HSS Strat HB for Classic to Heavy Tones?

J

JesusCrisp

New member
Hey guys,

Switching the Fender Atomic of my HSS Strat, this time for real.
I know I already made this kind of thread a good while ago, but I still feel like needing a bit of help. :1:
Had to pay for other stuff back then but now I have the money, done more research and have a more definite idea what I want to do with my Strat.

First of all the tone I want to achieve is:
  • open sounding top end while not harsh
  • good amount of mids
  • rather big but defined/tight bottom end
  • good split/parallel tone
  • medium to high output (not too hot for classic rock-ish tones, not too undefined for heavy rock and metal)
  • good clarity and string seperation (well, at least as good as possible without sacrificing too much punch and thickness)

Don't worry about the HB overpowering the singlecoils, I personally don't have a problem with it at all, or with 250K pots, I found a great wiring idea that solves that 'problem': 1 volume pot for the singlecoils (250K), 1 volume pot for the humbucker (500K) and a 500K master-tone.

Thus I could even adjust the humbucker volume to match the singlecoils if needed (and do some Tom Morello style kill-switching without adding another extra switch).
:scratchch


I personally think that I might go with something that has an Alnico 5 magnet, many ceramics sound kind of harsh/cold to me and many Alnico 2 PUs tend to sound spongy and muddy with higher gain settings.

Oh and please don't recommend the JB, Distortion or PG, tried all of them in Strat-style guitars and they just don't do it for me.


Thanks in advance!
 
Re: HSS Strat HB for Classic to Heavy Tones?

Try the Screamin' Demon. I use it in my Frankenstrat with a Slash APH-2 in the neck. An awesome combo. If your guitar has a good resonant sound naturally, the Demon will work out great. It's not bright, it's not harsh.
 
Re: HSS Strat HB for Classic to Heavy Tones?

Go with the 59/Custom hybrid. It comes w/A5 mag. I switched mine to UOA5, and love it. It allows you to play all genre of music. It also splits nicely.
 
Re: HSS Strat HB for Classic to Heavy Tones?

Funny, the C5, Screamin' Demon and 59/Custom Hybrid were exactly the Duncans I considered that they might fit. :)

Could anyone compare them to each other?
 
Re: HSS Strat HB for Classic to Heavy Tones?

Between the C5 and Demon, I prefer the Demon. It's lower in output but to me it sounds bigger in my setup and responds to my playing better. Seems the mids are more present in the Demon too. The C5 sounds more scooped to me, but not overly scooped. I think 300k pots would work great with the C5 where the Demon definitely excels with 500k. I have not tried the Custom/59 Hybrid.

My setup is the Soldano model in a Vox AD50VT Valvetronix amp or a Marshall JCM 900 MkIII Hi Gain Master Volume amp.

Hope this helps.
 
Re: HSS Strat HB for Classic to Heavy Tones?

I always thought the Demon was the tighter, brighter pickup and the C5 very big sounding with pretty big bass response and less highs.

Apparently it's the other way round. :P
 
Re: HSS Strat HB for Classic to Heavy Tones?

I know u said a5 but your description sounds to me like a regular old ceramic custom
 
Re: HSS Strat HB for Classic to Heavy Tones?

JesusCrisp said:
I always thought the Demon was the tighter, brighter pickup and the C5 very big sounding with pretty big bass response and less highs.

Apparently it's the other way round. :P
Click to expand...

Yeah, to me it is. I don't hear the Demon as too bright, not at all. The C5 has big bass, but I think that is because the bass and treble are brought up with the A5 magnet. The highs seemed sharper to me with the C5. That honeymoon wore off. I still love the Demon.

IME, the description is spot on.....

"It has the big open sound of our '59 ModelTM with a little less bite and a little more growl. The tone is big, percussive with a defined treble response that doesn't get harsh. It uses one row of allen screws and one row of standard slotted screws for a unique "airy" sound."

We also can't forget that there are tone knobs on amps to tweak things as well. That's why they're there. ;)
 
Re: HSS Strat HB for Classic to Heavy Tones?

OK, unless someone with experience with both the Demon and the Hybrid or any better idea joins now I think I might go with the Demon. :)

Just out of interest, how does it sound split or in parallel?
Thought about adding a 3-way mini toggle to get series, split and parallel tones out of it.
 
Re: HSS Strat HB for Classic to Heavy Tones?

Split it sounds fine to me. Parallel I haven't tried but would think it might be too weak. Parallel is only 1/4 the output, 2.5k in the case of the Demon. Split it's just one coil or the other, 5k in the case of the Demon.
 
Re: HSS Strat HB for Classic to Heavy Tones?

Maybe I will go with a Push-Pull pot or 2-way toggle then.

Anyone more input on the topic anyone?
 
Re: HSS Strat HB for Classic to Heavy Tones?

JesusCrisp said:
First of all the tone I want to achieve is:
  • open sounding top end while not harsh
  • good amount of mids
  • rather big but defined/tight bottom end
  • good split/parallel tone
  • medium to high output (not too hot for classic rock-ish tones, not too undefined for heavy rock and metal)
  • good clarity and string seperation (well, at least as good as possible without sacrificing too much punch and thickness)
Click to expand...



SH-5 CUSTOM:)
 
Re: HSS Strat HB for Classic to Heavy Tones?

CUSTOM

The C-5 will be lacking in the mids, CC will not have a tight bass, 59 might be too weak, the Demon also lacks a "good amount" of mids, and can be bright. My second guess would be the Patb-3, but I've never played one of those, so..
 
Re: HSS Strat HB for Classic to Heavy Tones?

ErikH said:
Parallel is only 1/4 the output . . .
Click to expand...

Man, this is going to be a tough one to kill. It keeps coming up. Parallel is the same output level as split. You can't use DCR to judge output level when coils are in parallel. Does a Strat, in either "notch" position, drop by half? :cool2:
Two batteries in parallel is still 1.5 volts.
 
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