Single Coil Pickup In My Les Paul?

[LunaticFringe]

I was wondering if there are single coil pickups that fit in a humbucker cavity? I want to take the bucker out of my neck and throw something in there that will give me more variety, still keeping the custom in the bridge. I have heard that single coils take to effects better as well as sound good in the neck position. Can anyone tell me about the p90, from what i've read it seems like an option. I suppose I could also set my '59 to do the split coil thing with a push-pull, but i don't know much about splitting coils. I don't know if it would really do the single coil thing.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Single Coil Pickup In My Les Paul?

The Phat Cat mixes wonderfully with a Custom, sounds great in a Lester, is a true single, and is a drop in replacement for your 59. BTW, it sounds awesome clean or driven.

 

[LunaticFringe]

Re: Single Coil Pickup In My Les Paul?

I've heard alot of people talk about phat cats. One problem with my current setup is that my '59 is far too boomy. Would the phat cat be better or worse for bass volumes?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Single Coil Pickup In My Les Paul?

I've heard alot of people talk about phat cats. One problem with my current setup is that my '59 is far too boomy. Would the phat cat be better or worse for bass volumes?

Most alnico 5 neck humbuckers sound to boomy to me too. The Phat Cat might be a good choice...but so would an alnico 2 neck humbucker like the Pearly Gates. Lew

 

[LunaticFringe]

Re: Single Coil Pickup In My Les Paul?

Thanks Lew. I was talking to some guys on here and the pearly gates was the pickup I wound up deciding to switch with my 59. At this point though I would really like to try a single coil pup.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Single Coil Pickup In My Les Paul?

either try a Phat Cat or get one of those humbucker rings that holds single coils...I lost the link but those things are cool.

 

[SonofaMitch]

Re: Single Coil Pickup In My Les Paul?

had a Phatcat in the Neck of my paul for a Loong time it OWNS, right now I have a regular "unmarked" Dimarzio single coil in there, with a StewMac hot AlniCo in the bridge....it sounds Quite Nice...I just used the Regular Pickup ring(fits fine) and some Black Foam to kinda "Fill in the holes"

~Mitch~

 

[LunaticFringe]

Re: Single Coil Pickup In My Les Paul?

Cool, I think I'm going to try out the phat cat after a little more research.

 

[alanfc]

Re: Single Coil Pickup In My Les Paul?

had a Phatcat in the Neck of my paul for a Loong time it OWNS, right now I have a regular "unmarked" Dimarzio single coil in there, with a StewMac hot AlniCo in the bridge....it sounds Quite Nice...I just used the Regular Pickup ring(fits fine) and some Black Foam to kinda "Fill in the holes"

~Mitch~

Mitch--- was the single coil wire long enough to reach your LP controls? The Stewmac bridge single coil
thanks

 

[Artie]

Re: Single Coil Pickup In My Les Paul?

I second the motion on the Phat Cat. I'll also throw in a plug for a Stag Mag . . . and not because I have one for sale in the Trading Post. (No . . . really.)

 

[danglybanger]

Re: Single Coil Pickup In My Les Paul?

...Stag Mags intrigue me and I keep wondering how much they sound like a widerange humbucker... How do they sound full rather than split? Does it come close if you've tried a widranger?

Otherwise I might try wiring two Jag pickups together in series :laugh2:

 

[Artie]

Re: Single Coil Pickup In My Les Paul?

...Stag Mags intrigue me and I keep wondering how much they sound like a widerange humbucker... How do they sound full rather than split? Does it come close if you've tried a widranger?

Otherwise I might try wiring two Jag pickups together in series :laugh2:

The best way I can describe it is to say . . . a Stag Mag sounds like humbucker, when not split, about as much as a humbucker sounds like single, when split. Thats why It works so well in the neck. Not "boomy" or muddy at all, but definitely less "girth" than a full-on humbucker.

 

[danglybanger]

Re: Single Coil Pickup In My Les Paul?

...that's good news for me A widerange to my ears sounds like a big fat single coil more than any humbucker...

 

[blueman335]

Re: Single Coil Pickup In My Les Paul?

I second the motion on the Phat Cat.

