MetalMan13
New member
I have an MIA strat with a modern trem, and am looking at buying a JB...should I get the trembucker spaced version (TB-4) or the humbucker spaced (SH-4)? Will one or the other make a big difference?
Humbucker vs Trembucker question
- Thread starter MetalMan13
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Nostalgic Distortion
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Re: Humbucker vs Trembucker question
View attachment 68975
I like Trembuckers in my Fenders but as you can see my O.C.D. levels are turned all the way up!!!
LOL, If you go with a Trembucker there's a better than good chance that you'll have to do a little sanding to the guard in order to get it to fit as they are a tiny bit larger than fender humbuckers & most guards are cut for standard spaced pickups. Covered Trembuckers will require even more removal of pickguard material so a nice quarter round file will become your best friend!
If you go with a standard spaced humbucker it will slide right in but the strings won't line up over the poles. As far as whether there's any difference in the sound of the pickup, it's subject to a lot of debate & differs depending on who you talk to. Some people, say they can hear a little volume loss on the E strings but passive humbuckers have a huge magnetic field, especially Duncan humbuckers so I'm not sure how much truth there is to that?
So you just have to weigh your options, personally I like to have my strings laying right across the strings mostly for aesthetic reasons & if there actually is any adverse effects on the E strings or the way it preforms I don't have to worry about it....
View attachment 68975
I like Trembuckers in my Fenders but as you can see my O.C.D. levels are turned all the way up!!!
LOL, If you go with a Trembucker there's a better than good chance that you'll have to do a little sanding to the guard in order to get it to fit as they are a tiny bit larger than fender humbuckers & most guards are cut for standard spaced pickups. Covered Trembuckers will require even more removal of pickguard material so a nice quarter round file will become your best friend!
If you go with a standard spaced humbucker it will slide right in but the strings won't line up over the poles. As far as whether there's any difference in the sound of the pickup, it's subject to a lot of debate & differs depending on who you talk to. Some people, say they can hear a little volume loss on the E strings but passive humbuckers have a huge magnetic field, especially Duncan humbuckers so I'm not sure how much truth there is to that?
So you just have to weigh your options, personally I like to have my strings laying right across the strings mostly for aesthetic reasons & if there actually is any adverse effects on the E strings or the way it preforms I don't have to worry about it....
Re: Humbucker vs Trembucker question
In any Strat with a trem (vintage/modern/floyd), I go with Trembuckers. I am not certain there is an audible difference- but my thing for symmetry needs those poles under the strings. BTW, I never had to sand any pickguards for Trembuckers...they fit right in on every guitar I have tried.
In any Strat with a trem (vintage/modern/floyd), I go with Trembuckers. I am not certain there is an audible difference- but my thing for symmetry needs those poles under the strings. BTW, I never had to sand any pickguards for Trembuckers...they fit right in on every guitar I have tried.
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: Humbucker vs Trembucker question
I've had trouble getting Trem Spaced Screamin Demons and JBs into Strat guards...but of the many names I've been called in this life, lucky was not one of them! :smash:
I've had trouble getting Trem Spaced Screamin Demons and JBs into Strat guards...but of the many names I've been called in this life, lucky was not one of them! :smash:
Nostalgic Distortion
New member
Re: Humbucker vs Trembucker question
The problem occurs mostly with the rounded humbucker routes, the ones cut for Atomic Humbuckers & such? They'll fit most square cut guards without too much fuss unless they are covered Trembuckers, then you are probably sanding & filing no matter what! You can get guards that are specially cut for Trembuckers too, I have one from Warmoth cut to fit a nickel covered TB-PG but it was stupid expensive! Non-Fender guards seem to work best for Strat's and Trembuckers, not only are they usually much cheaper & just as good but a lot of the real Fender guards have the rounded routes and 3 hole mounting....
The problem occurs mostly with the rounded humbucker routes, the ones cut for Atomic Humbuckers & such? They'll fit most square cut guards without too much fuss unless they are covered Trembuckers, then you are probably sanding & filing no matter what! You can get guards that are specially cut for Trembuckers too, I have one from Warmoth cut to fit a nickel covered TB-PG but it was stupid expensive! Non-Fender guards seem to work best for Strat's and Trembuckers, not only are they usually much cheaper & just as good but a lot of the real Fender guards have the rounded routes and 3 hole mounting....
omg81
New member
Re: Humbucker vs Trembucker question
It may be best to measure the string spacing as best you can above the bridge pickup.
https://www.seymourduncan.com/faqs/what-does-trembucker-mean-and-how-is-it-different-from-humbucker
http://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/the-tone-garage/string-spacing-explained-humbuckers-vs-trembuckers
It says that a humbucker is 49mm/1.93" and a trembucker is 52.6mm/2.07". All my guitars are about in the middle of that in the 50-51mm area, the widest an original FR one which should theoretically match the TB but is only 51.5mm, the narrowest is a Gibson SG in the 49.5-50.0 range even though it's stated that the HB's match Gibson's 49mm. Still, that's the one which is closest to matching the pole pieces, and of course at those values no strings are really besides the pole pieces.
I'm not sure if a TB or HB is better if your strings are in the middle between them, by instinct I'd say TB because too wide seems safer than too narrow. Then again, I don't have any sound issues with either too wide or too narrow pole pieces, so probably it's a non-issue.
I also don't know if there's a difference in tone between TB and HB, a TB has different specs because longer wires result in higher resistance. I also don't know if the magnet is the same size. Probably there is no audible difference, but I do wonder, just out of curiosity.
It may be best to measure the string spacing as best you can above the bridge pickup.
https://www.seymourduncan.com/faqs/what-does-trembucker-mean-and-how-is-it-different-from-humbucker
http://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/the-tone-garage/string-spacing-explained-humbuckers-vs-trembuckers
It says that a humbucker is 49mm/1.93" and a trembucker is 52.6mm/2.07". All my guitars are about in the middle of that in the 50-51mm area, the widest an original FR one which should theoretically match the TB but is only 51.5mm, the narrowest is a Gibson SG in the 49.5-50.0 range even though it's stated that the HB's match Gibson's 49mm. Still, that's the one which is closest to matching the pole pieces, and of course at those values no strings are really besides the pole pieces.
I'm not sure if a TB or HB is better if your strings are in the middle between them, by instinct I'd say TB because too wide seems safer than too narrow. Then again, I don't have any sound issues with either too wide or too narrow pole pieces, so probably it's a non-issue.
I also don't know if there's a difference in tone between TB and HB, a TB has different specs because longer wires result in higher resistance. I also don't know if the magnet is the same size. Probably there is no audible difference, but I do wonder, just out of curiosity.
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LtKojak
New member
dominus
King Midas to Cheap Guitars
Re: Humbucker vs Trembucker question
I had a volume drop with an Invader, pretty sure that has the one of the largest magnetic fields out of all the Duncans.
I had a volume drop with an Invader, pretty sure that has the one of the largest magnetic fields out of all the Duncans.
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