or you may already have tried this...
 
I was thinking about a few things so I changed up a Strat to hear and feel the results.
 
String tension- NOT about how much tension is on the guitar but the balance of energy from each string in relation to each other. - think of it has volume balance.
I read about a guitar that was set-up with .010, .013, .015, .026, .032, .036.  - gauges that addressed the issue. ( doesn't matter if one believes it or not...decision can be made by results, by the player)
Now that is not a set that can be purchased. One has to assemble it. Finding single strings of the same maker can be a challenge. I found D'Addario the one and also one that shares string tension for those interested.
 
Pickups- I wanted to know if weaker single coils delivered the sound I wanted to hear. Now to each their own but my opinion is that due to makers winding the hell out of them is much like the loudness wars in recording. The problem, to me, is that a lot of the punch and brightness of the wound strings is destroyed and the unwound strings suffer too.
 
So I got the strings installed. I like a .046 on bottom so really thought the lighter gauge wouldn't work out well.
I wound 6 pickups. I wanted 5.5 - 5.7, with neck and bridge CW South and middle CCW North. I scatter wind so wound all of them
with 42 PE 7656 winds and all six fell in the range. For kicks I made them as "vintage" - with gray bottom bobbins and wrapped with twine and potted them.
 
I installed 5 springs ( I use 3 springs on all my Strats except one and this one now) and pulled the trem down to the body.)
I do that so I can make unison note bends and not have notes dropping in pitch due to the trem but can still use the trem to lower.
 
Absolutely love the results. Been playing it on and off all morning and the tones are amazing. The beautiful metallic highs of the wound strings is there. The lows are punchy and clear. The unwound are nice and bright.
Had to adjust my playing a little due to lighter gauge but that was nothing.
 
There is no doubt that one gives up a lot of tonal advantages to "stronger" pups. I've read that some think that those old vintage pups that have that "mojo" sound is due to weaker magnets. I think different based on results with A5 magnets fully charged.
 
What I don't like...they are staggered magnet design. I think I'd like it more if they were all level with the bobbin. Not sure if it would make much difference in sound- 12" radius on the guitar- but I can catch my finger nails on the magnets. No biggy...just a note.
 
Just my take and thought some may be interested.

Sounds very intriguing Michael, ol pal. I'm a dyed in the wool weak pup fanatic. I agree with those who say they have brighter, punchier and more vintage sound. Could you post some MP3s??

It's really odd to me that in this era of a billion PU choices no one seems to offer "slightly underwound" PU's. For some makers even the lowest wind they offer is overwound a bit compared to vintage.
 
Seems kind of silly when the whole power PU idea started in the first place to make it easier to overdrive non-master-volume amps, and unlike today there weren't a billion boost and overdrive pedals to help.

I believe that Gibson Burstbucker #1 with Alnico 2 magnets are slighty under wound to the PAF standard. I gave always favored pickups that aren't wound so hot, Classic 57 and 57 plus, or the BB2 and BB3 combination. I am not sure how hot the Fender Noiseless pick ups were, but really liked those on my Strat.

I have read on Bass guitar threads where quite a few guys buy multiple string sets and pick out particular strings to balance out gauges across the string set. Several online Bass string sites seemed to sell single for guys that liked to do that.

Mike, preference is key. Good info for the bassist. I wasn't going to buy three sets to build a set...which is what I would have had to do. Glad D'Addario was there to cover me.
 
Yeah Drew when I read about what is going on with pups I sure don't understand many of the "views".
I'm simple winding them and listening to the results. Numbers are a reference point. The results are what they are.
Repeatable is my major concern. I've had winding consistency so far with single coils.
 
I didn't think to record before and after for comparison. Figured my ears would tell me what I wanted to know/hear.
The stock pups are 6.1 - 6.5
Not much difference in resistance but there was a big difference in sound...to me. There is a crispness and definition in the wound strings now that just wasn't there.
 
Sorry I didn't record the stock pups straight in but...
Here - It's Am naturally. Fitting. 5-way switch. Straight in. 10 on vol. and tones. Picking right to the bridge side of middle pup mags.
 
Well this whole venture came about because I read an article - the guy that handled Hendrix's guitar talked about the string gauges and why. He also talked about Jimi wanting to hear that metallic ring from the wound strings.
I can say that I made the changes and got the results. That is about as close to Hendrix as I'll ever get...but did get what I was after...results and a little more knowledge about guitars.

Love this stuff!  Keep up the experimenting Michael!  

I definitely heard the brightness and crispness in the wav file...I bet country pickers would love this setup. Jangle city. Keep on experimenting Michael...and thanks for passing it on to us!

I have a Fender 1954 customshop bridge pickup I've never used. It came with my 50th anniversary (1954) Strat. I put a Hotrails in the bridge as soon as I got it. I wonder if it is underwound. It is supposed to have that bright 50's bite...that I didn't want.

yorolpal
I definitely heard the brightness and crispness in the wav file...I bet country pickers would love this setup. Jangle city. Keep on experimenting Michael...and thanks for passing it on to us!

You're welcome. I removed the file. Without the stock pups to compare it doesn't mean anything. I do know the difference between 1ohm really cleaned up the wound strings. That was the major difference.
 

clintmartin
I have a Fender 1954 customshop bridge pickup I've never used. It came with my 50th anniversary (1954) Strat. I put a Hotrails in the bridge as soon as I got it. I wonder if it is underwound. It is supposed to have that bright 50's bite...that I didn't want.

I have a Fender pickup spec sheet from '54 to '67 and there really isn't a difference so you can say 50 and 60's bite and nobody will know the diff anyway. :) I just pulled the stock ones off a 2006 and they were only 1ohm more than what I wound so you could probably get away just fine with "stock" staggered mag pups.
 
The trip was to hear the difference between the stock pups and what I wound. See if the lower ohms cleared the lows and without making the highs brittle...the lower wraps (listed as 1967 Strat pups) did just that.
 
 

IMO and opinion of a sound guy, guitarist, that I trust and agree with most of time...
 
If you have a high "brittle" "harsh" bite and think it's the pups...well they are probably cheap knockoffs from anyones guess where or....
It's also a sound that could be and probably from the amps speakers. Celestions (and others) are noted for that.
Here are some speakers that not only have good prices but address "spiking".
 
I don't use amps because I don't gig anymore. But I know players that use the brand I linked and they love them.
FWIW. I linked to one that mentions the spiking issue that many speakers have...don't take my word for it.