Strat Middle Pickup Replacement - Bridge or Neck?

[Bio77]

I'm switching out the single coil neck and middle pickups on my strat for Seymour Duncan humbuckers. There are two versions: one for the neck and one for the bridge, which one goes in the middle? Also, any opinions on SJBJ-1s vs Hot Rails?

 

[Gordo]

Jon my Yamaha Ty Tabor has SD SVR-1 Vintage Rails and they sound very “strat-y”. Not sure if they’re still made but they’re single coils arranged with individual coils for 3 strings so they cancel hum. Not as effectively as buckers but they still sound like singles. To answer your question though I’d think a neck model with its slightly narrower spacing.

 

[Gordo]

I’ve installed the JB’s in a few guitars and thought they sounded very nice but definitely a hum bucker sound (which might be exactly what you’re after).

 

[Bio77]

Gordo, you get me man I just heard a bunch of demos defiantly feeling the JBs.

Would you put the 10k or the 15k in the middle position?

 

[Bio77]

Just took a look at the sets of three they sell. Neck and middle are same resistance, bridge is hotter.

 

[rackumusik]

I think the standard JB is Alnico5 and for me Alnico sounds better.JB was my first mod for my guitar(Early '80).Ceramic magnets to much of everything.Here in Germany(Thomann) Standard size pu are cheaper but the prices for all guitar nerd equipment very expensive rapidly.I buy every month a little and till my death i have all what i need.

 

[Gordo]

Yeah, I'd think the 15k is too hot for the middle. Ironically on my Yam (and a lot of Music Man guitars are wired the same) there is no middle only position. It's a full size JB in the bridge in position 1. Coil tap bridge (with a mild treble cut) and middle on 2. Coil tap bridge and neck on 3. Middle and neck on 4. And neck on 5. It's a weird combo but there's nothing the guitar can't do so I'm leaving it alone.

The blades that I've installed were always on detuned metal type guitars (LTD and Caparison) and they always seemed a bit much. I love the sound but just not for me.