Hey guys, first post here. I've scoured the internet and can't really find the information I'm looking for. In a few weeks I'll probably be acquiring a lake placid blue HSS strat. With a humbucker in the bridge am I going to lose that surf tone? Can I just use the middle pup instead? Believe it or not, I've never played a strat before so I just wanted to get you guys opinions on it. Thanks a million.
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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »
Strat middle pup?
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Joined: May 01, 2014 Posts: 3 |
Posted on Feb 01 2015 11:01 PM
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Joined: Apr 26, 2010 Posts: 882 central Indiana 
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Posted on Feb 01 2015 11:13 PM
Welcome. Glad to have you with us. Nice looking guitar. I have always thought Lake Placid blue was a sharp looking color. I really like that Strat. You will be fine with an HSS. If you are not satisfied with the sound from the bridge pickup, try using the neck pickup and pick the strings closer to the bridge. That will get you a good substitute. Later, |
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Joined: May 01, 2014 Posts: 3 |
Posted on Feb 01 2015 11:26 PM
Thanks a ton Norm. |
Joined: Jan 09, 2014 Posts: 615 Vancouver BC 
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Posted on Feb 02 2015 01:07 AM
I use Strats for surf gigs and the middle pickup (position 3) is the one I use if the bridge tone has too much bite for the matching the sound on the record or that I am looking for. I find that, with surf, the in-between position of #2 and #4 are rarely if ever used. Lorne Last edited: Feb 02, 2015 01:08:38 |
Joined: Dec 11, 2013 Posts: 2537 Akron, Ohio
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Posted on Feb 02 2015 03:51 AM
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Joined: Dec 24, 2013 Posts: 145 Maribor 
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Posted on Feb 02 2015 05:02 AM
A Mosrite bridge pickup would be an interesting option in a Strat. I'm not sure if they are being made yet, but Curtis Novak appears to be working on one: Novak Mosrite pickups — |
Joined: Mar 30, 2011 Posts: 388 Copenhagen 
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Posted on Feb 02 2015 05:26 AM
I've been playing surf with strats for 5 years and I use the middle pickup 99% of the time. I only use the other positions in very few songs or parts of songs. I don't believe the "surf tone" resides at the bridge pickup, but nomatter how harsh, the bridge strat tone is something I'd miss in a HSS strat. —https://zakandthekrakens.bandcamp.com/ |
Joined: Jan 04, 2011 Posts: 1588 Berlin L-Berg 
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Posted on Feb 02 2015 07:15 AM
shake_n_stomp wrote:
What??? You must be kidding Last edited: Feb 02, 2015 07:16:47 |
Joined: Mar 15, 2011 Posts: 8528 Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Feb 02 2015 07:27 AM
Welcome to sg101, Reverb_jones! Glad you're here. BTW, the very famous and unquestioned surf guitarist extrordinaire, Paul Johnson, uses a Strat with a bridge humbucker. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rBnmEx6tkhU —This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got. |
Joined: Jul 31, 2012 Posts: 4052 Nashville, TN.
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Posted on Feb 02 2015 09:15 AM
Welcome to SG101. Cheers, http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic |
Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 10331 southern Michigan
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Posted on Feb 02 2015 11:32 AM
For me, the middle pickup on a Strat is where I am 80-90% of the time when playing surf music. It was also the most commonly used pickup setting by the Strat masters of yore: Hank Marvin, Dick Dale, Jim Skiathitis and Theo Penglis of the Atlantics. Between the middle and neck, you're pretty much covered for most of what you need. You can easily play surf music without ever using your Strat's bridge pickup (though it IS nice to have that option on occasion). —Ivan |
Joined: Jul 24, 2012 Posts: 2762 Finknabad, Squinkistan 
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Posted on Feb 02 2015 12:46 PM
I built a Teisco with vintage Kawai p'ups front & back and a Strat in middle, with 3 on/off switches. The Strat p'up is lightyears better than the other two in any combination and I use it almost exclusively. — |
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Joined: May 01, 2014 Posts: 3 |
Posted on Feb 02 2015 02:34 PM
Thanks a lot for all the advice and warm welcomes! And that settles it, I'm definitely going with the HSS now. Worst comes to worst I'll get a new pickguard and bridge pup. |
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Joined: Jan 09, 2014 Posts: 615 Vancouver BC
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Posted on Feb 02 2015 02:55 PM
SanchoPansen wrote:
Well, I didn't say one cannot use the 2 & 4 positions! To my ear, using either positions 1/3/5 to me (IMVHO/YMMV, etc) are my sweet spots for playing instro/surf. Perhaps these tones were the ones most in use because up until 1977 fewer guitarists used the 'in-between' tones because the stock pickup selector was only a 3-way (although the in-between tones could be obtained mid-throw between each 'click'). - hey, just a theory! —Lorne |
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Joined: Nov 16, 2013 Posts: 4536 Wisconsin
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Posted on Feb 02 2015 02:59 PM
Reverb_jones wrote:
Belated welcome to SG101. I LOVE the middle pickup on my Strat, probably on 70-75% of the time. Nice to have you aboard. —Wes DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices. |
Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 3806 North Atlantic
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Posted on Feb 02 2015 03:21 PM
I use all 3 pick ups, but I am playing on the neck and middle more often. The bridge p-up is great for the lower strings...extra twang. It depends on the amp I use, the amp's settings, the room, my mood, etc. Try the humbucker too. If it sounds good, you have another option. Use your ears, not your eyes, and enjoy the new guitar! Rev —Canadian Surf |
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Joined: Jan 09, 2014 Posts: 615 Vancouver BC
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Posted on Feb 02 2015 03:55 PM
A bit off-topic, but the standard Fender Strat tone knobs do not affect the bridge P/U. A very easy soldering mod of adding a very short jumper at the 5-way selector turns tone#2 into also controlling the bridge P/U (in addition to controlling the middle). So, that sometimes 'bright, brash, strident' bridge P/U can be mellowed-out a bit. And if you want to go 'full-throttle', use a no-load pot for the tone pots. —Lorne Last edited: Feb 02, 2015 15:56:45 |
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Joined: Mar 30, 2011 Posts: 388 Copenhagen
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Posted on Feb 02 2015 04:16 PM
IvanP wrote:
That comes as a surprise to me, I thought that Hank Marvin and Jim Skiathitis used the bridge pickup most of the time. Everyday I learn something new! https://zakandthekrakens.bandcamp.com/ |
Joined: Dec 11, 2011 Posts: 2132
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Posted on Feb 02 2015 05:30 PM
I don't know squat but I keep learning all the time here. Someday I might get all the way to squat! |
Joined: Mar 04, 2006 Posts: 215 West Hartford, CT
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Posted on Feb 02 2015 07:02 PM
I have a couple strat look-alikes and the middle pickup sound has been my most-used, too. —http://www.aquatudes.com |
I love 2+4 for super clean tones and I suppose they are used quite often.
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