HOW TO: Make a 59/Custom Hybrid

[gnugear]

Re: HOW TO: Make a 59/Custom Hybrid

Any more thoughts after using it for awhile GNUGEAR & PIXELPUSHER?

Been living with it for a while now and I'm still loving it. Next to the Tom Holmes it's my favorite pickup. I've been through the '59, Screamin Deamon, JB, Distortion, EVH, Tom Holmes, High Order, Seth Lover, and Burstbuckes.

I guess that's a pretty good endorsement!

 

[Fritz6]

Re: HOW TO: Make a 59/Custom Hybrid

Been living with it for a while now and I'm still loving it. Next to the Tom Holmes it's my favorite pickup. I've been through the '59, Screamin Deamon, JB, Distortion, EVH, Tom Holmes, High Order, Seth Lover, and Burstbuckes.

I guess that's a pretty good endorsement!

Gnu, what are your thoughts on the Holmes and High Order?

 

[gnugear]

Re: HOW TO: Make a 59/Custom Hybrid

Absolutely love the Tom Holmes. It has clarity and string definition that I haven't experienced with other pickups ... and it sounds a lot hotter than its DC rating. The High Order was really nice but it didn't do anything special. That said, I may have not found the right guitar for it.

 

[JarickL]

Re: HOW TO: Make a 59/Custom Hybrid

This seems to be the hybrid thread, so I'll tack on...

1. I bought a JB/C5 hybrid off a forum member and really like it more than the JB. I have a problem with it feeding back really easily and it's pretty microphonic (i.e. sometimes when I'm picking it will make a really loud bass "thump"). Should I wax pot this pickup?

2. I'm matching the JB/C5 with a Jazz in the neck, which I find matches up well with the JB but sounds muddy and dark compared to the hybrid. Would a Jazz/59 neck sound clearer or more articulate?

3. I've got a darker sounding Les Paul Studio (early 90's ebony board) that was way too muddy with stock Gibby's and still sounded stale with a JB and Jazz combo. I was thinking of Phat Cats for this guitar to give it some sparkle and life, but I do really like the PAF sound. Would a 59/Custom and 59/Jazz combo give me some of that clarity and sparkle of hybrids with the tone/soul of PAF-style hums?

 

[BachToRock]

Re: HOW TO: Make a 59/Custom Hybrid

This seems to be the hybrid thread, so I'll tack on...

1. I bought a JB/C5 hybrid off a forum member and really like it more than the JB. I have a problem with it feeding back really easily and it's pretty microphonic (i.e. sometimes when I'm picking it will make a really loud bass "thump"). Should I wax pot this pickup?

2. I'm matching the JB/C5 with a Jazz in the neck, which I find matches up well with the JB but sounds muddy and dark compared to the hybrid. Would a Jazz/59 neck sound clearer or more articulate?

3. I've got a darker sounding Les Paul Studio (early 90's ebony board) that was way too muddy with stock Gibby's and still sounded stale with a JB and Jazz combo. I was thinking of Phat Cats for this guitar to give it some sparkle and life, but I do really like the PAF sound. Would a 59/Custom and 59/Jazz combo give me some of that clarity and sparkle of hybrids with the tone/soul of PAF-style hums?

Sounds like that pickup wasn't re-potted properly... if you use a really hot hairdryer on it for a few minutes you will see the wax turn liquidy... then press everything together nice and snug and make sure the brass screws on the bottom are snug.

I am surprised that you find the Jazz to be muddy... maybe the Hybrid you bought has the thin Ceramic magnet from the Custom in it... the Hybrids will always have a clear and harmonically rich high-end because of the mis-matched coils.

The Phat Cats are EXCELLENT pickups and I use them in several guitars... the 59/Custom Hybrid is closest in tone to a Phat Cat with that extra warmth and fullness of a humbucker... a cool combo is a nickel covered 59/Custom Hybrid in the Bridge and a Phat Cat in the Neck

 

[JarickL]

Re: HOW TO: Make a 59/Custom Hybrid

Sounds like that pickup wasn't re-potted properly... if you use a really hot hairdryer on it for a few minutes you will see the wax turn liquidy... then press everything together nice and snug and make sure the brass screws on the bottom are snug.

