Stratocaster pickup in my archtop

**p1p** · 10-26-2017, 01:55 PM

Hoping to get some opinions/advice on mounting a strat single coil neck pickup in my archtop. Anyone here ever done this? I'm very curious about the tone. I would have to use humbucker adapter rings like this:

Humbucker Rout adapter ring- Fits Strat pickup- Straight- THREE COLORS

Basically, I want a single coil tone - humbuckers just not for me - and happen to have a good strat pickup available. If it's a terrible idea I'll just wait until I can afford a humbucker sized p90 or something..

Cheers

**mr. beaumont** · 10-26-2017, 01:58 PM

What's your archtop? What's the pickup config now?

**p1p** · 10-26-2017, 02:02 PM

It's an Ibanez AFJ95 I just picked up. Humbucker neck and bridge.

**mr. beaumont** · 10-26-2017, 02:07 PM

Heck, I say why not? I wonder what a strat pup would sound like in an archtop!?

It'll probably not balance well with the bridge, but for jazz, that probably doesn't matter.

**docbop** · 10-26-2017, 02:10 PM

They have humbucker sized P90's and Charlie Christian PUP they are all single coil. I think Lindy Fralin has on he call the Big Single that is similar to Fender PUP in a humbucker size. In my tele it came with a neck humbucker I swapped it for a Lollar humbucker size Charlie Christian and I like the sound of that.

**p1p** · 10-26-2017, 02:12 PM

I never use the bridge, so that's not an issue. I really just want a single coil tone, regardless of pickup, and this one sounded great on my strat so... might it sound thin on the hollowbody?

**omphalopsychos** · 10-26-2017, 02:18 PM

Did anyone see Round Midnight (that movie with dexter Gordon). John McLaughlin plays an archtop with a tele pickup. Sounded sweet. Share clips if you do it!

**p1p** · 10-26-2017, 02:34 PM

Cool, will check it out.

I'd be taking the neck pickup from this set I've got: Fender Original 57/62 Fender Original 57/62 Strat Pickups | PMT Online

Can't seem to find any videos online of anyone doing this.

**mr. beaumont** · 10-26-2017, 02:41 PM

It's probably because strats suck

(just kidding, they're just not for me)

**docbop** · 10-26-2017, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

It's probably because strats suck

(just kidding, they're just not for me)

LOL I will agree with you. Over the years I'd own a strat for about six months then it gets traded for something. I have one now I've had for a few years because it has a BIG neck I like, but even it has become the guitar in the stand next to the TV. So for TV noodling or I get an idea for something while watching TV then the strat gets played.

**mr. beaumont** · 10-26-2017, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by docbop

LOL I will agree with you. Over the years I'd own a strat for about six months then it gets traded for something. I have one now I've had for a few years because it has a BIG neck I like, but even it has become the guitar in the stand next to the TV. So for TV noodling or I get an idea for something while watching TV then the strat gets played.

I just like the telecaster so much, any other solid body just...doesn't.

I do have a Jazzmaster though, and it's fun. The only guitar I own with a talent lever. Now a jazzmaster pickup on an archtop...ooooh....

**p1p** · 10-26-2017, 03:04 PM

You think the strat pickup on the archtop will just make it sound like a strat?

**JazzNote** · 10-26-2017, 03:20 PM

I would say it depends on the pickup. I have an American Strat and a Mexican. The American sounds thin and metallic, the Mexican sounds fat with much more body. I could imagine the Mexican on an archtop, but not the American.

