Older Squire update

[Outa_Tune]

Hi, first post!

I'm updating one of my E series squire strat's, its a red body/white pick guard with a rose neck. Currently has a Area 58 neck, Drucbucker mid and Hot rails bridge, I play mostly rock/light metal through a DSL-40C.

I am changing the pick guard to a Ivory/abalone one, Wilkinson bridge, Tusq Xl nut, CTS 500K pots with a no load on the tone. Will have the blender wiring, thinking of doing a phase shift or coil split with a push pull.

In my box of pickups I found a little 59 neck and a JB JR Bridge. I am pretty happy with the Area 58, it's nice and plinky, but I'm thinking of trying the JB JR in the bridge. I listened to some sound clips on YT, but because of the different amps and people that should not be recording their playing I am not sure it'll be a good move. I looked at the tones and levels when I compared them in the pickup selector area, they seem similar, just a lower output from the JB JR.

Anyone have any first hand experience using both pickups in the same guitar and same position? Think I want to make this guitar a little more Strat traditional, I have other guitars with PAF's and EMG's for the really crunchy stuff.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Older Squire update

Hi, first post!

I'm updating one of my E series squire strat's, its a red body/white pick guard with a rose neck. Currently has a Area 58 neck, Drucbucker mid and Hot rails bridge, I play mostly rock/light metal through a DSL-40C.

I am changing the pick guard to a Ivory/abalone one, Wilkinson bridge, Tusq Xl nut, CTS 500K pots with a no load on the tone. Will have the blender wiring, thinking of doing a phase shift or coil split with a push pull.

In my box of pickups I found a little 59 neck and a JB JR Bridge. I am pretty happy with the Area 58, it's nice and plinky, but I'm thinking of trying the JB JR in the bridge. I listened to some sound clips on YT, but because of the different amps and people that should not be recording their playing I am not sure it'll be a good move. I looked at the tones and levels when I compared them in the pickup selector area, they seem similar, just a lower output from the JB JR.

Anyone have any first hand experience using both pickups in the same guitar and same position? Think I want to make this guitar a little more Strat traditional, I have other guitars with PAF's and EMG's for the really crunchy stuff.

If you want to make it more Strat traditional, why are you considering single sized humbuckers? You're not going to get even close.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: Older Squire update

If I were you, I would sell the two pickups you have and buy 2 more of the Area pickups to go with the one you like. An Area 61 or VV54Pro for the bridge, and another Area 58, or an Area 67 for the neck

 

[Outa_Tune]

Re: Older Squire update

If you want to make it more Strat traditional, why are you considering single sized humbuckers? You're not going to get even close.

I can't do single coils in my house, too much 60Hz hum despite proper shielding.

 

[Outa_Tune]

Re: Older Squire update

If I were you, I would sell the two pickups you have and buy 2 more of the Area pickups to go with the one you like. An Area 61 or VV54Pro for the bridge, and another Area 58, or an Area 67 for the neck

Not a bad idea, though I really like the drucbucker I'd bet the Area will sound as good or better.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Older Squire update

You *could* try the Lil 59 and JB Jr in parallel. They'll still be noiseless, but they'll be brighter and quieter than in full series mode.

 

[Outa_Tune]

Re: Older Squire update

I tried using the JB JR, Drucbucker and Area 58, but with the output of the area 58 being lower than the Duncans the guitar wasn't balanced. The blender didn't work well with 2 unevenly matched pickups. I ended up putting the lil 59 in the neck, so I have the everything axe combo with the blender mod now.

The JB JR is nice, no where near as hot as the hot rails, but lately I've been enjoying less distortion and more tone so this is pretty good for now. The Lil 59 is a bit muddy for me, and the drucbucker is not as "Fender" as I'd like, so overall I'm not 100% satisfied but it's not bad for using stuff I already had. Think I'm gonna get a MIA Strat with the noiseless pickups to satisfy that urge. Seems like every time I mess with pickups I learn the same lesson over, you can't get every tone you want in one guitar.

Going to post up the Area 58 for sale.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Older Squire update

Welcome to the forum!

The JB Jr, no matter how it is wired, won't ever sound very traditional. The Little 59, might be a tiny bit closer, but just a tiny bit. I'd almost think 2 Classic Stacks would be better in the neck and bridge. Noiseless, too.