Hi all, i'm looking to replace the stock humbucker in my H-S-S Fender Stratocaster. I'm thinking the Alternative 8 SH-15. My Strat has the 9-volt active TBX tone boost circuit installed. Both singles are Fender Noiseless pups. Is this a good option for a replacement humbucker in this setup? If anyone has any experience or input it would be really useful thanx
SH-15 Alternative 8 queries...
- Thread starter johnny33
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metalmachine
New member
Re: SH-15 Alternative 8 queries...
Well it will be super hot and mid rangy as hell with the tbx tbx on. I bet it would be a cool lead tone
Well it will be super hot and mid rangy as hell with the tbx tbx on. I bet it would be a cool lead tone
Edgecrusher
New member
Re: SH-15 Alternative 8 queries...
Sadly the answer is... Maybe... It depends on what your after. The SH15 is a fine pickup and will certainly work. The reason i say maybe is I dont know what you dont like the about the pickup you have now and what your trying to improve. Tell a bit about your set up and what your trying to get that your not getting now and then its easier to say if the SH15 is your baby of if maybe you might want to consider something else.
Sadly the answer is... Maybe... It depends on what your after. The SH15 is a fine pickup and will certainly work. The reason i say maybe is I dont know what you dont like the about the pickup you have now and what your trying to improve. Tell a bit about your set up and what your trying to get that your not getting now and then its easier to say if the SH15 is your baby of if maybe you might want to consider something else.
allstarrme
New member
SH-15 Alternative 8 queries...
When I think HSS strat I usually think screamin demon or pearly gates plus/59, followed by JB.
The alt 8 is a great pickup but very high output and darker sounding. Without knowing your amp/ effects and the sound you are trying to achieve its hard to recommend anything.
When I think HSS strat I usually think screamin demon or pearly gates plus/59, followed by JB.
The alt 8 is a great pickup but very high output and darker sounding. Without knowing your amp/ effects and the sound you are trying to achieve its hard to recommend anything.
Re: SH-15 Alternative 8 queries...
I have an Alt8 in one of my Strat types and it works great for me. It has a very full, rich tone, smooth solid bass and very strong mids. Yes, it is very high output.
Is this what you are looking for?
Give us some more info on what you have in there now, what you do or don't like about it, and what you'd like to change about it, and what type of music you usually play, and we can help you better. Do you want very rich clean tones or are you after more distortion?
I have an Alt8 in one of my Strat types and it works great for me. It has a very full, rich tone, smooth solid bass and very strong mids. Yes, it is very high output.
Is this what you are looking for?
Give us some more info on what you have in there now, what you do or don't like about it, and what you'd like to change about it, and what type of music you usually play, and we can help you better. Do you want very rich clean tones or are you after more distortion?
Re: SH-15 Alternative 8 queries...
That's the only TBX that I'm aware of, too. Maybe it's the Clapton type active mid boost?
That's the only TBX that I'm aware of, too. Maybe it's the Clapton type active mid boost?
darthphineas
New member
SH-15 Alternative 8 queries...
I have a few of the Alt-8 and they are just fine. They are loud. While many comment about the darkness, I found it actually brought some life into a darker guitar. If you look at the tone chart, it comes off as a JB with everything up a notch, but in a better way than a JB8 in my opinion.
So to answer the OP question, sure it would work great in that guitar. You're interested in it for a reason so give it a whirl.
I have a few of the Alt-8 and they are just fine. They are loud. While many comment about the darkness, I found it actually brought some life into a darker guitar. If you look at the tone chart, it comes off as a JB with everything up a notch, but in a better way than a JB8 in my opinion.
So to answer the OP question, sure it would work great in that guitar. You're interested in it for a reason so give it a whirl.
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Re: SH-15 Alternative 8 queries...
I have the stock Fender Atomic humbucker in the Strat at the moment. The body of my Strat is quite a weighty Ash and the Atomic sounds a bit compressed. Not sure if the body tonewood is a factor with that or not. Neck is Maple, flame figuring, with a dark rosewood fingerboard, nut is Bone. I play a wide range of stuff from Knopfler, Hendrix, Iron Maiden, Rainbow and some of the heavier stuff i.e Megadeth, etc.
I listened to a demo on Youtube going through all the SD humbuckers and the two that really stood out for me were the SH-15 Alternative 8 and the Dimebucker. Really loved both but the Dime sounds a little bit too trebly. The vid showed a guy shredding and with the Alt 8 you could pick out every note very clearly. Conversely, the Blackouts sounded a bit too dark.
The two Fender Noiseless pups in neck and mid positions on my strat are pretty good clean and with a bit of overdrive. I suppose I'm just looking for a decent humbucker which can stand out on its own when the need arises for Heavy rock / Metal! Hope this has been of some help, thanks guys......!
I have the stock Fender Atomic humbucker in the Strat at the moment. The body of my Strat is quite a weighty Ash and the Atomic sounds a bit compressed. Not sure if the body tonewood is a factor with that or not. Neck is Maple, flame figuring, with a dark rosewood fingerboard, nut is Bone. I play a wide range of stuff from Knopfler, Hendrix, Iron Maiden, Rainbow and some of the heavier stuff i.e Megadeth, etc.
