Bridge HB to warm up a bright Strat-style guitar?

S

StormJH1

New member
First post here, but I've read the forums a fair amount because I've been doing some modding.

My question is which SD humbucker you think would work well in the bridge position of a Strat style guitar to warm it up a bit. The guitar, which is a SUB Series Silo3 (pic below) is a little thinner and has a maple fretboard. The stock humbucker is likely ceramic and tends to be a little shrill. To give you an idea of what I'm looking for, I put a GFS Alnico Fat Pat in a similar guitar and it sounds great. But I've yet to own a "real Duncan" (aside from some DD HB-103's), so I remain intrigued.

What would you recommend? I can get an SH-4 (in white) for 65 new. Lots of people also seem to recommend the Pearly Gates, also. Others?

Also, is standard spacing fine if I'm around 52mm string to string?

Thanks!

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Re: Bridge HB to warm up a bright Strat-style guitar?

I've got a USA Silhouette Special and I put a JB in mine.
Yours should have 250k pots, so the JB is perfect.
53mm is the correct spacing.

Enjoy !
 
Re: Bridge HB to warm up a bright Strat-style guitar?

For 52mm a trembucker would be a better fit, but in most cases a narrow spaced pickup will work just as well = without audible losses on the outer strings. With 250k pots, the JB should be an excellent choice.
 
Re: Bridge HB to warm up a bright Strat-style guitar?

I have a Strat that I just went from SSS to HSH on. I put a 59/C Hybrid in it and I'm extremely happy.

I have the Pearly Gates and I wouldn't recommend them for you - they'd end up too bright. Although I haven't tried them with 250K pots, so I couldn't say for sure. It is an excellent pickup, I have the set and changed the bridge to a PG+ by giving it an Alnico 5 magnet and it kicks so much ass.
 
Re: Bridge HB to warm up a bright Strat-style guitar?

wolf5150 said:
I've got a USA Silhouette Special and I put a JB in mine.
Yours should have 250k pots, so the JB is perfect.
53mm is the correct spacing.

Enjoy !
Click to expand...

Thanks for the responses! Awesome to hear from a guy with a Silhouette special - the Silo3 is similar to that in a lot of ways in that it is a budget guitar in the "Sterling by Music Man" wing. However, the build quality on it is generally fabulous. I think it's one of the best new guitars under $200 on the market today. I'm getting decent at modding and I don't even want to touch anything on it!

I will measure again to make sure, but perhaps a TB-4 would be preferable to a SH-4 in this situation:

Humbuckers and Trembuckers are very similar to each other, and most humbucker models also come in Trembucker versions. The Trembucker-spaced JB, for example, is a TB-4 and the humbucker-spaced version in an SH-4. The only difference is the wider spacing of the pole pieces on the Trembucker versions. This spacing issue only applies to the bridge position pickup, which is why Trembuckers are recommended for the bridge position. Trembuckers are designed for wider string most commonly associated with Floyd Rose or vintage vibrato bridges (often called Tremolos) with a string spacing of 2.070" or 52.6mm, measured center of high string to center of low string over the bridge pickup. Humbuckers are designed for bridges with traditional Gibson humbucker string spacing of 1.930" or 49mm, measured center of high string to center of low string over the bridge pickup. Humbucker spaced pickups work in both bridge and neck positions, even with a Trembucker-spaced bridge pickup. A quick and easy way to tell which you need is to measure from the middle of the high string to the middle of the low string, directly over the pickup. If the distance is greater than two inches or 50mm, go for a Trembucker. If it's less than two inches or 50mm, go for a humbucker.


At least SD provides a clear definition of this. I was looking at Dimarzios and 80% of the people on the boards though "F-spaced" meant "Floyd Rose Spacing". I've also heard that if you get the wrong one, it might be off a bit aesthetically, but doesn't actually make a huge difference with the magnetic field lining up. In other words, it would still work, and most people wouldn't be able to tell by listening.

My assumption is that the Silo3 has 250k pots, but I'll have to check that (just opened a '96 Squier Bullet and it had 500k pots for a S-S-S configuration...why?!). That would calm my fears somewhat. I had been scared of the JB a little by descriptions on their website about the "strong treble detail", but I suppose the tone pot is critical to that.
 
Re: Bridge HB to warm up a bright Strat-style guitar?

The JB was originally designed to be used with 250k pots.
Using one with 500k is the reason most people hate it.
Same as using 500k pots with single coils.. not meant to be !

I've been using my Silhouette all day and I'll stand by my recommendation !!

By the way, Ernie Ball sell the knobs from the Petrucci guitar, they'd look great on yours.
I've just fitted them to all my guitars... best knobs I've ever tried, low profile, easy to grip.
 
Re: Bridge HB to warm up a bright Strat-style guitar?

I say a Custom Custom if you want something more warm or a Custom 5
 
Bridge HB to warm up a bright Strat-style guitar?

wolf5150 said:
The JB was originally designed to be used with 250k pots.
Using one with 500k is the reason most people hate it.
Same as using 500k pots with single coils.. not meant to be !

I've been using my Silhouette all day and I'll stand by my recommendation !!

By the way, Ernie Ball sell the knobs from the Petrucci guitar, they'd look great on yours.
I've just fitted them to all my guitars... best knobs I've ever tried, low profile, easy to grip.
Click to expand...

I will PM you about the Music Man knobs, etc. Thanks for the help!

I went ahead and ordered a TB-4. Got a new one at a slight discount. This is a guitar I like and actually am the original owner of, so a new Seymour Duncan should be a good fit. It has a single tone knob, so if it isn't 250k, I'll change it! Excited to finally be installing an authentic SD!


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Re: Bridge HB to warm up a bright Strat-style guitar?

Not sure where you live but I've got a few top quality 250k pots I'll send you if needed. ( although mine came with 250k pots originally so assume yours will too )

I've also got the MM bent steel saddles too.
I swapped them out for Gotoh solid saddles as I prefer the tone but they're yours for the asking.
 
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Re: Bridge HB to warm up a bright Strat-style guitar?

StormJH1 said:
I will PM you about the Music Man knobs, etc. Thanks for the help!

I went ahead and ordered a TB-4. Got a new one at a slight discount. This is a guitar I like and actually am the original owner of, so a new Seymour Duncan should be a good fit. It has a single tone knob, so if it isn't 250k, I'll change it! Excited to finally be installing an authentic SD!


Sent on iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I think that is a great choice..Same pickup I have in the bridge position of my h/h strat and it's a badass pickup
 
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