Hard ash & humbuckers

RcWalsh45

New member
New here so forgive me for no doubt asking the same question that has been ask a hundred times no doubt!! I have a Fender MIM deluxe players Strat ash body. It could be northern ash as it is MIM & weighs around 81/2 lbs maybe a little more. The guitar is well made but I want to install a humbucker in the bridge along with a couple of higher output single coils. Thinking maybe a Seth lover, 59, or a whole lotta humbucker. Any of you fine people have any opinions with humbuckers & ash bodies, you don't see many of them on the market, at least I haven't noticed. I probably will coil spilt with the 5 way switch. Thank you!
 
Re: Hard ash & humbuckers

Hard Ash bodies are loud, resonant and bright. You can use whatever you like for pickups but darker, rounder pickups tend to work better. A Rosewood or Ebony fretboard can help balance out the tonality of Hard Ash. Soft Ash really needs a maple fretboard to sound the best because Rosewood or Ebony fretboards sound too dark and lack clarity. Once again you can use whatever pickups you like but lower output pickups with warm midrange really sound great.
 
Re: Hard ash & humbuckers

I would sell a guitar that weight 40.5 pounds. I would probablly go for a fatter sounding humbucker if I were you like a custom custom but it's totally your call.
 
Re: Hard ash & humbuckers

Thanks, it has a rosewood fretboard. The guitar sounds good as is with the original US made noiseless pick ups. Just picked up an American deluxe Strat with the N3 pups & it sounds better. Thinking hard about an antiquity or Seth lover with a couple of Texas heat sc's. Expensive experiment, if I guess wrong!
 
Re: Hard ash & humbuckers

A custom custom is a pretty hot pick up! I wonder if it would be tame enough for blues, classic rock stuff? Thanks for the input, you just made decision harder!! LOL!!!
 
Re: Hard ash & humbuckers

A custom custom is a pretty hot pick up! I wonder if it would be tame enough for blues, classic rock stuff? Thanks for the input, you just made decision harder!! LOL!!!

Its not that hot at all and can do vintage stuff rather well. It is actually the weakest pickup in the custom family and is not nearly as hot as anything in the high output class like the Distortion or Invader. The rounded highs, soft bass and thicker mids would complement the ash and maple strat. It RULES for blues and classic rock. Especially leads. You could try the 59/custom hybrid too, I love that thing.
 
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Re: Hard ash & humbuckers

I went through a lot of pickups on my Soft Ash guitar until I changed the neck to a maple fretboard. After that everything sounds good in it!
 
Re: Hard ash & humbuckers

Interesting thought, I do have a nice compound radius soft "v" with a maple fret board stashed away. But, I really do like the 12" radius that came with it. Just has great feel, & after having it for 4-5 years now it really feels like an old friend when I pick it up. Thanks!!
 
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