Baseplates on SC Pups

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Has anyone here tried fitting a baseplate to a Strat bridge pup?

https://www.singlecoil.com/baseplates.php

If so, whadaya think? Is it an improvement?

My main Strat doesn't need it cos there's a SD JB Mini in the bridge, but I have another Strat that I'm considering this mod for.

[pun]Your feedback is welcome[/pun]

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It's part of what makes a Tele bridge pup different from a Strat pup. There's also the magnets and the wind, but the baseplate makes a huge difference... something about having more magnetic mass adds beef. Seymour Duncan's Twangbanger works on this principle. It's easy enough to try it out for yourself: just find a bit of steel and attach it (double-sided tape works great for this experiment) and see if you like it.
Wait... loot _then_ burn? D'oh!

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I've always meant to try it out. I have an oldish Kawai Aquarius with a pair of single coils which sound great and these come with metal plates fitted so I always wondered about adding plates to my pretty meh sounding Strats. The Kawai is the only Stratty thing I have which I think sounds better than OK (despite having a couple of "real" Fenders and a Squier JV). It'd be nice to be a bit more scientific with a before and after recording.

Sorry for not answering your question properly but there does seem to be something to the metal baseplate thing.

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Thanks for your replies. I think I'll give it a try.

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Currently trying to turn noise into music. :neutral: Is boutique the new old?

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The best price I've seen are at Axesrus
Focusing Plates - For Single Coils
Prices From: £2.88 Inc VAT
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I need some twang from my strat copy.
Currently trying to turn noise into music. :neutral: Is boutique the new old?

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The Noodlist wrote: Sat Mar 20, 2021 12:41 am The best price I've seen are at Axesrus
Focusing Plates - For Single Coils
Prices From: £2.88 Inc VAT
Thanks for the heads-up :tu:

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A pickup swap might be an alternative to bases plates from singlecoil.com which need a minimum purchase of €20 excl delivery.
I came across a brand of pickups I'd previously never heard of, Ironstone Pickups. £40 ~ £50 per Strat set.
https://ironstone-guitar-pickups.co.uk/
Stratocaster Guitar Pickups: Summary of styles

Silver grade – Classic rock tones:
The Alnico V 7.2K 'Hot' Bridge and 5.9K neck and middle configuration is particularly suited to playing that emphasizes warm, Blues or ‘rock’ styles but with the added grunt of the higher Bridge output when you want it.
Gold grade – Clean 60's & Shadows tones:
Classic Alnico vintage tones in all positions. Featuring slightly over-wound 5.7K Bridge & Neck with 5.4K Middle is designed to give especially clean warm tones, so great for playing that aims to capture those vintage classic Blues or ‘clean’ styles.
Platinum Grade – High output rock + good Cleans:
Benefitting from hotter pickups in the middle and neck (7.4 / 7.3K) and a real spanking hot rod in the bridge (8.4K) position. This combination of higher resistance Alnico V pickups is particularly suited to playing styles that emphasize gritty higher output Classic Rock or dirty Blues tones, yet are still able to produce silky smooth warm tones when dialled back a little.
Hybrid Grade – 'The sound of an Era’:
With a combination of a huge 9.1K bridge and 7.7K middle and neck, the Hybrids are designed to capture the tones of the Fender late 60's early 70's Strat era. Add the vintage style pole piece stagger and 43 AWG windings as the Texas Specials and you have a very meaty pickups set with great sensitivity. Think artists of the era like Hendrix, Gallagher and Trower and you will get an idea of the tone range these are aimed at.

Replacement cover sets for the Ironstone Stratocaster range are also available in White, Cream (Aged White), or Black.
https://youtu.be/kGcJiEVpPRw Ironside Gold
https://youtu.be/kuld2JaBEfw
Currently trying to turn noise into music. :neutral: Is boutique the new old?