Yeah I noticed when swapping magnets (A5 to A8 back to A5) that the coils weren't very solid compared to the usual ones. I'll give that a shot. Thanks for the tip!

I am surprised that you find the Jazz to be muddy... maybe the Hybrid you bought has the thin Ceramic magnet from the Custom in it... the Hybrids will always have a clear and harmonically rich high-end because of the mis-matched coils.

Hmm...I don't think it did...the magnet looks like the other Alnico 5 I have, same strength too. I've always been told the Jazz is a brighter pickup...maybe I just don't like humbuckers in the neck? It's a full Jazz, not a hybrid...I was hoping maybe a 59/Jazz neck would have a little more high-end.

The Phat Cats are EXCELLENT pickups and I use them in several guitars... the 59/Custom Hybrid is closest in tone to a Phat Cat with that extra warmth and fullness of a humbucker... a cool combo is a nickel covered 59/Custom Hybrid in the Bridge and a Phat Cat in the Neck

That does sound pretty cool. I might just go Phat Cats in the 'Paul and swap my JB/C5 for a 59/C5. Great as the JB/C5 is, it just has way too much to keep up with. So I dial in that pickup and the neck sounds all wrong.

Thanks for the insight BTR! Do you stock any of the hybrids you make?

 

[KramerAmsterdam]

Re: HOW TO: Make a 59/Custom Hybrid

Hi BTR,

I replaced the pickup with a JB (which I knew was working ok) and it clears up a lot-I have a feeling I messed one coil up, maybe shorting it out a little so it looses it's highs? It's still a full body pu, (having the A5 mag) but I need screaming highs. Soon I hope, when I have time, I will recheck the pickup up and down-at least I have 1 working well (59/CC-A2) and I like it a lot

Thanks for all your help

Remy

 

[LypsLynch55]

Re: HOW TO: Make a 59/Custom Hybrid

Sounds like that pickup wasn't re-potted properly... if you use a really hot hairdryer on it for a few minutes you will see the wax turn liquidy...

Bach2Rock -

Just wanted to let you know that I just got a CC Trembucker and a 59 Trembucker and did the surgery on them to build a Hybrid....swapped into my old US Made Kramer (amazingly underated guitar BTW) and man, I am stoked!
This pickup is exactly what you said - the warmth, the bite without harshness, the smoothness, THE SOUND.....

Put on my favorite DLR era Patch on the POD and man, well, I ripped through YRGM and ATBL and they have never sounded so good....

AWESOME BROTHER! THANKS AGAIN!

P.S. Do you think that the Trembucker spacing changes any of the tonal characteristics? (My Kramer is not set up with a Slanted HB ala Kramer Baretta or how Ed had his on the Frankenstrat and later his Kramer 5150, so a F-spaced HB is what I need on my guitar).

 

[KramerAmsterdam]

Re: HOW TO: Make a 59/Custom Hybrid

Hi BCR,

That might be the problembut inside one of the coils-it can't be anything else-as I replaced the pickup with a good one and it sounded as it should-it must be within itself.

It think I might have messed with one coil:smack: Is it possible to measure anything wrong about a coil when it is grounding out (a little).

Thanks,
Remy

 

[WGTP]

Re: HOW TO: Make a 59/Custom Hybrid

I'm sure others have thought of this, but I don't remember seeing anything about it. What about mixing '59/PG/AII/SL/'78/BB/etc.

 

[tone]

Re: HOW TO: Make a 59/Custom Hybrid

Anyone have tonal comparisons between the 59/Custom Hybrid and the EVH/78?

 

[BachToRock]

Re: HOW TO: Make a 59/Custom Hybrid

Anyone have tonal comparisons between the 59/Custom Hybrid and the EVH/78?

