Recommendations for Strat pickups?

EFinFLA · #1 August 19th, 2006

Without breaking the bank, I'd like to get some new pickups for an old Epiphone strat clone I just bought. Not looking for anything too unusual sound-wise, just nice quality. Thanks!!

GuitarJim · #2 August 19th, 2006

See if you can pick up some used American Standard Fender pickups on E-Bay. I replace the pups in my MIM Standard with American Standard for about $50. Made all the difference in the world.

JC

Dobro · #3 August 19th, 2006

It's going to depend on the flavor of music you'll play most with it. I'm really into blues and southern rock, and find the Texas Specials to be my preferred single coil.

OldG · #4 August 19th, 2006

I gotta give GFS pickups a mention again... quality and affordable >>Link to GFS Strat pickup page

Ultimate Garage Band · #5 August 19th, 2006

For single coils, I like the Carvin AP11 and you can get them used on ebay fairly cheap. I also use their single coil sized humbucker called the Twinblade. Again, I got mine on ebay.

PhilUSAFRet · #6 August 19th, 2006

If you can do a little soldering and small parts assembly, you can build your own with a StewMac Kit and windem however you like them really cheap! Otherwise, I'd go for some good used ones. I even saw a used Lace Sensor Gold on Ebay, last price was about $15 bucks. People always removing great pickups for better ones.

allthumbs · #7 August 19th, 2006

Armstrongs are good but, pricey.

wjp01908 · #8 August 19th, 2006

Seconded allthumbs. Though here in the UK they seem better value than other makes.

Will

Andy S · #9 August 19th, 2006

UGB said, "For single coils, I like the Carvin AP11 " I gotta 2nd that one!! A kid at our church has a Johnson Strat knock-off and put one of those in as well as a couple of other (sorry , don't recall what they were) but the Carvin has the smoothest tone I've heard in a long time.

If I were to re do my strat, that's what I'd go with, hands down. Just my 2 cents worth.

EFinFLA · #10 August 19th, 2006

Cool. Thanks for the ideas guys. I have seen Armstrongs cheap on Ebay, and I never would have given Carvins a thought. I drool over their guitars though!

PhilUSAFRet · #11 September 7th, 2006

Check these guys out. Have my eye on several. http://store.guitarfetish.com/singlecoil.html
Hello again from Satellite Beach.

cshude · #12 September 7th, 2006

I picked up a set of EMG Texas Special copies, pre-installed with a new pickguard, pots, switches for my strat copy. I'm very happy with them, they growl pretty good! Got those from ebay (seller id: frankrocks) for $55 after shipping.