Humbucker that sounds most like a Strat?

[9unslin9er]

Re: Humbucker that sounds most like a Strat?

This might be the correct way to go.....A Jaguar has a 24.75 scale length right?

Actually, a Jaguar is even shorter scale than a Les Paul.

It's in the same student model family as the Mustang at 24"

You have to up your string gauge to get the same "strat spank" response, but as long as you EQ correctly, you'll still get that single coil glassy tone.

 

[Agramal]

Re: Humbucker that sounds most like a Strat?

Why not try something like Harmonic Design Z-90s?

 

[AlexR]

Re: Humbucker that sounds most like a Strat?

Or a humbucker sized p90. If you can find one with rod magnets then you get a 'slightly overwound' strat tone out of it.

 

[9unslin9er]

Re: Humbucker that sounds most like a Strat?

Or a humbucker sized p90. If you can find one with rod magnets then you get a 'slightly overwound' strat tone out of it.

The GFS Mean 90 is arguably the closest to a P90 in a humbucker housing you can get. And it's a great P90.

But a P90 ain't no strat single coil.

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Humbucker that sounds most like a Strat?

I have a set of GFS Bigmouths in a Fernandes Decade which is a Jaguar shaped guitar with two humbuckers and a tele bridge. The Bigmouths sound nearly identical to the Quarter Pounders.

 

[HTT]

Re: Humbucker that sounds most like a Strat?

I have Jaguar with Curtis Novak vintage-wind singles. Due to a number of different differences, you can only kinda get a Strat sound with the Jag. Obviously, scale length is a big contributor. A 25.5 inch scale is snappy. A 24 inch scale is "bouncy". The placement of the neck pickup is an overlooked issue with the Jag in getting a Strat tone. The Strat has the neck pickup under the node where the 24th fret would be. The Jag's neck pickup is located closer to the bridge than where the 24th fret node is. Due to this, you cannot get that "woman" tone with the Jag neck pickup in its normal position. It groans more than moans. All-in-all, I would suggest you keep your Jag stock. Save up some $s and get a MIM Strat. That way you will have wider range of sonic possibilities.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Humbucker that sounds most like a Strat?

The GFS Mean 90 is arguably the closest to a P90 in a humbucker housing you can get. And it's a great P90.

But a P90 ain't no strat single coil.

There are plenty of pickups that will kill a GFS, our own Zhangbucker does amazing things with hum sized p90's. And once you get rod magnets into a p90 the tone changes. I have a p90 staple pickup and the effect is the same - a move toward the stinging tone of a strat single.

Its fair to say that this will be the closest, and nobody has been saying that anything will be identical to a strat pickup.

 

[9unslin9er]

Re: Humbucker that sounds most like a Strat?

Lol. Sounds like a shameless plug to me ;-)

I kid. I kid. Hey don't knock the only pickup GFS does well reliably.

There's really no getting around actually installing a strat single coil neck if you want that tone. All I'm saying is...bypass the trial and error. Do it right from the get go.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Humbucker that sounds most like a Strat?

For the bridge, it's near impossible because Strat bridges are slanted and humbuckers (99% of the time) aren't.

 

[9unslin9er]

Re: Humbucker that sounds most like a Strat?

For the bridge, it's near impossible because Strat bridges are slanted and humbuckers (99% of the time) aren't.

Difficult but not impossible. Actually, it's quite an easy mod.
Many people have experimented with pickups that have 2 rows of adjustable screws.
Examples being Gibson Dirty Fingers, Dean Flatheads, DiMarzio Super Distortion, or even the Duncan Invader.

if you remove 6 of the 12 screws, you essentially make your humbucker into a single coil that has the added effect of hum cancellation.

For a slant setup, you simply remove the E,A, and D poles closest to the bridge.
You remove the G,B, and e poles closest to the neck.

And if the output is too high, simply tap the pickup accordingly with 2 grounds.

 

[Dr.J4ckal]

Re: Humbucker that sounds most like a Strat?

