Pickups for Upgrading Encore Strat

Loads of accumulated experience

Moderators: David Martin, dave robinson, Iain Purdon, George Geddes

Pickups for Upgrading Encore Strat

Postby SJB » Thu Oct 01, 2020 2:46 pm

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:-
Strat Pickups Comparison V1.xlsx
(18.34 KiB) Downloaded 417 times


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.
SJB
 
Posts: 268
Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2015 12:50 pm
Location: South Wales
Full Real Name: Stuart J Best

Re: Pickups for Upgrading Encore Strat

Postby davec » Thu Oct 01, 2020 3:44 pm

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.
davec
 
Posts: 85
Joined: Tue Nov 23, 2010 1:39 pm
Full Real Name: David Coombes

Re: Pickups for Upgrading Encore Strat

Postby SJB » Thu Oct 01, 2020 4:12 pm

Ok Dave - did not know this switch was around.
Thanks for the info.
I suppose you feel the Tonerider Pu's are ok :?:
SJB
 
Posts: 268
Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2015 12:50 pm
Location: South Wales
Full Real Name: Stuart J Best

Re: Pickups for Upgrading Encore Strat

Postby barryg » Thu Oct 01, 2020 4:25 pm

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
barryg
 
Posts: 289
Joined: Tue Sep 15, 2009 12:58 pm
Full Real Name: Barry Gillam

Re: Pickups for Upgrading Encore Strat

Postby barryg » Thu Oct 01, 2020 4:28 pm

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

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

Barry
barryg
 
Posts: 289
Joined: Tue Sep 15, 2009 12:58 pm
Full Real Name: Barry Gillam

Re: Pickups for Upgrading Encore Strat

Postby SJB » Thu Oct 01, 2020 5:27 pm

Cheers Barry.
At that price it would be worth a go and with the 10 way switch :?:
SJB
 
Posts: 268
Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2015 12:50 pm
Location: South Wales
Full Real Name: Stuart J Best

Re: Pickups for Upgrading Encore Strat

Postby artyman » Thu Oct 01, 2020 10:04 pm

Hi Stuart you could also have a look at Ironstone Golds, I have a set of them in my black strat. Also not expensive
artyman
 
Posts: 242
Joined: Wed Jan 03, 2018 11:55 am
Location: Hampshire
Full Real Name: Ken Gillam

Re: Pickups for Upgrading Encore Strat

Postby SJB » Thu Oct 01, 2020 10:38 pm

Ok Ken - now even more choice :lol:

Reviews are all glowing.

Chat tomorrow
SJB
 
Posts: 268
Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2015 12:50 pm
Location: South Wales
Full Real Name: Stuart J Best

Re: Pickups for Upgrading Encore Strat

Postby Uncle Fiesta » Sun Oct 04, 2020 6:45 pm

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.
User avatar
Uncle Fiesta
 
Posts: 1187
Joined: Fri Apr 27, 2012 11:31 pm
Location: near Gainsborough, England
Full Real Name: Steve Tebble

Re: Pickups for Upgrading Encore Strat

Postby dave robinson » Mon Oct 05, 2020 2:05 am

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. :)
Dave Robinson
User avatar
dave robinson
 
Posts: 5937
Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2009 2:34 pm
Location: Sheffield
Full Real Name: David Robinson

Next

Return to How To Get "That Sound"

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 31 guests

Ads by Google
These advertisements are selected and placed by Google to assist with the cost of site maintenance.
ShadowMusic is not responsible for the content of external advertisements.