Anyone here use single coils for metal?

Re: Anyone here use single coils for metal?

I guess that depends on what you mean by "metal". I use Yngwie-type pickups for Yngwie-type stuff, in addition to Hendrix-flavored and other assorted '60s tomfoolery.
 
Re: Anyone here use single coils for metal?

I really like using the SSL-5 in my strat through my OCD dimed. It's not brutal and chuggy for playing newer metal, but it's good for playing the classics. I've really come to prefer the SSL-5 to humbuckers in general.
 
Re: Anyone here use single coils for metal?

I don't know if you consider somethings that Muse does "metal" but stockholm syndrome was played on a P90.
 
Re: Anyone here use single coils for metal?

Don't bring a knife to a gun fight. Not that someone will point out that some people have beaten guns with knives, but its just not really the best tool for the job. sure, you can try and drive a ten-penny nail with a tack hammer , but why not just use a great big ball peen?
 
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Re: Anyone here use single coils for metal?

I use a P90 sometimes, but usually if I want ''true'' metal tones, I just go to a humbucker. I feel like the nature of the pickup just suits the style in a way that is hard to imitate. For everything else, I'll use single coils as much as possible, but metal seems to be the exception.
 
Re: Anyone here use single coils for metal?

YES! I do!

Telecaster with single coils works very well for metal IMO, just have to tame the amount of gain for less noise-more clarity (so many people use way too much gain anyways) and then max out mids as always and play some black/death/doom metal.
 
Re: Anyone here use single coils for metal?

Depends on what you consider metal? Really i'm more of a bucker guy anyway a single just can't punch you in the chest like a bucker can but Ill use singles if the situation calls for it or I just really want that sound. But mind you if i'm going to use a single coil it's going to be a true single not a stacked or rail size I've come to appreciate the 60 cycle hum.
 
Re: Anyone here use single coils for metal?

Don't bring a knife to a gun fight. Not that someone will point out that some people have beaten guns with knives, but its just not really the best tool for the job. sure, you can try and drive a ten-penny nail with a tack hammer , but why not just use a great big ball peen?


My thoughts too... Sure you can do it... but why? It doesnt make you a unique flower. Better to just use the right tool for the job.
 
Re: Anyone here use single coils for metal?

Yngwie has produced very heavy crunch at times with singles, although he usually goes for medium levels.

I love singles because there is nowhere to hide. They will either expose your skill or lack thereof. In comparison, a maxed out modeling amp with HBs is like a shield for novices, most players sound basically the same.
 
Re: Anyone here use single coils for metal?

I love singles because there is nowhere to hide. They will either expose your skill or lack thereof. In comparison, a maxed out modeling amp with HBs is like a shield for novices, most players sound basically the same.

I don't think that's true at all, aside from the compression and lower resonant frequency of a humbucker. Play a single coil into a low-gain amp, then play a humbucker into the same amp with the same settings. Let's leave the "maxed out modeling amp" out of it; what are the differences caused by the actual pickup? As far as your second scenario making "most players sound basically the same", it certainly doesn't make everyone play the same; you can still tell who can play and who can't.
 
Re: Anyone here use single coils for metal?

Tony Iommi and his P90's, Ritchie Blackmore and his Quarter Pounders, Jimmy Page and his Tele...

Granted these are 70's metal icons not modern day, but you can be heavy with singles, especially P90s!
 
Re: Anyone here use single coils for metal?

I don't think that's true at all, aside from the compression and lower resonant frequency of a humbucker. Play a single coil into a low-gain amp, then play a humbucker into the same amp with the same settings. Let's leave the "maxed out modeling amp" out of it; what are the differences caused by the actual pickup? As far as your second scenario making "most players sound basically the same", it certainly doesn't make everyone play the same; you can still tell who can play and who can't.

A mild single vs a hot HB? Really? The differences are obvious (you mentioned two). Lots of gain can hide things. An experienced guitarist can still hear a hack through a wall of distortion, but a non-musician may not be able to.
 
Re: Anyone here use single coils for metal?

A mild single vs a hot HB? Really? The differences are obvious (you mentioned two). Lots of gain can hide things. An experienced guitarist can still hear a hack through a wall of distortion, but a non-musician may not be able to.

You seem to be equating humbuckers with a lot of distortion, and single-coils with the opposite. On that basis, I'm not seeing the disparity that has a single-coil as a megaphone broadcasting a player's every inadequacy, and a humbucker as a screen for those inadequacies to hide behind. I don't think the phenomenon you mentioned isn't real; on the contrary I think it's quite interesting and would like to learn more about it. But I think it's more than just comparing single coils and a clean amp with humbuckers and a lot of gain. Put the two on an equal footing, and I think there's still some of that characteristic you mentioned -- just maybe not as much as I felt you were conveying in that post. I don't want to put words in your mouth, though, so please correct as needed.
 
Re: Anyone here use single coils for metal?

...drive a ten-penny nail with a tack hammer , but why not just use a great big ball peen?

Bad example. A ball peen hammer is not used for driving nails at all. This is just another example of using the wrong tool for the job.

Ball peen to drive nails=single coil for metal
 
Re: Anyone here use single coils for metal?

I actually prefer a Hot Rails in the bridge over lots of full size humbuckers I've heard.
 
Re: Anyone here use single coils for metal?

I actually prefer a Hot Rails in the bridge over lots of full size humbuckers I've heard.


I wouldnt really call that a "single coil" though. Its single coil in size certainly not in tone absolutely not in construction.
 
Re: Anyone here use single coils for metal?

Jake E. Lee used a SG Jr. with Ozzy sometimes. They had one P-90.

I know he used a Charvel alot with Ozzy.
 
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