

Right now, I'm thinking:

Duncan Distortion TB (can I order these without a logo?)

Duncan Dimebucker (might be able to be tamed by 250K knobs, right? Can I order it without a logo?)

DiMarzio D Activator (though I fear these might actually be fatter-sounding than the 500T?)

Bill Lawerence something? (are these even as hot as the Dimebucker?)


Other suggestions? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Pics, I want to see !
 
screamindemon said:
Pics, I want to see !
Click to expand...
1699080023283.png


I've only really snapped that for now. I haven't had time with work, but I tried adjusting the truss rod today and dialing in the saddles' height and intonation. I realized the nut needs some filing, though. I'm using 12-56 in Drop C, and it was probably cut for 9's or 10's, so everything is sitting way too high right now.

I'm also going to solder that Black Winter in this weekend provisionally after I get the nut sorted. But like I said, I want something else in there.

I actually think I want to keep the HSS pickguard, but I do want some hotter single coils. I like the sound of Position 5 and 4, but they're really quiet compared to the PG+ in there. There's no way they're going to work with the BW (or whatever I end up putting in there later), so I'm going to be looking at maybe Duncan QP's or DiMarzio SDS-1's.

L O V I N G the feel of the neck, though. I don't like the FB radius (I'm used to 12" or flatter), but I can let it go because the neck profile itself is really nice (thin, amost ESP-ish) and the finish on the neck is silky smooth. On the back, it looks "worn", but it doesn't feel like bare wood either. Not sure what's going on.
 
Rex Rocker said:
There's no way they're going to work with the BW (or whatever I end up putting in there later), so I'm going to be looking at maybe Duncan QP's or DiMarzio SDS-1's.
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Don't dismiss the SSL-5 Custom Staggered either from Duncan. High enough output to match most hotter bridge humbuckers and still that nice, glassy, 'tube/bell' Strat tone, including under high gain.

There's a 'vs' topic on the Duncan forum too: link
 
The Tonenerd Psykes has lots of sizzle and bottom and is about the right output. It sits somewhere in the 500T neighborhood. But I’ve only heard one in a ‘80 LPC (with Maple neck). It’s killer tho.
 
All the mentioned pickups will kill the neck and mid pickups of your strat...they will be unusable due to the output difference...
I wouldnt go with a high output ceramic in a strat...
JB could be a choice...I would go with a SD CUSTOM HYBRID...
 
SpiderWars said:
The Tonenerd Psykes has lots of sizzle and bottom and is about the right output. It sits somewhere in the 500T neighborhood. But I’ve only heard one in a ‘80 LPC (with Maple neck). It’s killer tho.
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That's interesting, but he's not taking orders ATM, is he?
 
blackie13 said:
All the mentioned pickups will kill the neck and mid pickups of your strat...they will be unusable due to the output difference...
I wouldnt go with a high output ceramic in a strat...
JB could be a choice...I would go with a SD CUSTOM HYBRID...
Click to expand...
Yeah, but I could (and probably will) change those.

I don't love them right now. I mean, they're fine on their own, but even the PG+ makes them sound kinda weak.

Also, they don't feel as spanky/bright as other SC's I've tried. I mean, if they're quiet, they at least better be super bright, but they're not. I thnk it may be because they're wired each to a tone knob and the HB is not. I hate tone knobs, LOL.
 
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