New American Series Strat..Now what?

[jignant]

Yee Haw! I purchased a new red American Series Strat and have a few improvement ideas such as Sperzels and graphite saddles but want to load something in the treble pickup spot. Anyone have experience with SD's vintage rails? Should I replace all three pickups if I want to replace one? I don't want to ruin the guitars' inherent Strat tonal qualities but do want a little more output. I'm running it thru a Marshall DSL 50 head and 4x12 cab. The band is doing classic rock tracks, blues etc. Any pickup recommendations or minor mods to tighten up this guitar would be appreciated. Time to go jam!!!

[moonpie]

I don't mean to be condescending........
Why not play it for a little while? Adjust the stock pups. Try to like

them, if you don't, you can change them later.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. IMHO if you are gonna mod a guitar,

buy a used one.

OK, now that's out of the way....I'll give you $23.00 (American) for

the crappy pickguard assembly you take out of your new Strat. You're

gonna want to change the pickguard
http://www.thefenderforum.com/forum/...ight=pickguard


and the stock pots are shit, as is the switch. BTW, if you include the pickguard mounting screws (which you'll want to replace with titanium)
I'll give you $25.00 (American) for the whole assembly.

[dez]

Last week I traded a Mutron Phasor II, 80s Big Muff Pi and a 77 Strat (heavily customized) for a new chrome red AS Strat. The only thing I changed was the strings. A few adjustments here and there and things have been fine so far.

If I break alot of strings over the next few weeks maybe I'll put Graphtechs in but that should be about it.

[photoweborama]

MP... You’re just TERRIBLE!

By the way, I just bought a Chrome Red American Series Strat last Sunday, and so far I really like the stock pickups. I've played with the height a bit and did a full setup on it to the way I like and it sounds really good.

The stock pickups have a similar sound to vintage, but with more bottom and I think lower mids. I usually like vintage pickups, which have a lot of bell tones, and not as much bottom end. They are really good for recording because they sound crystal clear.

These have a decently clear sound, but have a fuller sound than the vintage type I usually play. I plan to leave them stock. I like em.

I have a new MiM FMT Strat that’s been completely hot rodded out that I intend to put vintage style pickups in so I can have both types of sounds out of the both of them.

I gave my old Strat to my 10 year old son and it has Kent Armstrong Tweed Tones in it. I LOVE them. Best I've found so far. I have a new set on the way for the FMT Strat. What makes it even sweeter is both sets were comped... WD has been VERY good to me!

[dez]

I decided to go with some noiseless pickups. The hum was too much for me to deal with. I don't even know what I have in my other strats (it's been a few years since they were put in) so I'll go and see what's cheap and put them in.

Too bad - they do sound nice. But I like quiet - works better when playing with dynamics and all.

[Kap'n]

Too bad - they do sound nice. But I like quiet - works better when playing with dynamics and all.

If you're really playing with dynamics, the noise isn't much of an issue.

[jignant]

Thanks for the replies. I have been putting this guitar thru the paces and I'm really surprised at how it's responding. No major tuning issues although I will still probably throw some Sperzels on it, the guitar's fit & finish feels solid as is. Although I'm used to a higher output pickup config, the guitar sounds warm & twangy, kind of like a Strat should... :rolleyes: I will take everyones advice and play it as is for a few weeks but for now, I am real happy with it and feel confident that it will be a worthy addition to the collection! It's great to be a strat cat again!!!

[dez]

Kap'n,
I know nothing about dynamics and how they're used. I'll stop posting here till I learn to play better.

[Kap'n]

Kap'n,
I know nothing about dynamics and how they're used. I'll stop posting here till I learn to play better.

Lighten up, dude.

[dez]

How bout I lighten up, you don't be a douche-bag>?;)

[Kap'n]

How bout I lighten up, you don't be a douche-bag>?;)

:troll :troll :troll :troll :troll :troll

[dez]

OK, you got me on that one. There is no response to naked miniature dudes with pink Don King hair. I submit...

[weelie]

I decided to go with some noiseless pickups. The hum was too much for me to deal with. I don't even know what I have in my other strats (it's been a few years since they were put in) so I'll go and see what's cheap and put them in.

www.billlawrence.com

[photoweborama]

Bill Lawrence does make great pickups the turn around time is long. I don't know what it is now, but it used to be about 3 months...

[MasterChief]

I think you should have bought a MIM strat.... if you're gonna spend all that money, then change evertyhing out it might of been smarter to get the cheaper one.

[photoweborama]

True, except the bridge and neck string spacing are a bit narrower. Changing them is big pain. You have to leave the neck and the nut.

The FMT strat in my avatar has been changed quite a bit... Shielded, US string tree, US neck plate, new pots and switch. Lace sensors (which I'm changing soon), Pearloid pickguard. US spaced bridge with steel block and titanium saddles.. But the body had to be plugged and then the new bridge put on after that...

I didn’t do any of the work, I bought it this way...

[dez]

I ended up putting some kind of DiMarzio Virtual Vintage pus in. They were $60 a piece and sound awesome. I am pleased! (still gotta work on that darned dynamics thing )

[Tonefreak]

I think you should have bought a MIM strat.... if you're gonna spend all that money, then change evertyhing out it might of been smarter to get the cheaper one.

YUP!