**neatomic** · 10-26-2017, 03:34 PM

gfs (guitar fetish) has lots of single coil pickups in a humbucker mount...some of their gold foils, the surf 90, the mean 90, dream 90.. etc

heres a dream 90..you can see the strat sized bobbin coil

Stratocaster pickup in my archtop-6un66xv2tsczfgatfoq3ig-jpg

Stratocaster pickup in my archtop-6un66xv2tsczfgatfoq3ig-jpg

cheers

ps- and no a strat pup won't make it sound like a strat per se..but it will have all the attributes that make single coils so uniquely cool...including hum!! haha

**p1p** · 10-26-2017, 03:37 PM

Thanks for the input everyone, I couldn't be more on the fence at the mo

**neatomic** · 10-26-2017, 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by JazzNote

I would say it depends on the pickup. I have an American Strat and a Mexican. The American sounds thin and metallic, the Mexican sounds fat with much more body. I could imagine the Mexican on an archtop, but not the American.

mexican strats used a different pickup design...more p90-ish with slug pole pieces and a bar magnets below the bobbin...the classic american strat pickup uses magnet pole pieces...that's why mexican strats used 500k pots, instead of the traditional usa strat 250k

i like'm better too..nastier!!! haha

there are some pickup makers that make grade A versions in that style

cheers

mexican strat pup-

**mr. beaumont** · 10-26-2017, 03:48 PM

Originally Posted by p1p

You think the strat pickup on the archtop will just make it sound like a strat?

No, not at all. I think it's a fun idea. You should get the punch and clarity of the single coil...without the "sproinginess" of a strat.

My anti-strat comments are more silly than anything, I'm the resident Strat hater and Bigsby naysayer

**neatomic** · 10-26-2017, 03:52 PM

mr. B's public enemy #1-- ry cooder ...haha

cheers

**mr. beaumont** · 10-26-2017, 03:54 PM

Lol, I love Ry!

**Cavalier** · 10-26-2017, 05:02 PM

What do you think about putting a double/single coil switch on a humbucker? Not quite the same because of the magnets but close and versatile.

For the record one of the pickups on my electric cello is based on a strat pickup and it sounds good. To get the response remotely close to even with the curved bridge the outer magnets are pushed down and the center pole piece extension is a bent beer bottle cap. Finding the right beer cap took some sampling.

**docbop** · 10-26-2017, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by p1p

You think the strat pickup on the archtop will just make it sound like a strat?

No, the traditional strat sound has lots to do with the wangbar bridge, all the wood routed out for the whammy thing, and the springs for the talent lever ( never heard that term before love it).

**JPG** · 10-26-2017, 05:28 PM

I'd love to see a Strat pickup on an archtop -and going wild with the pickup ring/mounting device!

Incidentally, I added my AFJ95 neck pickup to a Telecaster and it sounds super.

To my AFJ95 neck position I added a Bare Knuckle "Manhattan" - which is a P90 in humbucker-size -and that's the best sounding pickup I ever played. If you want an old-style Jim Hall sound with great clarity, this is it.

Enviado do meu ALE-L21 através de Tapatalk

**entresz** · 10-26-2017, 05:41 PM

I have always wanted to try a Bill Lawrence Micro Coil telecaster neck pickup on an archtop. This is what I have in my Telecaster - it has this almost 'acoustic' like presence with the tone open, but with the tone backed off just a bit, it has the most lush jazz tone.

My favourite pickup for archtops are CC pickups or DeArmond 1100s but this would be easily on par with either - and a lot less noisy.

The only concern with those GFS pickup adapters is that they're made of vinyl - if the guitar has a nitrocellulose finish it may eat away at it.

**Lobomov** · 10-27-2017, 04:53 AM

Originally Posted by p1p

You think the strat pickup on the archtop will just make it sound like a strat?

I doubt it .. and say go ahead. Tele's sound great for jazz with their 'thin sounding' neck pickups, so why shouldn't a strat pickup sound great too. Especially since there is tremolo with its springs involved.

Remember to post a clip once you've done it

**cosmic gumbo** · 10-27-2017, 04:54 AM

I love the sound of my strat neck pup for jazz almost as much as my tele, and I have a skinny single coil in the soundhole of my flat top that sounds great. I think you might be on to something that could sound very cool.