59 Cust Hybrid best for HSS with Fender CS69s?

[Nagisa]

I've been back and forth with pickups on my Ibanez AZ hss. Got a set of 69's which are pretty good, but I can't find the right bridge bucker. I really don't like the Hyperion bridge as it is super flat and generic sounding to me. I had a Doug Aldrich in there for a bit before I bought an Ibanez custom for heavier sounds. The aldrich had personality but with regular single coils especially, it's too hot and also warm, almost muddy.

I'm looking for a bridge that will be good for instrumental soloing, but along the low-mid gain spectrum. Think Andy Timmons or Eric Johnson levels, not Petrucci or Vai levels. (My Ibanez j.custom is for that now).

I also need something that will sound good in the 2nd position combined with the middle pup.

I know the hybrid gets good reviews here, so it seems a safe bet. I also thought of the Fender Shawbucker, the AT dimarzio pup, perpetual burn, and Thornbucker. Up for any recommendations. Thanks!

 

[Mincer]

Re: 59 Cust Hybrid best for HSS with Fender CS69s?

Well, the Hybrid fits exactly what you want, so I gotta recommend that again.

 

[Nagisa]

Re: 59 Cust Hybrid best for HSS with Fender CS69s?

Well, the Hybrid fits exactly what you want, so I gotta recommend that again.

Thank you, Mincer. I think that's what I'll do.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: 59 Cust Hybrid best for HSS with Fender CS69s?

I dunno, I know that everyone really likes the 59/Custom Hybrid, but to me, it combines the worst of both of those individual pickups. I'm not a big fan of the Dimarzio AT-1 either though, and they are similar. I am a huge fan of Andy Timmons, which is why I have tried both of those pickups multiple times. If I had to choose between the pickups you listed, my choice would be the Perpetual Burn or the Shawbucker. Mincer knows what he is talking about though, and my tastes don't always line up with the majority, so you might be better off with his suggestions over mine.

 

[VinceT]

Re: 59 Cust Hybrid best for HSS with Fender CS69s?

Well, the Hybrid fits exactly what you want, so I gotta recommend that again.

And so, Mincer and I dance again - yup, Hybrid all the way.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[dystrust]

Re: 59 Cust Hybrid best for HSS with Fender CS69s?

I just installed my first '59/Custom Hybrid in a LP about a week ago and I really like it. IMO it's closer to a '59 than a Custom tone-wise, but a bit more output and fullness along with almost effortless harmonics. I'd say the output is similar to the WLH, but the tone is very different. I also greatly prefer a Custom coil to a '59 when splitting and I feel it would balance well with single coils in a HSS setup. I don't know if I'd want to use one in a Strat with the stock A5 because it's a bit scooped, but I bet it'd be great with an A2.

 

[Mincer]

Re: 59 Cust Hybrid best for HSS with Fender CS69s?

I just installed my first '59/Custom Hybrid in a LP about a week ago and I really like it. IMO it's closer to a '59 than a Custom tone-wise, but a bit more output and fullness along with almost effortless harmonics. I'd say the output is similar to the WLH, but the tone is very different. I also greatly prefer a Custom coil to a '59 when splitting and I feel it would balance well with single coils in a HSS setup. I don't know if I'd want to use one in a Strat with the stock A5 because it's a bit scooped, but I bet it'd be great with an A2.

I never compared the Hybrid to the WLH...what are the differences?

 

[dystrust]

Re: 59 Cust Hybrid best for HSS with Fender CS69s?

I never compared the Hybrid to the WLH...what are the differences?

I have the Hybrid in a LP and the WLH in a 335, so keep that in mind. To my ear their output is similar, but the Hybrid has a pretty high frequency focus, while the WLH is much lower. It's hard to tell for sure how the level of bass compares, but it seems to be similar, while the WLH has a lot more low mid and more mids in general than the Hybrid does. The Hybrid has a brighter high end and and harmonics seem to just leap out of it. I've never tried splitting the WLH so I'm not sure about that sound; but I love the split sound of the Custom coil in the Hybrid.

 

[Teleplayer]

Re: 59 Cust Hybrid best for HSS with Fender CS69s?

If you are trying to match the humbucker with CS69 you would probably be better off with a low output PAF style, ie. Thornbucker, Pearly gates, or 36th Anniversary bridge.

