Favorite clean humbucker?

DreX

New member
This seemed like an obvious question, and I'm sure it's been asked before, but a search didn't turn up much for me: what is you favorite "clean" humbucker?

I got a Lee Malia sig Epi Les Paul, not because I like nu metal, but because it's basically amounts to a reissue of the Les Paul Artisan, and so it comes with a rather dark P-94 and a nu metal DiMarzioesque bridge pickup. I'd like to make this into a good "clean" guitar. My first choice is the Jazz, it sounds like a good clean pickup, but some have said it sounds sterile, or a bit too tight and lacking in warmth. How might the Jazz sound with different magnets? Isn't another one of the production pickups basically a Jazz with an A2 bar?

I love, but already have, Pearly Gates and Seth Lovers in other HH guitars. I have a '59 and a JB on hand, but I found the '59 to be great, though a little too 'middle of the road', and the JB a bit bright and poppy, like it will do clean... but it wants gain.
 
Re: Favorite clean humbucker?

Have you tried Fishman Fluence Humbucker pickups?

They have a very clean tone, if you are really interested in spending money to be able to get to that level!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIZ8hG3SA-4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFUmp88N1hI

Greg Koch demonstrates them in these youtube video (You are not going to argue with that demo, are you?) The second video has the hum buckers at the end of it...
 
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Re: Favorite clean humbucker?

IME, the Seth neck is about as nice and clean as you can get a full-sized humbucker without going sterile and clattery.
 
Re: Favorite clean humbucker?

the aph2 is the jazz with an alnico II magnet
 
Re: Favorite clean humbucker?

Have you tried Fishman Fluence Humbucker pickups?

They have a very clean tone, if you are really interested in spending money to be able to get to that level!



I haven't tried the Fluence humbuckers. I was hoping to get black exposed bobbins though, maybe with gold slugs and screws via the Custom Shop, to keep with the look:

Lee-Malia-Signature-Les-Paul-Custom_main.jpg



the aph2 is the jazz with an alnico II magnet

Do you have an opinion on how it might sound with A3, A4 or A8 magnets?
 
Re: Favorite clean humbucker?

IME, the Seth neck is about as nice and clean as you can get a full-sized humbucker without going sterile and clattery.

I have Seths in a Sheraton II, they do sound amazing. I don't think it would sound hugely different in the LP, though.
 
Re: Favorite clean humbucker?

I have Seths in a Sheraton II, they do sound amazing. I don't think it would sound hugely different in the LP, though.


If you want something "hugely different" than a Seth neck, then you don't actually want what you asked for in the OP.

So, now I'm confused as to what you want. You want a good clean guitar, but you also want something much different than a Seth? I don't really understand, but maybe a low-output active humbucker is the way to go. Any low-output standard-sized passive humbucker won't be hugely different from a Seth.
 
Re: Favorite clean humbucker?

the aph2 is the jazz with an alnico II magnet

Just like Jeremy said, the alnico II pro is a jazz with an a2. That being said, I use a jazz neck humbucker and a jazz bridge and they definitely do not lack warmth at all. Great pups, especially for cleans. I also use a set of a2p's in another guitar and I love those too.
 
Re: Favorite clean humbucker?

Side question, supposed I get the Jazz and want to try different magnets, do they sort of slide out the side, or do you have to take the whole pickup apart?

If the UOA5 is like a cross between an A2 and A5, I can see a lot of appeal there.
 
Re: Favorite clean humbucker?

Wow! That's a beautiful guitar DreX. But to get direct to your question, my two favorite "cleans", are AII Pro's and Pearly Gates. Neither, will match that color scheme.
 
Re: Favorite clean humbucker?

It's a tough choice between the A2P and the Jazz. I think Ill order black, logo-less pickups with gold pieces from the Custom Shop, but I'm not sure if I should go with A2, A5 or something else.
 
Re: Favorite clean humbucker?

I may get flack for this, but my favorite humbucker for clean tones has got to be either the EMG 81 or James Hetfield EMG signature bridge.
 
Re: Favorite clean humbucker?

It's a tough choice between the A2P and the Jazz. I think Ill order black, logo-less pickups with gold pieces from the Custom Shop, but I'm not sure if I should go with A2, A5 or something else.

I ordered my Jazz set with gold pieces... 2 1/2 years later you can barely tell the pieces were ever gold but my guitar gets heavy use. I log about 3-5 hours a day on that guitar not to mention some gigs and heavy travel with it.

Jade 11 2014.jpg
 
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Re: Favorite clean humbucker?

I ordered my Jazz set with gold pieces... 2 1/2 years later you can barely tell the pieces were ever gold but my guitar gets heavy use. I log about 3-5 hours a day on that guitar not to mention some gigs and heavy travel with it.

Something to be proud of \m/ :smokin:
 
Re: Favorite clean humbucker?

I may get flack for this, but my favorite humbucker for clean tones has got to be either the EMG 81 or James Hetfield EMG signature bridge.

HKZSquared, I agree. Haven't tried the Hets, but a clean 81 in the bridge has a sterile, dead quality that metal players know well. It has its own charm.
 
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