Humbucker for Strat?
- Thread starter fenderguy12
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fenderguy12
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Re: Humbucker for Strat?
I am going to go with the PG because since my guitar is pretty bright i feel i need to get a warmer pickup like the PG. Do you all think this is a good choice?
I am going to go with the PG because since my guitar is pretty bright i feel i need to get a warmer pickup like the PG. Do you all think this is a good choice?
uOpt
Something Cool
fenderguy12
New member
Re: Humbucker for Strat?
If not the PG what would be my Best choice for a low Output humbucker. The tonewizard also reccomended me the allnico 2 pro how would that be in my strat.
If not the PG what would be my Best choice for a low Output humbucker. The tonewizard also reccomended me the allnico 2 pro how would that be in my strat.
Lake Placid Blues
New member
Re: Humbucker for Strat?
Either is okay, but the PG has more "attitude" and works well with 250k pots
Either is okay, but the PG has more "attitude" and works well with 250k pots
fenderguy12
New member
Re: Humbucker for Strat?
I just found out that my strat has one 250k pot for volume and two 500k for tones. If i took the one 500k pot out and made the other one a master tone would this affect the sound in anyway. Also would this be better for a humbucker or would i still need all 500k pots to make it work best? Sorry this is probably pretty confusing because i have almost no idea what pots even do.
I just found out that my strat has one 250k pot for volume and two 500k for tones. If i took the one 500k pot out and made the other one a master tone would this affect the sound in anyway. Also would this be better for a humbucker or would i still need all 500k pots to make it work best? Sorry this is probably pretty confusing because i have almost no idea what pots even do.
Lake Placid Blues
New member
Re: Humbucker for Strat?
No leave the 250k as the master volume and try the 500Ks for the tone. If it is too bright then go to 250k for the tones too. If it could use more top (not likely) then go to a 500k for the mater volume.
No leave the 250k as the master volume and try the 500Ks for the tone. If it is too bright then go to 250k for the tones too. If it could use more top (not likely) then go to a 500k for the mater volume.
fenderguy12
New member
Re: Humbucker for Strat?
Would using only one 500k pot make a difference form using two?
Would using only one 500k pot make a difference form using two?
Lake Placid Blues
New member
Re: Humbucker for Strat?
Traditionally, as you probably know, 250K are used for SC's, and 500k are used for HBers. You want to use 250K for the master volume on an HSS strat for the SC's sake. That helps tame some of the highs on the bridge pickup too. Using a 500k for the tone on the bridge HBer is an effective compromise solution. You can also use a 500K tone for the neck pickup to make it a bit brighter if you want.
On an HSS strat you usually have a master volume and two tones. One of the tones is for the bridge humbucker so you can adjust the tone of the bridge PU seperate from the neck and middle single coils. The other tone is usually assigned to the neck single coil. ( This is different from the original strat set up from 1954 of one tone each for the neck and middle and no tone for the bridge pickup, but in those days amps and speakers wern't as bright as they are now.)
It is also common to use no tone control on a bridge humbucker as long the volume pot is 250k, but then you don't have the option of rolling back the highs a bit on the bridge pickup if it's a tad bright at a gig.
Traditionally, as you probably know, 250K are used for SC's, and 500k are used for HBers. You want to use 250K for the master volume on an HSS strat for the SC's sake. That helps tame some of the highs on the bridge pickup too. Using a 500k for the tone on the bridge HBer is an effective compromise solution. You can also use a 500K tone for the neck pickup to make it a bit brighter if you want.
On an HSS strat you usually have a master volume and two tones. One of the tones is for the bridge humbucker so you can adjust the tone of the bridge PU seperate from the neck and middle single coils. The other tone is usually assigned to the neck single coil. ( This is different from the original strat set up from 1954 of one tone each for the neck and middle and no tone for the bridge pickup, but in those days amps and speakers wern't as bright as they are now.)
It is also common to use no tone control on a bridge humbucker as long the volume pot is 250k, but then you don't have the option of rolling back the highs a bit on the bridge pickup if it's a tad bright at a gig.
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: Humbucker for Strat?
The APH bridge is too thin to use with a tremolo block guitar.
The APH bridge is too thin to use with a tremolo block guitar.
fenderguy12
New member
Re: Humbucker for Strat?
So if i wire the 500k tone pots to control only the bridge and i put in a 250k tone that only controls one of the single coils then the 500k wouldn't affect the SC at all?
