Quake3World

I've had my Fender Strat (American) for a few years and I love the way it plays, but I've always been a little disappointed with the tone I get out of it. I know a lot of the sound is up to the amp as well, but replacing my crappy amp comes later, after getting my guitar up to snuff.

So I was wondering if anyone could give me some opinions on good pickups and tremolo systems. I am partial to the Floyd-Rose, so that's probably what I'll get for the tremolo, but I'd like to hear from some people with other kinds first just to see what they think.

The tone I'm looking for, is something that has as much warmth as Stevie Ray's, with that deep quality undertone, but one that I can still change around and get a good metal distortion out of when I want to - although I'm guessing this part won't be too hard, since my pedal will probably take care of most of that.

I've never done anything to this guitar except have a shop technician set up the harmonics and action after I bought it. So it's still got the stock pickups in it - one dual coil and two singles, with a 5-way switch. I don't really care for them, but have never taken the time to pick out good replacements.

I am also considering getting lock nuts for the neck, because it seems to go out of tune more often than it should from bending.


So, what would you guys recommend for the tone I'm looking for? I mostly play blues scales, and I know they'd sound so much better with some good pickups and a decent tremolo system.

If you like the pink floyd sound (that rich, full, brilliant sustaied strat sound in those piercing, awe-striking solos), Gilmour uses the EMG-SA pickup set with the EMG-SPC and EMG-EXG tone knobs. I love the driven strat sound that they give: http://www.emginc.com/displayproducts.a ... talogid=81

Other than that, seymour duncan has some awesome strat pickups. I've got the APS-1 set on my new strat and I love the sound, but they're not very hot pickups, so they dont drive amps very well. As such, they dont get the rich smooth distortion that I like. However, they're damn beautiful sounding when played cleanly.

The pickup set (basic tone knobs, volume, battery clip, switcher, and pups) will run you $200, and the additional tone knobs will be ~$50 each.

If you don't already have the lace-sensor pickups, you may want to have a look at them. Make sure to play a guitar with these in them first. It's about a 50/50 split between the guitar players I know. I personally love them, but others can't stand them.

Clicky

Thanks for pointing out those EMG's. :icon14:

I love Gilmour's sound too - especially the sustain - so they might be worth checking out.

l0g1c wrote:If you don't already have the lace-sensor pickups, you may want to have a look at them. Make sure to play a guitar with these in them first. It's about a 50/50 split between the guitar players I know. I personally love them, but others can't stand them.

Clicky

I'm planning on taking a trip to the music store later this week and just trying some different combinations, as much as they'll let me.

I'll be sure to try those out.

haha, I was just doing some reading on Stevie Ray, and I don't think I will worry about trying to re-produce any part of his sound.

He had a 62 strat, with nothing left stock except the body and the pickups -- and the pickups were accidentally overwound at the factory when they were made.

I still like that low growl though and wish I could get something close to it. It's just so deep and warm, and dirty and clean at the same time.


edit: christ, it sounds like i'm describing a womb.