I purchased these to use in the neck and middle slots of a 2006 US Standard Stratocaster (Alder body, Maple neck, Rosewood Fretboard, Callaham trem block and saddles). I also purchased an Area 61 to go in the bridge. With regards to the Area 67s I think they sound pretty good as single coils, even clean. With distortion the greatly reduced noise is fantastic and was a key requirement for me as I tend to do home recording in quite a noisy room. The middle position of these pickups (67 in neck and middle) is good but does not quack to the same extent as a regular set of US standard strat pickups. However the sound is still recognisable as a strat neck and middle tone so if you are happy to trade off a slight compromise with position 4 and need the neck and middle single coils to be quiet on their own then this set is for you. They are fairly bright but not piercingly so. Unfortunately I did not like the Area 61 I purchased to use in the bridge with the 67s, I find that pickup to be too bright and piercing and to be less convincing as a strat pickup. I am considering whether I should put another 67 in the bridge or just make the guitar a H/S/S setup and keep the Area 67s. So for neck and middle I would recommend the Area 67s to someone who wants fairly vintage voiced strat pickups but without the hum in positions 3 and 5.
