Favorite Humbuckers for Strat-Style guitars

[Drywsef]

I should mention that I am looking mostly for a bridge position humbucker. I work mostly with indie to hard rock music. I had a Seymour Duncan SH2 neck and SH4 Bridge. I like the SH2, but I have found the SH4 bridge to be very nasally.

[catfishmusic]

So many....really depends on what kind of tone within those genres you're going for and how much you want to spend. Are you looking for PAF type deal, or something hotter? Balanced tone? Compressed? If someone asked me to pick a bridge humbucker for a strat that would cover a lot of bases, I'd go with a Suhr SSV.

[Drywsef]

Oh boy... hard to describe what I am going for. Clear, fat, driven; even though to fist two compete sometimes. Not sure if that is any help. Thanks so much.

[the reverend]

TV Jones classic or classic plus, would be my first choice.

[catfishmusic]

If you want to stick with Duncan, based on what your describing, I'd get a 59 or Alnico II.

[gouge]

i don't mind the jb myself. the jagstang in the studio has one in bridge.

the tv jones is probably one of my favourite pickups. but it may also have some of that nasal sound you're describing as it's got some twang to it. i'd put it on the list though.

the gibon 498t might be more what you're after? maybe.
fender dragster might be what you're after?

[cooker]

I guess you'd want something (some-what) fat sounding but not to much output to complement the single coils.

I'm a dimarzio guy but for info steve lukather just released passive dimarzio's, I also like andy timmons tone and this is a nice video for pick-up demonstration;

Andy Timmons- Cry For you - YouTube

[Drywsef]

Great suggestions here - thanks everyone. The funny thing is that when I check sound samples on the Seymour Duncan site, I really like the JB (SH-4). It just doesn't seem to be jiving with my guitar. Could the nasal-ness have something to do with the potentiometer or capacitor values in my strat? I realize too that the JB will (of course) sound different in my guitar than in whatever they used on the site. If I could get the JB sounding closer to how it does on the site, I would be happy.

[catfishmusic]

The JB is quite nasally....Some guys love that tone. I personally hate it. I swapped my JB out for a 59 and it stayed happily in my guitar for a few years, until I got the boutique pickup bug.

[TurboJets]

Played a Duncan Lil' 59 for a few years and loved it.

Bill Lawrence noiseless singles are my faves now but would never diss the 59.

Yep, also the pups in the Lukather guitars are fantastic for clean ambient or prog.

[CJ1973]

Read up on producer Glen Ballards Humbucker 70s strat that he used on Alanis. It's versatile and inspirational.
Asa producer, I'm looking to do that at a certain point, but for now went for individual pieces.
- I have a Fender custom Tele
- a Jap strat with Arcane pickups for the cutty but thin strat sounds
- a Historic LP R8 for the traditional Gibson fat sound
- a Jazzmaster for the fatter single coils that could almost sound p90
- a 68 Coronado for it's open sound

I still need the sound and veratiloty of an SG and an ESS and perhaps a P90 in a LP Jnr but that covers most of my basis, add variety of pedal options, a few amps, a few mics and micing techniques and then add software help and me bing open to great guitarists for harder parts or certain projects, I have my bases covered for now.
Only wish is to have the jack of all trades...,

[Amber]

Check out a Lace Sensor Red pickup. It's single coil size, silent, sounds really round and fat without losing clarity. Cleans up real nice too.

[RobFlemingMusic]

I am putting a Lollar Imperial in the bridge of my Strat and a Lollar firebird in the neck. It's gonna be sweet me thinks.

[Fu Schnickens]

I had a strat with Duncan JB for a long time and I never liked the quacky nasal quality it had, though the harmonics are great. Got a new Mexi strat and I put a Duncan Custom Custom (yes, 2 "Custom"s). Their description calls it good for thickening up a thin guitar and, though my strat was not particulary thin, it now has more beef. Fat, hot, great overtones and harmonics, and no nasal quack. Paired with a JB Jr. in the neck, that strat rocks my socks.