The Best Strat Pickups Ever?!
Radioshop Id Chris Buck Pickups with custom 9.5 inch radius
This journey all started when I bought my American strat. It was the guitar I had always wanted and it sounded great in the store. However when I got it into the band situation, I found myself very underwhelmed. The 2 and 4 positions were almost unusable and the rest of the guitar was just average. Not to mention it seemed like it had issues with string to string volume balance. (Where the G string was just far louder than any other.) I had read that this was because Fender were still making the pickups with vintage stagger like they did in the 50’s. The only difference, was now days our G strings aren’t wound and the magnet has much more pull on a none wound string. Which makes the G far louder.
The fact is until I replaced the pickups I don’t think I had played a gig on it for 9 months. Not because it was a bad guitar it just wasn’t as good as some of my other guitars. (Namely my G and L Asat)
So I guess you’re wondering why it took me 9 months of not playing it to change the pickups. Well it’s was simple really, I have had very mix experiences with changing pickups. In fact out of the 4 guitars I have replace pickups in only 2 of them have not been a complete and utter waste of time and money. The last Fender I change pickups in end up being terminal and In the end I had to just sell the guitar.
This time I decided I would do it differently. I bought a new scratch plate and all the pots and connecters. And if I didn’t like it the fat 50’s would be back in before you could say waste of money.
Needless to say (because of the title of the blog) but these pickups are exceptional. The have amazing dynamics, perfect string to string balance and I just really love the way they sound.
Check out http://www.radioshoppickups.com/ for more info on the pickups and If you are thinking about wiring up your own gat check out. https://tonelounge.co.nz/brands/ObsidianWire%E2%84%A2.html to make your life a little easier.
Till next blog Nick