I have a dimarzio humbucker from hell in the neck position of my musicman john petrucci. It really don't sound like a single coil at all, more like a low output, bright, scooped mid humbucker. It sounds amazing for high gain leads though , ultra clear and glassy.

 

[david kornblatt]

Re: Humbucker that sounds most like a Strat?

We'll the custom shop makes a STRAT pickup in a humbucker housing that's the way to go; but I think it's going to land you in Tele land with all the shielding etc... I know get a bone stock strat and carry it to gigs where you need it. :smack:

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Humbucker that sounds most like a Strat?

The problem is they are screws, not Alnico rods. Still won't sound like a Strat. And with your set-up, only the E-string poles will fit the Strat slant template; the A/D/G/B will all be out of position.

Difficult but not impossible. Actually, it's quite an easy mod.
Many people have experimented with pickups that have 2 rows of adjustable screws.
Examples being Gibson Dirty Fingers, Dean Flatheads, DiMarzio Super Distortion, or even the Duncan Invader.

if you remove 6 of the 12 screws, you essentially make your humbucker into a single coil that has the added effect of hum cancellation.

For a slant setup, you simply remove the E,A, and D poles closest to the bridge.
You remove the G,B, and e poles closest to the neck.

And if the output is too high, simply tap the pickup accordingly with 2 grounds.

 

[DreX]

Re: Humbucker that sounds most like a Strat?

if you remove 6 of the 12 screws, you essentially make your humbucker into a single coil that has the added effect of hum cancellation.

The national treasure that is Scott Grove demo'd this operation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6g8qF9vC11s

 

[9unslin9er]

Re: Humbucker that sounds most like a Strat?

^^^

Yes. The man is a little "touched." But he does good demos, if you have the patience.

I think we're ALL a little jealous of his collection and wealth.

 

[DreX]

Re: Humbucker that sounds most like a Strat?

The problem is they are screws, not Alnico rods. Still won't sound like a Strat. And with your set-up, only the E-string poles will fit the Strat slant template; the A/D/G/B will all be out of position.

IMO, the biggest reason a split humbucker doesn't sound like a single coils is because the two halves are weaker coils than a single Strat coil, which is why hotter humbuckers tend to sound better when split then low to moderate output humbuckers. Of course, there are other major differences, but I think low output coils are the primary cause of disappointing results.

I got some DiMarzio Billy Corgan rail pickups, very loud and dark in series, but amazingly full when split compared to the Little '59 split, which is much lower output, but has similar magnetic geometry otherwise.The roll a split mod remedies this issue rather well by not completely disabling the other coil. I just used a fixed resistance push/pull to avoid having to look for the sweet spot with a knob.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Humbucker that sounds most like a Strat?

The biggest change I have found is the rod magnets. P90's with rod mags are like overwound strat pickups with a little more girth due to the amount of string they see.

 

[Securb]

Re: Humbucker that sounds most like a Strat?

The P-Rails sounds great in all three positions, hum, p-90 and single coil. That would be the best option IMO.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Humbucker that sounds most like a Strat?

IMO, the biggest reason a split humbucker doesn't sound like a single coils is because the two halves are weaker coils than a single Strat coil, which is why hotter humbuckers tend to sound better when split then low to moderate output humbuckers. Of course, there are other major differences, but I think low output coils are the primary cause of disappointing results.

That's a big part of it, but even if you have a humbucker with each coil wound to 6k with 42 AWG (awfully hard to fit that much on a bucker bobbin), the lack of slant and steel pole/bar mag design instead of Alnico rods would still prevent it from sounding like a Strat on the split.

 

[wolf]

Re: Humbucker that sounds most like a Strat?

If you are seeking a humbucker that sounds like a Strat when splitting a coil, I'd say try one with a relatively high output - Seymour Duncan "Distortion", DiMarzio "Distortion". (You don't have to go "full tilt" with an "Invader" or an "X2N"). I don't know what you are using presently, but if they have relatively low output that could be your problem. Then again as others have said - you want a Strat sound? Get a Strat.