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I have recently sorted my old Encore Strat. Its playing well But:-
I would like to upgrade the pickups. I have been following the "Pickups Thread" which is quite a long one.

The main issue is that for someone that has not been accumulating guitars over ones lifetime the various comments are obviously from people with lots of experience and guitars - it was difficult to make a decision.

So to try and list some quick comparisons I looked at Fender and Kinman to start. Note the comments are from the manufacturers.

I came up with this:-


Anyway seems the Tonerider pickups would be ok - bearing in mind the guitar only cost £89 back in 1994 (I think)
I picked these out from the Pickups thread.

Hi SBJ,

If you've got your soldering iron at the ready I suggest you spend an extra £35 to add a Free-Way 10-Way Blade Switch to your set up:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Free-Way-Switc ... B07V12G7TQ

and wire it according to "SS Parallel Series Scheme A 1V/2T" or "SS Parallel Series Scheme B 1V/2T":
https://www.freewayswitch.com/app/downl ... 1593698059

DaveC.

Ok Dave - did not know this switch was around.
Thanks for the info.
I suppose you feel the Tonerider Pu's are ok

Hi Stu

If you want a cost effective set of vintage pickups these are pretty good. I have a set on my Tokai strat and it sounds as good as many others for The Shads sound and the price is good and available from Northwest Guitars. See details below from their website.

NEW Artec Vintage Style Stratocaster Single Coil Pickups
Fantastic Alnico pickups with an authentic vintage sound

Equally as good as Fender's own American standard pickups, with clear chimey tones and authentic vintage sound.

Featuring 52mm staggered alnico V magnets, fibreboard bobbins and braided hookup wire. Don't let the price of these pickups deceive you into thinking they're not every bit as good as other brands of a higher price.

Product Features

Magnets: Alnico V

Neck Pickup: 6.3k

Middle Pickup: 6.4k

Bridge Pickup: 6.6k

Pole Spacing:52mm

Middle Pickup RWRP for hum cancelling

I should add the price is £36.74 per set. See the link below

https://www.northwestguitars.co.uk/stra ... r-pickups/

Barry

Cheers Barry.
At that price it would be worth a go and with the 10 way switch

Hi Stuart you could also have a look at Ironstone Golds, I have a set of them in my black strat. Also not expensive

Ok Ken - now even more choice

Reviews are all glowing.

Chat tomorrow

If you've got an Encore, then a bit of chicken wire wrapped round a rusty iron nail would probably be an improvement on the stock pickups.

I've always sworn by Seymour Vintage Staggered and Fender 57/62. Tried Ironstones and didn't like them, thought they were bland and lifeless compared to the stock pups in my MIM Classic 50s.

I recently bought some Vanson Vintage Pro Alnico Vs to replace the ceramics in a Mexican Standard. Will report back when I've got them installed and given them a test drive. Price was £39 for the set.

artyman wrote:Hi Stuart you could also have a look at Ironstone Golds, I have a set of them in my black strat. Also not expensive

I can vouch for the Ironstone Gold Vintage pickups as I have as set installed on one of my Strats and they are excellent sounding.
There are some poor reviews on these, but just as many good reviews, it's opinion at the end of the day.