Deciding what pickups to use in a custom guitar

[V1ntage]

I'm building my own guitar, at the minute I know i'm definitely going for a SSH combination, 2 single coils at the bridge and middle and a humbucker in the neck, I am wiring up the red special pickup system where each pickup has an individual switch and a phase switch to go with it, I've decided on what neck and Bridge pickup I want to use and I want to know what people think of the 2 pickups I have already decided upon. I'm going for rock, all types and bases of it, from classic to hard, blues to funk etc and I want a very versatile guitar.

Neck Humbucker: Seymour Duncan SH-55 Seth Lover Neck Pickup
I've chosen this for its country, jazz, blues and classic rock tones.

Bridge single coil: Seymour Duncan Twang Banger APST-1
I've chosen this one for its country, rockabilly, blues, jam, classic rock and heavy rock tones.

I'm looking for a middle pickup to compliment these two and make it an extremely versatile guitar, any recommendations would be appreciated and any comments on the 2 I've already selected too.
Price range of £50-£80 would be best but I can extend it up to £100 if it's good enough.
It has to be available to the UK also.
Thank you.
P.s If they come in silver/chrome or would be able to have a silver or chrome cover on them that would be very useful........I want my guitar to look good too

 

[V1ntage]

Re: Deciding what pickups to use in a custom guitar

I am considering putting in a Seymour Duncan SSL-5 Custom Staggered Strat Pickup, Left Hand into the middle, despite it being a right handed guitar, will definitely give it a unique sound but I don't know if that's a good idea or not

 

[jeremy]

Re: Deciding what pickups to use in a custom guitar

if it was me, id put an ssl2 in the middle. classic fendery tone thatll help with the funk

 

[V1ntage]

Re: Deciding what pickups to use in a custom guitar

I'll look into that, cheers

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Deciding what pickups to use in a custom guitar

On Ebay you can get chrome plastic covers that fit any regular Strat type pickup.

Lace Chromedome looks cool like a Tele neck pickup but has Strat tone. Good hum rejection and it sounds similar to the Gold Sensor, only a bit hotter.

I think the Twangbanger is likely to be a very good choice for your bridge position.

 

[V1ntage]

Re: Deciding what pickups to use in a custom guitar

I'll look into those as I've not heard of them before, looking like Tele neck pickups would really fit the look i'm going for too, cheers

 

[V1ntage]

Re: Deciding what pickups to use in a custom guitar

On Ebay you can get chrome plastic covers that fit any regular Strat type pickup.

Lace Chromedome looks cool like a Tele neck pickup but has Strat tone. Good hum rejection and it sounds similar to the Gold Sensor, only a bit hotter.

I think the Twangbanger is likely to be a very good choice for your bridge position.

any links on where to buy 1 of these?

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Deciding what pickups to use in a custom guitar

It's a good sounding pickup, and unusual. I put one in a Tele-Strat hybrid because I wanted to stay closer to the traditional Tele look but I prefer Strat neck tone.

http://www.lacepickupsdirect.com/Chrome_Dome_Lace_Sensor_p/8051.htm

PS: It's available in RWRP for middle position...

PPS: That's an older pic. Normally it comes with the Lace logo on the cover now; I ordered mine with no logo so I know they're available that way but you'd need to specify it when you order.

 

[V1ntage]

Re: Deciding what pickups to use in a custom guitar

It's a good sounding pickup, and unusual. I put one in a Tele-Strat hybrid because I wanted to stay closer to the traditional Tele look but I prefer Strat neck tone.

http://www.lacepickupsdirect.com/Chrome_Dome_Lace_Sensor_p/8051.htm

PS: It's available in RWRP for middle position...

PPS: That's an older pic. Normally it comes with the Lace logo on the cover now; I ordered mine with no logo so I know they're available that way but you'd need to specify it when you order.

Thank you, if its good for that price it'll help out a lot, I'll look into it more and see if its definitely what I want

 

[Mincer]

Re: Deciding what pickups to use in a custom guitar

I like jeremy's suggestion of an SSL-2. The sound is different enough to be versatile, and you can always get a chrome cover. Another suggestion is a Five Two for the middle, which also sounds great, but you'd need to find a cover to match.

 

[V1ntage]

Re: Deciding what pickups to use in a custom guitar

I'll look into that, think it would sound good alongside the other 2 pickups?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Deciding what pickups to use in a custom guitar

Actually, yeah! The Five Two works well with a Seth!

 

[V1ntage]

Re: Deciding what pickups to use in a custom guitar

Actually, yeah! The Five Two works well with a Seth!

Cheers man, I'll see which one to buy

 

[V1ntage]

Re: Deciding what pickups to use in a custom guitar

It's a good sounding pickup, and unusual. I put one in a Tele-Strat hybrid because I wanted to stay closer to the traditional Tele look but I prefer Strat neck tone.

http://www.lacepickupsdirect.com/Chrome_Dome_Lace_Sensor_p/8051.htm

PS: It's available in RWRP for middle position...

PPS: That's an older pic. Normally it comes with the Lace logo on the cover now; I ordered mine with no logo so I know they're available that way but you'd need to specify it when you order.

I dont think that ships to the Uk :/

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Deciding what pickups to use in a custom guitar

This might be an odd suggestion, but it's where I'm at on choosing pickups...

If it were me, even after settling on a set of pickups, I'd consider putting it together and putting strings on it and hearing what it sounds like acoustically. Then find a guitar (or guitars) with the pickups you are considering buying and play it (them), both plugged in to see if it sounds like you are expecting (if you can, play it through the same amp you will be using), then play that same demo guitar acoustically and memorize what it sounds like - if you liked the plugged in sound, that is the instrument that will support the tone you are looking for. Then go play your build acoustically and notice what is different. More bass? Very thin? From that difference, you might consider fine tuning your pickup choices for your build to get it back where you want it.

The other way is to go ahead and buy the set you settled on and try them, but be prepared to swap out one or two of them if/when they are different than you are expecting.

 

[V1ntage]

Re: Deciding what pickups to use in a custom guitar

This might be an odd suggestion, but it's where I'm at on choosing pickups...

If it were me, even after settling on a set of pickups, I'd consider putting it together and putting strings on it and hearing what it sounds like acoustically. Then find a guitar (or guitars) with the pickups you are considering buying and play it (them), both plugged in to see if it sounds like you are expecting (if you can, play it through the same amp you will be using), then play that same demo guitar acoustically and memorize what it sounds like - if you liked the plugged in sound, that is the instrument that will support the tone you are looking for. Then go play your build acoustically and notice what is different. More bass? Very thin? From that difference, you might consider fine tuning your pickup choices for your build to get it back where you want it.

The other way is to go ahead and buy the set you settled on and try them, but be prepared to swap out one or two of them if/when they are different than you are expecting.

My local guitar shop is small but it has the same amp I use in it that I could plug into, whether it has any of those pickups in any of its guitars is unlikely however but I can ask and see, I might give that a try, I'm asking people there as well as to what they think about the pickup combination and i'm getting mostly positive feedback
Cheers