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The Noodlist wrote: Tue Mar 23, 2021 12:02 amI came across a brand of pickups I'd previously never heard of, Ironstone Pickups.
Interesting 8)

There are a few videos on YT. Checking them out now.

:tu:

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Andywanders wrote: Fri Mar 26, 2021 2:22 am
The Noodlist wrote: Tue Mar 23, 2021 12:02 amI came across a brand of pickups I'd previously never heard of, Ironstone Pickups.
Interesting 8)

There are a few videos on YT. Checking them out now.

:tu:
I have a set Tonerider Pure Vintage in my Japanese Tokai Strat, and, I've never truly been happy with them (gotta check the wiring).
These Ironstone pickups come across as more appealing to me. Those authentic, classic tones can be heard in the video clips. I especially like the sound of the Gold.

A set at DCR 6.5k would be nice like the Hendrix and SD SSL-1 set.
Currently trying to turn noise into music. :neutral: Is boutique the new old?

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The Noodlist wrote: Fri Mar 26, 2021 7:25 am
Andywanders wrote: Fri Mar 26, 2021 2:22 am
The Noodlist wrote: Tue Mar 23, 2021 12:02 amI came across a brand of pickups I'd previously never heard of, Ironstone Pickups.
Interesting 8)

There are a few videos on YT. Checking them out now.

:tu:
I have a set Tonerider Pure Vintage in my Japanese Tokai Strat, and, I've never truly been happy with them (gotta check the wiring).
These Ironstone pickups come across as more appealing to me. Those authentic, classic tones can be heard in the video clips. I especially like the sound of the Gold.

A set at DCR 6.5k would be nice like the Hendrix and SD SSL-1 set.
I found another...

http://www.irongear.co.uk/index.html

Similar prices to the Ironstone - and they both have 'Iron' in the name.

:?

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Andywanders wrote: Fri Mar 26, 2021 9:03 am I found another...

http://www.irongear.co.uk/index.html

Similar prices to the Ironstone - and they both have 'Iron' in the name.

:?
:)
Around the price of Tonerider £70 ~ £90.

I've used various brands and the one that surprised me the most are Homeland mini humbuckers that were sub £30 a set, now increased. Also, sound great when split. I've since changed that original bridge to a smaller spacing.
viewtopic.php?f=102&t=283874&p=7478048& ... ent7478048
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There's loads on that auction site.
1 Set of Noiseless Pickup Alnico V Vintage Single Coil pickup £21 for a set
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-Set-of-Noi ... Sw7MNcPVWq
3 Pcs Single Coil Pickup Belcat Alnico V Vintage for Electric Guitar Replacement
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-Pcs-Single ... Sw~xVaugng
I put 2 of these in Squier and they're not bad.
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Currently trying to turn noise into music. :neutral: Is boutique the new old?

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Might be worth a dabble.
LYWS 3PCS Alnico 5 Single Coil Pickup SSS for Start ST Guitar Alnico V £18.95
Resistance: N/M/B: 5.4K/5.4K/5.6K
https://www.amazon.co.uk/LYWS-Alnico-Si ... cialty-aps
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Currently trying to turn noise into music. :neutral: Is boutique the new old?

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Currently trying to turn noise into music. :neutral: Is boutique the new old?

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Tried a baseplate on the bridge on a Tokai MIJ Strat copy. The one I used is made of steel from Axesrus. The PU is a Tonerider Pure Vintage, I didn't like it, it took some of the sparkle away, especially in position 2. It also sounded more resonant and flat, I removed it.

I had issues soldering a ground wire to the plate, so, I bared the wire and threaded it through a hole in the plate and secured it with metal foil tape.
Baseplate.jpg
I managed to kill the neck PU trying to add a baseplate, it looks in tact, It might have flexed when screwing through both the plate and the PU with the mounting screws. :cry:

In hindsight, I don't think they are worth it. You might get more of an a improvement with no-load tone pots for that tiny bit extra.
Currently trying to turn noise into music. :neutral: Is boutique the new old?

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