Need help choosing a middle single coil pickup

Mad-Max

Mad-Max

New member
Hey guys, been a while since I've been on here, but I figured this was probably the best place to ask this question.

Back in the summer I acquired an Ibanez S Prestige, and it's got an HSH configuration. I got the guitar and while I was overall very impressed with it, I found that the pickups were lacking. Ironically though, I've sort of grown accustomed to them but they still aren't exactly what I'm after. They're just a bit too weak sounding. By the way, if anyone's wondering, they're the DiMarzio/IBZ models, kind of like "DiMarzio Designed" relatively speaking. Like I said, they're not bad pickups, I'm just looking for something that has a little more meat in the sound.

For anyone who is bound to ask this question, here are the spec of the guitar.

Body: Mahogany w/ Poplar Burl top
Neck: 5 piece Maple with bubinga
Fretboard: Rosewood

And yes, it has a trem.

Anyway, I pretty much have already came up with a number of ideas for the humbuckers, but I'm really struggling to figure out what to put in the middle single coil position. The reality is, I really enjoy using position 2 and 4 on the 5 way, but I notice a tremendous drop in volume when I switch to those positions, and then I'll go back to the humbucking positions and all the volume comes back. I have to constantly adjust the master volume for it, which in the long run is going to be impractical.

I also like having the middle position lower than average (Which results in the drop in volume and lack of gain) because sometimes it gets in the way of my picking hand. So I'm thinking that I'm gonna need a single coil that is super high output to compensate for the low pickup height, but still also retain that single coil sound and give me the volume I need. Can anyone give me some suggestions?

Thank you.
 
Re: Need help choosing a middle single coil pickup

Quarter pound strat? The fattest, highest output true single coil. They sound good.
 
Re: Need help choosing a middle single coil pickup

Dimarzio IBZ are actually not like the Duncan Designed. Dimarzio IBZs are still made in the same Dimarzio factory that makes all of their other pickups.

In terms of build quality and everything they are the same as any other Dimarzio pickup. http://www.dimarzio.com/faq#55/60/7581
Plenty of people do not like how they are voiced compared to the regular models though.

The Quarter Pound is indeed very good and very high output! Depends on what kind of sound you're looking for in positions 2 and 4 though. If you're using high output humbuckers, it's almost inevitable to have a bit of output drop when switching to a single coil. High output single coils like the Quarter Pound also have a very very fat tone, which I personally enjoy very much, but some people would prefer the more traditional sparkling chimey tones out of their single coils. So if you're looking for positions 2 and 4 to do that kind of very clean tone, you sort of have to have the output be lower so it doesnt drive your amp too hard. If you want it to be used as just a differently voiced heavy distorted sound then yeah you want it to be as hot as possible. Also make sure you adjust the height, I know you're supposed to have it too high but just half a mm can make a big difference!
 
Re: Need help choosing a middle single coil pickup

STK-S6
I'm sure you will like it. It's also NOISELESS! :D
 
Re: Need help choosing a middle single coil pickup

The Chopper may work. I used one in the bridge of a Tele, pretty kicking pup. It may work well in the middle for your situation. It is a humbucker, single coil size, has some brightness and kick.
 
Re: Need help choosing a middle single coil pickup

daenius said:
Dimarzio IBZ are actually not like the Duncan Designed. Dimarzio IBZs are still made in the same Dimarzio factory that makes all of their other pickups.

In terms of build quality and everything they are the same as any other Dimarzio pickup. http://www.dimarzio.com/faq#55/60/7581
Plenty of people do not like how they are voiced compared to the regular models though.

The Quarter Pound is indeed very good and very high output! Depends on what kind of sound you're looking for in positions 2 and 4 though. If you're using high output humbuckers, it's almost inevitable to have a bit of output drop when switching to a single coil. High output single coils like the Quarter Pound also have a very very fat tone, which I personally enjoy very much, but some people would prefer the more traditional sparkling chimey tones out of their single coils. So if you're looking for positions 2 and 4 to do that kind of very clean tone, you sort of have to have the output be lower so it doesnt drive your amp too hard. If you want it to be used as just a differently voiced heavy distorted sound then yeah you want it to be as hot as possible. Also make sure you adjust the height, I know you're supposed to have it too high but just half a mm can make a big difference!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I had read online that they were basically designed by DiMarzio, but weren't really like "true" DiMarzio's, that's why I made the Duncan Designed comparison. I wasn't talking specifically about how and where they are made.

The point is, I'm just not a huge fan of their sound. They just sound weak to me, and they don't seem to have the articulation and string separation that I want when playing big chords. They're not bad pickups, just not for me. I could see them working for cleaner stuff and maybe for blues, but I need something with a little more output and articulation. Specifically in the bridge. The neck pickup is certainly useable though.

