Pickup choices for HSH configuration

[ratiug]

I recently purchased a 94 Ibanez RX170. Has maple body,maple neck with maple fret board. HSH config but the stock Powersound pups have to go. I have SD pearly gates bridge pup, and a SD 59 bridge pup so one can go in the bridge and I will have to buy a neck humbucker . I also have a Dimarzio Tone Zone bridge and an Air Norton neck which always work well together. I play classic rock, blues, country, no metal

Should The "59" or the "Pearly Gates" go in the bridge?
Then What should go in the neck and middle?
If I go with the Dimarzios , What single would work well?
What are your thoughts?

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Pickup choices for HSH configuration

Put the PG in the bridge and the '59 in the neck.

There are a hundred good middle pups. Depends what you're after. What do you NOT like about your existing middle pup? It might even sound good with the new buckers so you may not want to buy a new one yet.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Pickup choices for HSH configuration

What do you want from your HSH config?


'59 in the neck with PG in the bridge will be great for vintage rock type sounds. The '59 doesn't sound much like a single coil when split though. In parallel with the middle it would probably be OK. I'd do something like an SSL-1 in the middle for this set if you're hellbent on trying a new one. This is probably less versatile but better sounding for the type of music you listed.


The Air Norton can do vintage rock sounds, but the Tone Zone is a pretty heavy humbucker for classic rock and blues. The Air Norton and Tone Zone both split pretty well, and sound very single coilish when split though so you'll get nicer single coil tones out of this setup. I'd probably try an Area '61 in the middle with this set . . . which has the added bonus of no hum when solo'd. This is more versatile (should be able to do anything from very heavy shred to very clean) but will have some sounds that you probably won't use very often with the type of music listed.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Pickup choices for HSH configuration

Put the PG in the bridge and the '59 in the neck.

There are a hundred good middle pups. Depends what you're after. What do you NOT like about your existing middle pup? It might even sound good with the new buckers so you may not want to buy a new one yet.

This is really the best start for considering any pickup change: what don't you like about what you have. The more articulate and direct the answer, the better choice you will make.