Hello -- I'm thinking of making up a pickguard for my hardtail Strat with just a Quarter Pound single coil in the neck spot, and a Duncan Custom in the bridge. String spacing is 52mm, just a bit over 2", at the spot where the bridge pickup will sit. Should I use a Trembucker, or will a conventional humbucker work best? Thanks!
Humbucker or Trembucker in hardtail Strat bridge position?
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The JEM Ghost
New member
Re: Humbucker or Trembucker in hardtail Strat bridge position?
If your string spacing is 52 mm at where the bridge pickup would be, I'd go for an F-spaced or Trembucker spaced pickup, you'll get the strings to match the poles this way. Not that a conventional spaced pickup "won't work", you'll get sound out of them as well, but for good string to pole alignment, you need an F-spaced or Trembucker. If my explanation would not be clear to you let me know! (English is not my native language)
If your string spacing is 52 mm at where the bridge pickup would be, I'd go for an F-spaced or Trembucker spaced pickup, you'll get the strings to match the poles this way. Not that a conventional spaced pickup "won't work", you'll get sound out of them as well, but for good string to pole alignment, you need an F-spaced or Trembucker. If my explanation would not be clear to you let me know! (English is not my native language)
Re: Humbucker or Trembucker in hardtail Strat bridge position?
This. So get out an accurate ruler and measure those strings. It might not really matter in sound, but if you have a choice, might as well get the one that is the correct measurements. This article might help.
This. So get out an accurate ruler and measure those strings. It might not really matter in sound, but if you have a choice, might as well get the one that is the correct measurements. This article might help.
Silence Kid
New member
Re: Humbucker or Trembucker in hardtail Strat bridge position?
I used to say it doesn't matter but... I have an example of a very narrow (pun intended) scenario when it did for me:
I had a guitar with adjustable string spacing and a regular-spaced Stag Mag. At first, the string spacing was Standard Fender, and the strings were off to the side of the pole pieces; tone of the high e in particular was somewhat muted. So I moved the string spacing inward... Not only did the e string become much louder, but it was also inordinately affected by magnetic pull and I had to lower the whole pickup in response, changing the tone yet again. Perhaps this is only important in practice, for guitars with magnetic poles. But it does have an effect.
I used to say it doesn't matter but... I have an example of a very narrow (pun intended) scenario when it did for me:
I had a guitar with adjustable string spacing and a regular-spaced Stag Mag. At first, the string spacing was Standard Fender, and the strings were off to the side of the pole pieces; tone of the high e in particular was somewhat muted. So I moved the string spacing inward... Not only did the e string become much louder, but it was also inordinately affected by magnetic pull and I had to lower the whole pickup in response, changing the tone yet again. Perhaps this is only important in practice, for guitars with magnetic poles. But it does have an effect.
Re: Humbucker or Trembucker in hardtail Strat bridge position?
Very well, Trembucker it is. Another question -- when mounting a humbucker in a Strat pickguard made for a humbucker or Trembucker, is a mounting ring required? I'll have Warmoth make the guard for me, and they will size it specifically for a Trembucker. The schematic illustration on their website shows two screw holes, one each left and right center, but no holes for a mounting ring or escutcheon. Do the pickup height adjuster screws go directly into the pickguard?
Thank you all for your help.
Very well, Trembucker it is. Another question -- when mounting a humbucker in a Strat pickguard made for a humbucker or Trembucker, is a mounting ring required? I'll have Warmoth make the guard for me, and they will size it specifically for a Trembucker. The schematic illustration on their website shows two screw holes, one each left and right center, but no holes for a mounting ring or escutcheon. Do the pickup height adjuster screws go directly into the pickguard?
Thank you all for your help.
The JEM Ghost
New member
Re: Humbucker or Trembucker in hardtail Strat bridge position?
When mounting humbuckers into a pickguard, no mounting rings are needed.
For mounting humbuckers into a pickguard, just put the pickup height adjuster screws through the pickguard, then put the springs over the screwtips (at the back of your pickguard), then slightly compress the screws so you can screw the screwtip in the mounting holes of the baseplate of the humbucker. Hope this helps!
When mounting humbuckers into a pickguard, no mounting rings are needed.
For mounting humbuckers into a pickguard, just put the pickup height adjuster screws through the pickguard, then put the springs over the screwtips (at the back of your pickguard), then slightly compress the screws so you can screw the screwtip in the mounting holes of the baseplate of the humbucker. Hope this helps!
The JEM Ghost
New member
Re: Humbucker or Trembucker in hardtail Strat bridge position?
