pickup for a single hum?

Travis

New member
All right guys, I'm building a couple of single hum guitars. I've got an idea of what I'll be dropping into them. But I'm curious as to what people here think. The first is a Strat mutt made from a Mexi Strat alder body with a Mighty Mite birdseye maple/maple neck and a vintage trem. The second will be a mahogany/maple top V bolt on with a Carvin maple/ebony neck and a STB fixed bridge. I would like to maximize my versatility. But I play mostly heavier stuff and attempt to shred from time to time. I've been on a lower output pickup phase and have been relying on my amp for all my gain needs. But I still love my Distortions. :dance: Like I said, I've got an idea of what will be going in there. But I'm wondering if we're on the same page.
 
Re: pickup for a single hum?

I have several single humbucker Strats.

My favorite is the one with a Duncan Custom TB, but I also love my Strat with a Duncan Custom Custom TB and my other Strat with a Duncan 59 Trembucker.

Right now, the one with the Duncan Custom is my favorite.

To my ears, the Duncan Custom sounds like a 59B tweaked for more output and more midrange. It's a great pickup in a Strat.
 
Re: pickup for a single hum?

This is the type of thread that will eventually list every humbucking pickup ever manufactured. :D

That said, I've always been a big fan of the Screamin Demon in a strat. It's a little more hi-fi than the real PAFs, but it is a very clear and articulate pickup that does not get mushy or muddy under gain. At ~10k it's also a lower output pickup that cleans up fairly well. I tend to prefer moderate/medium output pickups so the Demon is right up my alley. I've never been a fan of the pickups that peg the multimeter.
 
Re: pickup for a single hum?

MikeS said:
This is the type of thread that will eventually list every humbucking pickup ever manufactured. :D....

+100

Custom, CC , Distortion and maybe even a JB would be my prime suspects ;)
 
Re: pickup for a single hum?

MikeS said:
This is the type of thread that will eventually list every humbucking pickup ever manufactured. :DQUOTE]

Yeah, I figured as much. So, at the risk of giving everything away, I'll tell you what I was planning on putting in the guitars.

The single hum strat will get a 59/Custom hybrid to start while the mahogany/maple V will get a 59b. Of course, knowing myself the way I do, I'll probably swap things out several times. But those will be the starting points.
 
Re: pickup for a single hum?

I had a JB in my old alder/maple necked Strat. I had it split series/split/parallel for some different options. The JB sounds pretty "Strat-y" when you split it.
 
Re: pickup for a single hum?

big_black said:
I had a JB in my old alder/maple necked Strat. The JB sounds pretty "Strat-y" when you split it.

Yes it does! So does the Duncan Custom. The JB sounds especially good split though. Lew
 
Re: pickup for a single hum?

Travis said:
The single hum strat will get a 59/Custom hybrid to start while the mahogany/maple V will get a 59b. Of course, knowing myself the way I do, I'll probably swap things out several times. But those will be the starting points.

Oh man . . . I'm kicking myself. I intended to toss a little DPDT on-off-on switch in with your box . . . and I forgot 'til just now. :yell:

PM me back your address, and I'll send it along. You've got to try the hybrid with a this switch so that you can hear each coil. Its like 3 great tones with one pup.

(I have a bunch of these switches. Don't buy one.)

Artie
 
Re: pickup for a single hum?

pm sent, Artie. But what do you think would be better in the strat, a push/pull single volume or a volume with the DPDT switch?
 
Re: pickup for a single hum?

You have to go with what fits the look of the guitar, but the cool thing about your hybrid is, you have two slightly different tones by selecting either/or coil. Its a tough call.
 
Re: pickup for a single hum?

I'm not familiar with wiring one of those switches. You'll have to step me through it, if you don't mind.
 
Re: pickup for a single hum?

Travis said:
I'm not familiar with wiring one of those switches. You'll have to step me through it, if you don't mind.

No prob. I'll cover the DPDT and the push-pull . . . tomorrow. Its Friday night and I don't like to mix wiring and hops. ;)

Artie
 
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