HSS, matching coil-split JB levels?

[txbdan]

Hey all, I'm building a new HSS partscaster with a JB in the bridge. I'm going in circles trying to pick middle and neck pickups. Thinking about Custom Stack Plus or Classic Stack Plus, but def open to ideas.

I originally was building the guitar for higher gain stuff, punk, pop punk, emo, (this is my classic rock and we might start a nostalgia band lol) maybe some light prog or metal. I play mostly rhythm and riffy stuff, not like soaring 80s leads or anything. I'm trying to weigh out if I want the middle and neck to be high gain and make this guitar all about that life, or if I should try to push for versatility and try to cover some proper strategy ground. I have a tele and a Gibson, but no proper Strat at the moment.

1. I plan to wire it up so the JB coil splits in position 2. I was wondering what the output level is like of the coil split JB and what output single coil it might pair up with. Does trying to match them make sense?
2. How does the JB sound coil split on its own in the bridge? Is that a sound I should add wiring complexity for?
3. Would the Classic Stack pickups be too low of output for the JB?
4. The Custom Stack (SSL-5/6 like) seems pretty common. That's what Charvel runs with a JB. But are they still "Strat like"?
5. If I run a Stack middle, do I need to coil split it in position 2 when combined with the split JB?

Thanks!

 

[Mincer]

The Custom Stack Plus will match better volume-wise with the JB.
The Classic Stack Plus sounds more like a regular Strat pickup.
Pick whichever is more important to you. Both sound good split with 1 coil of a JB.

 

[Jermo3178]

I have an HSS strat with a STK-S7n - STK-S4m - JB.
I don't have the Jb split, but I really dig this combo

 

[Clint 55]

A mini in the neck strikes that middle ground - sounds nice and stratty clean, but is real raspy with gain. So you can have both if you want. Then leave the middle pickup a strat for notch tones. JB is one of the better humbuckers for splitting in the bridge. It balances well volume wise split since the whole pickup is high output. But you have to faf with heights and prioritize what positions you want the best volume balance in.

 

[jeremy]

500k pots? custom stack

 

[txbdan]

I have an HSS strat with a STK-S7n - STK-S4m - JB.
I don't have the Jb split, but I really dig this combo

Do you find the STK-S7n dark? I was thinking it might not Strat-sparkle enough

 

[txbdan]

A mini in the neck strikes that middle ground - sounds nice and stratty clean, but is real raspy with gain. So you can have both if you want. Then leave the middle pickup a strat for notch tones. JB is one of the better humbuckers for splitting in the bridge. It balances well volume wise split since the whole pickup is high output. But you have to faf with heights and prioritize what positions you want the best volume balance in.

What's a mini?

 

[txbdan]

500k pots? custom stack

I got this wiring kit which has a 500k volume and switches a 500k resistor in the circuit for the neck/middle pups to create 250k. I could eliminate that resistor if need be. Also has a 250k tone pot for the neck/mid pickups.

ToneShaper Wiring Kit, Stratocaster, Auto-Split (HSS2)

Our wiring kits for Stratocasters have everything you need to complete the job the right way! Great parts, great documentation. Best on the market!

toneshapers.com

 

[Clint 55]

What's a mini?

A mini humbucker

 

[txbdan]

A mini humbucker

Oh, right, thanks. Perhaps.. although I think I want to keep it single coil Strat like on that end of the position switch. What would you recommend, though?

What is the theory on different output levels on neck vs middle. Like would a Custom Stack Plus in the neck and a Class Stack Plus in the middle make sense? Then I could get a little more gain out of the neck, but stilly Strat'y in the middle and position 2, even 4 maybe.

Also, I wish these Stacks came in Aged White color! almost pushes me back to SSL-5s. ha

 

[Clint 55]

You could do that. The only 2 theories are either volume balance, or how stratty you want the tone. Putting the classic in the middle will be less balanced volume wise but will have more classic cluck. The Custom in the neck could be good if you want it to be fatter, but it introduces more mids and will sound a tad less stratty. It's not necessary to use a higher output pickup when you're using gain. The classic would work with gain. So ultimately it's what you're prioritizing. Custom neck plus classic mid might give you a good mix rather than only 1 type.

 

[Mincer]

Do you find the STK-S7n dark? I was thinking it might not Strat-sparkle enough

Well, it is darker than the Classic Stack. It isn't as dark as say, a Hot Rails. But it starts to get away from a typical Strat sound.