So if i wire the 500k tone pots to control only the bridge and i put in a 250k tone that only controls one of the single coils then the 500k wouldn't affect the SC at all?
Lake Placid Blues
New member
Re: Humbucker for Strat?
Your making it more complicated than it is. If you use one of the pots for a master volume, it will effect all of the pickups. If you want to only use 500K pots with the humbucker, and only 250K pots for the single coils, then you need seperate volumes without a master volume.
I suggest that you just use a 250K pot for the master volume, a 250k pot for the neck SC tone, and a 500K pot for the bridge pickup tone. Using up the three knobs. Simple.
Your making it more complicated than it is. If you use one of the pots for a master volume, it will effect all of the pickups. If you want to only use 500K pots with the humbucker, and only 250K pots for the single coils, then you need seperate volumes without a master volume.
I suggest that you just use a 250K pot for the master volume, a 250k pot for the neck SC tone, and a 500K pot for the bridge pickup tone. Using up the three knobs. Simple.
Lake Placid Blues
New member
Re: Humbucker for Strat?
Correct. If you use a 250k tone pot for the neck PU and a 500k pot for the bridge PU then the neck SC will only be effected by the 250k tone pot, and the master volume pot. The bridge HBer will only be effected by the 500k tone pot.
The middle pickup will not have a tone control by itself (which isn't really needed IMO). However when used in combination with the bridge or neck PUs it will be effected by the tone controls for those PU's.
Correct. If you use a 250k tone pot for the neck PU and a 500k pot for the bridge PU then the neck SC will only be effected by the 250k tone pot, and the master volume pot. The bridge HBer will only be effected by the 500k tone pot.
The middle pickup will not have a tone control by itself (which isn't really needed IMO). However when used in combination with the bridge or neck PUs it will be effected by the tone controls for those PU's.
Diocletian
BrandNewGlossologist
Re: Humbucker for Strat?
The only bridge pickup I have experience with in a strat with 250K pots is the DiMarzio Super Distortion. Dave Murray uses that setup in his strats and I did the same in a Squier - I can tell you it sounds fantastic. It'll do classic rock and, to a decent extent, Metallica.
The only bridge pickup I have experience with in a strat with 250K pots is the DiMarzio Super Distortion. Dave Murray uses that setup in his strats and I did the same in a Squier - I can tell you it sounds fantastic. It'll do classic rock and, to a decent extent, Metallica.
fenderguy12
New member
Re: Humbucker for Strat?
Now that it looks like im going to be using a500k pot for the humbucker would the PG still be my best choice.
Now that it looks like im going to be using a500k pot for the humbucker would the PG still be my best choice.
newjersey236
New member
Re: Humbucker for Strat?
I was reading this post & believe it or not you could consider GFS alnico 2 Humbuckers or a GFS 59 humbucker, the alnico 2 will be warmer and a little better with clean settings and the 59 will suit full gain metallica a little better as it has a more tight response and slightly more output. And i know everyone says GFS sucks but their humbuckers really are just as good as like franlin or seymour duncan just like 1/2 the cost!
I was reading this post & believe it or not you could consider GFS alnico 2 Humbuckers or a GFS 59 humbucker, the alnico 2 will be warmer and a little better with clean settings and the 59 will suit full gain metallica a little better as it has a more tight response and slightly more output. And i know everyone says GFS sucks but their humbuckers really are just as good as like franlin or seymour duncan just like 1/2 the cost!
newjersey236
New member
Re: Humbucker for Strat?
And also there is no rule for 500k vs. 250k pots for coils or buckers... its whatever YOUR ideal type of tone is, if you want a warm, smooth, and vintage-y guitar then 250k pots are the way to go but if you want a higher output guitar with more brightness and more modern type sound then 500k is key. And 1meg pots are great for HIGH gain as they will have little warmness, alot of output and a crap load of brightness. ALSO remember capacitors play a pretty big part as well ..Good Luckk
And also there is no rule for 500k vs. 250k pots for coils or buckers... its whatever YOUR ideal type of tone is, if you want a warm, smooth, and vintage-y guitar then 250k pots are the way to go but if you want a higher output guitar with more brightness and more modern type sound then 500k is key. And 1meg pots are great for HIGH gain as they will have little warmness, alot of output and a crap load of brightness. ALSO remember capacitors play a pretty big part as well ..Good Luckk