Best Hot Humbucker
- Thread starter Driver Blues
- Start date
donaldr
Well-known member
IMHO all the pickups you listed are a bit too much for warm bluesy overdrive.
I never used it but from the SD offering I would look at a PA-TB3.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiEdEL1KVds&t=12s
Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
It really shines with an A2, especially considering the OPs requirements
Hah, I've completely forgotten about Rio. Yeah, they should work for this, BBQ or even Muy Grande. Both are very thick high inductance pickups.
Artie
Peaveyologist
You just answered a question I was searching for: What would an A2 sound like in the C5/59 hybrid? Which would effectively make it a CC / A2 Pro hybrid.
Thanks.
Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
Yeah, an A2 59/C is probably my favorite pickup. I don't advertise it too often though because it makes me sound kinda like a sensationalist who thinks you need to perform a coil swap and a mag swap to get a good sound. But if you ask me, it would have been a much better pickup off rip if they initially sold it with an A2, I think they just chose A5 because it could be marketed better.
eclecticsynergy
Well-known member
You might also consider The Breed bridge. Specifically designed for getting fat tone from naturally thin-sounding guitars.
It's said to be the ancestor of the Axis pickup. Discontinued years ago, but it didn't sell well and there are still NOS ones for sale.
It's said to be the ancestor of the Axis pickup. Discontinued years ago, but it didn't sell well and there are still NOS ones for sale.
I think it was A5 as that's the way the forum designed it.
Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
I wasn't around back then, but from the old posts I read it seems it was initially a pretty even split between A2 and A5 as far as how people made em.
Driver Blues
Member
The Jazz isn't really driving my amp all that hard, so I doubt a faux A2P would be leaps and bounds closer to the direction I want to go. Believe it or not I do have an A2 59/Custom paired with a set of 5-2's in a Strat. I really like the sound, but I'd rather experiment.
Breed and Gravity Storm sound interesting, I think I give a slight lead to the Gravity storm. Whats the difference between a Super Distortion and the 2 and 3?
Breed and Gravity Storm sound interesting, I think I give a slight lead to the Gravity storm. Whats the difference between a Super Distortion and the 2 and 3?
Hiwatts and Gibsons
New member
If you're using heavier gauge strings and tuning this down to C#, then having a brighter pickup is not going to sound overly bright. Also, Iommi's sound was from driving a modded Rangemaster into his amps front ends. It's a unique and dynamic sound that allows you to go from Sabbath dirt to gorgeous cleans with just the volume knob on the guitar, and tbt benefits from interacting with the lower output P90 and Charlie Christian pickups in Monkey.
Tbt any stock HB sized P90 clone and a Keeley Java or Beano Boost with the mode switch will get you there and more.
if you are dedicated to sticking with Humbuckers I would recommend a TV Jones SuperTron or PowerTron. They aren't what most think of as modern hot humbuckers, but are both quite capable of driving an amp's front end hard, have a thick vintage tone that can do heavier vintage styles quite well, but clean up beautifully with the volume knob.
Tbt for what you say you want in tones I would recommend an over wound HB sized single like the Hot Phat Cat or something of that nature. Or if you want to expand the guitars tonal range a lot since it is a single HB guitar maybe a SK Guitar Dual Tone II (splittable P90, A5 single or HB operation selectable via push pull pots), or Seymour Duncan P-Rail.
I had two of the SK Dual Tone II's in a Les Paul for a long time. They're great sounding pickups in all 3 modes.of operation. The P90 coil was my goto bridge tone in that guitar for years, and I could switch it to humbucker when I needed for more saturated sustaining lead tones. Then when you want some if that Tele spank you could switch to the A5 coil for that Fender vibe.
In context that was my guitar for Sabbath, High on Fire, Kyuss, and QOTSA tones in C#-C standard tuning.
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Hiwatts and Gibsons
New member
Here's a link to Steve's page https://www.skguitar.com/SKGS/sk/pickups.htm
I cannot say enough good things about his pickups, and they are very reasonably priced.
I cannot say enough good things about his pickups, and they are very reasonably priced.
Hiwatts and Gibsons
New member
I never had a L500XL but will say that when cranking an amp a somewhat bright high output pickup can do wonders for heavier tones. Much of the edge is shaved off by gain and compression, and it yields a tone that sounds heavy but doesn't get muddy or congested. Much like slapping a Treble Booster infront of a heavily overdriven amp.
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Driver Blues
Member
I tune to standard most of the time. I use 12's tuned to Eb, so nothing particularly hardcore. While I appreciate having options, the idea behind this setup is to push my creativity by limiting the capabilities of my hardware. My band right now is a singer, a precision bass, this guitar, and a four-piece drumset; we are all about doing more with less.
I did find a Super Distortion on the local Craigslist for $15 literally within walking distance of my house, so I think for now I'm just gonna pick that up after work and possibly make a new friend. We can adjust course from there
I did find a Super Distortion on the local Craigslist for $15 literally within walking distance of my house, so I think for now I'm just gonna pick that up after work and possibly make a new friend. We can adjust course from there
Driver Blues
Member
How come as you increase gain an amplifier will sound more like an amplifier and less like whatever you plug into it?
Hiwatts and Gibsons
New member
The quick answer is compression.
That is why I love vintage design singles like P90's, A5 Staples, Gold Foils, and Dynasonics which don't slam an input stage to hard clipping adding lots of compression at the front of the amp. I prefer getting the poweramp working hard and evening the transients out on the back end. That way I can use the guitar volume knob as my gain control, so my cleans and crunch tones are not so disparate in volune and I get more dynamic range out of the guitar/amp combos. As long as you aren't playing with Djent levels of uber high gain they retain much more character and allow individual guitar/pickup combinations to sound like themselves, and not each other.
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superpete
Active member
a2 hybrid rules! i have one in a strat and it is awesome.
Securb
One of Jerry's Kids
Not sure why I didn't think of this? The Whole Lotta Humbucker could do the trick. Warm and thick, not over the top. Bluesy overdrive by design. As far as Sabbath goes, I used one in my Les Paul with both my metal and hardcore bands. They are a wonderful-sounding pickup.
Hiwatts and Gibsons
New member
A Super Distortion on a guitar tuned Eb is an awesome choice for heavier styles, but are not that great for bluesy cleans and OD in my experience. The SK Dualtone II's I recommended were purchased to replace two vintage Super Distortions in a Les Paul, and were big upgrades in tone and versatility. The humbucker and P90 tones in particular were much better for the styles you mentioned
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