3 Humbucker combo suggestions

[Emilio_Rodo]

Heya, I'm new here.Greetings everybody and here's my first noobish question:
I'm thinking about buildind a Warmoth guitar with 3 humbuckers and I'm wondering what pickups to choose.It'l be a PRS-ish body, mahogany back and quilted maple top, with paple neck & finguerboard.What would go well with these woods? I usually play metal/hard rock but I want the guitar to be more than a high -output monster, i need a more versatile instrument.Any suggestions?

 

[guitarslinger213]

Re: 3 Humbucker combo suggestions

bridgeMZ breed bridge
middle: DMZhumbuckerfrom hell
neck: SD '59

 

[Aceman]

Re: 3 Humbucker combo suggestions

That's a question you don't get a lot of great responses to out here...do a search and see what's been posted before. That said, I'd maybe go 59n for classic, CC middle for mid boost, and something hot in the bridge like Distortion/JB for leads. I'd think (don't know) the CC would be a neat middle pup. Other options include something stratty or a Phatcat for the middle...

 

[yeti]

Re: 3 Humbucker combo suggestions

I currently have an A2pro in the neck, and 2 PG/Custom hybrids in the middle and bridge. The hybrids both currently have Alnico 2 mags, but i'm going to try an A5 in the mid this weekend.
The tricky spot is that mid pup. It will have a darker, necklike tone, but some bite like the bridge. It really does sound halfway between a neck and bridge . I wouldn't go to heavy output in the middle, or it can get boomy, like a bridge pup in the neck.
Will you be doing coil splits, etc. in this guitar?

 

[Emilio_Rodo]

Re: 3 Humbucker combo suggestions

Well, i might use coil split for the neck & bridge pickips, but i'm not sure yet.I like the idea of mixing Dimarzios and Duncans, unfortunatelly I don't know much about which models go well together

 

[Aceman]

Re: 3 Humbucker combo suggestions

For a flexible mid pup I would want to consider the tone curve the other two pups and the output. SO MAybe a power curve like:
7k/11k/14k neck to bridge (No 11k Duncans?!?!?!

And for tone, if the neck and bridge were (b/m/t):
5/4/8
5/8/9

I might want something like:
7/6/5

It would boost the bass on the bridge, and add mids to the neck, mabe fatten the bridge treble a bit. I think DiMarzio may have more pups with that tone curve/output.

There are a lot of ways to go here, but not many who do this at all that I can tell. Splitin the middle is an option, all three loud (3 Super D's!). I feel your pain.

 

[Aceman]

Re: 3 Humbucker combo suggestions

2 PG/Custom hybrids in the middle and bridge.

Are those both "bridge" pups? Or a neck and bridge?

 

[Frebnedzo]

Re: 3 Humbucker combo suggestions

I'm building a 3-hummer Epi LP with Seths on either end and a Fred
in the middle. See another wiring thread for all the tones I jammed
in and Yetis guitar has some trick wiring as well...

Are you looking for multiple personalitys, (clean strumming, flip one
switch for massive overdrive, flip again for light distortion blues
tone) or for some sort of vintagy neck and bridge with some
intereting extras? (In particular, do you want the gain between
pickups to be even, or do you use the pickup select to get boost).

You can't go wrong with a standard neck/bridge combo, like
an APH/CC or Jazz/JB, etc... But what is the middle for?

The standard answer would be to put something in between
the neck and middle that is "in between" the neck and middle.
So Jazz/EVO2/JB might be nice...

What I decided was
1) it should provide some stratish quack in the 2 and 4 positions,
2) it should be an interesting and different tone by itself

The humbucker from hell in the middle suggestion would be cool,
especially if you are heavier on either side (distortion set). Or put
something hotter in the middle if you want instant gain
(jazz/evo/JB or vpaf/invader/vhpaf).

If you just want a 5-way switch then definately have automatic coil
cutting in the 2 and 4 positions, but there are lots of wiring ideas floating
around. Good look

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: 3 Humbucker combo suggestions

Three X2Ns, normal strat wiring on the five-way switch, and a push/pull pot on the volume knob for splitting.

OR each pickup has its own volume pot and each one can be split respectively. that would be rad.

-X

 

[yeti]

Re: 3 Humbucker combo suggestions

Are those both "bridge" pups? Or a neck and bridge?

Yup, used the leftovers from my bridge hybrid. Interesting thing is, with the way my coil splits work, I get the 2 Custom coils from the middle and bridge(s) with A2 mags, so it's like a nice, spread out CC Humbucker . Probably not like one at all, but it is one of my favorite sounds...kind of tele-twangy. I also did the Peter Green mod on the neck pup. I wasn't thrilled with the muddy sounds i got when blending with the neck, now i have that funky out of phase thing to work with...kind of a poor man's B.B. King sound.

Thanks again to :bowdown: Frebdezno for helping with my wiring dilemma; works like a charm! :dance: :banana: