Bridge Humbucker for Strat, CC,C, JB, or 59, User's Help.

[poweredbysoul]

Okay i've been reading alot of posts now. I don't have alot of exp with choosing a fullsize bridge pU for and alder strat. The 3 Customs, JB, and 59. Were options. I also have an old Dimarzio Mega drive kicking around as well, from my rocker days!!! I would prefer to only do one more PU change. What works best in a strat, not worried about clean on bridge. Want something thats really gonna give this guitar balls and punch. So far from what I've read it seems like people prefer the JB and Custom. I'm runng it through a mesa so the gain comes from the amp, all I need.

Any advice appreciated.
Nick

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: Bridge Humbucker for Strat, CC,C, JB, or 59, User's Help.

The Custom Custom is my favorite of the bunch in an alder strat. That's definitely what I'd use if it were me.

Do you have any other pickups in the guitar? It might help to take them into consideration so you have a bridge pup that contrasts or accentuates them really well.

 

[Folo]

Re: Bridge Humbucker for Strat, CC,C, JB, or 59, User's Help.

I'd be tempted to try out the old Mega Drive, but that's just me.

 

[poweredbysoul]

Re: Bridge Humbucker for Strat, CC,C, JB, or 59, User's Help.

The others are Tex Mex Single coils. How the does the cc sound in a strat, it isn't rated high in bottem end, and can it cover alot of ground, mild to heavy?

Nick

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Bridge Humbucker for Strat, CC,C, JB, or 59, User's Help.

What musical styles are you playing?

For an all around beefy pickup in strat that still screams, look at the Duncan Designed Detonator. I bought one on a whim for a Washburn Mercury I just bought and it sounds fab. Definately worth the $40 I paid for it new.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Bridge Humbucker for Strat, CC,C, JB, or 59, User's Help.

Every pickup you mentioned will sound great in a Strat.

If you're wanting balls and punch, I'd say get the Custom...it's my fave of those you mentioned.


Lew

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: Bridge Humbucker for Strat, CC,C, JB, or 59, User's Help.

The others are Tex Mex Single coils. How the does the cc sound in a strat, it isn't rated high in bottem end, and can it cover alot of ground, mild to heavy?

Nick

The CC probably sounds best in a strat, at least from what most people say (I haven't tried it in anything else, personally). It has plenty of bass for rock, though the lows aren't quite as tight as the Custom (like Lew mentioned) which may be a little better suited for metal. You could pull off both with either, though, IMO - especially with an amp that has plenty of gain like your Mesa.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Bridge Humbucker for Strat, CC,C, JB, or 59, User's Help.

If you're keeping two single coils for the neck and middle and planning on keeping the 250K pots that Strats come with normally, the Custom Custom might sound a little to dark and lack highs. Sounds great with 500K pots...not so sure I'd like it with 250K pots. So if that's the case, a brighter pickup like the Custom or JB might be a better choice. The JB sounds very smooth and fat with 250K pots. If you want a pickup that balances nicely when combined with the lower output of single coils, the 59B is a good choice too. But if you want to able to switch to your bridge pickup and get a volume lift for soloing, I'd say the Custom or JB would be a good choice. Lew

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: Bridge Humbucker for Strat, CC,C, JB, or 59, User's Help.

Good point, Lew. I forget about that sometimes, I think due to my Peavey coming with 500k pots all around for its single coils. I didn't have to change, so I never really worried about it. I'd definitely go with a JB or maybe a Custom if I was using 250k.

 

[theodie]

Re: Bridge Humbucker for Strat, CC,C, JB, or 59, User's Help.

Every pickup you mentioned will sound great in a Strat.

If you're wanting balls and punch, I'd say get the Custom...it's my fave of those you mentioned.


Lew

I agree with this gentleman!

 

[poweredbysoul]

Re: Bridge Humbucker for Strat, CC,C, JB, or 59, User's Help.

Just finished putting a JB in the bridge of my strat, sounds good but won't know for sure until I crank it tomorrow. It replaced the stock tex mex humbucker. The jb wasn't f spaced so the low and high E don't match exactly. Will that matter sound wise?

Thanks

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Bridge Humbucker for Strat, CC,C, JB, or 59, User's Help.

I came at least to the conclusion that i doesn't matter with a vintage trem Strat. Cant say for Floyd Rose or any other hi-tech systems.

 

[BBQLS1]

Re: Bridge Humbucker for Strat, CC,C, JB, or 59, User's Help.

I got to play out last night with the Custom Custom in my Strat. I love it, way better than the JB or Custom 5 I had in there. Nice fat chunky sound. Very smooth on the leads.

 

[Jay 77]

Re: Bridge Humbucker for Strat, CC,C, JB, or 59, User's Help.

The JB in mine leans more to the agressive side than the smooth side. Depends on the type of stuff you're playing.

 

[poweredbysoul]

Re: Bridge Humbucker for Strat, CC,C, JB, or 59, User's Help.

With 250 pots in my strat if I go with the C or CC will I need to change to
500k?

Nick

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: Bridge Humbucker for Strat, CC,C, JB, or 59, User's Help.

Just finished putting a JB in the bridge of my strat, sounds good but won't know for sure until I crank it tomorrow. It replaced the stock tex mex humbucker. The jb wasn't f spaced so the low and high E don't match exactly. Will that matter sound wise?

Thanks

A lot of people can't tell a difference. Some people say they can. I've never A/Bed any to tell, though it makes sense that it would alter it a little. FWIW, I had a regular spaced CC in my Peavey with a fender style trem. It sounded great!

With 250 pots in my strat if I go with the C or CC will I need to change to
500k?

Nick

Yeah, it would help tremendously - more so on the CC than the C. The JB is one of the few I'd consider using 250k pots with. It might be ok on the Custom (some people like it, but I've never tried it).

 

[poweredbysoul]

Re: Bridge Humbucker for Strat, CC,C, JB, or 59, User's Help.

I've been playing JB equipped strat thru my Tech 21 practice amp. The JB sounds good, great lead tone. You can definetly hear the mids on the single note lines. A lead players PU for sure.

Nick

 

[Fiesta Red]

Re: Bridge Humbucker for Strat, CC,C, JB, or 59, User's Help.

I like the 59 myself, or the custom. Not a big JB fan.

-Mark

 

[Stratcat]

Re: Bridge Humbucker for Strat, CC,C, JB, or 59, User's Help.

The CC is the Ultimate Strat bridge Humbucker.

 

[Fresh_Start]

Re: Bridge Humbucker for Strat, CC,C, JB, or 59, User's Help.

What, no love for the C-5 here?

Lew's comments about 250k pots reflect my experiments - an alnico 2 magnet (CC) was a bit muddy and missing the chime of the C-5. Also mixes well with an SSL-2 when split - sounds like the notch position should in a strat IMHO. I do have a bass cut on this strat to temper the strong, tight bass of the C-5 at times, but it works for me.

Chip