pickup selection for alder body/maple neck?

E

emaccarthy

New member
I am going to build a guitar. Solid alder body with maple neck 22 stainless frets with half scallop. Think simple charvel/super strat type. I want a very versatile shred guitar that can also handle thick blues, instrumental, 80s metal, hard rock, and clean up well too. It will have a locking trem (gotoh floyd rose with brass big block). I really want to use 2 Seymour Duncan humbuckers with the ability to coil tap. I am thinking of a Duncan Custom in the Bridge (TB-5) or a Custom-5 for some classic rock/early metal snarly tones but would like suggestions for a neck pickup. What are the differences and which do you think would be better with the Alder and Maple combination. For the neck pickup I want a really thick and chunky tone. Not smooth and creamy butter, but really thick tubular chunk that pops with big sustain. Pickup ideas? sound samples?

I like Joe Satriani, george lynch, warren demartini, doug aldrich, john sykes, david gilmour etc.

Also,

The controls I want are as follows:
-1 master volume
-2 tone knobs (neck and bridge humbucker tone knobs)
-1 3 way switch (neck, both, bridge)
-1 mini on/off switch to coil split them

How would this be wired so that the 3 way switch toggles the two humbuckers while the 1 mini switch coil splits them to the outer coils as follows (view the attachment) Is there a wiring schematic that I could follow to solder up this arrangement? I would primarily be using the humbuckers but I like using single coils for clean tones with chorus and compression so I really like the thought of being able to split them by the flick of a switch.
 
Re: pickup selection for alder body/maple neck?

A '59 would work great in the neck. You could also go with a JB/Jazz setup. I think any of those would give you what you are looking for.

You want a "coil split" diagram. There are a few listed on the Duncan website. Basically, you will wire everything as you would with a 3 way, 2 pickups, etc. The mini switch doesn't have any affect on that part of the circuit. To get your coil split you solder the red and white wires of each pickup to the mini switch. That will let you split both at the same time and achieve your desired pickup combinations.
 
Re: pickup selection for alder body/maple neck?

Yeah I was thinking of the 59 in the neck with either a custom or custom 5 in the bridge. Is the Jazz just a little smoother than the 59? Correct me if Im wrong but I think the JB might be a bit too harsh for alder/maple combination. What would be the noticeable difference between the custom/custom 5. I really want that thick hard rock, paf, snarly tone for meaty chords but something that also sings and sizzles for big note leads. Thoughts?
 
Re: pickup selection for alder body/maple neck?

try the JB/Jazz combo and then if you decide the JB is too harsh, put an A2 mag in it to smooth it out.....or maybe a CC.

In my Charvel san dimas RI (alder body, maple neck, ebony board, floyd rose, single volume) I have a CC in the bridge and a cool rails in the neck. Pure 1984 van halen tone from the bridge and sexy, 80's solos from the neck.
 
Re: pickup selection for alder body/maple neck?

or even look into the Warren Demartini "RTM" humbucker from the custom shop. Its pretty much a hotter JB with an A2 mag, so its a little fatter in the mids and smoother on the top end
 
I would start with the JB/59 combo there. The RTM comes as 2-conductor so not splittable. If need be, toss an A2 in the JB.

My personal fav combo right now is the Screamin Demon/Slash neck. The Slash isn't splittable but I love how the two work together. It's probably too smooth for what you want too.
 
Re: pickup selection for alder body/maple neck?

59 vs jazz? Neck?
custom vs custom 5 vs custom custom vs jb? Bridge?

Im all ears
 
Re: pickup selection for alder body/maple neck?

emaccarthy said:
59 vs jazz? Neck?
custom vs custom 5 vs custom custom vs jb? Bridge?

Im all ears
Click to expand...

CC- good bass, little on the loose side, HUGE, fat mids, smooth highs

C5- big, tight bass, scooped mids, bright, clear highs

C- tight bass, strong mids, clear (sometimes too strong) highs......PAF on roids

JB- tight(er) bass, focused on the upper mids, bright highs.

JB w/A2- bass not as tight as w/ A5, fatter, fuller mids, smooth but still clear highs.

Since floyds tend to thin out and brighten up the tone, id go with either an A2JB or a CC
 
Re: pickup selection for alder body/maple neck?

what does "little on the loose side" mean and what does it mean to be "clear (sometimes too strong). Isn't it good to have singing clarity? I do like PAF tone. I like the idea of PAF on steroids tone if its for real. The snarl of PAF sounds cool.
 
Re: pickup selection for alder body/maple neck?

emaccarthy said:
what does "little on the loose side" mean and what does it mean to be "clear (sometimes too strong). Isn't it good to have singing clarity? I do like PAF tone. I like the idea of PAF on steroids tone if its for real. The snarl of PAF sounds cool.
Click to expand...

If you want PAF/PAF on steroids go for something out of the Custom line or a Screamin Demon in the bridge and a 59 in the neck.
 
Re: pickup selection for alder body/maple neck?

on the loose side as in "not tight" or "saggy"

and some people thing the Custom is too harsh or bright on the top end and floyds naturally add brightness to the guitar. Thats why I said either an A2JB or CC.
 
Re: pickup selection for alder body/maple neck?

I prefer the Custom for most stuff but if you're mostly playing leads, then I recommend either CC or JB for the bridge. Both have that strong midrange quack. Go for a '59 in the neck. The Jazz sounds a bit too polite.
 
Re: pickup selection for alder body/maple neck?

Ok got it, 59 is going in the neck. This is all good advice. I think I am going to get a custom but not sure between the three. I see one video and love that sound but then watch another one and love that sound. I want raw rock. Granted I will be using an alder body, maple neck, with a locking trem BUT with a brass big block install. What do you think would match that EQ nicely. From what I gather I would be pretty middy at the get go and I am wondering if the scooped mids of the custom 5 would be a good balance....
 
Re: pickup selection for alder body/maple neck?

Put a brass block on the Floyd and it won't be bright anymore, if you find it too bright stock. I don't, but brass is nice on a Floyd and had one on a guitar I owned recently.
 
Re: pickup selection for alder body/maple neck?

JB/59 is almost certainly what you're after. Don't worry about harshness, it's fine in an Alder strat.
 
Re: pickup selection for alder body/maple neck?

ErikH said:
My personal fav combo right now is the Screamin Demon/Slash neck. The Slash isn't splittable but I love how the two work together. It's probably too smooth for what you want too.
Click to expand...

I was just about to suggest the same combo. The Demon is very versatile hard rock/metal pickup wiht nice clean tones since it's not super hot. Slash pickup will give you awesome fluid solotone but not over the top so that you hear the guitar and some dynamics and not just gain. Alternatively if you want the split option use the Alnico 2 Pro bridge in the neck instead of the Slash pickup. It'll be close enough.
 
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