Having a real hard time picking a bridge humbucker

S

SimpleT

New member
Hey there everyone,

Been looking for the right bridge humbucker to go into a super lightweight poplar body/rosewood fretboard guitar for a while now and have not had much luck, haven't really even had any results yet that seem 'ok'. What I am looking for is something real full sounding (I think the guitar is naturally thin sounding at the bridge) while still having plenty of clarity. Play clean a lot and use pedals for dirt. Going for a bit more of a 'modern' tone on this one. Matching it with a Sentient in the neck which I love, something that would sound good with that in the middle position is a big plus. Here is what I tried so far

Dimarzio Tone Zone: Loved how full it sounded, but in the end too much low end for anything where I was playing the low strings fast and it was too hot. Really appreciated how sensitive to my picking it was. The cocked wah sound was cool but not something I want all the time.

Seymour Duncan Pegasus: Seemed liked a good fit to go with the Sentient, too hot (my looper pedal's pedal would actually just start clipping in a gross when I used it), weird midrange spike, really stiff and unresponsive to picking dynamics.

Seymour Duncan Screamin Demon: Tried since it seemed to fit the bill of having plenty of low end without being super hot like the other too. Just sounds incredibly weak. I like how it responds to picking. Really gross high end when distorted. Cleans, are passable, dirty it sounds really bad.

Seymour Duncan Sentient: Just on a lark I tried swapping the pickups and put the sentient in the bridge, not bad. A little congested in the mids, maybe want something with a little more sparkle but overall... not bad.

Would prefer to get something SD because I am still in the 21 day return window for the Screamin Demon. Not super opposed to trying other pickups if they are affordable. (Around 100) Also generally not a fan of Alnico II which sounds dull and congested to me. Leaning to maybe just the SD '59 (worried it would be underpowered in comparison to the sentient) or just getting another sentient and sticking it in the bridge.
 
Last edited:
Masta' C said:
I'm thinking a Perpetual Burn will give you the fullness and dynamics you're after without being too hot or compressed, followed by the original Parallel Axis, and the 59/Custom hybrid.
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Perpetual Burn is a solid suggestion! I personally want to get a 59/Custom Hybrid for a HSS strat I have, also a nice suggestion.

Also... the tried and true JB is worth considering. Based on how you describe the Tone Zone, I think you would like the JB.
 
uOpt said:
Trade it for a Duncan DD.

What kind of bridge does the guitar have?
Click to expand...

Something sort of like a hardtail strat bridge.

Also... the tried and true JB is worth considering. Based on how you describe the Tone Zone, I think you would like the JB
Click to expand...

I have been interested in the JB but worried it would be too hot.
 
SimpleT said:
I have been interested in the JB but worried it would be too hot.
Click to expand...

I don't think so, not compared to the other pickups you're considering and definitely not compared to the tone zone. If you're going by straight resistance numbers it's lower output than the Tone Zone, but in terms of actual tone I like to consider the JB in that 'medium output' category even though it's technically not. It puts out some very classic sounding bridge tones but can also be modern if you want it to be. JB was one of those pickups years back that I kept wanting to try but kept getting talked into other options. When I finally tried the JB myself it completely blew away all my expectations and I wished I had just gone with my gut instinct years ago. If you don't have one yet, it's a great pickup to have. It can be a tone chaser's dream come true.
 
I should add... that there are several pickups I've found over the years that can make even the worst tonewoods and bodies sound good, particularly poplar. JB ranks among the top of those pickups. It can make any turd with 6 strings sound good, it's a special pickup.
 
The Tone Zone and JB are voiced very differently, yet have similar output.

I think the Perpetual Burn will split the difference in terms of voicing and give you more controlled output without being weak. If you found the Tone Zone too hot and the Demon too weak, then the PB is your guy.

The original Parallel Axis would be my second recommendation and more likely to fit your needs than a JB, as long as you can get along with the looks (personally, I think the PA series look cool)
 
50s wiring or treble bleed, plus guitar volume down a few notches will give you a less compressed feel on any of those humbuckers. Also play with the heights of the pickups to compensate for one being louder than the other.
 
I would be unusual for a Fender scale guitar with a string-through hardtail to sound thin.

