Lower out put pickups with the “Classic Strat” sound.

[djinn1973]

I picked up one of the new MIM strats a few months ago, and while I love the tone of the hotter pick ups, they drive my amps a little more then I would like. After having adjusted the action, (this all started when I noticed a slight buzz on the bass notes) and pickup hight I think that I would like to replace the stock pick ups with a set that will give me the “classic strat” tone with out driving my amps so hard. I would really appreciate any suggestions you all might have.

Thanks

[jinx667]

You could get most of the smaller manufacturers to custom wind a mellower pup for you.

[Kap'n]

"Classic Strat" is the sound of lower output pickups. Clean and bright.

[djinn1973]

Yeah I have been looking at pickups from GFS and Kinman. The Boston Blues owing to their description, seem to be worth a look and the sound clips for the Premium Alnico have gotten my attention. Along that line, the sound clips for the Kinman Blues set ain't half bad either. Near as I can tell; no where to go but up.
I feel like a kid in candy store.

[Kap'n]

Boston Blues? What's that, J. Geils?

[NeoFauve]

Boston Blues? What's that, J. Geils?

Maybe GFS' take on Tom Sholz-i-ness.

[melody]

Maybe GFS' take on Tom Sholz-i-ness.

Or, Steven Tyler and the boyz?

[djinn1973]

I'm not a fan of soundclips, it's really difficult to tell what they reallysound like.

Ain't that the truth.
At this point though, almost any thing is bound to be an improvement. One other thing, are the right hand pick ups going to "screw up" my tone? Or will the right handed stagger in a left handed guitar not make that big a difference?

[Camoradi]

One other thing, are the right hand pick ups going

Pickups are not 'handed', there is no bass end or treble end unless you buy some with a stagger.

[djinn1973]

I ended up going a completely different way; I just had a buddy of mine install some Vintage Hot Noiseless pickups that I had lying around for about four months.
They sound mellow and smooth, quite a bit more understated then I had imagined. Very happy with the results, primary among them being the ability to record while sitting close to my pc monitor.
Thanks to every one who took the time to answer this question

[bluespower]

I'm partial to the Jim Rolph '60 set.

Of course your guitar will play a big role in tone.