Which neck & middle pick-ups??

[tommyh]

Folks,

I have a couple of HM strats. One has a Dimarzio Super 3 (Dimarzio - Made in USA baseplate, black hex slugs, 24kohms) and the other has the 'other' type of humbucker ('textrured' bobbin tops, 13kohms and two adjustment screws on the base side - which to me is a characteristic of 'Fender' humbuckers). Anyhow both sound pretty good. The DMS3 is beefy but quite bright (considering), the 'Fender' is quite 'brash' (in-your-face in a good way) and not worse, but a bit different.

So I am looking for some suitable 'single coils' to acompany the DMS3. At the moment I have a pair of Seymour Duncan SSL-5s, which aren't bad but I think might go better in the 'other' HM with the Fender HB. So what would be good in the neck & mid positions with the DMS3??

Some people regard manufacturers to have certain characteristics (I don't know if Seymour Duncans sound different to DiMarzios?) - so I thought I would go with DiMarzios. I'm not looking for a particularly 'stratty' sound but something that goes well with the DMS3. I rather like the look of the 'rails' affairs (all black - match the DMS3 - looks are important!) so the choices would seem to be:

• Fast Track 2 - the SC equivalent of the S3 - would this be too dark/ strong in neck or mid?
  
• Tone Zone S - looks to be 'darker'??
  
• Air Norton S - a bit lower output
  
• Others - eg Pro Track, Chopper...??
  

Actually, I don't really know - so what do you think?

Cheers, T.

[heem6]

Here are some very well-reviewed pickups that aren't marked up 200 - 300% like the major brands.

Hot Rails Clones:
www.guitarpartsonline.com/index.php?cPath=124_131

Alnico, Noiseless, Texas style:
www.guitarpartsonline.com/index.php?cPath=124_125

Vintage, 60's and Blues sets:
www.tonerider.com/pickups/stratpickups.html

[Any progress]

tommyh,

Did you decide on the pickups to use?

I'm new here and I'm rehabbing my black/silver HM, part of which is replacing the pickups.

[enigmachrysalis]

I'm the "guest" that posted above. . .

I think I'm going to have an Air Norton S installed in the neck, and I'm still looking for the middle replacement.

[tommyh]

enigmachrysalis

Hi, I haven't really decided yet - I'm scanning e-bay to see what comes up. An Air Norton S might not be bad - I see it in the neck position of the Ibanez RGR465M (with a D Activator in the bridge) I haven't hear/ played one.

Any other suggestions anyone?

Cheers, T.

[enigmachrysalis]

I have a full size Air Norton in my '98 RG3120 Prestige. I really like the smooth lead sound and the crunch is nice too.

I think Greg Howe has used one in the neck position.

It seems like a Fast Track 1 or Pro Track matches well in the middle (excluding true SC's) according to the "Find My Pickup" tool on the Dimarzio site.

Did you guys have a preference b/t those 2?