Buying pickups this week-please help...

[Dixie Duncan]

Hey everyone. I'm Dixie. This is my first post.

I am finishing my first album soon, and it is all acoustic. I have already started writing for my 2nd album (more electric), and I'll be starting to record within a month, so it's time to put some new pickups on my American Strat (SSS). I was looking at the Blue/Silver/Red Lace Sensor setup. It looks like it has capabilities of a wide variety of sounds. My style ranges from jazzy to dark, trippy, ambient rock to blues to straight forward rock.

Basically, I'm open to any suggestions. Talk me into this setup or out of it and into another one.

Thanks to all for your time and help.

-Dixie Duncan

[Dixie Duncan]

Oh yeah. Anyone try those Alumitones yet? I'm interested to hear how they sound.

[jmasin]

Dixie,

First welcome, and great job on getting album(s) going!

Second, pickups are so hard because they are so subjective. All I can say is that I have experience with Texas Specials, the standard Am Std pickups and the Fat 50's. I love them all, but for what you seem to describe as your sound, I'd say the Am Std or Fat 50's.

I really like the Fat 50's which I just put on my new Strat. Seem like a really good base for a number of different sounds depending on position, tone knob, volume and any effects.

Sorry, probably not much help, but those are the three I've played, so I won't try to blow smoke...

[Strat-Talk]

Wow, the Lace p'ups are an unusual choice. Are you worried about the pickups adding electrical noise during recording? Is that the reason you are looking at Lace?

I'm not saying Lace is definitely a bad choice, but they are -- by far -- not the most popular Strat pickups.

I'm sure that Lace feels that they are more "versatile" but many folks describe them as "soulless".

How about telling us what you are looking for in new pickups, and why you are looking to replace the p'ups in the first place?

[Dixie Duncan]

Thanks for the quick responses.

Well, I won my strat in a guitar competition 5 years ago. I played it a few times, then went the acoustic route for awhile and put the strat away. Lately, I've written a few tunes that will do much better on my electric album, so I decided to break out the old girl and start playin some electric again. Wow, the hum was a too much for me, and the tone was a tiny bit thin for me. But again, I like a variety of sounds.

By no means am I married to the idea of Lace sensors, it was just one of the first things I came across. I read the "favorite pickups" thread too. that was somewhat helpful.

I wish I knew more strat players locally so I could try out their guits and see what I like. Being on a musician's salary I'd hate to spend the money on something I don't like.

I'm not playing metal, or country. Perhaps my sound is David Gilmour sitting in with TOOL.

I hope this is enough info to get some good ideas.

Again, thanks.


PS-anyone have some recordings of their setups??

[Strat-Talk]

Where in GA are you from by the way?

I went to high school in Tifton. In fact, it's our 40th anniversary reunion in two months.

[Dixie Duncan]

I'm in Flowery Branch now. I've been around Atlanta all my life.

[Zman]

Humm can be caused by a lot of things. One of the worst is the electric source. Also any pedals with wall warts can hurt. I am a fanatic about noice and I found that a conditioned power source, good shielding on the guitar can almost eliminate all hum. Before I changed pickups I would make sure that the guitar is properly shielded ie shielding paint in the cavity and foil on the pickguard. Also never plug your amps into a power bar only directly into the wall or a conditoned power source. They are aviailable now in many forms. Mine is included in my pedal board.
I have the Fender vintage noiseless, and the SCN. Summarium Cobalt Noiseless and they are expressive and very quiet.
So I would look into those things before you change pickups.

[Dixie Duncan]

Well, I've been talking to Tim at Bare Knuckle Pickups. He has been a great help. Unless I decide on something else by Monday, I'm gonna go with the Slow hand set from BKP. I'm excited to get back in the electric workld!

[Strat-Talk]

I've never heard of Bare knuckle Pickups.

[Dixie Duncan]

I hadn't either until I read the "Favorite Strat Pickups" thread and the the one under this one about the Irish Tours. Then I read some reviews on them.

At the same time, Monday is still 2 days away, so a lot can happen between now and then.

[JKjr]

Give Jason Lollar a call...you won't be sorry.

[Dixie Duncan]

Just emailed him also.

Thanks!

[CustomWes]

Dixie, I see you've discovered Bare Knuckles and Lollar. Read up on Lindy Fralin, Chris Kinman and Rio Grande pickups and within these 5 brands you'll find a winner. All are the highest quality. You can also get very good information to help fine tune what sound you are going for by using the Dimarzio and Seymour Duncan websites.

[too-many-strats]

What I have in my "arsenal" of axes is just about EVERYthing!!!!
As far as Strats with after markets:
I have Dimarzio X2N, DP100s, SDS-1's, & FS-1's in several.
I have Seymour Duncan JB Jr's, LIL '59s, & Hot Rails. Even screwed up & got a Cool Rails (4.6 kohms: found out that's what Jessica Simpson's guitarist uses & it figures).
Pick a pick-up & roll with it: you can't go wrong...just broke.

[Stratocolster]

Hi, this is my first post too.

I'm lookin for new pick ups for a 1982 Tokai Strat. I got it of ebay and its a great guitar, but poor pckups. I'm thinkin of Tex Mex. Whats everyones view on them?

Colin (Scotland)

[Dixie Duncan]

Hoping to hear back from Kinman, Lollar, and Bill Lawrence soon. I'm ready to get the ball rollin.

[xfsl0001]

I will receive a set of Lindy Fralin Blues Special in a couple of weeks, I ordered with baseplate in the bridge PU. Need to hear that in my strat, will let you know.
I've read many excellent reviews for Lollar, just good for Kinman, but nothing I could experience myself...

[Boris Bubbanov]

Originally Posted by Stratocolster

Hi, this is my first post too.

I'm lookin for new pick ups for a 1982 Tokai Strat. I got it of ebay and its a great guitar, but poor pckups. I'm thinkin of Tex Mex. Whats everyones view on them?

Colin (Scotland)

If you can get them very cheap, they're not bad.

I'd recommend a set of Keystones from Bill and Becky Lawrence, bought through Bruce Morgen (editorjuno at TDPRI). $ 72 for the set of 3, I recall.

[Dixie Duncan]

Any of you guys or girls ever put a steel base plate on the middle pickup?

[Dixie Duncan]

Well, I just spent all my money on Return To Forever tickets, so now I have a little more time to think about it. Perhaps a couple more weeks.

[dan P]

If you really want to wake that axe up, toss a set of lace hot golds in her, you can buy a set these online for 150 here in the states...

[Dixie Duncan]

Still haven't heard back from Bill or Becky Lawrence. I really liked what I hear from the L-45S pickups, but I don't know how to get them. Anyone?

[Fenderon]

Dixie, have you checked out You-Tube, it seems like there are samples of about anything you want to here and compare.

[Dixie Duncan]

Yeah, that's where I found the clip of Bill playing his L-45S pickups at NAMM. Love that clean tone. Now if I could just get someone from their company to respond to my calls and/or emails, I'd like to give them some of my money.

[Dixie Duncan]

Allrighty. I'm ordering a set of Bare Knuckle Slow Hands, slightly overwound, base plates on the middle and bridge. Volume and tone control on the bridge pickup. Getting them through Peerless Tone (www.peerlesstone.com). I have gotten great, thorough help from Tim at BKP and Jason at Peerless. I'll let everyone know how they sound once I get them in (3-4 weeks). Thanks for all the help.

[rjhalsey]

I can also recommend 2 not so well known winders that make excellent pickups

Copperhead at http://www.copperheadpickups.com/index.htm
Rocketfire Guitars at http://www.rocketfireguitars.com/