Stan Hinesley EXP Strat Set

EXP Strat set.

Installed in a nice Partscaster

I give these pups a 9.5 They are the closest I've found to matching the pups in my original '56 Strat.

Here's a description from the HAS website:

This is our Jimi Tribute Set featuring hand beveled reverse staggered Alnico 5 magnets. These EXPs are the next best thing to playing upside down!

Basically a passive scatterwound single coil pickup for strats.

I put a set of these in my 56' closet classic strat. These are replacing a set of WCR SR single coil pickups.

I like to try different pickups.

These pickups are extremely well balanced in terms of output volume from pickup to pickup. I have had other pickup sets where the volume between the bridge and neck pickups were very different.

I currently play through a komet 60 and various pedals and rack effects.

It's hard to describe the tone of the pickups, since it would probably be different through different amps. Through my rig the pickups give my guitar a sort of bouncy, shimmery, almost watery kind of sound. But not muffled or muddy. Very sublime. They have a very organic sound. The SR's I had in the guitar were more in your face and strong, and clear sounding, where the EXPs are a bit more subdued ,yet clear sounding. No knock against the WCR single coils, they are just as good. If I were to compare, it would be like comparing between a mercedes vs. BMW. Both great sets of pickups, but I am going with the EXPs because of personal preference.

I'm not sure what gives these pickups that "extra" mojo. Maybe it's because of the randomness of the scatter wind process, or the reverse pole stagger. But, I'm definitely digging these pickups.

* If it was destroyed or stolen, would you buy it again or get something else? Hell Yes! I already ordered another set for my other 56' relic.

* How long have you been playing? What other gear do you own? I'm a bedroom player who has been playing for 10 years. I have owned other strats and lots of amps and effects.

* What do you love about it? What do you hate? So far I love these pickups. Haven't found anything wrong with them. They appear very well made.

* Did you compare it to other products? Which ones? Why did you choose this one?

I've owned lots of different pickups. Here's the list:

Fralins - Vintage Hot, Real 54
Voodoo Pickups - 70's pickups
WCR - SR single coils
Stock Fender - 56 relic, texas specials
And some others that I can't remember.

They all had pluses and minuses. And in the end the minuses got me to replace them. I really thought I was done once I got the SRs, but after reading the description of the EXP set I took a shot, and I am very pleased. The last time I felt so good about a set of pickups was a set of fralins I owned in 2000. They had something special. But because I was still searching for my sound I sold the guitar they were in. I kick myself for that one!

* Anything you wish it had? Nope.

* Are you satisfied with this pickup or still searching for that sound?

I think I am done messing around with these guitars.

* Anything else you'd like to share?

Not really. Stan was very quick in responding to emails and delivering the pickups. For the quality of the work and how these sound, I think the price is a fantastic value.