Little '59 or JB Jr. in the middle?

[dcasey]

I have an early 90’s Peavey Axcelerator that I use to work on my soldering skills. Currently the guitar has Little '59's in the neck and middle, and a JB Jr. in the bridge. I don't have a tone control, because I gave up the pick guard real estate to a L.R. Baggs Ctrl-X volume pot and push button (stereo/mono switch) that goes with my Fishman Powerbridge VS100P. It also has a Roland GK-2a midi pickup permanently mounted.

I wanted something with more guts in the bridge, so I picked up a SHR-1 Hot Rails, as well as a (dare I say) EMG-SPC (Strat presence control) and AB (up to 20db of gain). I miss not having any type of tone adjustment, so I picked up the SPC (need more fat) – I have no excuse for the AB ;-)

I have some wiring challenges ahead of me; to find a place for the 2 new controls and then I think I’m going to go with the “3 'Lil Humbuckers” configuration:

http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=3lh_1v_5w

I don’t have the nerve to further complicate the setup with a megaswitch – at least not right now. Along with 4 wiring diagrams in hand (L.R. Baggs, SD, 2 - EMG), I have a couple questions. With the SHR-1 in the bridge, what pickup would you recommend in the middle position? Stick with the Little ’59 (current) or go with the JB Jr.?

 

[jeremy]

Re: Little '59 or JB Jr. in the middle?

a lil 59 bridge model sounds awesome in the middle position

 

[dcasey]

Re: Little '59 or JB Jr. in the middle?

Keeping the Little '59 in the middle does save some work, and frankly I don't have any complaints. I just wanted to get some feedback concerning the balance between the SHR-1 and the middle pickup; be it the current Little ’59 or possibly switching to the JB Jr.

I had originally planned for the following 5-way switch options:

1) SHR-1 (Bridge)
2) ½ SHR-1 + ½ Little ’59 (Middle)
3) Little ‘59
4) ½ Little ’59 (Middle) + ½ Little ’59 (Neck)
5) Little ’59 (Neck)

All positions hum canceling. I decided to go with the “3 'Lil Humbuckers” configuration above; because I was told you can’t do what I had originally planned with my current switch. It’s a good switch (not the original) but it’s a standard 5-way. Is this true? I don’t want to add another switch or a push/pull knob, so unless someone can show me how to wire the above via my current 5-way – I’ll stick with the diagram.

 

[ganzosrevenge]

Re: Little '59 or JB Jr. in the middle?

why not just get the everything axe set? lil 59 / duckbucker / jb jr. IIRC the duckbucker can now be wired in series for all 5 positions to be hum-cancelling, and i think they're calibrated to work great together (nice fat sound too!)

 

[dcasey]

Re: Little '59 or JB Jr. in the middle?

I really want to try the SHR-1 in the bridge. I'm sure the duckbucker is a fine pickup. I may have to 86 the EMG stuff as it stands, so the SHR-1 is a must to give me the output I'm looking for. Not that anyone here cares, but the latest EMG-SPC has a new design; a horizontal circuit board and a big fat pot - it's not going to fit in my guitar. That leaves the "After Burner," which I have my doubts about anyway. I have enough noisy guitars - I don't want another one. I just figured that if the SHR-1 wasn't "hot enough" I could add more sauce with the AB and leave the pickguard on for a while...

 

[ganzosrevenge]

Re: Little '59 or JB Jr. in the middle?

hmm.... the HR is appearance wise almost like a Single-sized Dimebucker... it screams almost in the same way as an invader meets dimebucker... after it pretty much you're left with livewire metals in a strat sized, and those are extremely high-powered. The JB Jr. in the bridge is a very strong pickup... 16k output or so IIRC, and yet it has a more pure sound than the SHR-1. Also, with the JB Jr. i think the little pole screws may be adjustable and thus you can more easily fine-tune your sound. Almost the same output, with more adjustability = easier to finetune pickup to what you want.

I'd try the everything axe for that reason alone judging by what you want.

 

[dcasey]

Re: Little '59 or JB Jr. in the middle?

The JB Jr. just isn't hot enough for me. If the SHR-1 doesn't do it for me, then I'll wait a bit and go for the single coil size blackouts and take the guitar in a different direction. I have other electrics; PRS CE 22, Parker Fly Deluxe, Brian Moore i8.13, and an AM Deluxe Fat Strat, so it's not like I don't have other tonal options. I just want this one to scream - you know what I mean? My understanding is that the SHR-1 has higher output and will sustain longer than the JB Jr. That's what I'm looking for.

