Recommend me a Bridge Humbucker.

[Brucifer85]

Hello folks.

This is my first post.

I play a Fender Blacktop Jaguar and play sort of grunge/alternative rock style of music.

I currently have a SD Alternative 8 in the bridge but im not 100% happy with it.

Amp wise I am using a Quilter Tone Block 200.

I enjoy how the Alt.8 sounds when using distortion, I find it gives me a nice thick yet clear sound, however I am underwhelmed by the cleans. They aren't bad just not what I am looking for.

I find them to be too bright for my liking.

I use my amp set clean and distortion comes from pedals.

SD recommend I try the Custom Custom as it's highs are more subdued/rounded/warmer if you will.

I have enjoyed demos I have listened to of it on YouTube thus far.

I'm just curious to know what others may think and suggest as well. Especially in the vintage output category.

So to sum it up...

Grunge/Alternative rock music.
I want my cleans to be as clean as possible and not overly bright sounding.
When using distortion it must be thick yet clear with nice mids.

Ps. I play in a two piece band.

Thanks!

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Recommend me a Bridge Humbucker.

The Custom Custom sounds like a good choice for what you're looking for. You don't want to use a vintage output pickup for the bridge position if you play clean in modern rock. The cleans are too thin. You want something med or high output. Custom Custom seems like it has the characteristics you're looking for. Med/high output, good distorted or clean, nice mids but focused not out of control like the JB or Alt 8. I say get it.

 

[Brucifer85]

Re: Recommend me a Bridge Humbucker.

The Custom Custom sounds like a good choice for what you're looking for. You don't want to use a vintage output pickup for the bridge position if you play clean in modern rock. The cleans are too thin. You want something med or high output. Custom Custom seems like it has the characteristics you're looking for. Med/high output, good distorted or clean, nice mids but focused not out of control like the JB or Alt 8. I say get it.

Thank you kindly for your input.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Recommend me a Bridge Humbucker.

I love the Custom Custom. In contrast to the Alternative 8, it has a usable clean sound and doesn't sound as compressed. The attack isn't as 'hard' and it seems to have a little more 'bloom' to the notes after they are picked. I will say this, though...the lows aren't tight if that is a thing you like. But I haven't heard a mid-focused pickup like the Custom Custom that also has tight lows.

 

[Brucifer85]

Re: Recommend me a Bridge Humbucker.

Thank you for your input. I actually think a pickup without a tight low end may benefit my music.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Recommend me a Bridge Humbucker.

Hello folks.

yo

I currently have a SD Alternative 8 in the bridge but im not 100% happy with it.

I enjoy how the Alt.8 sounds when using distortion, I find it gives me a nice thick yet clear sound, however I am underwhelmed by the cleans. They aren't bad just not what I am looking for.

I find them to be too bright for my liking.

outside of the cleans, anything else? do you have that experience with other amp (including tube amps)?

I use my amp set clean and distortion comes from pedals.

the amp you're using doesn't offer a lot of options to shape your tone... outside of considering another amp, what about an EQ pedal?

I have enjoyed demos I have listened to of it on YouTube thus far.

be thoughtful about what you hear on youtube demos.

I'm just curious to know what others may think and suggest as well. Especially in the vintage output category.

for starters, the CC is hotter than vintage.... as is the Alt-8. the JB is a good option that is still hotter than vintage, but used by guys in grunge and alternative like Cobain and Gavin Rossdale.

I actually think a pickup without a tight low end may benefit my music.

with that in mind, as well as the vintage output suggestion, take a look at the Classic Hot. it comes with an A5, but you can call in to get it with an A2 for something a little brown... or an A4 for the best classic 70s hot PAF style I've tried... or maybe a RCA5 for a bit of that 60s-Clapton vibe.

 

[Brucifer85]

Re: Recommend me a Bridge Humbucker.

yo




outside of the cleans, anything else? do you have that experience with other amp (including tube amps)?




the amp you're using doesn't offer a lot of options to shape your tone... outside of considering another amp, what about an EQ pedal?




be thoughtful about what you hear on youtube demos.




for starters, the CC is hotter than vintage.... as is the Alt-8. the JB is a good option that is still hotter than vintage, but used by guys in grunge and alternative like Cobain and Gavin Rossdale.




with that in mind, as well as the vintage output suggestion, take a look at the Classic Hot. it comes with an A5, but you can call in to get it with an A2 for something a little brown... or an A4 for the best classic 70s hot PAF style I've tried... or maybe a RCA5 for a bit of that 60s-Clapton vibe.

Hello and thanks for the reply.

I have tried the Alt 8 through tube amps and im still not thrilled with its cleans. I also do use the Earthquaker Devices Tone Job eq pedal. I guess the Alt 8 just isn't for me.

The JB has been on my radar as well. I hear it can be a bit fussy though as to what guitar it goes into. I'd have to check how well it plays with alder body guitars.

I shall have a look into the other pickups you mentioned as well.

Thanks.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Recommend me a Bridge Humbucker.

The Alt8 is a powerful beast. The cleans still sound like you're running a boost. It does have nicer cleans if you run it split.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Recommend me a Bridge Humbucker.

The Alt8 is a powerful beast. The cleans still sound like you're running a boost. It does have nicer cleans if you run it split.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

A lot of powerful bridge pickups don't clean up that well for players wanting really clean cleans.

There was a thread a few months back comparing the Duncan Alt-8 to the Mojotone Sledgehammer. The thread vanished, but it prompted me to try the Sledgehammer and the guy was right.

While I like the Alt-8 and give Seymour mad props for how he engineered it, the Sledgehammer is an A8 based high output humbucker that is a little more open and cleans up really well with the guitar volume knob.

If you started with an Alt-8, a JB might be a step in the right direction for your goals.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Recommend me a Bridge Humbucker.

Thank you for your input. I actually think a pickup without a tight low end may benefit my music.

Then the CC would be my pick. It is one of my favorites, too.

 

[Brucifer85]

Re: Recommend me a Bridge Humbucker.

Thanks to everyone who has replied so far.

So I am curious to know from those of you who have used both what are the main differences between a Custom Custom and a JB?

Thanks.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Recommend me a Bridge Humbucker.

Very different. The JB sounds and feels compressed, which is great for overdriven rock. The CC is more touch-sensitive, and the true mids don't get tiring on the ears. The CC has grind, while the JB has more cut. The CC sounds like early-to-mid Van Halen to me, while the JB sounds like all the bands copying them.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Recommend me a Bridge Humbucker.

So I am curious to know from those of you who have used both what are the main differences between a Custom Custom and a JB?

you might get as many different opinions as there are people that have tried them. there will never be any substitute for your own ear listening to something through your own rig.