Best Partner For TB-JB, Hot Stack or Custom Stack???

[Nostalgic Distortion]

I'm looking for a S.C. or a S.C. sized pickup for the neck of my H/S Strat, I'm dropping a JB into the bridge but I'm a bit torn between neck puppies? I think I've gotten it down to the Custom Stack or the Hot Stack & I was wondering what you guys think would be the better choice? I'm also considering a Quarter Pound for Strat but I've heard good things about some of the Stacked Duncan's & haven't had the pleasure of useing them yet? Thanks a bunch & et me know what you think!!!

 

[Masta' C]

Re: Best Partner For TB-JB, Hot Stack or Custom Stack???

What characteristics are you looking for in the neck position? That will make a big difference in the recommendation. All of those will keep up with a JB just fine. The best fit depends on what you're after...

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: Best Partner For TB-JB, Hot Stack or Custom Stack???

I've got the Hot Stack (STK-S2) paired up with a JB in the bridge of my HSH... but it's in the center position instead of the neck. Obviously it's a different sound from having it in the neck position, but I really like it. It's very single-coilish sounding... with just a little bit of beef. It also has kind of a back-of-the-throat "jangle" (not sure how else to describe it) that sounds pretty awesome IMO. Pairs up quite nicely with the JB (and with the Jazz I have in the neck),

Hope that helps!


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[jeremy]

Re: Best Partner For TB-JB, Hot Stack or Custom Stack???

Id say a custom stack is a better option. The hot stack is very middy in the bridge can't imagine it would be a great neck pup even with 500k pots. The custom stack on the other hand should sound sweet in the neck

Are you talking about the old bar magnet hot stack or the new hot stack plus? I was referring to the stk9. Not the old stk2 which can be a cool neck pup

 

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: Best Partner For TB-JB, Hot Stack or Custom Stack???

I'm referring to the older bar design, I like the way it looks? Definitely let's you know it's not a typical S.C. but if it's a "middy" pickup like you said then it's probably not the pickup for me? I guess the Custom would make a better neck pup, a few million Charvels can't be wrong, right??? I'm looking for something that still has some single coil bell-ness to it but also has some balls, I've already got some Strats setup with APS-1's & SSL-1's, a lot of vintage wound stuff? I guess I'm just looking for something different than what I've already have? I mentioned the Quarter Pound because I have one in the bridge of my Tele & I love it! It works great with the Phat Cat in the neck but I have no experience with it as a neck pup or anyplace in a Strat?

 

[jeremy]

Re: Best Partner For TB-JB, Hot Stack or Custom Stack???

the old hot stack can be cool as a neck pup. i was referring to the new hot stack plus being very middy and not a great neck pup

 

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: Best Partner For TB-JB, Hot Stack or Custom Stack???

I ended up going with the Custom Stack, this may sound dumb but a lot of it came down to economics? I know this isn't the best way to go about picking out pickups but I was pretty set on going with some kind of stacked single & while I was shopping around I ended up @ The Stratosphere, as most of us know they have made a business out of ripping guitars apart & selling them, necks, bodies, exe? They has San Dimas guts on sale for $99 & to me it was just too good of a deal to pass up!

I already had a TB-JB in black but if I'm going to spend $70 on the STK S6 why not spend the extra $30 & get a essentially brand new Zebra TB-JB? The only thing that I can think of that's going to be any different than buying them new is the leads will probably have been cut down & I won't have the original boxes? Aside from that they're new pickups & exactly what I was looking for? The JB I have now still has a lot of lead left on it so I can just sell it or use it in another guitar?

Org. I was planning on using a Custom Custom in this guard so a 500k pot would have been in order? I went with the JB because it was free? I was able to get it by moving around a few pickups in other guitars so I already had one & apparently now another? Anyway, I prefer it running off a 250 or 300k pot but they also sound alright running off a 500k, just a lil bright, which pot do you think will work better for the stack, @ this point that's probably going to be the deciding factor for me?

 

[IMENATOR]

Re: Best Partner For TB-JB, Hot Stack or Custom Stack???

What characteristics are you looking for in the neck position? That will make a big difference in the recommendation. All of those will keep up with a JB just fine. The best fit depends on what you're after...

Very true. I have used the Custom Stack Plus and YJM Fury neck along with a TB-4 JB. If your concern is volume balance the Custom Stack balances well and imho it sounds bluesy enough but for some people ears may not be punchy enough to pair the JB for soloing which is so damn good. The FYJM Fury matches volume too but is not that bluesy, it is fatter which I think makes it a better pair for soling. I just posted a link on other thread about the Parallel Axis single, sounds quite punchy but still sounds like single coil to me in that demo but I have not used it.