Best Duncan SC-sized HB Bridge PU to match a pair of Suhr ML's on neck/middle.

[ernzo]

Right, so..
What would be Seymour Duncan's best Single-coil sized Humbucker PU to complement a set of Suhr ML (aka V63+) on the neck/middle?

They all seem interesting:
Lil' 59, JB Jr, Lil' Screamin Demon, Cool/Hot Rails, Red Devil..


Or why not even regular/hotter SC's like,
Hot Strat, Quarter Pound, Custom Stack Plus, Hot Stack, Hot Stack Plus..


I've been taking a good look at the the sound Demos here on Duncan's website,
but without a proper/direct/more varied back-to-back comparison is hard to judge/decide and pull the trigger in either direction..

So what do you guys think?
Would a "Lil 59", "JB Jr" or "Screaming Demon" be too Hot to match the Surh ML's?
Is the Red Devil even Hotter?

Maybe it's just best to settle for a Cool/Hot Rails?
Or just go for a slightly hotter SC alla "Hot Strat", "Quarter Pound" or "Custom/Hot Stack"..?

I know, It's too many questions..
but hey maybe somebody can shine some light, give his opinion or talk about his experience.. :fing2:


(btw if I ever pull the trigger they will go on a USA Fender HighwayOne SSS Strat with Maple neck/board..)

 

[Mincer]

Well, first decide if you want it to sound like a humbucker, or a single coil. That will cut out half of your choices, right there. And what don't you like about the current bridge pickup?

 

[GuitarStv]

The Quarter Pound for strat is a lot hotter than a regular strat pickup, and tonally is pretty far into humbucker rather than a single coil territory. It likes to see a 500k volume and tone pot. Are you planning on running all 250k pots in the guitar?

 

[ernzo]

Well, first decide if you want it to sound like a humbucker, or a single coil. That will cut out half of your choices, right there. And what don't you like about the current bridge pickup?

Right, that's the thing..
I guess what I want is a more gainy and warmer tone on the Bridge pup, perhaps thicker,
but without losing all of the SC charm. And of course something that breathes enough quality to match the possible upgraded pups.

The SC-sized HBs I listed seem to fit the bill more or less,
they sound gainier/thicker while preserving some of the twang, but..

Will they be too overpowered to match a set of premium tier Suhr ML (or Duncan's alternative for that matter)?

Will it derive too much from the normative Strat sound, and be like an unbalanced Frankenstein type of a mess?
That's the whole conundrum..


I really never use what I would call 4th and 5th position (middle+bridge, bridge), it's just for the effect,
so I wont be losing much if the twang disappears..

But I donno, I thought maybe there's like a sc-sized humbucker that's known to be the Sweet Spot,
something that will de-facto match that kind of upgrade.. :fing2:

 

[ernzo]

The Quarter Pound for strat is a lot hotter than a regular strat pickup, and tonally is pretty far into humbucker rather than a single coil territory. It likes to see a 500k volume and tone pot. Are you planning on running all 250k pots in the guitar?

Good point!
I've got regular 250K pots installed.

I guess if going for a sc-HB I could change the Tone pot, and make it be a Push-Pull of 500K if necessary..
But I guess I'd better keep the 250K Volume pot so it matches the regular SC pickups.. right?

Will having a 250K Volume pot completely rule out the possibility of a sc-HB?

Couldn't a 250KΩ Resistance be placed somehow before the signal reaches the Volume pot/output to compensate?

 

[GuitarStv]

But I guess I'd better keep the 250K Volume pot so it matches the regular SC pickups.. right?

Couldn't a 250KΩ Resistance be placed somehow before the signal reaches the Volume pot/output to compensate?

Yep (this trick is used a lot with SSH guitars):

Will having a 250K Volume pot completely rule out the possibility of a sc-HB?

Nope, some single coil sized humbuckers are designed to sound best with 250k pots It's just something to keep in mind.

 

[Mincer]

The single coil-sized humbuckers sound a lot closer to humbuckers, so I am not sure that's what you want...I am talking about the Cool/Hot Rails, Little 59/Demon, Red Devil, etc. I would look at something like the SSL-6, Quarter Pound, Hot Strat & Hot Strat Stack.

 

[Synapsys]

The Hot Rails, Cool Rails and Lil 59 don't sound like a SC at all.

 

[ernzo]

Thanks all for the prompt replies :fing2:

The Hot Rails, Cool Rails and Lil 59 don't sound like a SC at all.

Right, they are certainly much Thicker than a SC..
but maybe not as thick as a full HB?

Somehow I've got the impression they have a unique thing going on, specially on the Highs,
like it's more jangly than a regular HB, and have a character of their own.. no?


In any case, since I mostly only use the 2nd and 1st positions (Middle+Neck, Neck),
I like the idea of having a Beefier pickup on the Bridge, just for the Leads,
and well, the sound/tone seems to be good enough..

So maybe the question will be more about,
Will these sc-HB be too Powerful to complement a couple of Suhr ML's (or similar)?
Will the result be far too Unbalanced? or will they complement?


Judgidng by this Beck Strat + JB Jr Demo,
I certainly like the tone, and I find it kinda complements.. and well,
i guess if it's good enough for Jeff Beck, it's good enough for me :bigthumb:

But yeah, that guitar has them Fender Hot Noiseless,
which at 10.4KΩ are quite on the Hot side.. :scratchch

 

[ernzo]

BTW it seems he kept the 250KΩ pot..
"I kept 250k pots to make JB Jr. sound warmer than it default tone."

(I wanted to edit the last post, but it won't let me..)

 

[Mincer]

Yes, the sc-sized humbuckers do have their own thing going on, mostly in the mids to me, but are closer to a humbucker than a single coil. Even the Cool Rails, which is clean and clear, sounds like a Jaz humbucker though. Stacked singles are a good choice for having being very close to actual singles while having the same high end and 'feel'.

 

[jeremy]

the single coil sized buckers have their own thing for sure. they dont sound like a full sized bucker, which usually sound more open on the top to my ears, but are much closer to a bucker tone than single coil. i like a bunch of em and have lil 59s, cool rails, hot rails, red devils, and probably some im forgetting in guitars. if i want a noise free single coil tone, i look at the stack+ series which are also great