QP's in an HSS?

[Rex_Rocker]

Anyone tried this configuration?

I'm toying with the idea of making my Squier HSS. Not sure if I will, but if I do, I was thinking Suhr SSH+/Duncan QP/Duncan QP. How do you think this would sound?

Or what other suggestions do you guys have? Volume balance is important to me, but so is good tone. I was thinking QP's because I want something unique compared to the Jazz and the 490R in my Les Pauls, but that can still get dirty and heavy. Or maybe some sort of overwound single coil? A stacked overwound single coil? I'm lost here! Would love to hear some ideas!

Thoughts? Thanks!

 

[Securb]

I went down that road with my HSS, and it made me realise I am a straight-up humbucker guy. It is now a HH. The Quarter Punders sounded great just not my thing.

 

[uOpt]

I also didn't like the QP. Don't remember too much detail now.

 

[Mincer]

As long as you aren't expecting a traditional Strat tone out of the QPs, it should work. It is a good idea if volume balance is more important to you than a traditional sound. The QPs have a lot of mids, and are hot enough to keep up with humbuckers, but they get that way with bigger magnets and a hotter wind. So, it is always a compromise.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

No yeah, I want to steer away from traditional single coils as much as possible as they're not really my thing, but I also don't want full-on humbucker tones. I've got my other guitars for that. At least that's my reasoning.

I suppose I just want something all around different, just within the realm of what I like.

 

[Mincer]

No yeah, I want to steer away from traditional single coils as much as possible as they're not really my thing, but I also don't want full-on humbucker tones. I've got my other guitars for that. At least that's my reasoning.

I suppose I just want something all around different.

I think it will work well, then. I'd go for the flat version.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I think it will work well, then. I'd go for the flat version.

Is the radiused version meant to go on 7.25 boards? Mine is 9.5.

 

[Toejam]

I've got QPs in my G&L Legacy. It was originally SSS, but technically it's now HSS with a Lil Screamin Demon in the bridge. They work well together. Though, they're Custom Shop QPs that have glossy top bobbin and wound slightly different. Neck (12.8K calibrated degaussed magnets), and middle (overwound 5% to 14.8k) since I my middle pup real low and out of the way.

 

[jeremy]

id go flat as well. the staggered version would be for 7.25" rad, but even then id use flat unless i was using strings with a wound g

 

[uOpt]

No yeah, I want to steer away from traditional single coils as much as possible as they're not really my thing, but I also don't want full-on humbucker tones. I've got my other guitars for that. At least that's my reasoning.

I suppose I just want something all around different, just within the realm of what I like.

Maybe a P-90 in the neck is for you?

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Maybe a P-90 in the neck is for you?

I've tried and liked the Phat Cat! The P Rails not so much.

 

[MikeS]

QPs sit somewhere in the middle. Fat with with aggressive mids and plenty of output. High output single coils, can get a bit noisy if you're more prone to 60-cycle in your environment or signal chain. They are fun, but I don't find they are all that versatile.

 

[AdrianSD]

No yeah, I want to steer away from traditional single coils as much as possible as they're not really my thing, but I also don't want full-on humbucker tones. I've got my other guitars for that. At least that's my reasoning.

I suppose I just want something all around different, just within the realm of what I like.

It doesn't sound like a single coil, nor like a humbucker, does its own thing. Very middy, I have it in a HSH Japanese RG, on its own it sounds a bit weird, but it pairs very well with the JB and Jazz in positions 2 and 4. You have to listen to it in your guitar, through your rig.

 

[orpheo]

Yes, I have done it. This guitar KILLED it with these pickups. The bridge pickup is a superdistortion/JB hybrid on the superdistortion base (brass, ceramic), with 2 QP's. They balanced quite well! If memory serves, I raffled this guitar on this forum years ago. Gosh, this guit was cool. I am thinking, perhaps this guitar needs to be remade. Thin fast maple neck, cool pickups, funny graphic... Gosh, 2020-2021 were great years for me.

 

[AdrianSD]

Yes, I have done it. This guitar KILLED it with these pickups. The bridge pickup is a superdistortion/JB hybrid on the superdistortion base (brass, ceramic), with 2 QP's. They balanced quite well! If memory serves, I raffled this guitar on this forum years ago. Gosh, this guit was cool. I am thinking, perhaps this guitar needs to be remade. Thin fast maple neck, cool pickups, funny graphic... Gosh, 2020-2021 were great years for me.

That looks sooo cool! But I can't unsee the saddles alignment, was it before you intonated it? The missing locking nuts may indicate it wasn't a finished product yet when you took the photo

 

[uOpt]

I've tried and liked the Phat Cat! The P Rails not so much.

There also is the StraBro90, which is Strat single coil sized.

 

[orpheo]

That looks sooo cool! But I can't unsee the saddles alignment, was it before you intonated it? The missing locking nuts may indicate it wasn't a finished product yet when you took the photo

It has a locking nut, but not an OFR version, it has a locking nut made by ABM because of the smaller footprint. I do indeed think the locking clamps are not installed here, but of course, were, in the end.

As far as the intonation is concerned, it was intonated; I think I took this photo quickly after I assembled the guitar, but this was 6 years ago. I hardly remember what I had for lunch yesterday, let alone these kinds of things! But yes, it has a locking nut.

 

[GuitarStv]

Yes, I have done it. This guitar KILLED it with these pickups. The bridge pickup is a superdistortion/JB hybrid on the superdistortion base (brass, ceramic), with 2 QP's. They balanced quite well! If memory serves, I raffled this guitar on this forum years ago. Gosh, this guit was cool. I am thinking, perhaps this guitar needs to be remade. Thin fast maple neck, cool pickups, funny graphic... Gosh, 2020-2021 were great years for me.

Hey, I have that guitar!

The Quarter Pounders work great with the bridge humbucker in it . . . although I think the quarter pounder in the middle is wound to only be tapped or something - it's much brighter and lighter sounding than the neck:
Neck - full sounding and heavy, likes gain, good match in volume for the bridge
Neck/Mid - Surprisingly sparkly, cops some nice clean tones
Mid - Bright and lower output
Mid/Bridge - Again, surprisingly sparkly, does some decent funky stuff
Bridge - Hard rock/classic metal tones all the way

I think that having the mid pickup significantly lower output than the neck makes the guitar much more versatile and really widens the tones that you can get. The guitar is definitely built for rock but does the power ballad clean thing pretty well in a pinch.

 

[jeremy]

the middle qp is the same output as the other models in my experience. the tapped output (if you buy the tapped models) is significantly brighter and lower output, but the full output is the same. maybe its hard wired tapped in the middle?

 

[GuitarStv]

the middle qp is the same output as the other models in my experience. the tapped output (if you buy the tapped models) is significantly brighter and lower output, but the full output is the same. maybe its hard wired tapped in the middle?

Yeah, that was my guess because it sounded so much different from the neck one. The neck is like half way between a humbucker and single coil, whereas the middle is like 90% single coil.