Need Help Selecting A Bridge Pickup...

[AstroCreep1303]

Hey guys, I just registered for the fourm and I have a question that you all might be able to help me with...

I'm going to put a humbucker in the bridge position of my Warmoth Strat. Its an alder body with a maple on maple neck. The guitar is H-S-S and the single coils are SSL-6 Custom Flat. I beleive that maple will give the guitar a bright sound, (or so I've read) and that alder is kinda middle of the road, leaning towards a warmer sound.

So what do you guys think I should go for? Should I get a pretty warm pickup to balance this out, or will a 250K pot do enought warming? I like the sound of the SSL-6's in the neck and middle, I just want something that is more rock sounding for the bridge. I was thinking about a JB but I heard those were really bright. I was also thinking about a Custom Custom with the Alinco II magnets for a warmer sound. Any and all suggestions are welcome.

 

[JWR]

Re: Need Help Selecting A Bridge Pickup...

I put it a Screamin' Demon and a 500 K pot into an Alder, Maple/Maple strat and it is a good match in my opinion. I think it works very well with the wood. I recently put a Demon in my mahogany Les Paul and I did not care for it. I have a Pearly Gates on order throught the 21 day trial policy for the LP.

 

[koolkat]

Re: Need Help Selecting A Bridge Pickup...

Welcome to the forum! What kind of amp do you play through? I would probably go for the Custom Custom. It can really thicken up the sound of a strat and it doesn't have the upper-midrange honk that the JB has, which can sound a tad harsh in a bright guitar. The 250K pots would help tame the highs of the JB, but I still think the Custom Custom would better compliment your guitar.

 

[AstroCreep1303]

Re: Need Help Selecting A Bridge Pickup...

Mesa 3x Recto, so i guess its a bit bassy...

 

[spratocaster]

Re: Need Help Selecting A Bridge Pickup...

I put it a Screamin' Demon and a 500 K pot into an Alder, Maple/Maple strat and it is a good match in my opinion. I think it works very well with the wood. I recently put a Demon in my mahogany Les Paul and I did not care for it. I have a Pearly Gates on order throught the 21 day trial policy for the LP.

I just put a Screamin' Demon in to the bridge of my mahoganny ESP viper (like an SG)and I think it sounds great, very thick without losing articulation. I would have thought it may be a tad bright in an alder/maple strat, but you learn something new everyday.

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Need Help Selecting A Bridge Pickup...

Hey man, WELCOME TO THE FORUM!!!

If you are using 250K pots you should look into the JB. First of all know I'm NOT a JB fan, but with a 250K pot they have a lot smoother rounder tone. The JB will cover a wide variety of music styles, but lots of high gain guys love it.

The CC will definitely sound warm, but maybe too much so because of the 250k pot. The low end on A2 mag pups can sound loose, so if you run your Recto on the tube setting you might have a sloppier low end than you like. It is possible that the maple will make up for it.

Here is a generic pup breakdown
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=32475&page=2&highlight=generic+breakdown

What are some of your fav. guitarists, and tones?

Luke

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: Need Help Selecting A Bridge Pickup...

Hey AstroCreep, welcome to the forum!

I don't think the JB will be too bright. My Jackson has a maple top and a floyd (both of which tend to add some brightness to a guitar) and it's not too bad. On certain amps it's a tad too bright, but it's nothing a small turn on the tone pot can't take care of. A lot of people think it's too bright, though, and you might be one of those. It's right there at the edge, so you'll have to trust your ears on that one.

The custom custom is also a great choice. It's not too far from the sound of the JB, but it doesn't have that same spike in the mids that the JB is (in)famous for. Here's a clip of the CC in action, though it's split and combined with a hot rails. I guess I'm going to have to get a clip of the CC in it's full glory soon. https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=38740

I like the clips of the Screamin Deamon. I'd be interested to hear it in an alder guitar. Sounds like a possibility.

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Need Help Selecting A Bridge Pickup...

It's not too far from the sound of the JB, but it doesn't have that same spike in the mids that the JB is (in)famous for.

Yeah the CC has a low mids spike

I like the clips of the Screamin Deamon. I'd be interested to hear it in an alder guitar. Sounds like a possibility.

It's the George Lynch combo. Ben has always said the Demon sounds bad in Pauls too.

 

[spratocaster]

Re: Need Help Selecting A Bridge Pickup...

Perhaps its the maple cap on the LP's that doesn't work with the demon. Because it sounds awesome in my Viper.