Bridge humbucker to pair with SSL-1s on an strat

[FerMetalhead1]

Hi again!

This is a kind of spin-off topic from my Pearly Gates/Liquifire neck pup thread. As I mentioned in that thread, my basswood Washburn axe used to have a 59/Custom Hybrid on the bridge, which is now on my Jimmie Vaughan signature strat. It´s a great pickup overall, but I find it a bit too trebly/tinkling and not that bassy as I'd like, although it has a nice midrage. I think this is due to my guitar itself, since it has an alder body and a 100% maple neck, and vintage Fenders are generally made out of very bright and sparkling woods (the pickup accentuates the tonal characteristics of those woods).

I'd like to change it for a humbucker able to moderate the natural tonal characteristics of my guitar. I´d rather not have another Super Distortion because I already have one. I was thinking about a JB or a Custom Custom. I know both are different, but that's why I would like to read your opinions. I would like to have a versatile and warm humbucker that can handle overdrive really well, but at the same time give me nice clean tones; moderate to high level output.

The very few things I know about the JB are that it is a hi-output versatile pup and it is warmer than the 59/Custom (but is it warm enough to temper tinkling sounds?). OTOH, the Custom Custom was the pup that master Seymour Duncan himself built for Eddie Van Halen. As a matter of fact, I wanted that Strat to have a kind of EVH sound. I think both pickups are great for that, but it's really important to produce a warm sound.

As additional data, my strat has two SSL-1s on neck and middle positions, is this really important to decide for one pickup over another?

 

[ErikH]

You can't go wrong with the Custom Custom in a Strat. It's a GREAT setup. It sounds great split too. There will be some output difference for sure between the CC and the SSL-1's but it'll still work well. SRV in the neck and EVH in bridge...LOL.

 

[jeremy]

if the hybrid is too bright, try the cc

 

[Mincer]

Honestly, with an SSL-1, I'd go with a simple but awesome 59. Clean and clear, and not overpowering.

 

[FerMetalhead1]

Honestly, with an SSL-1, I'd go with a simple but awesome 59. Clean and clear, and not overpowering.

I don't think that's a bad idea either. For a while I considered that pickup because I think it's got some sort of similar sound range to the SSL-1: clear, scooped mids, and decent bass. However, I like the fact that the Hybrid has enough mids to cut through, thing that I don't see in the 59 (I also need some extra output for heavier stuff).

 

[FerMetalhead1]

Update: I recently considered changing my guitar pots in order to tame some of the high frequencies instead of changing the whole pickup.

When I first installed the pickup, my guitar was charged with CTS 250k pots, which gave me a dull and lifeless sound (didn't really hated it, but wasn't satified at all). I replaced the original pots for 2 Alpha 500k pots (very cheap and raspy sounding) to see if that would suit me better... What a difference!!! The sound was now full of life and brightness. However, time has passed and now I consider that sound to be slightly more trebly to my tastes.

​​​​​​​So, the question now is: Would you recommend me to mix different value pots (500k volume and 250k tone or exactly the opposite) to get an in between sound?

 

[jeremy]

is everything too trebly or just one or two positions? this is ssl1/ssl1/hybrid with v, t, t setup, yes?

 

[FerMetalhead1]

is everything too trebly or just one or two positions? this is ssl1/ssl1/hybrid with v, t, t setup, yes?

It's just the Hybrid. The guitar's got a 500k general volume, a 250k tone pot for the single coils (which I like) and a 500k tone for the humbucker.

 

[jeremy]

id try a 250 tone on the hybrid first and see what ya think

 

[FerMetalhead1]

id try a 250 tone on the hybrid first and see what ya think

Alright! I'll give it a shot, thanks!!

 

[jeremy]

youll get a little warmer sound that way. if that isnt enough, then you could swap the volume to 250k, put a 500k tone on the singles and 250k on the hybrid

 

[alex1fly]

id try a 250 tone on the hybrid first and see what ya think

+1

May cut some of the upper high end

I'll add that trying to make a Strat bridge pickup bassy is an uphill battle. Strats will always have a bright, tinkling quality to them - harness it and use it! And don't be afraid to set your tone control where it sounds good rather than where you think it should be - I spend a good amount of time with my Tele tone control (and my Strat tone control before that) at 0-5 just to keep it in balance with the other positions.

 

[FerMetalhead1]

+1

May cut some of the upper high end

I'll add that trying to make a Strat bridge pickup bassy is an uphill battle. Strats will always have a bright, tinkling quality to them - harness it and use it! And don't be afraid to set your tone control where it sounds good rather than where you think it should be - I spend a good amount of time with my Tele tone control (and my Strat tone control before that) at 0-5 just to keep it in balance with the other positions.

Yeah, I know that Strats are naturally brilliant toned instruments, for some contexts I love it, but in others I totally hate it. Nevertheless, I always try to get the best of my gear in spite of its weaknesses. I don't use that much the tone knob in bridge position, but I'll absolutely give it a try.

Now, you mentioned you used your tone control at 0-5. What kind of tapper does your pot have? Is there any difference in tone between 0 and 5? I ask this because I'm considering installing a linear tapper tone pot.