HSS Strat Humbucker recommendations?

J

JesusCrisp

New member
Hello everyone!

I recently signed up here after reading quite a few very informative threads.

Now, I am looking for a new humbucker for my Fender American Special HSS Strat. While I really like the guitar and the Texas Specials, I feel that the Atomic humbucker is quite lacking. Especially compared to the 'complex' tones of the singlecoils, this humbucker sounds really flat, dead and undynamic.
It sounds like it only had mids, the top end is dead, the bottom end is flubby and weak with next to no attack at all and it compresses too much IMO.
Also it makes the bridge + middle position pretty unusable, due to the way too dark tone, even when split.

So, what I want is an - as far as possible - open sounding, brighter humbucker which has good harmonics, big but defined bottom end, not too many mids and a good amount of attack. A good split tone would be nice as well, but that's not the priority.
I think I'm looking for something with medium to high output.
My amp is an Egnater Rebel 30 and I play mostly blues/classic rock, grunge, heavy rock and metal (Hendrix, ACDC, Van Halen, AIC, Volbeat, King's X, Led Zeppelin, Wolfmother, Metallica, etc.). The priority of the humbucker is mostly the medium to high gain dirty tones.

TLDR-version: clear, articulate medium to high output humbucker with big but defined sound for alder Strat with maple neck, rosewood fretboard for mostly hard rock to metal.

What I found that might work:
  • Custom
  • Custom 5
  • Alternative 8
  • P-Rails
  • Screaming Demon

So, what do you guys say?

Thanks in advance. :)
 
Re: HSS Strat Humbucker recommendations?

The PATB-3 is quite possibly the best pickup for that setup and those genres. It has a nice vintage humbucker sound to it BUT it stays completely clear and compresses beautifully when you turn gain on so it remains articulate and fat all the way up and down the neck.

It sounds big, and all the strings still ring out clearly. It was the best pickup I found back when I played all that kind of music.

EDIT: And when I say compresses beautifully I mean it in a positive way, where it still sounds quite open and clear and compresses the 'right' way when you dig in.
 
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Re: HSS Strat Humbucker recommendations?

Well, PATB-3 certainly looks interesting and your description sounds pretty good.

The description kind of confuses me though, it's stated as "honky" which is something I associate with the JB, which isn't exactly amongst my favourite pickups.

EDIT: Anyway, any word on other pickups than the PATB-3 for a Strat that would do what I want?
 
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Re: HSS Strat Humbucker recommendations?

I haven't got much experience with pickups or pickup-customisation, so how do would I get a Custom 8?

Also, the Pearly Gates is not really my thing. That one and the JB are sadly the only Duncans (aside from a Blackout) I've ever played and I disliked both of them. Although they sound better, they remind me too much of my Atomic.
 
Re: HSS Strat Humbucker recommendations?

why don't you like the JB ? I love it, especially with 250k pots. Its lovely split with the mid single too. 2 others i'd suggest would be either the Anderson H2+ or Suhr DSV+. I have and love both as well. The Anderson is the one in my you tube video link below.
 
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Re: HSS Strat Humbucker recommendations?

wolf5150 said:
why don't you like the JB ? I love it, especially with 250k pots. Its lovely split with the mid single too. 2 others i'd suggest would be either the Anderson H2+ or Suhr DSV+. I have and love both as well. The Anderson is the one in my you tube video link below.
Click to expand...

What I dislike about the JB is mainly it's mid-spike/honk. Also it's not quite as open as I'd like and the bass response is rather on the loose side.

As the Full Shred was mentioned, what is it like?
 
Re: HSS Strat Humbucker recommendations?

darthphineas said:
tight articulate bottom end. no honky mids. good highs. about the same output as the ones already mentioned. cleans up nicely.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a great idea then. :scratchch

Still intrigued by the Alternative 8 after watching this video though:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZYDYiOIuC8

Has a very unique, percussive tone in the clip which I could imagine complementing the single coils very well.
 
Re: HSS Strat Humbucker recommendations?

the JB was designed to use 250k pots mate. The qualities that people moan about disappear with them. I refuse to buy into all this magnet swapping crap. Not only will it void the warranty but it reaks of cork sniffing to me . Just choose the right product. One guy 's said he's just got the very latest hybrid and immediately swapped the magnet. There's me thinking that seymour knew his stuff and designed them right in the 1st place.
 
Re: HSS Strat Humbucker recommendations?

JesusCrisp said:
Sounds like a great idea then. :scratchch

Still intrigued by the Alternative 8 after watching this video though:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZYDYiOIuC8

Has a very unique, percussive tone in the clip which I could imagine complementing the single coils very well.
Click to expand...

Funny you should say that, because I'm pretty sure we've all decided that there is something seriously wrong with the ALt 8 in the clip, like it was accidentally coil split or wired in parallel. I've never heard a humbucker make that sound ever, probably not a good representation of the alt 8.

I recommend starting with the Custom and then trying an A8 magnet if you find it too tight and shrill.
 
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Re: HSS Strat Humbucker recommendations?

Whatever is causing the Alt 8 in the clip to sound that way, I'd like to find out what it is and maybe get the new pickup wired for that kind of tone. :lmao:

I think my current list says:
  • Custom
  • Full Shred
  • PATB-3

I wouldn't mind a good amount of tightness, treble and attack as my amp's tone is more on the chewy, vintage kind of side without boosting it anyway. Also I hardly get good chugging out of it when needed without cutting much bass and dialing in a lot of treble, making the whole tone pretty shrill and thin.
Another issue I currently have is actually the lack of treble when switching from the single coils to the humbucker. Feels like somebody rolled off the tone knob in comparison.
Thus IMO the ceramic Custom is probably not a problem.

EDIT: Also, while we're at it, what does the Alternative 8 usually sound like? Would it fit the description of what I want or should I simply forget it already?
 
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Re: HSS Strat Humbucker recommendations?

I'd have to go with wolf5150 on the JB with a 250k pot, especially if you're putting it in a Strat with 2 single coils that will require that anyway. having said that, I prefer the 500k pots, but have had one in a Strat on a 250k pot and agree that it will sound as wolf5150 suggests.

also consider the PATB-1. I think it sort of rides the line between the 'tone' pups and the 'hot rod' pups. a bit louder than the PATB-3, but tighter lows and more highs.
 
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