Looking for a suggestion for a new humbucker

[Corbic]

Hiya!

I have a Squier Bullet Special with one humbucker pickup. It sounds okay clean and pretty good with distortion however, if I try to do a full chord in distortion it sounds incredible muddy. Then on top of that, it doesn't sound very good when used clean for jazz music at my schools jazz band - much too bassy and adjusting the amp doesn't help.

So, I'm searching for a new humbucker that can provide classic rock, punk, and jazz tones, and sounds good clean and with distortion, and allows a full chord to be played with distortion.

A few I have in mind are the '59 model, the Phat Cat(always wanted to hear the difference between a P-90 and a humbucker), and maybe the Alnico Pro II. Does anyone have any other suggestions or reccomendations for a pickup that can do all above? I would really appreciate it!

 

[Rev Donzo]

Re: Looking for a suggestion for a new humbucker

Hello Corbic,

Pearly Gates Plus =AlNiCo-5

Seth Lover

59

I would stay with the Alnico 5 versions of a basic PAF style wind. and be sure to use wax potting.

cheers
RD

 

[Corbic]

Re: Looking for a suggestion for a new humbucker

I'll look into those you mentioned, thanks for the suggestions.

Another question, would a JB humbucker work well? I heard it has a lot more treble then the '59, and its supposed to be really powerful for the classic rock/punk tones. Would it work well for full chords and jazz tones as well? Thanks!

 

[bungalowbill]

Re: Looking for a suggestion for a new humbucker

I'll 2nd the '59. Best all around humbucker IMHO.

 

[John Wymore]

Re: Looking for a suggestion for a new humbucker

Yep, the "59" is the most versatile pickup IMHO and while it will be tough to get all you want out of a single pickup the "59" will do the best job.

Also check what value your tone and volume pots are. If they are not 500K then you should upgrade at least the volume to that value to help the mud problem.

 

[greendy123]

Re: Looking for a suggestion for a new humbucker

So, I'm searching for a new humbucker that can provide classic rock, punk, and jazz tones, and sounds good clean and with distortion, and allows a full chord to be played with distortion.

A few I have in mind are the '59 model, the Phat Cat(always wanted to hear the difference between a P-90 and a humbucker), and maybe the Alnico Pro II. Does anyone have any other suggestions or reccomendations for a pickup that can do all above? I would really appreciate it!

Yeah +1 on the 59, it does punk for me perfectly, when combined with distortion it has a nice open, clean, tight sound from. It's works good with gain while still retaining high clarity.

 

[Corbic]

Re: Looking for a suggestion for a new humbucker

Thanks for the answers! Just a note, I would be using the bridge model '59 if I get this, should I use the neck model for the bridge instead? And is there any way to check the value of the volume pot without opening up the guitar? Thanks!

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Looking for a suggestion for a new humbucker

I'd go with a Custom 5. Also, change both pots to CTS 500k units. You can have one pot be a push/pull so that you can split the pickup and get some more tones that way.

 

[rudypagliuca]

Re: Looking for a suggestion for a new humbucker

The 59's are ok but totally diferent from the jb. I would go for the screaming demon which is very similar to the 59 but brighter. I have one, actually a lil screaming demon, and everything about it sounds just right. Check the sound bytes. Thay may help you.

 

[Corbic]

Re: Looking for a suggestion for a new humbucker

Thanks for all the replies! My choices now are basicly down to these...

- '59
- Screamin' Demon
- Custom 5

And I'll try and add the push/pull pot for coil splitting as someone suggested. If anyone happens to know, which of the above pickups when the coils are split sounds like a real single coil with that classic Fender tone? Thanks.

 

[walt]

Re: Looking for a suggestion for a new humbucker

Go with the 59. When you are playing chords with distortion, try rolling your volume knob back to around 7-8, then roll it to 10 up for solos, that should take care of the "mud" that you hear. Funny sometimes we forget about what a volume knob can help achieve in search for the perfect tone.