calling all guitar wizards: DiMarzioSDS-1 replacement advice

[Alkeys]

Does anyone know what is a good substitute for the DiMarzio SDS-1? I want to put SDS-1's into a guitar I'm building but aparently they have horrible hum so I'm kind of afraid to do so.

Should I put a DiMarzio ProTrack in there in it's place? Any good SDS-1 sounding replacements? Open all brand suggestions. I want something that can do heavy/bluesy/high output but has no hum.

What do you guys like for singlecoils in and HSS hardtail strat?

Thanks

[Charvel_620]

if you do the search on the pickup picker it seems the humcancelling equal would be the chopper...

[Gonzo]

www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk

I have slow hands in my Jake strat and they are awesome!! Fat with lots of grinding mids.

[MetalHead]

even Jake had humming SDS-1's, but
he learnt to controll the humming

[_will_]

I don't have single coils, but BareKnuckles!

[Moose6]

EMG SA with presence control... there is no substitute. For the humbucker I'd put in EMG 81.

[Alkeys]

EMG SAs are cool for that compressed/processed David Gilmour, Steve Rothery, Andy West-Oram kinda sound. I'll probably have another strat with SAs in it, but for this one, I'm keeping it PASSIVE. Someone just suggested a DiMarzio Virtual Vintage Solo Pro. Interesting. Thanks for all the suggestions.

[Avenger316]

I've used the Dimarzio HS2, HS3, and YJM. If I remember right, they're maybe half as loud as an SDS1, with a little more treble, but they don't have the humming.

Hope this helps.

[stratattack]

I've used the Dimarzio HS2, HS3, and YJM. If I remember right, they're maybe half as loud as an SDS1, with a little more treble, but they don't have the humming.

Hope this helps.

The reason why is because HS stands For Humbucker stacked . the HS2 and 3 and even the YJM are Humbuckers made for strats son you dont have to cut up your pck gaurd. I used to use them until the Symour Duncan STK1'a and 2's came out and had more tone then the Dimarzios. But you can still get the sds1 from Dimarzio if you just want a single coil..

[THOR]

Try using DiMarzio Vitual Vintage Heavy blues or Solo. Both are very high output and hum-cancelling, and the Solo is not that far off tonewise from my SDS-1 (both pretty dark). I believe that Jake was also listed as using a Duncan SSL-5 Custom Staggered in later years.

[Alkeys]

Do you suggest the Virtual Vintage Solo or the Virtual Vintage Solo Pro?
thx

[Alkeys]

would a DiMarzio ProTrack be a totally different animal?

[THOR]

I would try the Solo, because I haven't tried a Solo Pro. I think those are more like a P-90. I have a Pro Track in the neck of an ESP Custom strat: it sounds great, and is vintage style humbucker tone. But it is very different than the SDS-1, wich is a very dark overdriven single coil sound. If you are going for the Jake tone I would do the VV Solo. If you are looking for your own tone the Pro Track is great for a neck humbucker tone without routing your guitar to put a full one in. I personally use the VV Blues in the neck of most my strats and love the tone. If you really want an SDS-1 there are serveral listed on ebay right now. Hope this helps.
For all the tone freaks out there I have just put a Bareknuckle Miracle Man in my LP Standard and can't believe how incredible it sounds!!! I would suggest Bare Knuckle pickups to anyone looking for killer tone!

[stratattack]

would a DiMarzio ProTrack be a totally different animal?

Yah they Tend to run HOT!!! but if you want great Pinch Harmonics . Those are great for that but they Kinda lack tone!

[dirty_and_loud]

I'd have to agree with the guys that said the DiMarzio Virtual Vintage Heavy Blues and/or Blues Solo. Dead quite and fat. Plenty of output too.