They are actually very similar with the Hybrid being a tad stronger/bigger sounding. The Hybrid is also more 3-D/Dynamic/Open sounding because of the mis-matched coils, but overall they are pretty close. I would say that the EVH/78 is my 2nd favorite SD humbucker with the Custom Custom or Custom 5 coming in 3rd.

 

[The Usual]

Re: HOW TO: Make a 59/Custom Hybrid

I don't know if it's too late to jump in on this thread, but first let me say this is and awesome idea. I have a set of Seths and I just bought a CC. I think you mentioned earlier BT that I could use the Seth bridge for this, but I want to confirm. Any issues with a CC/Seth hybrid. The Seth is 2 conductor.
Has anyone ever tried a hybrid with the stock 498 and 500 Gibsons with a CC. Is it even worth the try?

 

[WGTP]

Re: HOW TO: Make a 59/Custom Hybrid

Will trem spacing and standard fit together? In other words one of each coil?

 

[BachToRock]

Re: HOW TO: Make a 59/Custom Hybrid

Will trem spacing and standard fit together? In other words one of each coil?

Not without some modification to the baseplate

 

[hamerfan]

Re: HOW TO: Make a 59/Custom Hybrid

BachtoRock, i did some search in the thread: What is your screw coil and what is your magnet? We need a standart description to make sure what we are talking about like always the stud coil first and at the end the magnet!
like 59b/Custom A5.

 

[Voxman]

Re: HOW TO: Make a 59/Custom Hybrid

HOLY MACARONY!!!!!
I`v just plugged in my strat after making a 59/cc A5 hybrid,THIS THING REALLY SMOKES!!!!!!
I have A5 mags in both of em and they read 12

 

[BachToRock]

Re: HOW TO: Make a 59/Custom Hybrid

BachtoRock, i did some search in the thread: What is your screw coil and what is your magnet? We need a standart description to make sure what we are talking about like always the stud coil first and at the end the magnet!
like 59b/Custom A5.

There are multiple posts about the variations...

The magnet is either an A2 or A5 which allows you to fine tune the pickup to your tastes and the particular instrument... just the same as putting an A2 in a 59, you will soften in up the bass and treble a bit, put a little more emphasis on the mids and have a spongier attack.

The particular combination of stud/screw is only a factor when splitting the pickup to single coil. Standard Duncan wiring keeps the stud coil active. The 59 stud will have a bit less output and the Custom slug will be a bit more compressed. You can easily wire it up to keep the screw coil active like PRS by wiring green to hot and black to ground.

 

[BachToRock]

Re: HOW TO: Make a 59/Custom Hybrid

HOLY MACARONY!!!!!
I`v just plugged in my strat after making a 59/cc A5 hybrid,THIS THING REALLY SMOKES!!!!!!
I have A5 mags in both of em and they read 12

Kaffimann... probably the first Hybrid user in Norway!

Glad you like the results... what kind of guitar and rig are you using... let's hear a detailed review including comparisons to what pickups you were using previously...

 

[Voxman]

Re: HOW TO: Make a 59/Custom Hybrid

Well,i use the hybrids in my american strats(one ash body-maple neck and one alder body-rosewood neck).I use strats cause they`re comfortable and solid but i`m trying to achive a gibson like sound. They`re plugged a vox ac30 cc.
I used to have 59`s in them and i love the presence,clarity and vintage vibe it gives me. Right now i`m playing in a hard rock/punk band so i need some higher output buckers. I was thinking about getting a c5 or something like that.i`v
read many articles about miss matched coils and felt that was the way to go (you know,i`m from the ac/dc school )
The hybrid gives me exactly what i was looking for,big fat vintage sound,i did`nt loose the presence and i every string sings out strong.The 12 reading is perfect,not to much.
I`m amazed by the clarity it have even when it`s heavily pushed. This bucker is a "must have" if your looking for brit sound.THis is a KILLER thru a ac 30
Thanx alot for shearing this with us,i won`t need a gibby again
BTW:it sounds fantastic thru my pod xt too