Can't decide on H or S

[rattletraprock]

I'm doing my first complete guitar build and I'm kinda hung up on the choice of a middle pickup. I'm doing a strat style guitar with a 5 way switch, a SH-2 Jazz in the neck position and a SH-4 JB in the bridge position and I can't decide between a Single Coil or a Humbucker in the middle position. Any thoughts?
:feedback::33:

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Can't decide on H or S

I have a Phat Cat in the middle of my hhh strat and it's great. Middle position works extremely well for humbuckers (p90s) ironically.

 

[Blille]

Re: Can't decide on H or S

I've had a guitar like yours with Jazz and JB that has a Hot Rails in the middle for about 20 years.

I've recently come to the conclusion that I want to swap the middle for a single coil. I never use the HR and I miss the in between positions of split neck or JB combined with a middle sc. Both the Jazz and the JB split great btw, I hope you plan to use those sounds

 

[Nagisa]

Re: Can't decide on H or S

I've had a guitar like yours with Jazz and JB that has a Hot Rails in the middle for about 20 years.

I've recently come to the conclusion that I want to swap the middle for a single coil. I never use the HR and I miss the in between positions of split neck or JB combined with a middle sc. Both the Jazz and the JB split great btw, I hope you plan to use those sounds

Ok a bit of a hijack here, but I have an HSS (Ibanez AZ) that is able to combine the SS in serial for a humbucker sound, but it's not quite as oomphy as a real bucker. What are your or other's thoughts about putting a hot rails in the middle and running the mid+neck single in serial? Would this work or just be a mess? Also what is the HR middle like? Would it on its own substitute for a neck for overdriven leads?

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Can't decide on H or S

The answer is always S.

 

[Blille]

Re: Can't decide on H or S

Ok a bit of a hijack here, but I have an HSS (Ibanez AZ) that is able to combine the SS in serial for a humbucker sound, but it's not quite as oomphy as a real bucker. What are your or other's thoughts about putting a hot rails in the middle and running the mid+neck single in serial? Would this work or just be a mess? Also what is the HR middle like? Would it on its own substitute for a neck for overdriven leads?

HR is already hot and warm. Adding anything else in series would likely be it into mud IMHO.

You can definitely use the mid HR for overdriven leads. Not totally the woolyness you can get in the neck but it's definitely usable.

 

[rattletraprock]

Re: Can't decide on H or S

I have a Phat Cat in the middle of my hhh strat and it's great. Middle position works extremely well for humbuckers (p90s) ironically.

I was thinking about that. Do they make a Phat Cat that fits into a single coil slot?

 

[rattletraprock]

Re: Can't decide on H or S

I've had a guitar like yours with Jazz and JB that has a Hot Rails in the middle for about 20 years.

I've recently come to the conclusion that I want to swap the middle for a single coil. I never use the HR and I miss the in between positions of split neck or JB combined with a middle sc. Both the Jazz and the JB split great btw, I hope you plan to use those sounds

Yeah, definitely one of the reasons I'm torn is the split possibilities. What single coil do you think you'll use?

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Can't decide on H or S

I was thinking about that. Do they make a Phat Cat that fits into a single coil slot?

Oh, if you don't have space in the route, I'd go for a true single coil. There's the custom shop Stra Bro 90. I have a Quarter Pound in the middle in another guitar and it balances perfectly volume wise with the humbuckers on full. Gives pretty good cluck with the humbuckers spin o splitted. You can go for a less hot single in the middle if you want more cluck but a bit of a volume drop. I also tried a Cool Rails in the middle before and didn't like it as much.

 

[Jeffblue]

Re: Can't decide on H or S

You could go with a SD vintage or hot strat stacked pickup and be able to switch series-parallel for more tone options with hum canceling. Most of my guitar builds are 3 pickup. My strat partscasters have a SD antiquity or vintage P90 in the neck, Antiquity strat in the middle and either an Antiquity or vintage tele pickup or JB humbucker in the bridge. Most of my tele partscasters have a P90 in the neck or middle, depending if it is 2 or 3 pickup tele. I have one build with a Seymour Duncan 59 in the neck and an Antiquity tele pickup in the bridge. I love SD single coils and I normally mix and mash my pickups in guitar builds.

 

[Blille]

Re: Can't decide on H or S

Yeah, definitely one of the reasons I'm torn is the split possibilities. What single coil do you think you'll use?

SSL2 or True Velvet.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Can't decide on H or S

I'd say a Classic Stack Plus Strat, and keep it noiseless.

 

[Blille]

Re: Can't decide on H or S

I'd say a Classic Stack Plus Strat, and keep it noiseless.

Unless the point is to combine with the split HBs and get quack, no?

 

[rattletraprock]

Re: Can't decide on H or S

I'd say a Classic Stack Plus Strat, and keep it noiseless.

I like that idea. Which wiring diagram should I use? I'd still like to have 1 volume and 2 tone options.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Can't decide on H or S

What pickups would you like to have affected by the tone controls?

 

[rattletraprock]

Re: Can't decide on H or S

What pickups would you like to have affected by the tone controls?

Probably the bridge and the middle, but I'm open to suggestions.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Can't decide on H or S

Seriously guys? Really? :smack:

Thank goodness I'm here with the correct answer....

Hot rails with a push/pull pot on the tone knob. leave "In" as split and "up" as humbucker. Win/Win.

A middle bucker + JB will be a really great 'Instant' rhythm tone switch taking the edge off the JB and adding some booty. Or - go single to add slice and cut to either the JB or especially the Jazz in rhythm. Use it as a stand alone HB for a cool all around rock sound, or single as you want to be for funky skanky Strat sounds. Bonus - HR is hot enough it makes a great stand alone single.

 

[rattletraprock]

Re: Can't decide on H or S

Seriously guys? Really? :smack:

Thank goodness I'm here with the correct answer....

Hot rails with a push/pull pot on the tone knob. leave "In" as split and "up" as humbucker. Win/Win.

A middle bucker + JB will be a really great 'Instant' rhythm tone switch taking the edge off the JB and adding some booty. Or - go single to add slice and cut to either the JB or especially the Jazz in rhythm. Use it as a stand alone HB for a cool all around rock sound, or single as you want to be for funky skanky Strat sounds. Bonus - HR is hot enough it makes a great stand alone single.

Oh sh*t! The correct answer!! I asked the question wrong.

Seriously, that is worth considering. Thanks! Now I have more research to do. Ultimately, I'm looking for a combination that I can use in all future builds for a kind of "signature" config.

 

[rattletraprock]

Re: Can't decide on H or S

I'd say a Classic Stack Plus Strat, and keep it noiseless.

Alrighty then. This is the config I'm using. Any suggestions on wiring diagram? I think I want the tone effected on the bridge and middle pups.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Can't decide on H or S

I recommend a master no load tone for the middle knob and a neck/bridge blender for the last knob so you can get neck/bridge on or all 3.