As far as the single coil is concerned, I don't mind it's tone, in fact, I think it's pretty good, compared to the humbuckers. My thing is, in order to get the output I want from it, I have to raise it really high and fairly close to the strings, but it gets in the way of my picking hand, and so I have to lower it to where it won't get in the way. Unfortunately, because of that I sacrifice the output and results in a drastic drop in volume. I know that switching to a single coil is going to drop some volume, but when it's drastic, that's when I know I need something a little hotter.

I've been taking a look at the quarter pounder, and I think it might be what I want, but I'm just a little concerned about it being too fat. I want something that has some more beef in the tone, but not too much and still retains that chimey single coil sound. It's mainly being used for cleans and bluesy rock stuff that requires a strat or tele kind of sound. I'm trying to make this guitar the most versatile guitar I have. So I can go from doing balls out rock and modern metal, to really clean stuff or bluesy stuff, all in one guitar. I know, call me crazy, but that's what I'm going for.

OsvyRock said:
STK-S6
I'm sure you will like it. It's also NOISELESS! :D
Click to expand...

I'll have to look into it. Thanks for the suggestion mate!

Laughing Kookaburra said:
The Chopper may work. I used one in the bridge of a Tele, pretty kicking pup. It may work well in the middle for your situation. It is a humbucker, single coil size, has some brightness and kick.
Click to expand...

I've looked into the chopper as well, but I really want something that is more along the lines of a single coil, and not necessarily a humbucker. I'm really wanting that spank you get from a single coil.
 
Re: Need help choosing a middle single coil pickup

OsvyRock said:
STK-S6
I'm sure you will like it. It's also NOISELESS! :D
Click to expand...

Mad-Max said:
Thanks for the info. I had read online that they were basically designed by DiMarzio, but weren't really like "true" DiMarzio's, that's why I made the Duncan Designed comparison. I wasn't talking specifically about how and where they are made.

The point is, I'm just not a huge fan of their sound. They just sound weak to me, and they don't seem to have the articulation and string separation that I want when playing big chords. They're not bad pickups, just not for me. I could see them working for cleaner stuff and maybe for blues, but I need something with a little more output and articulation. Specifically in the bridge. The neck pickup is certainly useable though.

As far as the single coil is concerned, I don't mind it's tone, in fact, I think it's pretty good, compared to the humbuckers. My thing is, in order to get the output I want from it, I have to raise it really high and fairly close to the strings, but it gets in the way of my picking hand, and so I have to lower it to where it won't get in the way. Unfortunately, because of that I sacrifice the output and results in a drastic drop in volume. I know that switching to a single coil is going to drop some volume, but when it's drastic, that's when I know I need something a little hotter.

I've been taking a look at the quarter pounder, and I think it might be what I want, but I'm just a little concerned about it being too fat. I want something that has some more beef in the tone, but not too much and still retains that chimey single coil sound. It's mainly being used for cleans and bluesy rock stuff that requires a strat or tele kind of sound. I'm trying to make this guitar the most versatile guitar I have. So I can go from doing balls out rock and modern metal, to really clean stuff or bluesy stuff, all in one guitar. I know, call me crazy, but that's what I'm going for.



I'll have to look into it. Thanks for the suggestion mate!



I've looked into the chopper as well, but I really want something that is more along the lines of a single coil, and not necessarily a humbucker. I'm really wanting that spank you get from a single coil.
Click to expand...


That's why I suggested the STK-S6. It still has the single coil sound, but with enough beef and output to play many genres. Like you, I like versatility in my setup. I have a completely modded Squier Affinity (now HSS) Stratocaster. My pickup configuration is the following: JB (TB-4), STK-S7 & STK-S6. They all are Alnico V pickups so they will work nicely in your mahogany guitars. The STK-S6 is the strongest of both single coil pickups there. I used it in the neck and I'm pretty sure it will make an amazing middle or bridge pickup. It has enough power to keep up with any high output pickup easily and your amp + pedals will definitely define the final result. The clean sound is powerful, big and defined, but still single coil sound. If you want a little more ''tamed'', go with the STK-S7. But reading your comments, my head is definitely saying STK-S6!
 
Re: Need help choosing a middle single coil pickup

For true single coil, go with the Quarter Pound. But I'd probably try something that is a stack, like a Hot Strat Stack, as you will have it lower than normal, and you want a good balance.
 
Re: Need help choosing a middle single coil pickup

If you want max chime out of your quarter pound or stax you can use a 1 meg volume pot with a 250k no load tone pot.
 
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