Broadcaster plus....humbucker?

[Supernautilus]

Howdy folks. I got a new Telecaster project I'm planning. The bridge is going to be a Broadcaster. Originally, I was thinking a Strat pickup for the neck. I may still go that route. But I have a handful of humbuckers lying around and I was thinking it would be cool to try and get one to work. The guitar would have 250K pots to accommodate the bridge pup, so I would need to work around that. I know there are ways to use resistors with higher value pots to address this, but I don't want to go that route in this scenario.

I was thinking I could wire the HB up in parallel. Or perhaps a magnet swap. A3 maybe? I don't know if that would weaken it too much though. Right now, I'm thinking of maybe using a Seth Lover. If it's too dark, I could always put an A5 mag in it. Or A3. Maybe wire it in parallel to drop the output.

I don't know, I'm just brainstorming here lol. How would you guys go about this?

 

[Artie]

There are several humbuckers that work well with 250k pots. Both the Jazz and JB can handle the load. Since the JB is intended as a bridge pup, the Jazz would be a good choice. I'm sure there are others.

(And a Jazz is Seymour's favorite Tele neck pup.)

 

[Supernautilus]

There are several humbuckers that work well with 250k pots. Both the Jazz and JB can handle the load. Since the JB is intended as a bridge pup, the Jazz would be a good choice. I'm sure there are others.

(And a Jazz is Seymour's favorite Tele neck pup.)

Hmm, interesting. And I do have an A2P I could convert to a Jazz. Do you think wiring it up in parallel would allow it to better match with the Broadcaster in terms of output? Seems like a Jazz would be too loud by default.

 

[Artie]

I'm not sure. I have a Broadcaster, but I haven't installed it yet. I don't consider my Jazz's to be loud per se. Just (nicely) bright with 250k pots. I'd wait for others to chime in. I don't play professionally.

 

[Mincer]

I say a Jazz as well. I bet it will sound great in standard series.

 

[Supernautilus]

Ok thanks guys. I don't have a spare Jazz at the moment, but like I said I have an APH I can throw an A5 magnet into so I'll give that a shot. I appreciate the advice.

 

[freefrog]

I was thinking I could wire the HB up in parallel. Or perhaps a magnet swap. A3 maybe? I don't know if that would weaken it too much though. Right now, I'm thinking of maybe using a Seth Lover. If it's too dark, I could always put an A5 mag in it. Or A3. Maybe wire it in parallel to drop the output.

I don't know, I'm just brainstorming here lol. How would you guys go about this?

Personally, I'd wire a bridge HB in parallel only if it's a high output model: a JB in parallel exhibits around 4k of DCR and 2H of inductance. Not far from Fender SC's and useable IME (I've a series/parallel option with similar hot pickups in several guitars and I actually use it on stage because it sounds right). A normal P.A.F. style HB would measure only 2k and 1H or less in parallel : potentially too weak to not sound weird, IMHO.

A5, A3... I'd just try. It's not rare for me to swap magnets until it sounds right, period. Reason: magnets of a "same" alloy can actually vary and a very same magnet can give different tones to different PU's. IME. YMMV.

Now, do what you want and be happy.

 

[Supernautilus]

Personally, I'd wire a bridge HB in parallel only if it's a high output model: a JB in parallel exhibits around 4k of DCR and 2H of inductance. Not far from Fender SC's and useable IME (I've a series/parallel option with similar hot pickups in several guitars and I actually use it on stage because it sounds right). A normal P.A.F. style HB would measure only 2k and 1H or less in parallel : potentially too weak to not sound weird, IMHO.

A5, A3... I'd just try. It's not rare for me to swap magnets until it sounds right, period. Reason: magnets of a "same" alloy can actually vary and a very same magnet can give different tones to different PU's. IME. YMMV.

Now, do what you want and be happy.

Well this is for a neck HB. And the bridge is only a Broadcaster which is about 8K. So I didn't want to overpower it.

But I'll try the APH A5 first normally and go from there.

 

[freefrog]

Well this is for a neck HB. And the bridge is only a Broadcaster which is about 8K. So I didn't want to overpower it.

But I'll try the APH A5 first normally and go from there.

Oops, my bad. Morning brain fart from before coffee... <:O)

That said: I think that a JB in parallel would actually be useable as a neck pickup.

Let us know if/how you like the APH with A5...

 

[marcello252]

I ve just made the same thing, there's a post a week old or so. I put a tonerider around 8.3K on the bridge changing to an A3 , and I think it's wonderful, way better than I could think
it's chimey , not brittle at all, there is this nice high mid punch, it's in the chord of a telecaster still being a humbucker.
I think any good quality HB around 8k might work
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[Supernautilus]

Hey guys, quick question...

I mentioned in my first post that I might go with a Strat pickup in the neck of this Tele project. Would I need to get a RWRP to get hum canceling with the Broadcaster bridge pickup? I just would like to know for future reference.

Oh, and do you think the SSL-2 would be a good match for the Broadcaster? Thanks.

 

[Mincer]

Hey guys, quick question...

I mentioned in my first post that I might go with a Strat pickup in the neck of this Tele project. Would I need to get a RWRP to get hum canceling with the Broadcaster bridge pickup? I just would like to know for future reference.

Oh, and do you think the SSL-2 would be a good match for the Broadcaster? Thanks.

Yeah, you would need RWRP. SSL-2 would sound great if you are after a traditional Strat neck sound.