+1 to that. I have experienced that as well in the past, especially the high E string suffered from reduced output.
+1 to that. I have experienced that as well in the past, especially the high E string suffered from reduced output.
Lewguitar
New member
Re: Humbucker or Trembucker in hardtail Strat bridge position?
I agree. If a Trembucker is available, that's what has worked best for me in a Strat.
Whether it makes a difference is debatable but peace of mind is not.
I agree. If a Trembucker is available, that's what has worked best for me in a Strat.
Whether it makes a difference is debatable but peace of mind is not.
Re: Humbucker or Trembucker in hardtail Strat bridge position?
Many thanks to all responders. JEM Ghost, your English is better than mine; your meaning came across loud and clear. So it's a Trembucker in the bridge slot, single-coil in the neck position, push-pull volume pot switching between pickups, nothing else. I ditched my tone pots years ago. I have a love-hate relationship with the Strat; love the body ergonomics, hate the control locations. My lone pot will be in the far low spot. Pedals and the amp's EQ control my tone. Right now all I need is jangly clean rhythm -- I play in a band dominated by a four-piece brass section. One of the sax players alternates between the tenor hanging from a lanyard 'round his neck and a bari on a stand. In the same song. How could I compete with that? I suppose a boost pedal and really great hair . . . ah well, those days are long gone.
Many thanks to all responders. JEM Ghost, your English is better than mine; your meaning came across loud and clear. So it's a Trembucker in the bridge slot, single-coil in the neck position, push-pull volume pot switching between pickups, nothing else. I ditched my tone pots years ago. I have a love-hate relationship with the Strat; love the body ergonomics, hate the control locations. My lone pot will be in the far low spot. Pedals and the amp's EQ control my tone. Right now all I need is jangly clean rhythm -- I play in a band dominated by a four-piece brass section. One of the sax players alternates between the tenor hanging from a lanyard 'round his neck and a bari on a stand. In the same song. How could I compete with that? I suppose a boost pedal and really great hair . . . ah well, those days are long gone.
Re: Humbucker or Trembucker in hardtail Strat bridge position?
And here's the result. Right now I have a 250k push-pull pot controlling volume and pickup choice. I'd hate to dull the tone of that Quarter Pound in the neck position with a 500k, but the Trembucker Custom in the bridge slot does sound a bit shrill. I wonder if one of those concentric split volume controls with one 250k and one 500k pot would work? Do pickups need to be actually switched out of the circuit, or will just turning the volume of one all the way down get it "out of the way" of the other? I'm thinking of the wiring found on the Jazz Bass.
And here's the result. Right now I have a 250k push-pull pot controlling volume and pickup choice. I'd hate to dull the tone of that Quarter Pound in the neck position with a 500k, but the Trembucker Custom in the bridge slot does sound a bit shrill. I wonder if one of those concentric split volume controls with one 250k and one 500k pot would work? Do pickups need to be actually switched out of the circuit, or will just turning the volume of one all the way down get it "out of the way" of the other? I'm thinking of the wiring found on the Jazz Bass.
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gregory
New member
Re: Humbucker or Trembucker in hardtail Strat bridge position?
Going from a 250k volume to 500k will do just the opposite: you'll get more highs/presence.
For the Custom, if you still want high output with strong mids and tamed highs, try an A8 magnet. Another thing worth considering is an internal fixed tone control, say a 270k resistor and .022 cap connected to hot wire of the Custom so that it won't affect the QP.
You could try a concentric pot to blend but I'd go with a 500k to blend in the QP and a 500k for volume. I don't know if that's what you really want to be doing, though.
EDIT: I had misread your post thinking you weren't satisfied with the QP.
Going from a 250k volume to 500k will do just the opposite: you'll get more highs/presence.
For the Custom, if you still want high output with strong mids and tamed highs, try an A8 magnet. Another thing worth considering is an internal fixed tone control, say a 270k resistor and .022 cap connected to hot wire of the Custom so that it won't affect the QP.
You could try a concentric pot to blend but I'd go with a 500k to blend in the QP and a 500k for volume. I don't know if that's what you really want to be doing, though.
EDIT: I had misread your post thinking you weren't satisfied with the QP.
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Re: Humbucker or Trembucker in hardtail Strat bridge position?
