Custom Shop Tapped A2 '59/Custom Hybrid

[ItsaBass]

I was considering putting a '59/Custom in my G&L Cantrell model, but I thought it might be cool if the Custom coil could be tapped down to a more "vintage" output, and maybe use an A2 to sweeten and quiet the pickup just a bit.

Does this sound like a tasty pickup to any of you? Just curious.

Also curious if anyone has tried an A2 in a '59/C.

 

[Discharged]

Re: Custom Shop Tapped A2 '59/Custom Hybrid

I have. Pretty nice for blues and jazz. For rock, other magnets are more suitable.

Reducing the Custom coil by 1,000 turns would turn it into the equivalent of an overwound '59b.

/Peter

 

[jeremy]

Re: Custom Shop Tapped A2 '59/Custom Hybrid

sounds cool to me, dont know if id need the tapped part though. between the two coils i think there would be enough variety

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Custom Shop Tapped A2 '59/Custom Hybrid

I have. Pretty nice for blues and jazz. For rock, other magnets are more suitable.

Reducing the Custom coil by 1,000 turns would turn it into the equivalent of an overwound '59b.

/Peter

Thank you for your input.

Do you say good for blues and jazz because of a tonal difference vs. the stock magnet, or just because it doesn't hit as hard as with the stock mag?

To my taste, if a pickup sounds good for blues, jazz, country, etc., then it's the perfect pickup for rock-n-roll too. I like a relatively low output pickup, and then using the amp and my right hand to control the dirt.

Jeremy, you're probably right that the tap is unnecessary. I think being able to click it down to a PAFish pickup would be nice, but then again, I have other guitars outfitted with PAF type pickups.

I'm curious what A3 would do as well.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Custom Shop Tapped A2 '59/Custom Hybrid

I'm curious what A3 would do as well.

I find an A3 in the 59/C makes it sound too thin. It might actually sound okay in the neck, but not to nice in the bridge.

 

[Laughing Kookaburra]

Re: Custom Shop Tapped A2 '59/Custom Hybrid

I thought I remembered Rock2bach saying that he had a preference for an A2. I know another member of this forum who dropped in an A4, he thought it gave it a bit more of a vintage vibe, IIRC.

I'm using an A5 in mine, and I really like it, but I'm still curious. I am becoming a fan of lower or perceived lower output humbuckers.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Custom Shop Tapped A2 '59/Custom Hybrid

I find an A3 in the 59/C makes it sound too thin. It might actually sound okay in the neck, but not to nice in the bridge.

I might like it in that case, especially since this is a single pickup guitar (so there is no need to find a well balanced neck pickup).

I like the general tonal balance of the '59/C, and I like what the coil mismatch does to it. But wouldn't mind if it was lower in output.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Custom Shop Tapped A2 '59/Custom Hybrid

I wonder how this would compare to it being in parallel?

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Custom Shop Tapped A2 '59/Custom Hybrid

I've never heard a parallel coil setting I like. Too weak and scooped. What I'm envisioning is a tamped down '59/C (via mag change) that can also be switched down to more of a standard PAF.

That said, I'll probably be using a Triple Shot, so parallel will be an option.

 

[Discharged]

Re: Custom Shop Tapped A2 '59/Custom Hybrid

Thank you for your input.

Do you say good for blues and jazz because of a tonal difference vs. the stock magnet, or just because it doesn't hit as hard as with the stock mag?

To my taste, if a pickup sounds good for blues, jazz, country, etc., then it's the perfect pickup for rock-n-roll too. I like a relatively low output pickup, and then using the amp and my right hand to control the dirt.

Jeremy, you're probably right that the tap is unnecessary. I think being able to click it down to a PAFish pickup would be nice, but then again, I have other guitars outfitted with PAF type pickups.

I'm curious what A3 would do as well.

This p'up gracefully takes almost any magnet. A5 is my least favorite. I wouldn't use an A3 in the bridge position, but that's me.

/Peter

 

[Toejam]

Re: Custom Shop Tapped A2 '59/Custom Hybrid

Tapped or split? I thought actual coil tapping was something that could only be done on single coil pickups.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Custom Shop Tapped A2 '59/Custom Hybrid

Tapped or split? I thought actual coil tapping was something that could only be done on single coil pickups.

Tapped.

Any pickup type can be tapped; it just has to be wound to allow it.

What I'm talking about is just tapping the strong coil, so the pickup moves from very unequal hybrid down to something closer to a standard '59/A2P.

 

[Toejam]

Re: Custom Shop Tapped A2 '59/Custom Hybrid

Oh, I see. Sounds interesting.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Custom Shop Tapped A2 '59/Custom Hybrid

This is a very intriguing idea.

You could have:
1. Single coil of 59
2. a 59-ish type humbucker
3. A jacked-up 59/Custom

One little one/on/on switch. Very hip idea....depending on how the tapped-custom coil turns out. I say go for it!

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Custom Shop Tapped A2 '59/Custom Hybrid

This is a very intriguing idea.

You could have:
1. Single coil of 59
2. a 59-ish type humbucker
3. A jacked-up 59/Custom

One little one/on/on switch. Very hip idea....depending on how the tapped-custom coil turns out. I say go for it!

...plus Custom single coil untapped!