Another another JB thread. Single coil search for my has. Comparing to my Comanche.

[jmp22684]

Hello!!!

Preface:

So my strat used to be my go to guitar.

Now it just can't keep up with my Comanche w/ mfd zcoil neck and mid, will ray in the bridge, or my ESP custom, 59 neck and Custom Duncan bridge.

If I do a guitar swap while playing I lose all crunch I had dialed in on ch2 of my road king. I need consistent output across my guitars with out futzing around with pedals - the way my rig is setup it would require a whole second set of midi programs for one guitar and my setlist would go to hell.

Right now my Comanche is my go to. LOVE those zcoils and the will ray bridge is just incredible!

So basically I need to get her a bit hotter.

Down to business:
-She's a '98 usa deluxe hss, roller nut and all.
-Currently with vintage noisless pups neck and mid
-Not sure what pup the bridge is.
-I already have a JB bridge trembucker sitting around doing nothing, so something that could match this. I do have A8, A9, A5, C8 magnets for the JB. I was at one point trying to get it to match the zcoils in a custom pickguard I ordered. I gave up and went with the will ray. I think the pots in the Comanche weren't playing nicely with the JB... it's the first time I would describe it as a weak pickup when stacked with those zcoils it just couldn't compete.
-I think I'd like something noiseless Not sure, lol... I haven't had to deal with 60 cycle hum in almost a decade.
-still want to maintain that single coil punch I get from my zcoils.... these vintage noiseless pups are pretty punchless. Lol

I'd love to get her a bit closer to the Comanche tone wise without needing to order a zcoils pickguard and a set of zcoils. Then I'd just have two Comanches..... though there could be worse things to happen.

Thanks!

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Another another JB thread. Single coil search for my has. Comparing to my Comanch

Tough one. I have two USA Comanches, and I also love the Z-Coils.

First, wondering how the Will Ray bridge sounds different than the stock pickup?

Finding pickups that can keep up with Z-coils or single-coil MFDs is tough! One of the used S-500s I bought had a JB, Jr. in it when I bought it and while I liked the thicker tone, I replaced it with the stock pickup...It just couldn't keep up.

G&L uses the JB in several guitars, like the Invader models, ASAT Deluxe, Legacy HB and 2HB, et. al. Some of these use the Gotoh Dual Blade pickups, that they use on the Legacy Special. I usually gig with a stock Legacy and a Legacy Special. The LS has a nice thick tone, and is, with the PTB controls, the only guitar I've ever found that can back up both my Legacy AND my 2HB Les Pauls and 335s.

So I might think about getting a SSS pickguard for your Strat, and using the Gotoh Blades set. (The set has a hotter bridge pickup.) These can keep up with the Z-coils, but have more of a PAF-type sound, rather than the single coil flavor. It would be a nice contrast to the Comanche. Be sure to wire it up with the PTB controls. (Pots are available through G&L's online store, I think.) You could also wire in a "sweet" switch like on your Comanche or S-500.

Other than that, you might go with the JB bridge with the Gotoh Blades in the neck and middle, as on the Invader model. Or, use a different high output 'bucker like a Distortion, Gibson 498t or 500t, or something in the Custom family.

But no matter what bridge you use, you'll have to update your single coils if you want the Strat to hang with the Comanche. Or trade it off for a Legacy Special.

Good luck.

Bill