[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='953230' date='Sep 11 2010, 10:54 PM']That makes sense, but I would imagine the major contributor to that sound is the strings and maybe amp rather than the pickups? Although I'm sure if you had active pups it might sound too modern and compressed, but I expect any old crappy passive pickups would do. Indeed I am currently gigging a Squier with La Bella flats on it, stock pickups which I would've replaced if I wasn't so skint/lazy because they sound pretty bad, but in context they actually sound great. Wedge some foam under the bridge and it sounds like a '60s soul or reggae record.[/quote]
I tend to agree with this & of course how you play too - when I moved from right hand with plectrum rested on the bridge to fingers between the pickup & neck this was the first time my tone majorly changed. The other major change was roundwound to flatwound. I think pickups can be the icing on the cake & often they can be great as stock. Oh & I've been trying the foam too lately