Benefit to single humbucker guitars

[PushedCrayon]

I've been looking for a simple single humbucker strat type guitar. I love the way they look, and I love the simplicity, I just don't know if there are any benefits to having one. Also, what would be a good price for one?

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[DreX]

Re: Benefit to single humbucker guitars

Some would say less magnetic pull on the strings due to there being one or two fewer pickups, but I've never really noticed a difference myself. Otherwise, I think the benefit is that you think more about what you're playing and less about the choices. I'd still put a push/pull to split the one humbucker, though.

 

[Big Flannel]

Re: Benefit to single humbucker guitars

Price wise I'm not sure. I did install a JB in an epi lp junior and was blown away by the tone, so I'm sure a cheap but well made guitar would sound fantastic for you if you put a little bit of work into.

The thing about less magnetic pull is actually true. I find the tone is noticeably more open. Id say it breathes more...to my ears anyway.

YMMV, but I believe that if you're wanting to try one, you won't be disappointed.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Benefit to single humbucker guitars

I've heard the theory about the magnetic pull from the neck and/or middle pickups. I have no idea. Maybe science could help.

There's been one single-pickup guitar I've spent much time with, and it was pretty magical. It was an 80's Kramer Focus 1000, and it was awesome for a lot of reasons. It had this quality that I'll describe with a triumphantly vague adjective -- it was "on". I never fussed with the tuning like I've done with so many of my other guitars. It had a decked Floyd, Schaller tuners, and a really, really solid feel to the body, neck joint, neck, hardware, etc.

So it could have just been a really well-made guitar, which I believe is true regardless.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Benefit to single humbucker guitars

Single hum and single volume work because the path is shorter so its giving you more tone. Every switch you add takes a little but also gives you something :9:

 

[DreX]

Re: Benefit to single humbucker guitars

I have strats with A2s and strats with quarter inch alnico and ceramic bars. The compression qualities of the hotter pickups with stronger magnets stomps all over what little natural acoustic sustain might be won from weaker A2s. So I wouldn't choose a single pickup guitar just for the benefit of less magnetic pull alone.

 

[vinta9e]

Re: Benefit to single humbucker guitars

These go to eleven.

 

[LReese]

Re: Benefit to single humbucker guitars

Saves a few ounces - good for the old back if its ailing....

 

[Big Flannel]

Re: Benefit to single humbucker guitars

I have strats with A2s and strats with quarter inch alnico and ceramic bars. The compression qualities of the hotter pickups with stronger magnets stomps all over what little natural acoustic sustain might be won from weaker A2s.

How is this on topic?

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: Benefit to single humbucker guitars

They're just extremely fun to play. They are easy to pick up and get going on, and with a one volume knob setup, you learn to fully utilize whatever you have.

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[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Benefit to single humbucker guitars

I think the psychological effect is significant, as others have said. When you hold a guitar in your hands and you know that every sound you're going to get out of it is going to happen exactly how it is (with maybe a volume knob tweak), I think you enjoy it more, and you try harder. The rabbit hole doesn't branch off, so you follow it farther.

 

[RoteGitarre]

Re: Benefit to single humbucker guitars

They will definitely give you a better appreciation for using the volume knob to control your tone, as well as your use of pick dynamics. Sort of a less is more approach. I love my F1000 for that, and find the variety of tones that I can coax out of it to be less limited than I once imagined a single hum, single volume guitar would be.

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[ItsaBass]

Re: Benefit to single humbucker guitars

As far as tangible benefits, they're cheaper and lighter. And if you are a player who never uses anything but the bridge pickup anyhow, they eliminate all the stuff you don't need, which is a psychological benefit (dispensing with that which is not used clears "mental space").

 

[Brian Griffin]

Re: Benefit to single humbucker guitars

It's the looks rather than the sound. In the 80s everything is about speed, heaviness, raw power of rock, looking cool and unique, so why would you need a wimpy, dull neck pickup if all you want to do is rip across the board?

Magnetic pull maybe, but the effect is very miniscule you won't even notice, unless you condition yourself to noticing it, like detecting the sustain of an unplugged Les Paul as Nigel Tufnel did.

 

[Progbusters]

Re: Benefit to single humbucker guitars

My single hum guitar has great tone. I just pick up that guitar and play. No fiddling around. I've never been satisfied with neck humbuckers anyways. I've only liked my Strat neck and Tele neck.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Benefit to single humbucker guitars

A neck through, single humbucker. I'd like to play one of those.

off u see did MRSAge, I m on tapa talk and auto correct is hating on me

 

[DreX]

Re: Benefit to single humbucker guitars

My single hum guitar has great tone.

I see that said a lot about single pickup guitars, that someone's particular single pickup guitar sounds amazing, but aside from the magnetic dampening, I can't think of a reason why a single pickup guitar would sound particularly good. I wonder if having two or more pickups to choose from diminishes a person's opinion of both pickups. Maybe in the process of deciding which pickup to use, you notice more things you dislike about the pickups than things you like about them, so that at the day your opinion of them is a little more tempered than it was. But if your guitar only has one pickup, there's nothing to compare it to. It's always the best pickup for the job, because it's the only pickup for the job.

People also often say single pickup guitars are fun to play, maybe it's more the case that a multi-pickup guitar is un-fun to play, to a certain extent, because it burdens you with decisions.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Benefit to single humbucker guitars

A neck through, single humbucker. I'd like to play one of those.

off u see did MRSAge, I m on tapa talk and auto correct is hating on me

I am building one atm. See thread full map haha

 

[vinta9e]

Re: Benefit to single humbucker guitars

It's a bare bones affair. It's about exploring the very essence of playing guitar, which is manipulating strings into submission, perhaps with a little help from the guitar's volume knob. Changing the way you play is the biggest benefit. Eliminating extra string pull, magnetic field interactions, electric losses and cavities is just the icing on the cake. A pinch more tone, sustain, response, true harmonics, etc. might be the extra reward you're getting.

 

[tubecrunch]

Re: Benefit to single humbucker guitars

When I play a junior or an esquire, I'm bringing my six shooter to the fight. I wear it lower and play mean. It's a natural extension of my rude personality.