HSS strat humbucker

Sam SG

New member
Ok so I have an 1992 mij HRR-50s strat. I literally just got it going today. As I had to have the bridge posts repaired.
Anyway for those not familiar these were like Fender Japan's 50s strats bit with all the mods of the day. 22nd fret, med jumbo frets and original Floyd Rose, 1 push pull pot for coil tap and a tbx circuit.
​​mine is a maple finger board. And the body is basswood.
Anyway the guitar came to me with 2x GnL MFD singles and a Duncan JB in the bridge. So far I like the MFDs...but that JB has to go. To me it's like a mid Honk with high output flub. I haven't been a fan of the JB in like 20yrs.
Anyways for 70s rock hotrod strat type tones what would a good fit be in a basswoid/ maple board floyd strat? Its been along time away from strats for me my last had a Dimarzio FS1 single in the bridge and i kinda liked that.
I havent verified the pots but they are stock so i assume 250k. Like to find something that works with that as it has single coils in it too that need 250s
anyways suggestions please
 
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HSS is always a weird compromise...if you go too traditional with the singles, they won't balance well with the humbucker. And, the singles hum. For this reason, I always go with hum-cancelling singles. A Classic Stack is a good choice, and can get slightly heavier 70s single coil tones. For the humbucker, if you need a spray of Honk Be Gone, look at the slightly scooped 59/Custom Hybrid. It blends well with singles but can still rock.
 
My first thoughts were Custom Custom or Whole Lotta Humbucker, but those have mids that would balance the basswood/maple brightness (not honk, but do have mids) For basswood/maple with little/no mids, I'd say Pearly Gates, 59 or 59/Custom. Custom 5, Jazz, '78 Model would get rid of honk, but might be too bright and scooped for basswood/maple to do '70s rcck, though 250k would tame them a bit.
 
I do have a TB11j custom sitting around. Is that the custom custom? It measures high dcr like the jb so didn't consider it.
Maybe i should stick it in there?
 
TB11 is a Custom Custom. It is my favorite bridge humbucker, mostly because it is a lot of mids, not a lot of highs or bass. Thing is, it can become a Custom or Custom 5 with a magnet swap. If you have the pickup already, I say try it at least. It doesn't sound hot and honky like a JB, more buttery and smooth.
 
i had that same guitar in transpurple photoflame for along time. my first brand new guitar. it came with two fender singles and a paf pro. i would suggest starting with a sh5 custom. less mid honk than a jb and should still cut through with 250k pots. it also takes mag swaps super well
 
TB11 is a Custom Custom. It is my favorite bridge humbucker, mostly because it is a lot of mids, not a lot of highs or bass. Thing is, it can become a Custom or Custom 5 with a magnet swap. If you have the pickup already, I say try it at least. It doesn't sound hot and honky like a JB, more buttery and smooth.

So I can try it, then if I want to try Custom 5....can i just rip the JB open and steal the Alnico 5 magnet and make one? Assuming the 5 means Alnico 5....what mag is in the Custom
 
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So I can try it, then if I want to try Custom 5....can i just rip the JB open and steal the Alnico 5 magnet and make one? Assuming the 5 means Alnico 5....what mag is in the Custom

a regolar custom has a ceramic mag. the custom 5 an alnico5 while the custom custom an alnico2
 
Well I stuck the TB11 in the bridge. It's not really what I want out of the guitar but it's livable till I figure it out.
Set to spec I didn't like it at all. After a bit of lowering it was much better. Then I started lowering tge G pole and that balanced the strings a bit and got the awwwnky sound outta the G.
Still a bit fat and not enough bite for me. But I'm gonna play with the screw driver more.
The JB was unlivable though, that was one note and put it in the case bad
 
the cc is a fat pup for sure, the custom or c5 both have more top end and less mids
 
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