I listened to a demo on Youtube going through all the SD humbuckers and the two that really stood out for me were the SH-15 Alternative 8 and the Dimebucker. Really loved both but the Dime sounds a little bit too trebly. The vid showed a guy shredding and with the Alt 8 you could pick out every note very clearly. Conversely, the Blackouts sounded a bit too dark.
The two Fender Noiseless pups in neck and mid positions on my strat are pretty good clean and with a bit of overdrive. I suppose I'm just looking for a decent humbucker which can stand out on its own when the need arises for Heavy rock / Metal! Hope this has been of some help, thanks guys......!
Re: SH-15 Alternative 8 queries...
What amp are you using? My limited experience with the Alt8 tells me you may like it but I think the Custom/59 hybrid with an A8 mag may be a better match to what you're going for tone wise.......
I've never felt the Alt8 was an uber hot pickup....
What amp are you using? My limited experience with the Alt8 tells me you may like it but I think the Custom/59 hybrid with an A8 mag may be a better match to what you're going for tone wise.......
I've never felt the Alt8 was an uber hot pickup....
youngthrasher9
New member
Re: SH-15 Alternative 8 queries...
The Alternative 8 is a weird beast. With lots of gain, it behaves kinda like an EMG 81 with less compression. But when it has a tiny bit of gain, it feels a lot like a lower output pickup. It has a great lead tone. That's just IMO of course. I had it in a all mahogany guitar tuned to D. It had a lot of bass in that guitar.
The Alternative 8 is a weird beast. With lots of gain, it behaves kinda like an EMG 81 with less compression. But when it has a tiny bit of gain, it feels a lot like a lower output pickup. It has a great lead tone. That's just IMO of course. I had it in a all mahogany guitar tuned to D. It had a lot of bass in that guitar.
youngthrasher9
New member
Re: SH-15 Alternative 8 queries...
Agreed. Nothing about it was really cutting or screaming when I used it, and it didn't have near the amount of punch that the '59/custom hybrid with an alnico 8 has. I agree with Lats on this one, the '59/custom hybrid (with a alnico 8 magnet if you are aren't to cautious to install one) would be an excellent choice. It has punch, clarity, and plenty of cut for a band situation. You could use it either way, with or without the boost circuit. It has a pretty good clean tone too.
Agreed. Nothing about it was really cutting or screaming when I used it, and it didn't have near the amount of punch that the '59/custom hybrid with an alnico 8 has. I agree with Lats on this one, the '59/custom hybrid (with a alnico 8 magnet if you are aren't to cautious to install one) would be an excellent choice. It has punch, clarity, and plenty of cut for a band situation. You could use it either way, with or without the boost circuit. It has a pretty good clean tone too.
Falloffthebonetone
New member
Re: SH-15 Alternative 8 queries...
The alt 8 is a weird one. The bass is INCREDIBLY tight on it. It has a lot more lower mids than bass, and frankly it has a lot more upper mids than highs. A very full and focused sound. Someone mentioned it has similarities to an emg 81 and I can see that. It's very hot but not the hottest. I don't think anyone could describe it as harsh or boomy, but it is a little dry. Like if an emg 81 had more of an airiness and edge to it that would be a good way to describe it I guess. It has it's uses. I'd vote for the 59/c though.
The alt 8 is a weird one. The bass is INCREDIBLY tight on it. It has a lot more lower mids than bass, and frankly it has a lot more upper mids than highs. A very full and focused sound. Someone mentioned it has similarities to an emg 81 and I can see that. It's very hot but not the hottest. I don't think anyone could describe it as harsh or boomy, but it is a little dry. Like if an emg 81 had more of an airiness and edge to it that would be a good way to describe it I guess. It has it's uses. I'd vote for the 59/c though.
Rockstar216
New member
Re: SH-15 Alternative 8 queries...
I would say either a 59/Custom OR a Screamin Demon
I would say either a 59/Custom OR a Screamin Demon
Deathmonkey
New member
Re: SH-15 Alternative 8 queries...
I love the Alt 8, but I fear in your situation it would overpower the single coils. A PG + or Screamin Demon might give you that thickness while still playing nice with the scs.
I love the Alt 8, but I fear in your situation it would overpower the single coils. A PG + or Screamin Demon might give you that thickness while still playing nice with the scs.
Re: SH-15 Alternative 8 queries...
It is a very cool pickup. Well described above! It is hot but defined. So this would be good for aggressive playing styles. Best way to know is to try it in your rig. If you get it from an authed dealer, you can exchange in 15 days if you arent happy with it.
I have one in a Washburn HM24
It is a very cool pickup. Well described above! It is hot but defined. So this would be good for aggressive playing styles. Best way to know is to try it in your rig. If you get it from an authed dealer, you can exchange in 15 days if you arent happy with it.
I have one in a Washburn HM24
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