Classic Stack Plus with JB/59

[CarlosG]

Hi! Do Classic Stack Plus will be good working (set low so as not to hit with pick) with JB and 59?

 

[larryguitar]

Yes. I have a H/S/S Jackson with a JB and two Classic Stack Plus's in the middle and neck, and they balance better than other singles I've tried. They're not REALLY a single coil sound, but good for R&R.

Larry

 

[Artie]

They're not REALLY a single coil sound, but good for R&R.

But they're awful close. If someone was playing one behind my back, I'd think they were singles.

 

[CarlosG]

Yes. I have a H/S/S Jackson with a JB and two Classic Stack Plus's in the middle and neck, and they balance better than other singles I've tried. They're not REALLY a single coil sound, but good for R&R.

Larry

Thanks for answer.
I'm part of the group that has to have the middle single set low, because it interferes when picking.
Do you experience a drop in volume in the middle position?
How high do you set it?
Do you split in positions 2 and 4?

 

[Mincer]

You can split in 2 & 4 if you want something closer to a real Strat sound. But the Classic Stack would be my choice between the 59 and JB, absolutely.

 

[donaldr]

They're not REALLY a single coil sound, but good for R&R.

Larry

They sound as single-coil to me as my other guitar with real single-coils, without the hum.

 

[larryguitar]

Thanks for answer.
I'm part of the group that has to have the middle single set low, because it interferes when picking.
Do you experience a drop in volume in the middle position?
How high do you set it?
Do you split in positions 2 and 4?

I'm in the same position, with the middle pickup set low to not constantly get hit by my pick. The noiseless pickup seems a bit more tolerant of it than a true SC, in my experience. It's about halfway between the neck's setting and the pickguard.

I don't split them, but use the full pickup for all settings: 1=Bridge, 2=Bridge/Middle, 3=Middle, 4=Middle/Neck, 5=Neck. I will add that the neck can do a pretty good impersonation of a HB neck pickup under heavy gain.

As far as them sounding like a single coil-sort of. But I've swapped a number of actual single coils into that same guitar, and all were considerably more single coil-y. Most lacked the oomph to keep up with the JB, though, and all brought some noise, so I just decided to love it for what it is with the noiseless pickups in it.

Larry

 

[Mincer]

They sound as single-coil to me as my other guitar with real single-coils, without the hum.

I agree with this.

 

[CarlosG]

Seymour Duncan with JB also recommends:
Vintage Hot Stack Plus Strat
Custom Stack Plus Strat
They are hotter than Classic Stack.
I'm afraid that the volume drop will be too drastic with the classic stack when I set it low.
I need middle single coil to get Whitesnake - Is This Love clean tone, and Mr Big Paul Gilbert Clean tone e.g. MR Big - Just Takie My Heart.

 

[Mincer]

The issue is that hotter pickups lose the chime that you need for clean tones like that.

 

[CarlosG]

I bought a Vintage Hot Stack Plus and put it in the neck position.
It is higher than the JB in the bridge and I can feel a noticeable drop in volume, so in the middle position, set lower it will be even more noticeable.
If there is a significant difference in output (with Vintage Hot Stack), then Classic Stack is definitely not for me.
If the Vintage Hot Stack is too weak for me, I think the Hot Stack® Strat (bridge version) would be a good idea. Dann Huff uses them and has great cleans.
Possibly Custom Stack Plus will be fine, but I suspect that the single coil nature will start to fade.​

 

[Mincer]

Any increase in output will result in less of a classic single coil sound. So, it will be a balance between the sound of the pickup and the output. It won't be a 'perfect' match no matter what pickup is in there. Decide what is more important to you.

 

[jeremy]

i love a hot stack in the bridge, but i dont think i would like it in the neck. its very middy. if you want more output than the vintage hot stack, get the custom stack.