unleashthejay
New member
I was wondering who prefers single-coils over humbuckers and why? and who prefers humbucker over single coils and why?:reporter:
Do you prefer Hums over SC's or SC's over HUMS?
- Thread starter unleashthejay
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loudriver23
New member
Re: Do you prefer Hums over SC's or SC's over HUMS?
While I play and enjoy both, I must admit I prefer Single Coils. Since all of my "Guitar Hero's" played primarily with SC's I associate great tone with that sound.
Ya know, Knoffler, Gilmour, Hendrix, SRV....Did I mention Gilmour??
Well there's my .02 c
Loudriver
While I play and enjoy both, I must admit I prefer Single Coils. Since all of my "Guitar Hero's" played primarily with SC's I associate great tone with that sound.
Ya know, Knoffler, Gilmour, Hendrix, SRV....Did I mention Gilmour??
Well there's my .02 c
Loudriver
Corbic
New member
Re: Do you prefer Hums over SC's or SC's over HUMS?
I prefer single coils a bit more then humbuckers because, well, the song that made me start playing guitar was played with single coils. As soon as I heard "Layla" by Derek and the Dominos, band recommended for the namesake, I knew I had to start playing. It was quite depressing finding out after I bought my Squier Bullet with a humbucker that the song was recorded with a Strat with single coils :smack:
But I still like the humbucker sound a lot, its very versatile, though not as much as single coils are. A lot of humbuckers don't sound very good clean, but very good with distortion. Single coils sound great clean and, in my opinion, great with distortion. Plus they have a lot more definition and articulation then humbuckers do, so I can hear every note in a full-bodied chord while under distortion, while a humbucker sounds more like mush.
I prefer single coils a bit more then humbuckers because, well, the song that made me start playing guitar was played with single coils. As soon as I heard "Layla" by Derek and the Dominos, band recommended for the namesake, I knew I had to start playing. It was quite depressing finding out after I bought my Squier Bullet with a humbucker that the song was recorded with a Strat with single coils :smack:
But I still like the humbucker sound a lot, its very versatile, though not as much as single coils are. A lot of humbuckers don't sound very good clean, but very good with distortion. Single coils sound great clean and, in my opinion, great with distortion. Plus they have a lot more definition and articulation then humbuckers do, so I can hear every note in a full-bodied chord while under distortion, while a humbucker sounds more like mush.
Benjy_26
25's Nemesis
Re: Do you prefer Hums over SC's or SC's over HUMS?
I like humbuckers. More precisely, PAF style humbuckers and *some* medium output bridge humbuckers.
Strat single coils are cool, but they don't have enough push for my tastes.
Because of this, I've gone to EMG's single coils on all my strats. :burnout:
I like humbuckers. More precisely, PAF style humbuckers and *some* medium output bridge humbuckers.
Strat single coils are cool, but they don't have enough push for my tastes.
Because of this, I've gone to EMG's single coils on all my strats. :burnout:
Guitarist
Mesa-ologist
Re: Do you prefer Hums over SC's or SC's over HUMS?
I like humbuckers because I can't go everywhere I want with SC's...particularly towards the heavier stuff, where I desire a really thick sound.
However, I really do appreciate the various characteristics of a single coil...and that's why I got coil-tap on all of my humbucking guitars! :laugh2:
I like humbuckers because I can't go everywhere I want with SC's...particularly towards the heavier stuff, where I desire a really thick sound.
However, I really do appreciate the various characteristics of a single coil...and that's why I got coil-tap on all of my humbucking guitars! :laugh2:
neosadist
New member
Re: Do you prefer Hums over SC's or SC's over HUMS?
I don't really prefer either. Both have their place. I like humbuckers for hum cancelling and their deeper tone. I like the Strat style 3 single coil arrangement for how versatile it sounds. I like the DuoSonic (two single coil) sound for how punchy it is. So, I like both, as they both have their place, but my main axe is dual humbucker.
unleashthejay said:
I don't really prefer either. Both have their place. I like humbuckers for hum cancelling and their deeper tone. I like the Strat style 3 single coil arrangement for how versatile it sounds. I like the DuoSonic (two single coil) sound for how punchy it is. So, I like both, as they both have their place, but my main axe is dual humbucker.
T
TheArchitect
Guest
Re: Do you prefer Hums over SC's or SC's over HUMS?
I prefer humbuckers. Probably because I started out on them and only had HB equipped guitars for years in the beginning. I think it effects how your technique develops and ultimately your choices in other gear are influenced as well. I have strats but always have a hard time dialing them in.
I prefer humbuckers. Probably because I started out on them and only had HB equipped guitars for years in the beginning. I think it effects how your technique develops and ultimately your choices in other gear are influenced as well. I have strats but always have a hard time dialing them in.
G
Guest
Guest
Re: Do you prefer Hums over SC's or SC's over HUMS?
P90's. They have what I like in buckers and in singles. Love the looks, love the sound, loe everything about them except the fact I can't afford a guitar with them... but them again what guitar can I afford? LOL
P90's. They have what I like in buckers and in singles. Love the looks, love the sound, loe everything about them except the fact I can't afford a guitar with them... but them again what guitar can I afford? LOL
strangegrey
New member
Re: Do you prefer Hums over SC's or SC's over HUMS?
+1
This is really the way to look at it. Both have their place and both are tools to achieve different tones.
