Swap out pickup or new guitar?

Ostrom · 12-01-2012 5:59pm #1

My strat gets around 90% of my attention for sound, comfort and playability. I bought it a year ago and can thankfully claim to have (maybe) improved a little, to the point where I can discern its limitaitons - with this in mind, I'd like something a bit heavier sounding.

For the cost of swapping the bridge pickup for a stacked humbucker, would I get anything that could match (or improve) that tone in a different guitar? I'm thinking lower end Ibanez/LTD - max upper limit €250?

Squidgy Black · 12-01-2012 6:15pm

To get a single coil-size humbucker in a strat should cost you no more than 120 quid, and will get you that heavier sound you want.

For 250 quid, there's not many guitars that will not only sound good, but play that good. Depending on what brand/model your strat is of course...

Ravelleman · 12-01-2012 6:26pm

What type of Strat is it?

Ostrom · 12-01-2012 7:29pm

Model is mexican standard, but it does (almost) everything i need. My main concern was whether the extra cost (different guitar) would yield any improvement in sound. Any recommendations for an installer? I'm looking to get it coil tapped also, just to keep the option open.

Ravelleman · 12-01-2012 9:05pm

If I were you I'd save up and buy a second guitar with humbuckers for around the same price as the Mexican Strat. But that's what forums like this one do to you - more guitars, always.

Ostrom · 12-01-2012 9:21pm

No complaints, love getting new gear! Might be a while saving....

hidinginthebush · 12-01-2012 9:27pm

IMO you're better off spending the cash on pickups. A humbucker guitar for €250 wont be great, whereas you could get some really great pickups installed for that sort of cash.

Paolo_M · 12-01-2012 9:46pm

If it were me I'd be looking towards a new loaded scratch plate with a full sized hum bucker in the bridge.
This is the sort of thing I mean, though I can't comment on the quality of this example.
Make sure you get quality pickups so that your upgrade doesn't turn out to be a downgrade.
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/SCRATCHPLATE-PICKUP-ASSEMBLY-FENDER-STRAT-SSHW-/150671382432?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&hash=item2314b6d7a0#ht_5340wt_1346
The stacked ones are ok, but not quite a full humbucker. They're sort of between the two.

You might need to check the routing on your strat to ensure that it would accommodate it.

damonjewel · 13-01-2012 11:31am

If I were in your shoes with that budget I'd swap out the pickups for some meaty single coils and my choice would be the Bareknuckle Irish tour set

http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/main/pickups.php?cat=strats&sub=vintage_hot&pickup=irish_tour

Keyzer · 13-01-2012 12:18pm

Before you do anything, check out the below link. This guy is great, I've bought a couple of courses from him in regards playing slide guitar.

This blog is great and in this link he does a makeover on his strat and turns it into a beast:

http://learningguitarnow.com/blog/tone/custom-shop-69-pickups-review/

Malice · 13-01-2012 1:20pm

Ravelleman already posted pretty much what I was going to

. Definitely save up and get another guitar. I picked up my Fender Strat for a small session last night and, having not played it in a long time, I'd forgotten its feel and sound. Mind you it took a while to adjust from my Agile 8 string. The neck felt awfully narrow!

Keyzer · 13-01-2012 1:30pm

Also, same guy with a Squier tele...

http://learningguitarnow.com/blog/slide-guitar/squier-classic-vibe-telecaster-review/

You don't have to spend mad money to sound good.

Malice · 13-01-2012 1:51pm

The biggest concern I have had with any Squier guitars isn't the sound but the feel. They just feel much too light. Now I certainly don't want a back-breaking old style Gibson but there's definitely a more acceptable middle ground.

Keyzer · 13-01-2012 2:24pm

Malice wrote: »

The biggest concern I have had with any Squier guitars isn't the sound but the feel. They just feel much too light. Now I certainly don't want a back-breaking old style Gibson but there's definitely a more acceptable middle ground.

I know, just making a point that you don't need to fork out thousands on a new axe...

The Squier custom tele is a great deal at 350...

Malice · 13-01-2012 6:03pm

Keyzer wrote: »

I know, just making a point that you don't need to fork out thousands on a new axe...

I totally agree with that. I played a few basses with price tags of over $5,000 when I was in Boston a couple of years ago. Now maybe I had my expectations set way too high but they didn't impress me that much. Lovely instruments to play and they did sound great too but they didn't sound better than a Musicman Stingray or an Ibanez Sound Gear (which I eventually bought

) who both retailed at a tenth of the price.

Ravelleman · 14-01-2012 12:28pm

Malice wrote: »

The biggest concern I have had with any Squier guitars isn't the sound but the feel. They just feel much too light. Now I certainly don't want a back-breaking old style Gibson but there's definitely a more acceptable middle ground.

I've never understood the weight thing with guitars. Personally, I love light guitars - they're so easy to play standing up. My G&L Legacy, a fine example of an S-style guitar, like most G&Ls, is heavier than equivalent Fenders. It's kind of annoying.

I often think the preference for heavy guitars is something psychological. If you shell out two grand on a Les Paul, you want it to feel solid, not like something made from plies of balsa wood. But the truth is, lighter lumber is more expensive.

I'd love to get me a 7lb G&L but such things rarely happen. My new ASAT Special Deluxe 'No Top' weighs in at 8.4lb, although the body is mahogany, not alder.

Ostrom · 14-01-2012 1:26pm

Thanks for all the input - decided to go with the pickup swap. Budget is limited so i'll probably just replace the bridge with a stack and get a switch fitted, and maybe have a go at replacing the bridge itself, money-permitting.

While ye're all here.... any preferences either for particular pickups or switches??

Keyzer · 17-01-2012 11:54am

Depends what kind of music you're into...

Ancient1 · 17-01-2012 1:17pm

Ain't none of that gonna make any difference if you don't have a decent amp. That's your foundation.

8k2q1gfcz9s5d4 · 17-01-2012 1:48pm

damonjewel wrote: »

If I were in your shoes with that budget I'd swap out the pickups for some meaty single coils and my choice would be the Bareknuckle Irish tour set

http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/main/pickups.php?cat=strats&sub=vintage_hot&pickup=irish_tour

They are going into my mex strat when i get the cash together!

OP i have these fitted to my american strat. they are the best pickups for what I play (rock/pop/indie cover band) the humbucker screams and squeels and the singe coils give an amazing clean sound.

Ancient1 wrote: »

Ain't none of that gonna make any difference if you don't have a decent amp. That's your foundation.

100% correct. only going to sound as good as your weakest link

Ostrom · 17-01-2012 2:28pm

I'm currently using a blackstar ht-5 which I'm quite happy with, although given noise restrictions, I cant regularly turn it up.

Like the look of those EMGs - did you have to do any routing before fitting?

hidinginthebush · 17-01-2012 2:36pm

You'd have to check yourself, some strats come routed to H/S/H, though my Jap Strat, for example, is S/S/S.

8k2q1gfcz9s5d4 · 17-01-2012 3:33pm

efla wrote: »

I'm currently using a blackstar ht-5 which I'm quite happy with, although given noise restrictions, I cant regularly turn it up.

Like the look of those EMGs - did you have to do any routing before fitting?

i actually bought the guitar when them on it, but nothing had to be routed. The battery fits in beside the pickup switch as well. There is no coil tap though, which would be nice

Swap out pickup or new guitar?

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