Either way DD or JB sound like the right idea here.
 
If the the 59 might be underpowered, bump up the power but keep the same EQ with the 59/Custom Hybrid.
 
You might consider a DiMArzio Air Zone

In Duncan...I'm out. Got nothing for that mix.
 
uOpt said:
I would be unusual for a Fender scale guitar with a string-through hardtail to sound thin.

Either way DD or JB sound like the right idea here.
Click to expand...

If the Tone Zone and Pegasus were too hot for the OP, he definitely isn't going to like those, LOL!
 
Original Parallel Axis sounds like a great suggestion, or maybe a stock Custom SH-5 would fit the bill. Either way, they’re both phenomenal pickups.
 
If the Pegasus is clipping your looper, you probably need to pick one of these options:
1. try a pickup that has an output similar to a PAF or lower
2. see if your looper has a setting to reduce the input level
3. consider getting a different looper.

Almost all the replies in this thread so far are higher output than the Pegasus, which highlights how much your looper is currently restricting your choice of pickups. Personally, I'd look into option #2, then #3 if needed, and only then circle back to finding a pickup you like the tone of, independent of the looper issue.

Sent from my SM-G970W using Tapatalk
 
SimpleT said:
Hey there everyone,

Been looking for the right bridge humbucker to go into a super lightweight poplar body/rosewood fretboard guitar for a while now and have not had much luck, haven't really even had any results yet that seem 'ok'. What I am looking for is something real full sounding (I think the guitar is naturally thin sounding at the bridge) while still having plenty of clarity. Play clean a lot and use pedals for dirt. Going for a bit more of a 'modern' tone on this one. Matching it with a Sentient in the neck which I love, something that would sound good with that in the middle position is a big plus. Here is what I tried so far

Dimarzio Tone Zone: Loved how full it sounded, but in the end too much low end for anything where I was playing the low strings fast and it was too hot. Really appreciated how sensitive to my picking it was. The cocked wah sound was cool but not something I want all the time.

Seymour Duncan Pegasus: Seemed liked a good fit to go with the Sentient, too hot (my looper pedal's pedal would actually just start clipping in a gross when I used it), weird midrange spike, really stiff and unresponsive to picking dynamics.

Seymour Duncan Screamin Demon: Tried since it seemed to fit the bill of having plenty of low end without being super hot like the other too. Just sounds incredibly weak. I like how it responds to picking. Really gross high end when distorted. Cleans, are passable, dirty it sounds really bad.

Seymour Duncan Sentient: Just on a lark I tried swapping the pickups and put the sentient in the bridge, not bad. A little congested in the mids, maybe want something with a little more sparkle but overall... not bad.

Would prefer to get something SD because I am still in the 21 day return window for the Screamin Demon. Not super opposed to trying other pickups if they are affordable. (Around 100) Also generally not a fan of Alnico II which sounds dull and congested to me. Leaning to maybe just the SD '59 (worried it would be underpowered in comparison to the sentient) or just getting another sentient and sticking it in the bridge.
Click to expand...

#1 Check the volume and tone pot values!!! If those are not what you expect, it could drastically alter the way you perceive the guitar's sound. I went through this on a new acquisition that is a single vol guitar. Not having a tone control made the guitar screechy. I had to change the vol pot to approximate a two control guitar.

#2 Dimarzio D Sonic- Its a very full and fat sounding pickup with an articulate top, big, but tight bass, not incredibly hot, and has two good coil tap options. This is the best kept secret in the Dimarzio arsenal. You can turn it around for drop tunings, or keep it with bar to neck for standard tuning. No cocked wah.

#3 Dimarzio D'Activator X- This is a really HOT pickup that somehow still has an articulate top end. A super hot pickup has no business sounding this good, if you want a face melter. No cocked wah.

#4 Dimarzio Norton- If you are more of a rock guy, this is a very mid thick yet airy top pickup. Its kinda like a reverse JB, with emphasis in low mids and presence. Great all arounder. Not hot enough to split. Cocked Wah.

Dimarzio pickups are generally thicker than SD. If you liked the Tone Zone, that is probably their most fat bass pickup.
 
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