Middle pickup recommendation for HSH

[cemy]

Hi everyone,

I've recently acquired a JB trembucker and a Jazz humbucker for my HSH setup. Now I need to pick something for the middle pickup and I need help.

What I want is simple:
1) I'd like the middle pickup to be noiseless (stacked).
2) I'd also like it to be hum cancelling (using its top coil) when paired with the north coil of either humbucker (in coil split mode).

As you see, I'm more worried about hum then achieving a particular tone. Is there such a pickup?

Unfortunately, one other consideration is the shape/size of the pickup. 3.31'' long pickups barely don't fit the opening, but this one, for example, would fit perfectly, including the trapezoidal piece in front of it.

I'd really appreciate any suggestions you might have. Thanks!

 

[gregory]

Re: Middle pickup recommendation for HSH

STK-S4 NECK MODEL.

 

[cemy]

Re: Middle pickup recommendation for HSH

STK-S4 NECK MODEL.

Thanks! Are you recommending this one because it has low DCR (like the humbuckers I have) or is there another reason?

 

[gregory]

Re: Middle pickup recommendation for HSH

You're quite welcome!

Repeat after me: DCR is utterly useless in determining output level except under very specific circumstances! Noiseless singles (or even single coils vs humbuckers) are definitely NOT exceptions!

I chose the neck model based on its output and polarity.

 

[OsvyRock]

Re: Middle pickup recommendation for HSH

STK-S7. You'll thank me later!
I use a JB/STK-S7/STK-S6 combination and it's KILLER!

 

[gregory]

Re: Middle pickup recommendation for HSH

I wouldn't thank you after I found that my neck/middle quack went away. He wants to split a Jazz, not use a hot single coil.

I don't even like the idea of an S4B in this situation as the S4N already has plenty of output, even in hum-cancelling mode, let alone the louder, brighter split mode.

 

[cemy]

Re: Middle pickup recommendation for HSH

Thank you both for your suggestions. I'm afraid it's close to impossible for me to understand why you recommend one pickup over another from what little information available on the website. Should I try to match the output levels to achieve proper hum cancelling? If that is the case, I should compare the single-coil output levels for the humbuckers and the single-coil output level of the stacked pickup. As far as I can tell, no such information exits on the website. The magnets are not important, because they don't play a role in hum cancelling, but I'd assumed that DCR would impact the hum level.

In theory, I should try to match the output levels of the coils, considering the pickups purely as AM antennas (ignoring the magnets). I would assume that there are a number of variables that would impact the result, such as the the number of turns, the thickness of the copper wires, and their resistance. Obviously, I have no access to such information. Perhaps, assuming that the wire material/thickness and the coil size are identical, I can calculate the relative difference in the number of turns using the difference in total resistance. Even so, I have no idea if any of these would provide any practical information about how different pickups would pair in terms of hum cancelling.

Relying on practical experience seems like a better idea. I don't think what I'm trying to achieve is too crazy for an HSH setup. I figured someone must have tried something like this.

Am I making any sense?

 

[gregory]

Re: Middle pickup recommendation for HSH

Something else worth considering: the lower the inductance of the coils the more attenuation of the residual hum that is left due to imperfect cancellation. Besides that, mismatched coils can still reduce hum quite appreciably.

I understand your stated primary desire is to obliterate hum, you must have some concern about whether the result sounds good. This isn't to say I think one middle pickup will sound better than some other, to you; I'm incapable of doing that, especially when there are people who like a middle that can better keep up with the bridge by itself. Just in this case you're clearly working the traditional vintage route in the neck and I feel this should extend to he middle, where equal to the neck is the more traditional role. Even OsvyRock has taken a traditional approach by choosing a weaker middle when running a fairly hot neck.

FWIW, I'm a guy who likes a hotter than vintage pickup in the neck position when I can get away with it. The JB/S7/S6 is actually right up my alley!

 

[gregory]

Re: Middle pickup recommendation for HSH

Since I opened my big mouth about a result that sounds good:
If it were my guitar I'd probably prefer splitting the neck to the outer screw coil. However, this would likely entail additional work to make it hum-cancelling since I generally also prefer splitting to the inner coil of the bridge pickup.

Now if you decided to split both humbuckers to the screw coils, choose the STK-S4 MIDDLE because it's RW/RP. This way you won't have to do anything special besides connecting the red/white pairs to their respective black wires instead of to green/ground like you would when splitting to the slug coils.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Middle pickup recommendation for HSH

The STK-S4 is a wonderful middle pickup, btw. Dead silent, and perfect for positions 3 & 4. I've used it split with other singles to get hum cancelling, but it has been awhile since I've don't that with a split humbucker. Depending on the phase of the humbucker and which coil you want, I remember it being a good, quacky sound.