Strat pickup recommendations

lincolnblue

I wonder if you can help. I have a strat copy guitar which I've had for about 23 years. It was a "Legend" branded guitar which was cheap and cheerful. It has sentimental value and us my no. 1. 
I love it but would love to upgrade the pickups to something more traditionally strat sounding. I play very clean with bit of drive. Think Chris Buck, Danish Pete, Mick from TPS etc.

A few questions:
1. What pickup sets would you recommend on the mid priced budget?

2. Is there anything I need to consider in terms of them fitting my guitar?

3. Is it a fairly easy enough DIY job to fit them?

munckee

It’s quite easy to change them if you can use a soldering iron. I would look at axes r us pickups, entwistle and there is a Russian chap on eBay that @poopot recommended but I can’t remember his name. 

crunchman

Tone Rider are good.

p90fool

Measure the cutouts in the scratchplate and the distance between the mounting holes, a lot of old far Eastern guitars are quite different to Fender sizes. 

poopot

munckee said:

It’s quite easy to change them if you can use a soldering iron. I would look at axes r us pickups, entwistle and there is a Russian chap on eBay that @poopot recommended but I can’t remember his name. 

That’ll be https://www.priborapickups.com/

phil_b

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bloodstone-Vintage-Hot-Alnico-V-Strat-Pickup-Set-Handwound-in-the-UK-/163145934864

I have a set of bloodstone vintage hot pickups for sale if interested. £50 posted

lincolnblue

phil_b said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bloodstone-Vintage-Hot-Alnico-V-Strat-Pickup-Set-Handwound-in-the-UK-/163145934864

I have a set of bloodstone vintage hot pickups for sale if interested. £50 posted

Which colour? 

lincolnblue

p90fool said:

Measure the cutouts in the scratchplate and the distance between the mounting holes, a lot of old far Eastern guitars are quite different to Fender sizes. 

Thanks. I'll do that first

lincolnblue

poopot said:

munckee said:

It’s quite easy to change them if you can use a soldering iron. I would look at axes r us pickups, entwistle and there is a Russian chap on eBay that @poopot recommended but I can’t remember his name. 

That’ll be https://www.priborapickups.com/

They seem very well priced. You'd recommend?

Lestratcaster

I've said this a few times on other threads but if you like the true-Strat type tone I love my Oil City StoneTones. Not overly expensive either.

lincolnblue

Lestratcaster said:

I've said this a few times on other threads but if you like the true-Strat type tone I love my Oil City StoneTones. Not overly expensive either.

Thanks. I shall check them out

poopot

lincolnblue said:

poopot said:

munckee said:

It’s quite easy to change them if you can use a soldering iron. I would look at axes r us pickups, entwistle and there is a Russian chap on eBay that @poopot recommended but I can’t remember his name. 

That’ll be https://www.priborapickups.com/

They seem very well priced. You'd recommend?

Yep... bought a set for a cheapo partscaster and ended up replacing a set of fralins in another and a set of fender custom shops in a third... no problem with ordering from him either.

wesker123

poopot said:

lincolnblue said:

poopot said:

munckee said:

It’s quite easy to change them if you can use a soldering iron. I would look at axes r us pickups, entwistle and there is a Russian chap on eBay that @poopot recommended but I can’t remember his name. 

That’ll be https://www.priborapickups.com/

They seem very well priced. You'd recommend?

Yep... bought a set for a cheapo partscaster and ended up replacing a set of fralins in another and a set of fender custom shops in a third... no problem with ordering from him either.

Which set did you go for?

phil_b

lincolnblue said:

phil_b said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bloodstone-Vintage-Hot-Alnico-V-Strat-Pickup-Set-Handwound-in-the-UK-/163145934864

I have a set of bloodstone vintage hot pickups for sale if interested. £50 posted

Which colour? 

aged white

markv

See also here for a thread a couple of months ago with some more recommendations: https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/164725/best-cheap-strat-pick-ups

We really are spoilt for choice!

lincolnblue

poopot said:

munckee said:

It’s quite easy to change them if you can use a soldering iron. I would look at axes r us pickups, entwistle and there is a Russian chap on eBay that @poopot recommended but I can’t remember his name. 

That’ll be https://www.priborapickups.com/

Are they good at answering questions to assist buying? 

stephen.wood125

+1 for Oil City. 

poopot

wesker123 said:

poopot said:

lincolnblue said:

poopot said:

munckee said:

It’s quite easy to change them if you can use a soldering iron. I would look at axes r us pickups, entwistle and there is a Russian chap on eBay that @poopot recommended but I can’t remember his name. 

That’ll be https://www.priborapickups.com/

They seem very well priced. You'd recommend?

Yep... bought a set for a cheapo partscaster and ended up replacing a set of fralins in another and a set of fender custom shops in a third... no problem with ordering from him either.

Which set did you go for?

The voodoo set.

FastEddie

Give Bare Knuckle a call. I did and they recommended a set which are awesome. 60's slab board. 
Buy cheap = pay twice.
I've no other direct experience with any other pup maker.
I've also got a Martyn Booth and tele with Bare Knuckle pups. Love them

Lestratcaster

FastEddie said:

Give Bare Knuckle a call. I did and they recommended a set which are awesome. 60's slab board. 
Buy cheap = pay twice.
I've no other direct experience with any other pup maker.
I've also got a Martyn Booth and tele with Bare Knuckle pups. Love them

I was tempted to put BKP's in mine when I had the SD everything axe set in there originally.

What ones were they? I liked the sound of the Irish Tours.

HAL9000

Lestratcaster said:

I've said this a few times on other threads but if you like the true-Strat type tone I love my Oil City StoneTones. Not overly expensive either.

Got StoneTones on my Strat. Very pleased with them.