Gregory, thanks for the input on pots. Here's the current situation: I positively LOVE the QP's tone and response in the neck position -- I don't want to change a thing there. The Custom HB in the bridge spot is kinda shrill (I always find bridge pickups to be too trebly). For the bridge pickup, I'm looking for a good strong clean tone without excess highs. Are you saying that a 500k pot would make that pickup even more trebly? It was my understanding that single-coils do best with a 250k, and HBs with a 500k. Hence the mention of a concentric 250k/500k dual pot, to cater to each pickup in this installation. I dispensed with the guitar's tone pot years ago, since I almost always had it dialed out. I like the controls on a guitar to be at an absolute minimum, and as out-of-the-way as possible.
Gregory, thanks for the input on pots. Here's the current situation: I positively LOVE the QP's tone and response in the neck position -- I don't want to change a thing there. The Custom HB in the bridge spot is kinda shrill (I always find bridge pickups to be too trebly). For the bridge pickup, I'm looking for a good strong clean tone without excess highs. Are you saying that a 500k pot would make that pickup even more trebly? It was my understanding that single-coils do best with a 250k, and HBs with a 500k. Hence the mention of a concentric 250k/500k dual pot, to cater to each pickup in this installation. I dispensed with the guitar's tone pot years ago, since I almost always had it dialed out. I like the controls on a guitar to be at an absolute minimum, and as out-of-the-way as possible.
gregory
New member
Re: Humbucker or Trembucker in hardtail Strat bridge position?
Increasing the volume control to 500k will add treble.
Single coils are typically used with 250k instead of 500k because it mellows the highs. They can sound shrill with 500k.
Humbuckers don't produce as much highs so they are often run with 500k.
As an aside, a concentric pot won't allow you to switch from one pickup to the other unless you want to deal with the tone suck that accompanies reversing a volume control's input and output.
Your best options are a magnet swap, fixed tone control or both.
Increasing the volume control to 500k will add treble.
Single coils are typically used with 250k instead of 500k because it mellows the highs. They can sound shrill with 500k.
Humbuckers don't produce as much highs so they are often run with 500k.
As an aside, a concentric pot won't allow you to switch from one pickup to the other unless you want to deal with the tone suck that accompanies reversing a volume control's input and output.
Your best options are a magnet swap, fixed tone control or both.
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Lewguitar
New member
Re: Humbucker or Trembucker in hardtail Strat bridge position?
All bridge pickups are too bright for me with the tone control of my guitar turned full up. But that's what you get when you don't use your guitar's tone control.
For me, when I switch to the bridge pickup, dialing in that sweet spot with my guitar's tone control is an absolute must.
Most of my guitars have one volume and one tone control and I disconnect the tone from the neck pickup because I never need it for the neck pickup.
But I do need it for the bridge pickup and since it isn't connected to the neck pickup, I can find the setting I like and leave it there.
When I switch back to the neck pickup it sounds the way I want it to, and when I switch to the bridge pickup the tone control is already set to roll off the excess treble.
All bridge pickups are too bright for me with the tone control of my guitar turned full up. But that's what you get when you don't use your guitar's tone control.
For me, when I switch to the bridge pickup, dialing in that sweet spot with my guitar's tone control is an absolute must.
Most of my guitars have one volume and one tone control and I disconnect the tone from the neck pickup because I never need it for the neck pickup.
But I do need it for the bridge pickup and since it isn't connected to the neck pickup, I can find the setting I like and leave it there.
When I switch back to the neck pickup it sounds the way I want it to, and when I switch to the bridge pickup the tone control is already set to roll off the excess treble.
saladin
New member
Re: Humbucker or Trembucker in hardtail Strat bridge position?
Exactly! In my HSS Strat I use a '59B with a 500k tone pot and 2 SSL-5's in the middle and neck with no tone controls. Works perfect and they all balance very evenly.
Exactly! In my HSS Strat I use a '59B with a 500k tone pot and 2 SSL-5's in the middle and neck with no tone controls. Works perfect and they all balance very evenly.
Re: Humbucker or Trembucker in hardtail Strat bridge position?
Gregory, thanks for setting me straight on the 250k/500k issue. Lewguitar and Saladin, I like your idea of adding a tone pot for the bridge HB only. Should that pot (for the bridge humbucker only) be a 500k? I had hoped to keep my Strat stripped down to one pot only, but that was back in the day when it sported its original three single-coils. I have both 250k and 500k spares in the parts box . . . maybe I'll give up and add a tone pot for the HB.
Gregory, thanks for setting me straight on the 250k/500k issue. Lewguitar and Saladin, I like your idea of adding a tone pot for the bridge HB only. Should that pot (for the bridge humbucker only) be a 500k? I had hoped to keep my Strat stripped down to one pot only, but that was back in the day when it sported its original three single-coils. I have both 250k and 500k spares in the parts box . . . maybe I'll give up and add a tone pot for the HB.
