Strat pickup suggestions for clean 80s funk/RnB?

[Kameo]

Looking for a set of single coil pickups to help get that clean and shiny tone of 80s funk/RnB/Post disco/Boogie/City Pop/etc. I know it's mostly in the DI but, concerning pickups,
the stock pickups on my mim fender strat are ok, but I'm curious about other pickup options and a I came across a couple that sound good. If you have any experience with these, let me hear what you think of them.

What I've liked so far from what I've found:

Fender CS 69
Fender 57/62
Lindy Fralin Vintage Hot
Lace Sensor Gold

Some style examples:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-eCNM-TmhY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfO3DsCnJh4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOMSVQsVsEY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-lOm3iLLkU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBSxtLCMKKw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsDYjOu_i1Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5Zjrcp45gI

Thanks,
Kameo

[chrisstiles]

The grand-daddy of that sound (Nile Rodgers) mostly played with a strat straight into the board (sometimes with an ART Powerplant), neck pickup wound up really high (going to have a naturally compressive effect on the sound).

There's obviously changes you can make, but have you just tried varying the rest of the signal path to see how close you get?

[Kameo]

There's obviously changes you can make, but have you just tried varying the rest of the signal path to see how close you get?

I have tried a couple of different things outside of my DAW and inside, and gotten close, but not quite there. The only thing I haven't tried is the NYLE pedal, but I've heard some bad things about it. I've played on a similar strat with a 57/62 set running through my setup and that got me pretty close, but like I said, there are so many options out of what I found that I thought I would ask what out of that list is going to be the most solid.

[BertKoor]

You can try (borrow?) a telecaster with some compression leaving a bit of the attack. Very funky.

[Kameo]

You can try (borrow?) a telecaster with some compression leaving a bit of the attack. Very funky.

Not possible, unfortunately.

[chrisstiles]

There's obviously changes you can make, but have you just tried varying the rest of the signal path to see how close you get?

I have tried a couple of different things outside of my DAW and inside, and gotten close, but not quite there. The only thing I haven't tried is the NYLE pedal, but I've heard some bad things about it. I've played on a similar strat with a 57/62 set running through my setup and that got me pretty close, but like I said, there are so many options out of what I found that I thought I would ask what out of that list is going to be the most solid.

I think it's easy to get too hung up on the guitar and pickups, as if you look at what various players used it varies *a lot*, see this clip/spiel on David Williams: https://youtu.be/JsA6WWO5D4c?t=108

Full clip here: https://youtu.be/JQBaOH7Zeug

The clip from the TV show is one where he's playing what looks like an early Starfield. I'm guessing most of it is style of playing/damping and outboard effects over specific strat/pickup combo.

[Kameo]

I think it's easy to get too hung up on the guitar and pickups, as if you look at what various players used it varies *a lot*, see this clip/spiel on David Williams: https://youtu.be/JsA6WWO5D4c?t=108

Full clip here: https://youtu.be/JQBaOH7Zeug

The clip from the TV show is one where he's playing what looks like an early Starfield. I'm guessing most of it is style of playing/damping and outboard effects over specific strat/pickup combo.

Thank you for posting those videos, I've never seen those and they're actually very enlightening.

I guess it's not as important, but since I have to get a new single anyway since I'm converting from hss to sss, I'll just grab the 69 set and focus on my technique more. Maybe look into that JHS premp pedal for some outboard help.

Side note: That Starfield is beautiful, paint and all.

[chrisstiles]

Thank you for posting those videos, I've never seen those and they're actually very enlightening.

I guess it's not as important, but since I have to get a new single anyway since I'm converting from hss to sss, I'll just grab the 69 set and focus on my technique more. Maybe look into that JHS premp pedal for some outboard help.

If you are looking for more vintage and vintage style options; the boutique end is Kloppman (https://www.kloppmann-electrics.com/en/ ... r-pickups/ ) though expect to pay nearly as much for a single pickup as you might for a full set.

Then there's Kinman and Van Zandt - I've tried both and each are 'convincingly vintage' in their own way if you are looking for something that sounds like a particular vintage.

And if you are working up technique, you may want to check out Cory Wong, he has a few short instructional videos on youtube, like this one:

https://youtu.be/jTo1B7ceIWo

[Kameo]

If you are looking for more vintage and vintage style options; the boutique end is Kloppman (https://www.kloppmann-electrics.com/en/ ... r-pickups/ ) though expect to pay nearly as much for a single pickup as you might for a full set.

Man those Kloppmann pickups sound incredible, definitely outside of my budget but those sound really really good. Thanks for the Cory video, Vulfpeck is definitely pretty funky.


EDIT: Ended up buying the Fender Custom Shop 69 set, thanks for the replies everyone. I appreciate the advice.

[chrisstiles]

Man those Kloppmann pickups sound incredible, definitely outside of my budget but those sound really really good. Thanks for the Cory video, Vulfpeck is definitely pretty funky.


EDIT: Ended up buying the Fender Custom Shop 69 set, thanks for the replies everyone. I appreciate the advice.

Also found this video today, which reminded me of this thread -- even if you don't have the UAD plugins (guess most people won't), the basic strategies used should be transferrable:

https://youtu.be/Z3fStcglxoQ

[codec_spurt]

ttr

[tapper mike]

EDIT: Ended up buying the Fender Custom Shop 69 set, thanks for the replies everyone. I appreciate the advice.

The perfect choice.. You don't want either high or low output what you want is medium. As much as I love lace sensors they aren't focused.

[The Noodlist]

EDIT: Ended up buying the Fender Custom Shop 69 set, thanks for the replies everyone. I appreciate the advice.

Cool, similar to ones fitted to the Nile Rodgers' Hitmaker by Fender Custom Shop.

[resynthesis]

Use a hardtail and watch this (I'm sure you have already)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gF1d227 ... e=emb_logo

[The Noodlist]

Use a hardtail and watch this (I'm sure you have already)

I wonder if the brass scratch plate has an effect on the pickups' sound and magnetic field.