 

[Nagisa]

Re: 59 Cust Hybrid best for HSS with Fender CS69s?

Hrmm that's kinda what I figured...the thornbucker is tempting. 36th in a strat? Will that be a good combo?

 

[Teleplayer]

Re: 59 Cust Hybrid best for HSS with Fender CS69s?

I used the Thornbucker, but haven't used the 36th bridge. The 36th has air-bucker technology (so does AT-1) so its an alternative to the weaker magnet types such as A2 and A4.
Thornbucker has some brightness, but also good mids. It has a distinctive type of tone with a lot of harmonic overtones like you hear in all of Pete Thorn's demos on his youtube channel.

You mentioned the stock pickup was flat and generic. Does that mean you are looking for a pickup with more of and push in the mids?

 

[Nagisa]

Re: 59 Cust Hybrid best for HSS with Fender CS69s?

You mentioned the stock pickup was flat and generic. Does that mean you are looking for a pickup with more of and push in the mids?

I think that sounds like what I want. I kind of get confused about the EQ curve on pickups but yea it just doesn't "stand out" in a mix which sounds like mids being to blame. It has clarity but little character or bite. I'm not talking about like gainy hite but like you hear on a tele or paf bridge in crunch mode - punchiness. I guess it's "too smooth" for lack of a better word. Something more like a tele bridge sound but not so twangy is what I'd like.

 

[Teleplayer]

Re: 59 Cust Hybrid best for HSS with Fender CS69s?

If you want something punchy and not "too smooth", I feel like the Dimarzio AT-1 is probably not what you are looking for. I used the AT-1 and it only comes to life when the gain is turned up, but then its quite smooth, and IMO a bit lacking in pick response dynamics. There are plenty of demos of the 36th Anniversary bridge in strat guitars if you search the web. There's a risk the 36th bridge might be too smooth as well, but as I wrote above I have not used it.

 

[Nagisa]

Re: 59 Cust Hybrid best for HSS with Fender CS69s?

Anyone played both a Thornbucker and Hybrid?

Actually though in regard to volume as long as the split sound is good and is comparable in volume to the other singles, I may be able to live with a somewhat louder bucker

 

[Xeromus]

Re: 59 Cust Hybrid best for HSS with Fender CS69s?

The custom custom is pretty good an HSS also. I'm surprised no one has mentioned it.

 

[Tone Meister]

Re: 59 Cust Hybrid best for HSS with Fender CS69s?

If the Aldrich is too hot and muddy for the 69s the CC likely will be as well.

I ended up with a DP223 Dimarzio 36th in my bridge pickup search for an HSS guitar. My body is maple and 59/C Hybrid had an abnormal amount of midrange and didn't balance well with the SSL-2s. The bridge model 36th is perfect and does heavier sounds surprisingly well. It sounds stellar with cleans and splits very well with the middle SSL-2.

 

[Ascension]

Re: 59 Cust Hybrid best for HSS with Fender CS69s?

I have a Perpetual Burn in my Kiesel DC 135 with their AP11's an think it is a fantastic combo. I also had a 59 Custom Hybrid in my Modern Player Plus Tele with a APII in the middle and split with the APII it worked well. Between the 2 combos the Perpet AP11's won but both are very nice!!
Here is a clip of the AP11 Perpet combo through my PRS MT 15 that combo is KILLER!!
https://app.box.com/s/4nj8uagdush4z6pv4xal3pqh7rlpq1ry

 

[Nagisa]

Re: 59 Cust Hybrid best for HSS with Fender CS69s?

I have a Perpetual Burn in my Kiesel DC 135 with their AP11's an think it is a fantastic combo. I also had a 59 Custom Hybrid in my Modern Player Plus Tele with a APII in the middle and split with the APII it worked well. Between the 2 combos the Perpet AP11's won but both are very nice!!
Here is a clip of the AP11 Perpet combo through my PRS MT 15 that combo is KILLER!!
https://app.box.com/s/4nj8uagdush4z6pv4xal3pqh7rlpq1ry

Thanks for the reply and clip! Maybe the perpeburn is a good choice..

 

[AlexR]

Re: 59 Cust Hybrid best for HSS with Fender CS69s?

The custom custom is pretty good an HSS also. I'm surprised no one has mentioned it.

Mainly as it would be even more comically overpowering and tonally poorly matched to some of the most low powered and scooped stock singles Fender makes.