Mex Standard vs Tone Rider vs ???

BobTheSalmon

Hi folks
I have become a recent and fervent Strat player and my day to day gigging guitar is a 2004 Mexican Strat...

I would like to experiment with some different pickups, as the stock Mex ones can sound a little dead and "un-Stratty". I know that I like the sound of the Squier Classic Vibe 60s (I believe the p'ups are Toneriders?) and the Fender Classic Series.

What are your best suggestions for replacements?

stimpsonslostson

Oil City. Everything I've had from Ash has been stellar. 

BobTheSalmon

stimpsonslostson said:

Oil City. Everything I've had from Ash has been stellar. 

Thanks! Have heard of the brand before - will check em out!

Revolting1

Pribora voodoo

 Better than all the stock strat pups or others I've tried

Cant say if they're comparable to Ash's as I've not tried his yet.

BobTheSalmon

Revolting1 said:

Pribora voodoo

 Better than all the stock strat pups or others I've tried

Cant say if they're comparable to Ash's as I've not tried his yet.

Blimey, cheap too! Thanks!

Corvus

Another shout for Priboras, thought they were great.

rossi

Toneriders are fine and have differing sets for differing sounds .They are fitted  stock to Chinese Classic Vibes and do a good job .My own partscaster has Maida Vale strat pickups for a warmer jazzy blues sound on the neck A3,A4 middle ,A2 bridge, pickup  while still retaining a definitive strat sound ..

skullfunkerry

Irongear...

HAL9000

I’ve got a set of OilCity StoneTones (with a baseplate fitted to the bridge unit) fitted to my 2015 MIM Std Strat. I can’t recommend them highly enough - far more organic and richer sounding than the original ceramic jobbies but still recognisably Stratty.

(Also, around the same time the original alloy sustain block made way for a Callaham steel one. The differences are fairly subtle but definitely there. There is a slight increase in sustain as well as a bit more ‘zinginess’ to the sound.) 

This is now absolutely my go-to guitar and one I don't envisage ever selling.

merlin

Revolting1 said:

Pribora voodoo 

+1. I have a set in my Mexican Strat and they sound and feel excellent. Alnico 5s in a good way. 

I am sure that Oil City are amazing too but I have yet to try some. 

monquixote

Oil City are great.

Alegree are also good and very well priced.

OilCityPickups

HAL9000 said:

I’ve got a set of OilCity StoneTones (with a baseplate fitted to the bridge unit) fitted to my 2015 MIM Std Strat. I can’t recommend them highly enough - far more organic and richer sounding than the original ceramic jobbies but still recognisably Stratty.

(Also, around the same time the original alloy sustain block made way for a Callaham steel one. The differences are fairly subtle but definitely there. There is a slight increase in sustain as well as a bit more ‘zinginess’ to the sound.) 

This is now absolutely my go-to guitar and one I don't envisage ever selling.

Just to let folks know what StoneTones are: They use the half grade of wire between 42 and 43awg to maintain the tone while allowing the power to go up. 7.2k 7,2k and 10k at the bridge. Think Pink Floyd style at the bridge ... SRV style in neck and middle ...