Bridge humbucker for Yamaha Pacifica 604W

D

dg.riff

New member
I would be really grateful for anyone's advice on what pup I need...

I want to replace the bridge humbucker in my pacifica. I am new to replacing pups, but I have just put a SSL-6 in the middle and will be putting a SSL-2 in the neck. I'm looking for the following:

- A reasonably hot, yet vintage sound
- A good single coil sound when I split it that will complement the other pups
- It needs to be flat rather than staggered as it's a fairly flat neck.

I play classic rock, soul, and all types of blues, but not really 'metal'. I have three Gibsons so I don't particularly need to imitate that sound. Amp is a Fender Blues Junior and I rarely use effects.

What do you think?
 
Re: Bridge humbucker for Yamaha Pacifica 604W

I have strat with a ssl-6 in the bridge and two ssl-2 in the middle and neck. I want a glassy vintage sounds (think of Mark Knopfler's Dire Straits) and also blues rock a la Rory gallagher in the bridge - works great!
 
Re: Bridge humbucker for Yamaha Pacifica 604W

If your PAC 604 is as bright as mine I would recommend the SH-11. I'm not sure, though, about whether you should request the trembucker version .... you have the Wilkinson trem ..right?

By the way, dg, welcome to the forum!
 
Re: Bridge humbucker for Yamaha Pacifica 604W

Thanks for the welcome.

Yes, it's got the Wilkinson Trem on it. Trembucker measurements seem about right I think.

Putting the SSL-6 in has made me realise just how thin the stock pups are.
 
Re: Bridge humbucker for Yamaha Pacifica 604W

not sure if you want to stick with duncans, but you can go with a Dimarzio Virtual Hot PAF that you can probibly find on ebay since it got discontinued this year, or a 36th annaverasry PAF. I know the VHPAF and the VPAF from dirmarzio sound really good split, but this pickup sounds better with 250k pots, so that will help your singles sound even better
 
Re: Bridge humbucker for Yamaha Pacifica 604W

I'm thinking that an SH-11 or SH-14 may be the best bet (Trembucker versions though). What do you think? I'm keen to know whether these will sound good when split.
 
Re: Bridge humbucker for Yamaha Pacifica 604W

I don't like it. Sorry. Agathis is not a good tone wood. I had a LTD EC-100QM that I put the Hot Rodded Combo in: excellent pickups, but they were the star player on a losing team (i.e. the guitar woods suck). Opinions vary, but mine is that agathis sucks, almost as bad as soft maple (in a guitar body that is).

Anyways, if you do, I recommend a JB bridge since the one I had in my LTD was decent. I would also recommend two Vintage single coils, since I would think these would sound enough like the Jazz to sound decent in agathis. Anyways, I'll leave it at that.

You'd be better off buying a new or used guitar that comes with Duncans than to buy one without and then upgrade, unless you truly love how the guitar sounds unplugged. I went that route with my LTD and Ibanez, and I wish now that I had simply saved up and bought a decent guitar to begin with. Anyways, a used Schecter C-1 Classic, Lite Ash Stratocaster (or Telecaster) or Showmaster SSS (or HH) would probably give you better use, assuming the guitar is not modified beyond minor stuff, than a brand new guitar made of agathis.

Let's put it this way: $300 for the LTD EC-100QM, $100 for hard case, $120 for pickups, $60 for used hardware and $60 more for other upgrades. In the end, I got like $225 for it in good shape, with push/pull pots, Earvana nut, etc, the whole shebang, with case. My life lesson: you never get back what you put into it. Someone out there got a nice guitar.

The thread that I posted when I sold my guitar.
 
Re: Bridge humbucker for Yamaha Pacifica 604W

If the 812 has the same body wood as the 604, then you should try out the JB to start. The 812 comes with it, and it sounds fantastic in there for all applications.
 
Re: Bridge humbucker for Yamaha Pacifica 604W

Gunner said:
Agathis? What planet are you on?

http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA...526DETYP%253DATTRIBUTE%2526LGFL%253DY,00.html


I'd like to hear how a PAF Pro would sound in the bridge of that guitar - it sounds good in an ash bodied PAC912, split it sounds great in the notch position with a single coil.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I had it wrong, I didn't double-check my search results on MusiciansFriend. This is what I thought he was referring to:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Yamaha-PAC012DLX-Pacifica-HSS-Deluxe-Electric-Guitar?sku=519177

My apologies. Although I've never seen a body made of adler :D

I've never had much experience with alder with a rosewood fretboard, so I'll stay out of this one. Again, my apologies....
 
Re: Bridge humbucker for Yamaha Pacifica 604W

How did this turn out?

I have a 604w and I also bought a JB for the bridge a few hours ago. I can't wait for it to arrive so I can install it.
 
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