Single size humbucker with biggest low end

[Rob667]

Starfield America guitar, I currently have a Little 59er in the bridge position

The guitar is naturally bright

What are some good options to counter the brightness?

Hot Rails?
Chopper T?

Thanks guys

 

[gregory]

Re: Single size humbucker with biggest low end

Hot Rails and Chopper T are designed for different bridges. Did you mean the Hot Rails for Tele?

Definitely not the Chopper anyway, the DiMarzio Tone Zone.

 

[Hank-]

Re: Single size humbucker with biggest low end

I would check the pickup cavity to see if its a swimming pool route, in which case if it were then I'd get an actual full size HB for the bridge along with a new pickguard.

The lil'59 is supposed to be bright I think? Hot Rails would work better in its place maybe. The chopper is bright in the bridge but not as much as a true SC, its very well balanced eq wise, not really bass heavy. TZS, ANS, BC2 would be the ones that are much darker sounding than it, might need to go with 500k pots with them as well.

But before you switch out the lil'59, does the bridge pickup on that guitar have a tone control?

 

[gregory]

Re: Single size humbucker with biggest low end

I would check the pickup cavity to see if its a swimming pool route, in which case if it were then I'd get an actual full size HB for the bridge along with a new pickguard.

+1

Does the ANS offer as big a low end in the bridge position?

 

[Rob667]

Re: Single size humbucker with biggest low end

Thanks for the input, guys.
This guitar has direct mount pickups in a Strat configuration - one volume one tone, alder body with maple neck and maple cap fingerboard.

Might look into 500k pot

Thanks much

 

[gregory]

Re: Single size humbucker with biggest low end

500k pots are to help retain more treble. If you're using 250k, the last thing you want to do is use 500k with your current bridge pickup.

Also, I have nothing against the Hot Rails in this situation, though a full-sized humbucker is best way to go if you're looking for a big low end.

...but beware:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Paradox_of_Choice
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overchoice

 

[Hank-]

Re: Single size humbucker with biggest low end

+1

Does the ANS offer as big a low end in the bridge position?

No but its got less highs, more mids & liitle more low end than the chopper. Its not muddy sounding in the bridge or overly honky but more like the pro track but darker. I wouldn't use it in the neck, way too dark & middy, no strat character whatsoever in that spot, like darker than certain neck PAF HBs.

For most lows(not really like a full HB) the TZ-S & BC2 are better options but they are very hot & probably not muddy due to the slant position & mini size. I'm guessing the BC2 is a variation on the TZS, the way the Satch Track is on the chopper.

 

[Hank-]

Re: Single size humbucker with biggest low end

Thanks for the input, guys.
This guitar has direct mount pickups in a Strat configuration - one volume one tone, alder body with maple neck and maple cap fingerboard.

Might look into 500k pot

Thanks much

Stick with 250k with the jb jr & lil59. What are the other pickups in there?

 

[gregory]

Re: Single size humbucker with biggest low end

It seems pretty tough to get mud with a single-sized HB in the bridge position, especially in a 25.5" scale Strat.

I'd call the FT2 overly-honky; insanely sick in the neck spot, though.

Is it safe to assume the Super Distortion S still has a bit more highs relative to the others mentioned, if only because it's more even? That's why I didn't mention it, at least.

An ANS can actually work pretty well in the neck if oriented like what is in my avatar. If I were going to get another single-sized HB in the neck then the Satch Track would top the list. I'd put a Chopper in the neck if I was willing to put a hot pickup in the bridge spot. If I wanted to maintain some Strat character in the neck but still have juice it's the S6 or the Quarter Pound with a tap; from DiMarzio the VV 54 Pro, possibly the VV Blues.

 

[Rob667]

Re: Single size humbucker with biggest low end

Stick with 250k with the jb jr & lil59. What are the other pickups in there?

Cool, thanks for the clarification on the 250/500k thing

The other pickups are SD stacked classics

 

[gregory]

Re: Single size humbucker with biggest low end

STK-S4? Hank pretty much nailed it with the Air Norton S. You'll have to spend nearly double for the SD Custom Shop to make something comparable.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Single size humbucker with biggest low end

Cheapest and easiest way might be to add a graphic EQ, like the Boss GE-7, the MXR 10-Band or the Mesa 5-band (not cheap). A boost in the 60-80 Hz and slightly pulling down the mids (250Hz to 1000 Hz) can really make the low-end solid. The Mesa 750Hz slider on their amps and pedals is famous for doing this.

Bill

 

[LazNovak]

Re: Single size humbucker with biggest low end

I'd go with a Dimarzio Super Distortion S.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Single size humbucker with biggest low end

You can always put a resistor in series with the output of the bridge pickup to reign in excess treebles. It's always better if you can fix a problem with $0.75 instead of spending $75 on a new pickup.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Single size humbucker with biggest low end

Actually, I am sort of stumped here. I don't think it would be the Hot Rails, and none of the other single coil-sized humbuckers have massive low end. If that is important to you, I'd suggest either going with genuine full-size humbuckers or emailing the Custom Shop.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Single size humbucker with biggest low end

I agree with Hank: TZ-S or BC-2 are going to be stronger in the low end than any stock Duncan I can think of.

 

[gregory]

Re: Single size humbucker with biggest low end

You know, the BC-1 might be the best fit out of all of them.

It's darker with more bottom than the Air Norton S and only slightly hotter.