Jag pickups in a strat?

Sam

Well, I've had my boring standard Strat for a while now. The thing is, it's not really the sound I'm after. I play a lot of surf music, and it just sounds a bit... Well... Yeah. Anyway, as I'm only 15 and not exactly loaded, I was wondering if it would be plausible/worth it to put (probably Jap) Jag pickups in my Strat. I remember reading somewhere that I'd need to modify covers or something, 'cos they're different?

Zekk

I don't know if you have to. I think it all bepends if they fit. What I would do is get the jag Pups, put them into the bridge and neck, and get a reverse wound strat pickup for the middle so you can cancle hum.

Rick

seriously, there's very little difference between jag and strat pups. jag pups are just strat pups with flat bobbins and a shielding claw. your single coil strat should sound pretty good for surf. try using the bridge pup on it's own with the tone knob all the way up and with some reverb. you could also put some flatwound strings on too. possibly 10's, on a strat

Gavin

Stick some 11s on your Strat, seriously. I've been playing a Tele with 11s for a while and at first it seemed a bit stiff, but now when I play my Jag with 11s they feel like elastic bands.

Sam

I'm using flatwound 10s now, actually. Bought them at the same time as the guitar to replace the stock 9s.

It's just the sound of the Jag that I'm after. The whole twangy surf thing tone. I thought pickups would be the best way to achieve this, but perhaps not?

LIFE

A Jaguar is the best way to get the Jaguar sound.

As you said you've had your Strat a while, and that you bought the strings at the same time as the guitar, it's time to change them. That alone should make a big difference in your tone.

Rick

assuming that the pickups in your strat are wound quite 'hot', i suppose you could try single coils that are less so