I understand that the SHR-1 won't clean up like the JB Jr., but that doesn't bother me. I'll switch to the middle or neck if I'm writing a ballad ;-)

In my original post I referenced the wiring diagram from the "Everything Axe," when it should have been the "3 'Lil Humbuckers, 1 volume, 5 Way Switch." I corrected that. I plan to use the SHR-1, Little '59, Little '59 - bridge to neck (per the correct diagram). I apologize for my twitchy right hand - too many arpeggio's today ;-)

 

[ganzosrevenge]

Re: Little '59 or JB Jr. in the middle?

fair enough dcasey I was just suggesting it. I have an american deluxe HSS (special mahogany) myself that i'm debating whether to put in 2 surf antiquities / brobucker in a 5way... or a brobucker / hot brobucker in a 5-way that will let me get virtual humbuckers.

The blackouts are active, so you need an internal preamp (just a warning in case you don't have one set up as is)

Jason

 

[dcasey]

Re: Little '59 or JB Jr. in the middle?

I appreciate your input. I really messed up the thread by referring to the "Everything Axe," diagram. I corrected that. It looked like I was talking about 2 different configurations at the same time.

I already have a battery compartment in the guitar and the L.R. Baggs Ctrl-X preamp (for the piezo equiped trem), but the blackouts are going to be a different story. I may still attempt to wire up the EMG "Afterburner," but I certainly don't want to damage the Ctrl-X in the process. I'm just proficient enough with a soldering iron to be dangerous ;-)

Your strat sounds like a really cool/unique project. I’ve never played or heard a mahogany – I bet it’s pretty nice as is. My HSSLT is probably my next project; I’m not exactly enamored with the stock humbucker.

My Brian Moore comes next – it’s the noisiest guitar I’ve ever heard. I think it’s the push/pull switches/coil taps that are the culprit. I was thinking matched P-Rails, 86 the push/pull and go with a 3 way switch in order to get humbucker, P-90, and single-coil rail. Seymour Duncan has got it going on as far as I’m concerned.

 

[ganzosrevenge]

Re: Little '59 or JB Jr. in the middle?

dude, I WANT a LT on my strat!

as for mahogany: fender made a special run for guitar center where the body was mahogany, it had a black pg, 5-way with S-1 switching, and a black headstock. It looks like a cross of a strat and an SG and sounds like an american series HSS with a bit more low-end. They happen to make GREAT hard rock / early metal guitars because the mahogany body gives it a bit more low-end. Unfortunately, typical of Fender, there's a coating as thick as an abrams tank's metal plating. The DH-1 is a Fender take of a pearly gates like pup... it didn't turn out too well. What I'd do for the HSSLT is to de S-1 it if you have an S-1 switch and put in a nice basic strat config for HSS, 5-way, 1 vol, 2 tone that puts an auto coil-split for position 2 (the position right before full bridge). The S-1 switch makes working on the strat a nightmare and IMHO goes against what fender has stood for with its strats and tele lines: simplicity and modularity.

As for the active guitar, is it 9volts or 18volts? the strat livewire metal pickups are EXTREMELY high output and with them in there, the likelihood of needing a boost is very low. I played an MIM strat with livewire metals through an 18 volt preamp and even on a fender 57 reissue (which is a ridiculously clean amp) I was more than able to get very sabbath-like tones out of it. If you use the dirty channel, I'd be scared that i was going to kill tubes like nobody's business. The best, most reliable and versatile configurations are usually the ones that are complex enough to get the tones you need, but simple enough that you don't need to get a degree in engineering and diagrams in order to complete their building.

In any event, good luck on it, and welcome to the SDUGF and please stay, teach, and learn!

Jason

 

[dcasey]

Re: Little '59 or JB Jr. in the middle?

The guitar is 9 volts; a single battery compartment on the back. I was so glad when they came out with those compartments. I had a 1980 AM Strat that I bought 2nd hand; it had EMG actives, locking tuners, an aftermarket trem (not a Floyd Rose), electric blue paint, and a mirrored pickguard (at least it looked good under the lights.) The problem was that it had the battery mounted in the cavity, making battery changes a pain.

I like my Strat; alder of course, and I think the LSR roller nut should be standard equipment on all Fender’s in my book. I know you can get them on Warmoth necks. When used in conjunction with locking tuners, you can get away with fairly moderate trem use without major.

By the way, I installed the Hot Rails in the bridge, with Little ‘59’s in the neck and middle of the Peavey – it sounds great! It was just what I was looking for! I didn’t install the EMG stuff, and I’m glad I didn’t. Thanks again for your input.

 

[ganzosrevenge]

Re: Little '59 or JB Jr. in the middle?

the LSR / Locking Tuners combo alone lets me get at least an octave divebombing and a 4th to 5th pullup without going out of tune. I'm thinking though to put 5 springs in the trem and .011 - .049s on mine. Enjoy your SD configuration. It will prove to be PERFECT for your needs.