Lucinda 55s

These are aimed squarely at that early '50s Strat character. I've used Alnico 3 rods with 42 AWG heavy Formvar wire for a warm, crisp sound that's crystal clear without being harsh. The bass is controlled rather than heavy, there's a little natural compression to the response, and even the bridge pickup is pleasantly rounded rather than biting your head off.

I particularly like these for rhythm playing. They're clear, balanced and quite forgiving, with a lovely sweetness to chords and clean playing. Add some distortion and they become full and sweet without getting abrasive, and they respond beautifully when you push an amp into compression. I think they're gorgeous.