That being said, I don't have a preference. I love them both for what they are and what they bring to the table.
neosadist said:
+1
This is really the way to look at it. Both have their place and both are tools to achieve different tones.
That being said, I don't have a preference. I love them both for what they are and what they bring to the table.
koolkat
New member
Re: Do you prefer Hums over SC's or SC's over HUMS?
They're both great for what they do. Humbuckers tend to have a thicker, more compressed and mids-focused sound to my ears. Single coils are more open sounding, sensitive to pick attack, and have more clarity. It really depends on the music and the type of tone I'm going for.
They're both great for what they do. Humbuckers tend to have a thicker, more compressed and mids-focused sound to my ears. Single coils are more open sounding, sensitive to pick attack, and have more clarity. It really depends on the music and the type of tone I'm going for.
Nite_Maresz_25
on Elm Streetologist
Re: Do you prefer Hums over SC's or SC's over HUMS?
Humbuckers all the way!
Humbuckers all the way!
Simon_F
Super Moderator
Re: Do you prefer Hums over SC's or SC's over HUMS?
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=27258
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=27258
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Do you prefer Hums over SC's or SC's over HUMS?
I started off with Fender single coils when I was about 15. Then switched to humbuckers and used nothing else for a while. Then I got a 57 Strat and 51 Tele about 1970 and have been hooked on single coils ever since.
As far as Strats go, I prefer single coil neck and middle pickups because they're clearer...especially for chords. Way more versatile, IMO.
Unless you're playing Wes Montgomery tunes through a 100 watt amp on 2 or 3, I just can't get a clear enough tone from a neck humbucker, and most of them have more bass than I need.
But for rock and blues, I like soloing on a bridge humbucker better than I like soloing on an ultra trebley vintage style Strat bridge single coil. I love Eric Clapton's tone with Cream.
I don't like mixing single coils and HB's on one guitar though...any guitar I've made like that just didn't sound balanced to me. The humbucker always sounds to loud to me.
So most of my guitars are Strats or Teles with single coils.
I started off with Fender single coils when I was about 15. Then switched to humbuckers and used nothing else for a while. Then I got a 57 Strat and 51 Tele about 1970 and have been hooked on single coils ever since.
As far as Strats go, I prefer single coil neck and middle pickups because they're clearer...especially for chords. Way more versatile, IMO.
Unless you're playing Wes Montgomery tunes through a 100 watt amp on 2 or 3, I just can't get a clear enough tone from a neck humbucker, and most of them have more bass than I need.
But for rock and blues, I like soloing on a bridge humbucker better than I like soloing on an ultra trebley vintage style Strat bridge single coil. I love Eric Clapton's tone with Cream.
I don't like mixing single coils and HB's on one guitar though...any guitar I've made like that just didn't sound balanced to me. The humbucker always sounds to loud to me.
So most of my guitars are Strats or Teles with single coils.
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STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: Do you prefer Hums over SC's or SC's over HUMS?
I prefer single coils and strats overall because I feel that single coils and strats do a better job at showing a player's individulism....I feel I can cover more music ground with a strat and single coils also,and I find it keeps my notes clear when chording with gain/distortion....
Humbuckers are great also,but with me,single coils win..
A Tele with single coils is another favorite of mine also.
I prefer single coils and strats overall because I feel that single coils and strats do a better job at showing a player's individulism....I feel I can cover more music ground with a strat and single coils also,and I find it keeps my notes clear when chording with gain/distortion....
Humbuckers are great also,but with me,single coils win..
A Tele with single coils is another favorite of mine also.
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Do you prefer Hums over SC's or SC's over HUMS?
More of the individual's personality comes through with single coils...I agree. Some of that is because you have to work harder and shape the note more with both your fretting hand and your picking hand with single coils.
That's why so many younger rock players prefer humbuckers and tons of overdrive: the humbucking pickups and the amp do alot of the work of getting a full fat tone for you.
I was the same way when I was younger.
But these days I prefer single coils and feel that guys who play with humbuckers and alot distortion kind of all sound the same...even most of the virtuosos.
I guess you could say the same thing about virtuoso violinists too though.:smack: Hard to tell one virtuoso from another! :laugh2:
I forget who said it...maybe Jerry Garcia...but someone said that a player's style is determined by what he can't play well and has to leave out of his playing in order not to sound sloppy, more so than than what he can play well.
Since most virtuosos can play darn near anything well, they can tend to sound very similar to each other...just like virtuoso classical violinists tend to.
Lew
STRATDELUXER97 said:
More of the individual's personality comes through with single coils...I agree. Some of that is because you have to work harder and shape the note more with both your fretting hand and your picking hand with single coils.
That's why so many younger rock players prefer humbuckers and tons of overdrive: the humbucking pickups and the amp do alot of the work of getting a full fat tone for you.
I was the same way when I was younger.
But these days I prefer single coils and feel that guys who play with humbuckers and alot distortion kind of all sound the same...even most of the virtuosos.
I guess you could say the same thing about virtuoso violinists too though.:smack: Hard to tell one virtuoso from another! :laugh2:
I forget who said it...maybe Jerry Garcia...but someone said that a player's style is determined by what he can't play well and has to leave out of his playing in order not to sound sloppy, more so than than what he can play well.
Since most virtuosos can play darn near anything well, they can tend to sound very similar to each other...just like virtuoso classical violinists tend to.
Lew
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