Good Low/Mid Output Bridge Humbucker For Low Tunings

Maggot

Maggot

New member
I asked this question inarticulately in a different post, but my question is much simpler. What's a good low-output bridge humbucker for drop tunings in a dark guitar? I want good cleans. When I'm heavy riffing, I go for more of a Sabbath-based stoner-rock sound, so I don't need total clarity, but I don't want total mud either, which is what I have now from my overwound stock Alnico V.
 
Re: Good Low/Mid Output Bridge Humbucker For Low Tunings

I don't know if you can get these (haven't seen them used) but the Gibson '61 Zebra bridge sounds kinda like what you want, though it might need a swap to Alnico II for your personal tastes because it's in the mid-output range (imo), but in my recent forrays into drop tunings in my 2014 SGJ (very dark guitar) have that kind of Sabbath-y stoner tone and the cleans are great too. Hope this helps.
 
Re: Good Low/Mid Output Bridge Humbucker For Low Tunings

SD Jazz set. It's as articulate as it gets for a humbucker and it can handle as much gain and distortion as you can throw at it. It retains it's humbucker warmth without being muddy and it handles drop tunings easily. For slightly more mids and almost as much articulation try the Alnico II Pro set as it is just the Jazz set with alnico II magnets.
 
Re: Good Low/Mid Output Bridge Humbucker For Low Tunings

SnakeAces said:
SD Jazz set. It's as articulate as it gets for a humbucker and it can handle as much gain and distortion as you can throw at it. It retains it's humbucker warmth without being muddy and it handles drop tunings easily. For slightly more mids and almost as much articulation try the Alnico II Pro set as it is just the Jazz set with alnico II magnets.
Click to expand...

This. The Jazz bridge pickup is great clean, but most definitely can handle plenty of distortion as well.
 
Re: Good Low/Mid Output Bridge Humbucker For Low Tunings

The Full Shred is great with low tunnings.
 
Re: Good Low/Mid Output Bridge Humbucker For Low Tunings

I like the Demon. I got a pickup wound for me by someone on another forum, 9k Alnico 4, 4 conductor. I'll report back and name names when I get into the guitar.
 
Re: Good Low/Mid Output Bridge Humbucker For Low Tunings

Bill and Becky Lawrence L500L would be my choice. I know you are looking for more of a Low/Mid output pup, but the L500L isn't as in your face as it's reputation implies and compared to the L500XL for that matter.
I have a mahogany SG in C# that currently has the L500XL, but I'm going to go with an L500L myself. I also have an Iommi pup on it's way, but they are a very hot pickup and prob not what youre looking for, but it's right down my alley and I'm going to throw it in there to try out for a week or so. I also have an EMG-60 that I may try in the bridge w/18v and use my rack mount 15 band EQ to dial it in a little better. My guitar is for Sabbath/Doom metal, but I might be taking a different approach to the same idea as you, so I might not be of much help, but Im trying! hahaha!
Lots of great suggestions by everyone so far Id like to add...

What is this guitar that you speak of?
 
Re: Good Low/Mid Output Bridge Humbucker For Low Tunings

metalchurch79 said:
Bill and Becky Lawrence L500L would be my choice. I know you are looking for more of a Low/Mid output pup, but the L500L isn't as in your face as it's reputation implies and compared to the L500XL for that matter.
I have a mahogany SG in C# that currently has the L500XL, but I'm going to go with an L500L myself. I also have an Iommi pup on it's way, but they are a very hot pickup and prob not what youre looking for, but it's right down my alley and I'm going to throw it in there to try out for a week or so. I also have an EMG-60 that I may try in the bridge w/18v and use my rack mount 15 band EQ to dial it in a little better. My guitar is for Sabbath/Doom metal, but I might be taking a different approach to the same idea as you, so I might not be of much help, but Im trying! hahaha!
Lots of great suggestions by everyone so far Id like to add...

What is this guitar that you speak of?
Click to expand...

I was actually considering an L500R. The guitar is a Hagstrom D2F. It looks like a Swede with an F-Hole and a trapeze tailpiece. It sounds pretty much like a Les-Paulish solidbody. Not that much air from the trapeze or chamber. The pickups don't sound bad, but they're dark. My amp is a Laney Pro Tube 30 (to be plugged into a larger cabinet once I get it). When I'm using amp distortion I generally plug into a boost pedal.

Part of me just wants to get some P-90s and call it a day, but I want to finally make friends with a humbucker, and this guitar gets such dark, bluesy sounds it should mate well with a lot of smooth, bright humbuckers. My taste in distortion is kind of dark and fuzzy; I palm mute a lot, but I'm not necessarily looking for brutally precise chunk. If I were ordering SD, I'd probably go Screamin' Demon or Whole Lotta, but I don't have a ton of money right now. Someone gave me a free GFS Classic 59 for the neck and a I've got an inexpensive A4 custom wind coming for the bridge. I'll report back. If I don't like the bridge, I'll have a clearer of what I want, having tried two pickups I don't like.

I'll report back on what I've got coming. For reference, the only humbuckers I've really used long term and gotten along with are stock Ibanez Super 70s from an Ibanez V and a Custom Agent. Those are VERY bright and microphonic, so not what I've looking for here. I've also owned a DiMarzio Air Classic (nice but didn't blow my mind) and an SD Little 59 for Tele (too middy for me at the time).

The rest of the time it's been all Strats, Teles and P-90s.
 
Re: Good Low/Mid Output Bridge Humbucker For Low Tunings

Yea, the L500R might be better suited for what youre looking for. They generally range between 7.5k to 8.5k give or take...
Just for the sake of something different, Im actually planning on using an L500R in the bridge of my strat with an on/on/on switch (series/split/parallel). It's an awesome pickup, so Im sure you would love it very much.
 
Re: Good Low/Mid Output Bridge Humbucker For Low Tunings

I love my Arcane Brownbucker, 8.75k & super articulate clean or dirty in my Mahogany single bucker Partscaster! It's a Warmouth body, 1 500k Liberator Vol. knob & MIK Fender Rock Maple neck!!!! It's actually the only guitar I use for drop tunings??? Does the whole Brown Sound thing really well but if you put the screws to it she'll freaking scream!!! They are hand wound so they cost a little more than a stock S.D. pup but all things taken into consideration $125 is not a bad price? The miss matched coils give it a really nice & clear sound!!!!
 
Re: Good Low/Mid Output Bridge Humbucker For Low Tunings

I use dimarzio super distortions for c standard. Sounds great, I highly recommend it
 
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