Need replacement Strat pickups

[Pearly Gator]

I want to swap out the PUPS in my MIM Standard Strat to get a Robin Trower type of sound. Think along the lines of the "Bridge of Sighs" album. I tried some Mighty Mite alnico strat pickups that measure 5.6K ohms but they sound thin and bright. Would an alnico strat pickup in the neighborhood of 6.6K ohms be a better choice? The Fender Fat 50's may get me there but I'm looking for something economical, too. I appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks,

PG

[refin]

There are so many variables to Robin's wonderful tone on "Bridge Of Sighs" (a musical masterpiece). I know from an interview in GP that of all the strats he used,he settled on 2 almost identical '66 models.He also said that he used the center pickup alone for just about everything.I don't know which strat he was using on "Sighs"---he also had some '50s models,but that might have been later. He would also record with a vintage Marshall 4-10 cab.
As far as pickups,you gotta know his were stock....perhaps a study of his signal chain would help too.I've seen weak pickups turned into snarling beasts with the right gain structure of pedals.If you've ever heard Ry Cooder or David Lindley using those weak Teisco and Danelectro/Kent pups,you know what I mean (especially Lindley).
Probably some '60s reissue pups would get you started---of course,make sure you have an alder body strat,or something close to Robin's.
He also stated that he raises the strings as high as he could take it,and was using .011 strings---as a matter of fact,he may have said something about that helping his tone.
On a side note,I was told a story by someone who saw Robin about 8 years ago.They said he played this club where heavy metal was prominent,and the house band (complete with Marshall stacks,about 4) warmed him up.They had this stage full of stuff! Robin's roadies brought out an old Marshall 4-10 cab and put it on a chair,and that with a Marshall head was Robin's basic setup....blew everyone away with tone.

As far as economical pickups, I would get in touch with Wolfe at www.wolfetone.com to get your present pups rewound....at $90 for the trio,you will get exactly what you want. Iam not affiliated with Wolfetone,just a happy customer.He will wind whatever you want.
Other than that,I've been seeing good reviews on some of the GFS stuff on ebay,and Kent Armstrong.

[Gino]

PG,

being a kid of the late 60ies and 70ies, Trower's tone (and that of many other strat players of that era) has been in my head for decades. A year ago or so I decided to get into the strat I bought for my son in 93 and has hardly been used by him (Am. Std.). I didn't like the stock pups so I spent quite some time investigating the various options. I'm very happy with the Bardens in my tele, but he was already out of business.
I finally ended up ith a set of Kinman AVn Blues which to me deliver the sound I was after. I also wanted something noiseless. They are not as ice-picky and have enough guts as they are slightly overwound.
The problem is though that no vintags stat sounds like another, IMHO.
Good luck searching

Gino

[Crunchyriff]

Van Zandt makes some superb Strat pickups. JM Rolphs might be a good bet, too. I love his PAF clones.

[Ascension]

The Carvin AP11`s are DIRT cheap and are warm and sweet .They are one of my all time favorite single coils and at $32.99 a pop are one of the best buys in the industry. Heck you can even get a full assembled pickguard with three AP11`s and the controlls allready wired and ready to install for $99 from Carvin and these things sound GREAT!!! Click here http://www.soundclick.com/bands/writePage.cfm?myType=music&bandid=261302&bandnamesave=theascension and listen to Blissfull that was done with my three AP11 Bolt and the solos were with my Carvin MTS combo.

[kewlpack]

Van Zandt makes some superb Strat pickups. JM Rolphs might be a good bet, too. I love his PAF clones.I had a Rowan RC3 that had Vintage+ pickups and they were pretty sweet!

[Pearly Gator]

Being a married musician who volunteers on a worship team, money is always tight. So, I did some research and settled on getting a Duncan Performer "Great White Snark" for Str@ocaster. It was $29 at GC. Wow! It sounded great in the neck position. Now this PUP is not available in RWRP and I've heard negative reviews on RWRP. So, I bought another Snark to try in the mid position. It gave instant Trower tones in my alder MIM Strat.

While I had the guitar apart, I shielded the body with copper tape from StewMac.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/pearlygator/Guitars/StratFoil.jpg

Next, I installed the pickups in my test pickguard. I have a third Snark on order so I put an old EMG SES humbucker in the bridge as a place holder. Having a test bed pickguard for a strat is real handy for pickup testing. This weekend I'll do a recording of the Duncan Performer Snarks and let everyone hear what they can do.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/pearlygator/Guitars/StratTest.jpg

Gary

[SAguitar]

I've never done a "Snark" yet, but I love the name! I am a huge fan of Chris Kinman's and have a Blues set and a Woodstock Plus set in two different Strats. But I gotta say, that my Carvin Bolt with their AP11's or with its optional pickguard which has two AP11's and a C22B humbucker can SRV, or Trower with the best of 'em. Get Toneified! :cool:

[Crunchyriff]

I would love to have a set of Kinmans or Callaham's cryogenic-treated Fralins that Nick has been raving about.

That being said, just having another nice set of VanZandts in the right strat would keep a smile on my face.

Nice shielding job, bruddah. An ounce of prevention=___________. :angel

The only thing I dislike about using that stuff is you have to be VERY careful not to cut yourself on it (voice of humbled experience speaking..) but it does a great job of keeping thangs quiet; even better, imho than 'shielding' paint which is no slouch either.

[SAguitar]

You sho' got that right! I've done that treatment to 3 or 4 of my guitars (can't remember), and got nice little fingertip cuts each time. The edges are so sharp you don't even realize you're cut until you notice blood all over your fine work. It does seem to do a nice job of shielding. I've been told that I should go back in and tab solder all the pieces together to really seal it. Makes sense, in the overlapping areas, the adhesive is actually between the copper layers, and not contributing to right result. :cool: