Some advice needed on pickups.

[Marcussy]

I'm currently working on my very own project guitar, a custom Fender Stratocaster. I've already gotten myself an authentic MIM Maple neck and I would let it sit on an Eden Alder body. However, I'm kinda stucked about which custom shop pickups should I choose.

The '57/62's.

54's

"Noiseless"

I hope that you guys would enlighten me on the characteristics of each of these pups and which one has the closest resemblance to today's MIA Strats.

Thanks. =)

 

[sf1102]

Wow...playing a guitar you built on your own must feel good xD. I dun really know about this...what about EMGs ? I heard they have single coil pups too?

 

[Marcussy]

Yeah, and you have it to look and sound just the way you want it to.

Nah, not really into EMGs though, they're a little to "loud" for the genre I play which was why I chose the Strat. =/ Now I just have to make it sound "Stratty".

Anyways, thanks for the insight. ^^

 

[dudelove]

what kinda music do u play?

 

[HarrisonYeo]

have u considered going into other brands beside fender?
because just by changing the pickups u wont achieve that fender tone u are expecting to hear.
what kind of tone are u aiming for?
a twangy tone or a nice warm tone?

 

[subversion]

for a fair balance of vintage/ contemporary, i'd recommend the 57/62 set. however, if you pump in a fair bit of drive into the mix & still prefer single coils, the Vintage Noiseless is recommended.

any love for TESLAs?

 

[ShredCow]

Dimarzio's Area 58s and Area 61s are supposed to be spot on the vintage vibe thing.

I've had Area 58s - noiseless indeedly and they sound like what they are advertised to sound like.

I've also tried Area 61s - same results.

Pretty impressive that line of new Dimarzio pickups.

 

[Bearily]

for a fair balance of vintage/ contemporary, i'd recommend the 57/62 set. however, if you pump in a fair bit of drive into the mix & still prefer single coils, the Vintage Noiseless is recommended.

any love for TESLAs?

yeah. i tot the 57/62 was good too.

 

[leecs]

Pickups are very subjective. Try those indicated if you have the chance & decide.

 

[HarrisonYeo]

for a fair balance of vintage/ contemporary, i'd recommend the 57/62 set. however, if you pump in a fair bit of drive into the mix & still prefer single coils, the Vintage Noiseless is recommended.

any love for TESLAs?

lol i would avoid the 57/62 if u're using a maple neck .
it's too trebly for my taste , u might like them but aint really my thing

 

[subversion]

lol i would avoid the 57/62 if u're using a maple neck .

majority of Fender guitars are indeed maple neck instruments, you mean maple fretboard, yes?

the 57/62 is a resident in my 50th Ann Strat which indeed sports a maple fretbord. the top end response isn't excessive. it helps to watch your guitar's inherent TONE leve + amp EQ.

 

[HarrisonYeo]

ah yes , sorry . indeed a maple fretboard .

 

[Marcussy]

what kinda music do u play?

Old school hard rock and some soft rock ballads. I'll most likely stick to clean or mild distortions, nothing of higher gain as of yet and even if I do play metal I'll still have a HH ESP to rely on.

have u considered going into other brands beside fender?
because just by changing the pickups u wont achieve that fender tone u are expecting to hear.
what kind of tone are u aiming for?
a twangy tone or a nice warm tone?

I've tried looking at other brands but most of them(Seymore Duncans, EMGs, Teslas, etc) are meant for higher gain. I would love to have the nice warm tone because I figured I would use this Strat when I'm playing on clean or mild gain.

 

[Whitestrat]

Old school hard rock and some soft rock ballads. I'll most likely stick to clean or mild distortions, nothing of higher gain as of yet and even if I do play metal I'll still have a HH ESP to rely on.

You want Custom Shop pickups only? Then try the Texas Specials. The 57/62s are nice. But I find them a little too tame for screaming 80s harmonics. Hot Noiseless would be nice too.

CS 69s thru low and high gain: http://soundclick.com/share?songid=6732623

But if you're not into CS totally, then go check out Tonerider City Limits. At 9.5k DC resistance, that bridge pickup is hotter than hot.

Here's how the City Limits sound under:

med/hi gain - http://soundclick.com/share?songid=6850357

low gain - http://soundclick.com/share?songid=6946036