Neck and maybe middle single coils needed..

[BloodRose]

Hi!! I am rediscovering a love.. I have a Washburn Steve Salas model. (couple of em actually) The pickups Single/single/hum. Anyhow, my main player I changed the stock JB to a Custom 8 awhile back. I want to change the single coils which stock are Duncan cool rails to regular single coils. At least the neck one anyhow.. Ive tried alot of Duncan Buckers and so Im familiar with alot of them, but dont know the single coil line that well. So, I need some help.

First, some details.. The guitar is superstrat style, but is mahog body, mahog set neck. Schaller Floyd and 24.75 scale. As I said, has Cool Rails neck and middle now with a C8 bridge.. The C8 in the bridge absolutely SLAYS... So it Stays!! haha The CR rips in the neck, but is alittle much for any versatility.
Looking for good all arounder as I dont have a set style I play, tho I do lean to blues, rock and metal.. I love Warren Dimartini's playing and know he uses a Quarter pounder in the neck. How is that one?

Would appreciate neck pup recommendations and also middle pup. Gonna change neck one first and if it plays nicely with the CR in the middle, I may stop there, if not, Ill change the middle too.. Thanks!!

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Neck and maybe middle single coils needed..

I haven't tried the Quarter Pounders but I think those are a very solid replacement here.

 

[zenmindbeginner]

Re: Neck and maybe middle single coils needed..

The quarter pounders are thick and bold... much larger sounding than a normal single coil. They can be tapped for extra versatility though.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Neck and maybe middle single coils needed..

Thick and bold wouldnt be bad.. it isnt more powerful than the cool rails is it??

 

[jeremy]

Re: Neck and maybe middle single coils needed..

they are on par with a cool rails for sure, id think the cool rails are at least if not more versatile. id say ssl6 for the neck, hotter fatter strat tone that still covers lots of ground

 

[zenmindbeginner]

Re: Neck and maybe middle single coils needed..

Thick and bold wouldnt be bad.. it isnt more powerful than the cool rails is it??

It's a different sort of power... I don't consider the Cool Rails to have the qualities of a single coil but consider it as a single coil sized humbucker with a scooped midrange and percussive attack. Gives someone a humbucker-like feel and output without needing the routing for a humbucker. Even though the Quarter Pounder is a powerful single coil... it doesn't double as a humbucker IMHO... it has the oval flatwork and can go in funky Jackson-style single coil routes. You traditionally tap the quarter pounder so you can get a lower powered single coil (with more scooped mids, less sustain and low end punch) as an additional sonic alternative with a push pull pot of mini switch. I personally think that they are brilliant and paired with a RWRP middle, you get noiseless operation. The tapped thing works best with tube amps that like to take varying front end levels... solid state stuff sees to work best within a more narrow range. I hate tapdancing so being able to get different sounds out of switching switch positions/miniswitches or push pull pots is a better alternative for me but YMMV.

I think the QP is a good match for single coil alternatives to match with the Custom 8 IMHO. The Cool Rails would be great as a single coil sized humbucker alternative paired with the regular Custom or even the Custom 5.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Neck and maybe middle single coils needed..

Am I catching you correctly that the QP is splitable?? I cant say I dislike the CR,but they are just a bit much.. Ill probably leave them in the neck and mid positions of my other MG. I just want to make this axe a scout knife per se.. Cover lots of ground.. With the CR its mostly just a rock machine..

 

[jeremy]

Re: Neck and maybe middle single coils needed..

you can buy a qp with a tap halfway through the coil called the ssl4t rather than the normal ssl4, so 14k full output and 7k tapped output or around that anyway. it doesnt sound like a vintage strat pup or anything but its brighter and thinner with less output.

have you tried putting the cool rails in parallel or splitting them?

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Neck and maybe middle single coils needed..

you can buy a qp with a tap halfway through the coil called the ssl4t rather than the normal ssl4, so 14k full output and 7k tapped output or around that anyway. it doesnt sound like a vintage strat pup or anything but its brighter and thinner with less output.

have you tried putting the cool rails in parallel or splitting them?

Ya'know, no, I havent.. hmmmmmmm Have to try and figure out how to wire that up. Im guessing maybe push pull pots..? Guitar has Vol/tone and a 5 way blade.. Dont really want to add anything too drastic. Maybe a mini toggle.

This is the weapon in question:


and her sister for good measure:

 

[jeremy]

Re: Neck and maybe middle single coils needed..

yep, push pull pots are your friend!

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Neck and maybe middle single coils needed..

Question......... Is it possible to split 2 pickups with one push/pull pot? Im guessing so, but have never tried. Thinking I could make my tone a push/pull and use it to split both the neck and middle pups.. Thanks!

Also, are Dimarzio pots good? I usually buy CTS branded pots.

 

[Davii]

Re: Neck and maybe middle single coils needed..

Agree with QPs being thick n' bold, I found them particularly good for powerchords. Wish I'd got the tapped version (anyone know if you can run both outputs in parallel with that option?) but hadn't realised that was an option at the time.