Best humbucker that has some good low end and serious crunch

[stitchlips]

I have an older strat with a light colored neck. It has a hot rails in it. I play through a 5150 amp and this pickup has a crunch to it that is awesome!

I found an ESP custom in a local pawn shop that is similar to a strat.
Here is a pic.

I fell in love with it and bought it. It has EMG pups in it. A humbucker in the bridge, and two single coils. This guitar plays great and it sounds great, but it does not have that crunch. The EMG has more gain.

Something else I noticed. I use a variable Q wah. On my strat with the hot rails the wah has a big range, on my ESP with the EMG the range is almost nothing. You can just barely even tell the wah is on.

Can anyone suggest a good replacement pickup for the bridge that will give me that big range with my wah, that low crunch that my hot rails has and keep the sweet singing sound that the EMG has. I think I am looking for something that does not exist.

 

[Ed Hunter]

Re: Best humbucker that has some good low end and serious crunch

according to the guy at duncan the invader is the closest to the hot rails in a full size bucker. BUT I recomend a new Pickguard for the axe and load it with the HR's since you already like em!:cool2:

 

[rumblebox]

Re: Best humbucker that has some good low end and serious crunch

i would put a custom 5 or 8 in it with hot rails. problem solved.

and i would replace that pickguard since someone drilled holes in it for a pup ring.

also i would give the humbucker it's own volume separate from the hotrails so you can use a 500k and 250k

 

[ErikH]

Re: Best humbucker that has some good low end and serious crunch

That is a hot rod axe. I'd throw a JB in the bridge and a hot rails in the neck and middle. All pots at 500K (Hot Rails with 250k = mud city). Or go Hot Rails in all 3 spots ala Dave Murray.

Crunch doesn't come just from the pickup. Your amp has a lot to do with it. I've got a set of DiMarzio Air Classics in a PRS SE and there's good crunch with them through my amp setup.

 

[rumblebox]

Re: Best humbucker that has some good low end and serious crunch

i think a great deal of the crunch comes from the pickups. most duncans have a lot more bite than EMG's. EMG's just sound like you put a pillow in front of your amp.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Best humbucker that has some good low end and serious crunch

Yeah, I thought that too and then I heard Vito Bratta using an EMG in a Strat like yours and it was Captain Crunch. So there is more to it than just the pickup.

 

[rumblebox]

Re: Best humbucker that has some good low end and serious crunch

Yeah, I thought that too and then I heard Vito Bratta using an EMG in a Strat like yours and it was Captain Crunch. So there is more to it than just the pickup.

well yea i agree the amp has a lot to do with it. but what i'm saying is 2 separate guitars, one with EMG's and one with high output duncans and identical amp settings. the duncans will be crunchier.

 

[stitchlips]

Re: Best humbucker that has some good low end and serious crunch

I use the same exact amp and settings on both guitars. The hot rails seems to have more low and more of a crunch. It can't be the amp because it is the same for both guitars.

Any idea why the EMG seems to have almost no range on the wah, but the hot rails and the wah has a massive range?

 

[stitchlips]

Re: Best humbucker that has some good low end and serious crunch

i think a great deal of the crunch comes from the pickups. most duncans have a lot more bite than EMG's. EMG's just sound like you put a pillow in front of your amp.

That is a great comparison. That is almost exactly how it sounds. If I turn the amp up really loud so you can feel it in your guts, the hot rails shakes the roof, the EMG sounds weak like someone is muffling it with a pillow but it seems to sing on leads better.

 

[rumblebox]

Re: Best humbucker that has some good low end and serious crunch

HOWEVER, before i stopped using EMG's all together i started using 85s in the bridge position. it was a little better, but not as good as i wanted though.

 

[DonP]

Re: Best humbucker that has some good low end and serious crunch

I just swapped out an HB102B (Duncan Designed JB) fo an SD Invader in a Jackson DK2. Main difference to the OP's ESP is 24 vs. 22 frets.

Now let me say I love low output pickups as much as hotties, but damn did the Invader put a smile on my face. I love the crunch factor. Invaders are FUN.

 

[chris_tw21]

Re: Best humbucker that has some good low end and serious crunch

Passive has more punch and clarity.Try alternative 8 bridge,yjm fury neck for middle and neck.This should work good and I've never heard it in a guitar.It would be a modern strat with low end crunch and pobably work with you wah.

 

[xntrick]

Re: Best humbucker that has some good low end and serious crunch

which EMG pickup is that? I have the 81X in my superstrat and i have none of the issues you are describing.

 

[rumblebox]

Re: Best humbucker that has some good low end and serious crunch

the X series EMG's are supposed to have more of a passive feel.

 

[stitchlips]

Re: Best humbucker that has some good low end and serious crunch

which EMG pickup is that? I have the 81X in my superstrat and i have none of the issues you are describing.

I have no idea. The cover says EMG that is about all I know.

 

[stitchlips]

Re: Best humbucker that has some good low end and serious crunch

I just swapped out an HB102B (Duncan Designed JB) fo an SD Invader in a Jackson DK2. Main difference to the OP's ESP is 24 vs. 22 frets.

Now let me say I love low output pickups as much as hotties, but damn did the Invader put a smile on my face. I love the crunch factor. Invaders are FUN.

I was watching videos on youtube about the invader. It sounds like a good choice.

 

[stitchlips]

Re: Best humbucker that has some good low end and serious crunch

Passive has more punch and clarity.Try alternative 8 bridge,yjm fury neck for middle and neck.This should work good and I've never heard it in a guitar.It would be a modern strat with low end crunch and pobably work with you wah.

I was watching a video last night on youtube. It is all metal but it really shows a good comparison of the pickups. Here is the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZYDYiOIuC8

The alternative 8 instantly caught my ear. It sounds really bright and a little dirty. I am still undecided. It would be nice to be able to try them out first. I really would like to have the range back with my wah.

 

[rumblebox]

Re: Best humbucker that has some good low end and serious crunch

I have no idea. The cover says EMG that is about all I know.

it's not an X. those say "EMG X" on the cover.

 

[orpheo]

Re: Best humbucker that has some good low end and serious crunch

Passive has more punch and clarity.Try alternative 8 bridge,yjm fury neck for middle and neck.This should work good and I've never heard it in a guitar.It would be a modern strat with low end crunch and pobably work with you wah.

I couldn't agree more. that would be the bee's knees!

 

[stitchlips]

Re: Best humbucker that has some good low end and serious crunch

it's not an X. those say "EMG X" on the cover.

All it says is EMG in gold letters. They are not active because there is no 9 volt in the guitar.