HB with great clarity? For use in HSS configuration

[Thomas_Desch]

Re: HB with great clarity? For use in HSS configuration

Reading this again, I realized you already have a great setup. I had a Fender Lonestar HSS (Texas Specials in Neck/Middle, Pearly Gates in the Bridge), the output volume when switching from the singles to the humbucker is dramatic and annoying. Your current setup is darn near perfect to me. I had a Fender Strat I assembled last year that had Vintage Noiseless in Neck/Middle, and a Lil '59 Bridge in the Bridge. There was a really good balance there and the tone was fantastic. I would avoid the full HSS route.

Yes, it is a good setup. If my amp is set to slight breakup with the guitar volume on 8, it goes to crunchy when I switch to the bridge pickup. Very good volume balance.

Here's how it sounds:



Clean 0:00-5:45 (Little 59 at 3:18-3:50)

Dirty 5:46-8:00 (Little 59 at 6:53-7:15)

If volume will be a big issue with a full HB setup, then I'll have to reconsider.

 

[dominus]

Re: HB with great clarity? For use in HSS configuration

I think the Dimarzio Paf Joe might be what you're looking for. It's a PAF voiced pickup with a bit of a treble boost.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: HB with great clarity? For use in HSS configuration

Volume balance will be an issue. I have played an HSH as my number 1 guitar for the past 8 years and before that I used an HSS for a few years as my number 2. There are little tricks you can do such as adjusting pickup heights (single coils higher, humbuckers lower) or adding an echoplex or similar pedal to your rig or even just a volume pedal. HSS guitars are fun and versatile but volume balance is not one of their strengths.

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: HB with great clarity? For use in HSS configuration

^This. You either learn to live with it and use the vol indifference to your advantage or like stated find little tricks to work around it. Also depending on how loud your playing the vol indifference may or may not be that big of an issue. On my HSH guitar the single is a bit quieter so I switch to one of the buckers when I need a vol boost or want a part to stand out or when I need something a bit more quiet I switch to the single.

 

[Thomas_Desch]

Re: HB with great clarity? For use in HSS configuration

How much lower would you have to set a full-sized HB to make it "just a little louder" than a single coil? Say a Pearly Gates pickup? Would it be possible to get a good volume balance at all just by adjusting the height?

 

[emaccarthy]

Re: HB with great clarity? For use in HSS configuration

Screamin demon. Misleading name. Extremely balanced and super clear. I have it in an alder/maple superstrat with a jazz in the neck and they were flawlessly together. Around 10k DCR right in the sweet spot and with a very clear and defined eq. I love it for all types of styles. It really is super versatile

 

[Thomas_Desch]

Re: HB with great clarity? For use in HSS configuration

I think this may be what I'm looking for:

Lollar El Rayo Humbucker

Yes, it's a humbucker, but probably not what you'd expect. "El Rayo" (The Thunderbolt) is tight and punchy, with a high end that opens up when pushed, and lows that stay defined and fat. Very clear and articulate, they are extremely responsive to your volume control and picking dynamics. Wanna mix the "Rayo" with single coils? We would. Also, don't be fooled by the DC numbers...El Rayo has a strong output without the heavy midrange bump, while still retaining the Lollar "3D" quality. Don't like humbuckers? Think again. A5 in the neck, A8 in the bridge, singles or sets.
Neck 3.5K, Bridge 4K

Costs 175 bucks though ...

I actually wanted something like a Supro steel guitar pu (Cooder), but it costs a lot and the routing is crazy. Lollar suggested this pickup as an alternative.

 

[Darg1911]

Re: HB with great clarity? For use in HSS configuration

Here's me playing one in an alder-bodied Strat with a non-recessed Floyd and a one-piece maple neck. I would say it's got clarity, but still a nice midrange.

I don't think that it lacks clarity. It's probably just semantics, different descriptions. I would probably call something warmer and rounder "pretty and sweet". Could be the guitars too. Mine is in a mahogany body with maple neck and board and a fixed bridge. One thing I will say is that it is a heck of a lot louder than my singles. And they are Alnico 5/2's (not SD's) and a bit warm and round up top themselves. But position 2 is great.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: HB with great clarity? For use in HSS configuration

How much lower would you have to set a full-sized HB to make it "just a little louder" than a single coil? Say a Pearly Gates pickup? Would it be possible to get a good volume balance at all just by adjusting the height?

As long as the humbucker is low output you can actually get fairly close. The catch is as you lower the humbucker it becomes brighter in nature. So, if you have a naturally bright guitar and throw a brighter humbucker in the guitar while proceeding to lower the humbucker to match the single coil volume... you may no longer like the tone of the bridge humbucker. For example, I have a Jazz trembucker as the bridge bucker in my HSH and I have it lowered down to 1/16" away (with string fretted on the last fret) and it is pretty close in output to my single. I have it in a dark guitar so it all works out well for me since the Jazz is pretty bright.

 

[GilmourD]

Re: HB with great clarity? For use in HSS configuration

I don't think that it lacks clarity. It's probably just semantics, different descriptions. I would probably call something warmer and rounder "pretty and sweet". Could be the guitars too. Mine is in a mahogany body with maple neck and board and a fixed bridge. One thing I will say is that it is a heck of a lot louder than my singles. And they are Alnico 5/2's (not SD's) and a bit warm and round up top themselves. But position 2 is great.

Well, that's why I posted the clip, to give a sense of what it sounds like rather than continuing to describe it in words.

I mixed mine with a pair of DiMarzio Area '67s. They're bright and have a decent output. Plus I have them on a 500K volume with 250K tones on each, no tone on the bridge.

 

[Darg1911]

Re: HB with great clarity? For use in HSS configuration

The pickup would probably be closer in tone in your guitar to the OP's guitar as well. So, more than fair enough.