Strat pickup configuration

[Evil Ernie]

Hi there,

I wanted to upgrade my ol' Fender Strat Mexico cause it's all rusty and sounds very weak for heavy ass guts spilling metal, ya know.

So I though about what the hell I could buy to have high output and decent control on my sound, and I came up with these (all Seymour Duncan single coils btw) :

Bridge : Hot Rails :hotjump:
Middle : JB Jr
Neck : don't know yet, some good clean pickup anyone? Vintage Flat maybe?

Any advice?

 

[Indiooo]

Can you work on your guitar yourself? If you have the knowledge (not much required) and the tools, you could hotrod it for cheap. Install some humbuckers, maybe a different trem, a nice scallop if you're into that, etc.

 

[Evil Ernie]

EEeeeeeeee

I'm not a guitar builder at all actually. I wouldn't dare to try. I think I'll stick to the single coils, I also have a Jackson Kelly and I plan to put some wicked humbuckers in there.

Thanks for the advice dude.

 

[Iced In Flames]

You'll never get "gut spilling metal tone" from a Strat my friend.
Need humbuckers.

As for the neck, I like the sound of a Hot Rails in the neck honestly.

 

[Indiooo]

It's easy work, really, but I understand if you don't feel like doing it.

By the way, unscrew your pickguard and check if the guitar is actually routed for 3 singles or if it has the swimming pool kind of routing. If it does, you could just buy a new pickguard a throw a couple of buckers in there.

A nice single coil for the neck position could be a DiMarzio HS-3 or YJM, if you're into passives. The Hot Rails is pretty cool, I have one in a Fender re-issue, but in the bridge position.

 

[Evil Ernie]

You'll never get "gut spilling metal tone" from a Strat my friend.
Need humbuckers.

As for the neck, I like the sound of a Hot Rails in the neck honestly.

You'd be surprised. I'll show you.

And about Hot Rails in neck position... isn't it too much output for clean playing?

 

[Indiooo]

Not really. Well, it depends on your amp. If you use a single channel amp and use the volume pot to clean up, then it will probably be too much. But if you have a dedicated clean channel you could dial it for a bit less gain.