1

The Pickup Place / Should I swap out my Air Zone in my strat?

« on: April 28, 2016, 11:41:42 PM »

Hi all!

In my American Standard fat strat, I have an Air Zone bridge bucker, and two Fast tracks. The two tone pots are 250k and the volume pot is 500k. Oddly, my one tone knob goes to the Air Zone bridge bucker. Maybe I forget that I moved one tone to the bridge.

Just a few things.

I have the AZ tweaked fairly well but I keep feeling it could be a little brighter, a little punchier and a touch more output.

Since it would be a drop in swap, I am thinking of the Steve's Special or Breed bridge bucker.

Thoughts on these and my thoughts?

Finally, how would you guys set the tone pots? I really have no need for a tone pot on the neck pickup so maybe keep that one open. Or, is it best to open up the AZ by removing the tone pot connection.
And, any really benefit changing the tone pots to 500k even though I am pretty much a all pots on 10 guy.

Thanks!!!

Rich

2

The Pickup Place / Advice and opinions on what to do with my Air Zone loaded in my strat?

« on: April 28, 2016, 11:39:10 PM »

Hi all!

In my American Standard fat strat, I have an Air Zone bridge bucker, and two Fast tracks. The two tone pots are 250k and the volume pot is 500k. Oddly, my one tone knob goes to the Air Zone bridge bucker. Maybe I forget that I moved one tone to the bridge.

Just a few things.

I have the AZ tweaked fairly well but I keep feeling it could be a little brighter, a little punchier and a touch more output.

Since it would be a drop in swap, I am thinking of the Steve's Special or Breed bridge bucker.

Thoughts on these and my thoughts?

Finally, how would you guys set the tone pots? I really have no need for a tone pot on the neck pickup so maybe keep that one open. Or, is it best to open up the AZ by removing the tone pot connection.
And, any really benefit changing the tone pots to 500k even though I am pretty much a all pots on 10 guy.

Thanks!!!

Rich

3

The Pickup Place / Which pickup works best with Air Zone and FT1?

« on: June 07, 2015, 11:42:09 AM »

Hi guys,

I don't like the 54 Pros in my strat so I am replacing them. I just swapped a guy, one of my 54 Pros for his Fast Track 1.
I an AZ bridge and one FT1. I am not sure what other noiseless single to get nor where to place it.
I love Andy Timmons tone but I find the Cruisers too weak.
So I am hoping the Fast Tracks do me better.

What do you all recomend - another FT1? A Satch Track or Chopper? Which for middle and which for neck?

I know many times guys will use a weaker pickup in the middle. For me, I like using the middle sometimes alone, so I would think it should be hotter than normal.
I hear guys using Chopper middle and Fast Track 1 neck.

4

The Pickup Place / Stacked or Rails? Big difference? Suggestions?

« on: May 07, 2015, 11:28:29 AM »

Sorry to bring this up again, but this is the last time before I take the plunge!

I guess that is the issue with me - I am not, nor have I ever been a fan of single coil pickups. I hate playing them. I am not a fan of quack. Maybe I would prefer my middle and neck pickups be a mix of single and humbucker, but more humbucker-ish, maybe even P90-ish?

Now I often hear that stacked is a bad design and also sound more single coil than rail pickups. I hear rails are more humbucker than single.

I use a 500K volume and two stock 250 tone pots.

I do not like anything to sound hi-fi. That has been keeping me away from the Cruiser and Fast Track. I am thinking of a newer rail design like the DiMarzio Satch Track or the Chopper.

Maybe the bridge Air Zone, which I have - will work well with a Chopper and Satch Track.
Not being a single coil fan and actually tend to prefer the warmer split tones I get out of my PRS CE-22, than any singles I have had in my strats. If I can find the perfect P90 type stacked or rail pickups or the perfect blend of humbucker and single coil.

I don't like a weak pickup in the middle, like some players. I am not a fan of in between position tones, unless I am playing a Gibson or two humbucking guitar - then I enjoy the middle inbetween tones. I like having the bridwe - middle - neck, all being a bit different proving different tones. I know the position alone will impart its tonal character, so I am really saying that I only use those 3 positions on a strat. I tend to prefer hot bridge, lower output middle and lowest output neck. Having the same output or identical pickups in the middle and neck is fine as well!

I like the middle pickup to be slightly less output than the bridge pickup and the neck to be less output than the middle pickup. I like to be able to use all 3 pickups for clean to mean!

These are my thoughts - Bridge - Middle - Neck:

Air Zone - Chopper - Fast Track 1
Air Zone - Chopper - Satch Track
Air Zone - Satch Track - Fast Track 1
Air Zone - Satch Track - Satch Track
Air Zone - Injector bridge or Neck - Injector Neck

Suggestions or opinions?

Thanks!

5

The Pickup Place / One year with the Air Zone and 54 Pros = :(

« on: April 06, 2015, 05:15:29 AM »

Hi guys, can you help me get started on this set in my American HSS strat. After some time, it needs some changes. Too dark overall and all pots are 250K. I was thinking I could go with a prewired board with 3 stacked singles or even the Duncan Everything set. I want something more open.in the bridge slot, better cleans and brighter overall. Would this work well? Air Classic bridge slot, 54 Pro in both middle and neck positions.

Update - I installed a short shaft split shaft CTS 500k for volume. Wow, amazing. Great punch, clarity, tightness, single note runs while muting the strings are great. I have to stop trying to make single coils to work for my style. I must be true to myself. All my guitars will be without single coils. The 54 Pros sound so lame, weak next to my air zone.