Partscaster Pickup Decision Advice

[hnems]

Hi, everyone! I just joined and I really need some advice on pickups.

I am currently in the process of building a partscaster Tele style guitar. I haven't owned an electric in quite a while and had to sell all my previous ones to help pay for college. Im building this guitar because I now need an electric again for studio recording and gigs. Back when I had electrics, I had a guitar for all the tones I would ever need. (PRS SC245, Epiphone LP Studio w/Dirty Fingers PUPs, Highway One Tele with rosewood fretboard, and a American Standard Tele with maple fretboard. Now that I have one guitar, I need it to be as versatile as possible with simplistic switching (I have already ruled out P-Rails since they aren't practical live because of the switching. Sorry to all the P-Rail fans, just too much for me).

Specs on the partscaster
- Double bound alder body (currently routed for single coils but can easily route space for humbuckers)
- Maple Neck/Fretboard (22 fret, Medium sized nickel frets)
- TUSQ Nut

I mainly play Soft Rock, Rock, Classic Rock, Alternative, Metal, Pop, Jazz, R&B, Blues, and Pop Punk. I'm kind of an all around player (which is my dilemma in building a guitar that can do it all well).

My ideas so far for pickups would be:
- Duncan Distortion bridge + Jazz neck w/ both coil split three way switch push pull pot (heard distortions are actually pretty versatile and can have a pretty passable single coil tone when split)
- Dimarzio Super Distortion bridge + Dimarzio 36th Anniversary Neck w/ both coil split three way switch push pull pot
- EMG T Set + SPC Mid Boost (Wiring would be Vol-Tone-SPC)(Their site says the boost makes a single coil sound more like a humbucker, not sure of its true)

I utilize my volume and tone knobs a lot in attempt to achieve tone so keep that in mind.

Im hoping that you all have some experience with some of these and can give me input. Im also open to other alternative suggestions!

Thank you!

 

[hnems]

Re: Partscaster Pickup Decision Advice

And I know someone is going to suggest a JB but Im not really sold on that pickup. Ive heard some sound great and some sound like ear piercing treble dog ****. I think it is a little overrated but if you want to try and convince me, go for it. Also, Im not a shredder (working on it a bit though). I mainly play rhythm, chords, and riffs.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Partscaster Pickup Decision Advice

Actually, the JB/Jazz combo was built around a Tele with 250k pots. It keeps the ear piercing dog in the JB to a minimum as well as making the Jazz actually usable for jazz.

But you might like the Jazz/Custom 5 combo with 500k pots if you don't want to take the risk with the JB. The Black Winter set, which is finally starting to be recognized as not being a 100% metal-only pickup. It's highly versatile and can do all of your genres.

Id suggest Jazz/Custom 5 for a less modern tone and the Black Winters for a more modern tone. Both are fairly scooped, if you want a more midrange focused vintage tone, I'd also recommend the Custom Custom/ Pearly Gates combo.

 

[hnems]

Re: Partscaster Pickup Decision Advice

Thank you for the suggestion Christopher! Ill definitely look into it those combinations.

 

[hnems]

Re: Partscaster Pickup Decision Advice

With these combinations was it implied to coil split?

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Partscaster Pickup Decision Advice

They all work fairly well for coil split. The Black Winters are the best, and the other two are about equal. It all depends on what setup you have.

 

[hnems]

Re: Partscaster Pickup Decision Advice

It will most likely be running through a Yamaha THR100HD and a Bugera or Marshall Cab. Lowest I play is in Drop C.