A Phat CatN is a great choice. The twin A2 magnets make it dark in the neck, so I put one A5 in mine (A5/A2 pair) and that gives it more treble, better definition, & some bite for solos. Opens up the sound & brings out those great single coil tones that are hiding under twin A2's. Magnet swaps on these are easy.

 

[Toejam]

Re: Single Coil Pickup In My Les Paul?

DiMarzio Humbucker From Hell... it's like a single coil in humbucker housing.

Or a DiMarzio Bluesbucker is like a P-90 in humbucker housing.

 

[DepecheMoses]

Re: Single Coil Pickup In My Les Paul?

either try a Phat Cat or get one of those humbucker rings that holds single coils...I lost the link but those things are cool.

http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/covers_adapters.htm
Those.

 

[murky69nz]

Re: Single Coil Pickup In My Les Paul?

Mmmm, couldn't help but hijack this thread somewhat.....

I too am on a quest to get a great singlecoil neck sound out of my LPCustom. I also want to get insane quack in the two quack positions.

I've modded it to accept a sc in the new middle position, and currently have a Jazz (with A2 magnet from a custom custom) in the neck, a Kinman Trad II in the middle, and Custom in the bridge. Both HB's have coil taps.

I did have a Trad II in the Neck as well, but found that it sounded quite flat. The Jazz with A2 has more midrange hollowness (more smoky blues tone) that I like. But it's not quite there....

They say you cant really get a good SC sound out of a LP, but I don't agree. My other LPC with a floyd rose and sustainiac in the neck has an amazins SC sound....

I was looking at putting a Kinman blues in? Or perhaps a PGates or Stag Mag.....

How would the phat cat compare to the above pickups?

Anyone got any ideas
?

 

[alex1fly]

Re: Single Coil Pickup In My Les Paul?

There sure has been a lot of P 90 and Phat Cat talk lately... and I've been hopping in as much as possible!

Do yourself a favor and try the Phat Cat, then see if you want anything different out of your neck position. With the tone knob it can sound like a single or humbucker. It's amazingly toneful, full of life and spunk, cuts well, and can get heavy without blinking. Its as "phat" as a humbucker and has all the wonderful qualities of a single coil.

The more you research, the more possibilities you'll come up with, but the Phat Cat rules hands-down. It's one of the few pickups I would recommend that anybody try without thinking or over-analyzing all of their options. It will do whatever you want with flying colors.

 

[NoOnesFang13]

Re: Single Coil Pickup In My Les Paul?

DiMarzio Humbucker From Hell... it's like a single coil in humbucker housing.

Or a DiMarzio Bluesbucker is like a P-90 in humbucker housing.

For the record the Bluesbucker does not sound like a P-90, according to dimarzio it sounds like "two p-90 put together", i have one and i installed it upsidedown (screws toward bridge) in the neck position, sounds close to a tele and takes gain really really well. and u can coil tap it if u want to make it sound close to a strat. When i installed it normally it was tooooooooo boomy and this guitar has a problem with being too bright... so dont know how that happend. I would go Phat Cat if i were u, or P-Rails so u can get the whole Humbucker, P-90, And Strat tones

 

[blueman335]

Re: Single Coil Pickup In My Les Paul?

There sure has been a lot of P 90 and Phat Cat talk lately... and I've been hopping in as much as possible!

Do yourself a favor and try the Phat Cat, then see if you want anything different out of your neck position. With the tone knob it can sound like a single or humbucker. It's amazingly toneful, full of life and spunk, cuts well, and can get heavy without blinking. Its as "phat" as a humbucker and has all the wonderful qualities of a single coil.

The more you research, the more possibilities you'll come up with, but the Phat Cat rules hands-down. It's one of the few pickups I would recommend that anybody try without thinking or over-analyzing all of their options. It will do whatever you want with flying colors.

The real beauty of a Phat CatN is the huge number of magnet combinations you can use to dial in the tone you want. With 7 magnets available for guitars, and Phat Cats having twin magnets, there are 49 combinations to experiment with. It's the most versatile PU you can buy. If only HB's offered so much potential. A Phat CatN with an A5/A2 pair of magnets could make a lot of guys give up their neck HB's.