59 Custom Hybrid vs Jason Becker Perpetual Burn split coil sound

[capink]

I have been using Duncan Custom (TB5) humbucker for more than 10 years. Really love how it sounds in humbucker mode: punchy with lots of clarity. However, in split coil mode, I feel like it lacks that strat tone especially when distorted. Moreover, it does not react that well to volume knob.

I am thinking to replace it with either 59/custom hybrid or Jason Becker Perpetual Burn Humbucker. Which one will fits better to the tone that I am after:
* Overall tone: Classic Hard Rock/Metal Tone (not modern/djenty).
* Humbucker mode: punchy and clarity.
* Split Coil: Strat tone Twangy, sensitive to volume.

The guitar is: Schecter C1-FR, Mahogany body, Rosewood fingerboard, Set Neck.

Thanks.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: 59 Custom Hybrid vs Jason Becker Perpetual Burn split coil sound

Looking for strat twangy single coil tone from ANY PAF style pickup is like digging for gold in a coal mine. SD has the stagmag which is closer in its a single coil sound to a strat single. The PRail also offers some interesting options in split and series tone.

But if you want real strat tone though RioGrande makes a series of pups that are literally 2 strat singles together on a baseplate and sound just like strat singles when split. The downside is... they dont sound like PAF humbuckers when run in series either. They sound like a humbucker with more power and the fatter midrange but its not the same sound as a PAF based one.

What im getting at is decide which is more important to you then compromise the less important tone. There is always the danger of trying to make 1 pickup do so many things it does none of them well.

As for the 59C split one coil will be very similar to what you have now just with a different mag so a little less output and midrange overall a touch thinner. The other coil from 59 will be much quieter and with even less punch when split.

Wont comment on the perpetual burn as I havent split it ive only used it in series. Its a great pickup though

 

[Mincer]

Re: 59 Custom Hybrid vs Jason Becker Perpetual Burn split coil sound

Hi there, and welcome! If you split the Hybrid to the Custom coil, you'd get exactly what you have now. The Perpetual Burn has less mids, and slightly more output which gets closer to the single coil formula. Thing is, other than the Stag Mag (which some people love and some people, um, have very strong opinions of), I have never heard a split humbucker that sounds just like a real single coil. There are too many differences in construction between the 2, so you can't ever get that quacky spank you get from a single. I split my HBs all the time, and I know it is a compromise, but I accept that. Of these 2 choices, I'd go with the PB to hit most of the marks you are aiming for.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: 59 Custom Hybrid vs Jason Becker Perpetual Burn split coil sound

If you split the Hybrid to the Custom coil, you'd get exactly what you have now.

Ummm sorry but no... hes got a SH5 now with a ceramic mag. The 59/C uses an A5 mag so it wouldnt sound exactly the same as what hes got now.

 

[Mincer]

Re: 59 Custom Hybrid vs Jason Becker Perpetual Burn split coil sound

OK. I will go with 'pretty close'.. I think when split, you don't hear the differences in magnet types nearly as much as full output. Yeah, there is a change. But I think the PB will split might get a bit twangier.

 

[capink]

Re: 59 Custom Hybrid vs Jason Becker Perpetual Burn split coil sound

Sounds like neither will achieve 100% what i wanted to. I think the reduced output might help to achieve more strat sound. I am probably going for the Jason Becker Perpetual burn due to the fact that it has a similar eq to my Duncan Custom.

 

[dominus]

Re: 59 Custom Hybrid vs Jason Becker Perpetual Burn split coil sound

Rather than split, have you tried running it in parallel?

 

[Hot Octopus]

Re: 59 Custom Hybrid vs Jason Becker Perpetual Burn split coil sound

I'm going to go out on a limb and reccomend a DiMarzio chopper, wired to a series/ parallel switch. It might give you what you seek.