Single Coils in the Bridge... Why?

[spuds]

I’m having problems finding a use for my bridge single coil on my strat. I’ve almost always had H/S/S strats coz I’ve always found bridge single coils to be far too harsh and brittle to use. And its not that I play lots of high gain stuff… I don’t. But this time, I really want to keep my current strat as an S/S/S, even if the only reason is that it looks better!

So for the strat guys on this forum, what do you use your bridge SC for? Lead? Rhythm? Only in tandem with the middle pup?

 

[Mephis]

Re: Single Coils in the Bridge... Why?

Most people that I know of never use the bridge pickup alone unless they have some un-holy monster of a bridge pickup.

I sure as hell wouldn't.

 

[Stratovarious]

Re: Single Coils in the Bridge... Why?

well today I was playing my guitar teachers Custom shop Rory Gallagher strat, and its meant to sound rly stratty, and it did, but if you pump the bridge pup with enough gain, its balls drop. was with a RAT into a bluesbreaker combo, there wasn't much noise surprisingly

 

[davedvdy]

Re: Single Coils in the Bridge... Why?

For most solo work situations, I use my HSS Strat, but I really think having a single in the bridge is nice, too...it's a great tonal variation, which is one reason I have a SSS Strat, also. Good singles shouldn't sound too brittle or harsh in the bridge...adjust your treble accordingly.

 

[Baltar]

Re: Single Coils in the Bridge... Why?

i barely use the bridgepups in my strats, only for some twangy stuff.

i like to use both pups in my tele for fatter rhytm

 

[davedvdy]

Re: Single Coils in the Bridge... Why?

I forgot to mention, but the 2nd (notch) position I personally like better with a single in the bridge. Let's not forget, that position is different as well on a SSS Strat, that does get affected (unless of course we are talking about "true splitting" or whatever).

 

[spuds]

Re: Single Coils in the Bridge... Why?

Well thats exactly what I mean. Besides for the #2 position (which I hardly use as well), I can find no justification for my single coil in the bridge!

I think I should just get a lil 59....

 

[danglybanger]

Re: Single Coils in the Bridge... Why?

kidding me?

I'm not one for strats... but I like bridge single coils. Clarity, surfy tones... I don't see how people get along in a guitar without using the bridge pickup :laugh2: I use neck/bridge about equally.

I guess I'm one to talk. I find no use for humbuckers at all :laugh2: I hate the way they sound, and can't get the tones I want with them, no matter what position.

 

[Young Angus]

Re: Single Coils in the Bridge... Why?

I like a clear sounding bridge pickup, but I don't think I'd ever leave a bringe single as a stock wimpy pickup...in any guitar I play I want the bridge to be somewhere I can go to get a bit of chunk if I need it, but it doesn't have to be too much, just a little fatter sounding than the stock bridge pickup that sounds all shrill and nasty.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Single Coils in the Bridge... Why?

Why, because if you get a good set of pickups, it sounds KILLER! When I play a Strat I use the brodge pickup as much as anything else...and it is a single coil.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Single Coils in the Bridge... Why?

I’m having problems finding a use for my bridge single coil on my strat. I’ve almost always had H/S/S strats coz I’ve always found bridge single coils to be far too harsh and brittle to use. And its not that I play lots of high gain stuff… I don’t. But this time, I really want to keep my current strat as an S/S/S, even if the only reason is that it looks better!

So for the strat guys on this forum, what do you use your bridge SC for? Lead? Rhythm? Only in tandem with the middle pup?

To be honest, the only time I use it by itself is when running tone modify that makes the single coil sound like a humbucker. I use it with the middle pickup, though, often. However, to be fair, I try all pickup combinations on the 5-way when I first try a song out at church, and pick whichever one sounds best.

 

[Stratovarious]

Re: Single Coils in the Bridge... Why?

what do you use your bridge SC for??

To kick ass? :fingersx:

 

[metlking]

Re: Single Coils in the Bridge... Why?

I don't find much use for a single coil in the bridge position, playing mostly metal in one form or another. I have two strats and a tele with singles in the bridge and those guitars don't see much use, but I can't bring myself to molest them either! I have many other HSS strats and a HS tele to satisfy the bridge humbucker need. So, I keep them as part of my collection. I am GASING for a Les Paul JR with a P-90 in the bridge tho........

 

[spuds]

Re: Single Coils in the Bridge... Why?

Well... whats a good duncan bridge SC that would warm things up a bit and give it some meat? I'm all out to give it a shot.

 

[Robbiedbee]

Re: Single Coils in the Bridge... Why?

I only really use SC bridge + SC middle on my SSS Strat. On my HSS Strat, that same bridge + middle position doesn't sound the same. I don't really use humbuckers or single coils on their own for cleans.

 

[DracoAran]

Re: Single Coils in the Bridge... Why?

Geez, has anyone added a tone control to the bridge pickup, and maybe a Fralin base plate?. That alone would take it to whole different level.

How about a Twangbanger or Rio Grande Stelly?. Quarter Pound or Hot SSL-3 (with Tap option on either one)?. Virtual Vintage Solo?. Chopper?.

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: Single Coils in the Bridge... Why?

You need to try an Antiquity Texas Hot Custom Bridge and put a baseplate on it. Once you do that you'll fall in love with that strat bridge tone...you might even find yourself preferring the bridge to the neck pickup. Plus, you still get sweet notch tones.

Lew sold me on the THCB. If I remember correctly he has said something to the effect that he thinks it's on the the best strat bridge pickups available. I can see why.

Geez, has anyone added a tone control to the bridge pickup, and maybe a Fralin base plate?. That alone would take it to whole different level.

How about a Twangbanger or Rio Grande Stelly?. Quarter Pound or Hot SSL-3 (with Tap option on either one)?. Virtual Vintage Solo?. Chopper?.

You are right on. With a tone on the bridge pup you have more contol of the bridge pup and you can dial in what you want.

The baseplate is great to boost the mids and fatten up the bridge tone.

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: Single Coils in the Bridge... Why?

well i got mine in yesterday, and i'm still waiting on the new pickups (there'll be a cool rail in the bridge) so i'll hafta get back to you on that, but if you flip into position 2 with the tone knob rolled back almost all the way you can get a pretty tough sound

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Single Coils in the Bridge... Why?

Geez, has anyone added a tone control to the bridge pickup, and maybe a Fralin base plate?. That alone would take it to whole different level.

How about a Twangbanger or Rio Grande Stelly?. Quarter Pound or Hot SSL-3 (with Tap option on either one)?. Virtual Vintage Solo?. Chopper?.

You're dead on. There's no reason no to leave a strat SSS and be able to get killer tones out of every position, IMHO.

 

[ES350]

Re: Single Coils in the Bridge... Why?

Geez, has anyone added a tone control to the bridge pickup, and maybe a Fralin base plate?. That alone would take it to whole different level.

It sure does, and having Lindy rewind it to 8.5K helps a lot too...