Singles to match '59/Custom Hybrid?

[SkyMonkey]

Hi Guys.

This is my first post after trawling this forum for several years. Usually I found a thread with the answers I needed, and it was appreciated. Now I have quite a specific question(s).

I have recently bought a Charvel Fusion Custom (HSS) and love it but was uninspired by the stock Jackson pickups (J90C & J200R’s). So, I rewired it with CTS 500K’s, a new Fender 5-way and installed block connectors for easy pickup swapping. I put in a set of EMG passives (H4/S3/S3) laying around from a previously owned HSS Steinberger Spirit I upgraded. These are OK pickups in my opinion but were not truly inspiring. The main problem I think with the HSS configuration in the Fusion is the 24.75” scale and 24 frets leaving only 6 inches from the end of the fretboard to the saddles. The cramped setup leaves little sound difference between the single coils, and the in-between positions (no RWRP). In a Fender Strat there is a lot more distance between pickups.

I already have high powered setups dialled in on other guitars, so I have decided to try a lower powered pickup set centred around a Seymour Duncan TB-16 ‘59/Custom Hybrid with a coil split switch.

Has anyone any HSS experience with the TB-16, i.e. how powerful the coil split mode is, and which other singles would suit. Thinking of different model singles not a matched pair (to vary the sounds), with the middle RWRP. True singles or noiseless. Higher powered middle pickup lowered into cavity for picking clearance?

BTW the single coil routes will not fit a pickup with flange plate (e.g. SSL-1) and I am not prepared to modify the routes beyond a bit of hidden Dremel work to accommodate wires if needed.

Appreciation in advance.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Singles to match '59/Custom Hybrid?

STK-S7n neck, STK-S4m middle, 59/C bridge should work well, without any hum either. This is my favorite HSS set for both pure tone and versatility.

 

[SkyMonkey]

Re: Singles to match '59/Custom Hybrid?

Thanks for the reply Christopher. The STK-4 is listed on the Seymour Duncan site as lower powered than the STK-7. Is the difference noticable. I will probably have to lower the middle pickup to accomodate my "dig in" picking style.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Singles to match '59/Custom Hybrid?

If that's the case, just get two S4's. I find with this set I have to actually lower the neck pickup a bit more than usual so that the volume difference is usable.

 

[SkyMonkey]

Re: Singles to match '59/Custom Hybrid?

Cheers Christopher. Do you use the 59/C in coil split mode. If so how is the volume difference to the STK-4 middle?

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Singles to match '59/Custom Hybrid?

I use the 59/C so that it automatically splits in position 2, but I don't usually split humbuckers on their own in an HSS. There isn't a noticeable volume difference in my setup, but since you say you are going to drop the middle pickup a bit, there might be a tiny difference in output.

You might be able to Shop Floor Custom order an S4 to be flat staggered so that it's not so much in the way, or if you don't care too much about noise you can get an SSL-2, which is a non-hum free version of the S4 without a stagger.

 

[SkyMonkey]

Re: Singles to match '59/Custom Hybrid?

I am interested to hear opinions on using true single coils, but as I said in my original post I do not want to have to take a router to the guitar to accommodate the flange found on a pickup like the SSL1.
Has anyone had experience of using the 59/C with SSL3, SSL5, SSL6 or (unlikely) Quarter Pounders?

 

[Toejam]

Re: Singles to match '59/Custom Hybrid?

Never tried the '59/C, but I've got a pair of Quarter Pounds in the middle and neck of my G&L Legacy (with a Little Screamin' Demon in the bridge). I also prefer the middle pickup much lower and out of the way of my pick). My QPs are actually Custom Shop, middle wound slightly hotter and neck slightly lower), but standard QPs will work well for you with pretty much any humbucker.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Singles to match '59/Custom Hybrid?

I use a Hybrid in my HSS, and with it, I use a Five Two and Classic Stack. All positions are hum-cancelling, too. You can read how I did it here.

 

[SkyMonkey]

Re: Singles to match '59/Custom Hybrid?

Thanks Mincer.

Can you clarify something. Which of the 2 singles is RWRP and which position did that one go in (is it both?). The article seems to contradict itself on this point.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Singles to match '59/Custom Hybrid?

The neck pickup is RWRP.

 

[SkyMonkey]

Re: Singles to match '59/Custom Hybrid?

Cheers guys. Best start saving!