How to, two SC's to sound like a Les Paul Humbucker

jort

New member
Is it possible to get fat sound like a Les Paul humbucker with two Strat pick-ups? If so, how? I'd like to have that sound on the 2&4 positions on my strat.

Thanks in advance.
 
Re: How to, two SC's to sound like a Les Paul Humbucker

jort said:
Is it possible to get fat sound like a Les Paul humbucker with two Strat pick-ups? If so, how? I'd like to have that sound on the 2&4 positions on my strat.

Thanks in advance.

Unfortunately no. The pups will never sound EXACTLY like a humbucker there is too much quack. With a warm middle and bridge pup or a high output bridge pup with a neck pup will send you in that direction.

If you wanted to stay with singles try the Alnico 2 Pros in both positions, or Alnico 2 Pro middle and a hot or custom bridge. I turn down the bridge tone know to fatten it up a little too.

Luke
 
Re: How to, two SC's to sound like a Les Paul Humbucker

jort said:
Is it possible to get fat sound like a Les Paul humbucker with two Strat pick-ups? If so, how? I'd like to have that sound on the 2&4 positions on my strat.

I've been using the Sup'rStrat wiring harness on most of my strats since 1997. I originally wired it up on a megaswitch but found that it works even better on a regular 5 position strat switch. You do need to add a DPDT switch to access the 4 extra linkages- your choice of a push-pull pot or a mini-toggle. Or use a rotary switch in place of the middle tone control (which is no longer used).

For maximum effect I like to use a RWRP combination of neck and bridge pickups; start off with a normal strat set with a RWRP middle pickup and then swap the middle pickup with your choice of neck or bridge. Alternately you could special order a set with a RWRP bridge.

As for getting the Bridge/Neck serial linkage in the #2 or #4 notched positions, that won't work with a regular strat switch. :(

The tradeoffs are that one of the notched positions is no longer humcancelling. But having humcancelling linkages between the neck and bridge pickups in parallel or in series is a real treat- not unlike the Fender Custom Shop 4 way switch for Teles (when your pickups are a RWRP pair).

While the sound is not exactly like any humbucker I've tried it does kick butt (in terms of output) compared to the normal linkages on a vintage style strat. And the single coils by themselves are much better than any PAF humbucker I've split. If single coil noise is a problem you get 3 linkages that are humcancelling, which gives you a wider tonal range than a traditional strat- one of the notched positions, neck & bridge in parallel, and neck & bridge in series. The series linkage can be a bit muddy depending on the pickups you are using so I like using a custom-wired TBX control instead of the master tone pot.

I've attached the drawing of the SuprStrat harness and included a link to an article about it (you might have to right click on it and save it to disk):

http://www.blueguitar.org/new/articles/blue_gtr/gtr/supr_strat.pdf
 
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Re: How to, two SC's to sound like a Les Paul Humbucker

I'd try setting up a new pickguard with an alternate set of pickups, just so you have the option of installing your strat guard, or....

JB Jr. bridge, 2 lil 59 necks
Full set of Quarter Pounders for strat.
Hotrails, 2 Cool Rails or 2 Duckbuckers.
 
Re: How to, two SC's to sound like a Les Paul Humbucker

Thanks all. It's clear to me.
 
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