Suggest Full Size 250k Humbucker for Strat

O

Odie251

New member
I need help finding a full size humbucker that sounds good running with 250k pots. Right now I have Texas Specials in the neck and middle. I have a JB trembucker in the bridge, but it sounds a bit fizzy to my ears.

I want to keep that traditional Strat neck and middle and have some type of useful humbucker in the bridge. Useful meaning as close to a PAF as I can get running at 250k.

I was thinking maybe a 59 bridge trembucker, Dimarzio 36th Anniversary PAF, Screamin Demon Trembucker. I'm leaning towards the 59 bridge trem.

Any suggestions or experience with the above?
 
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Re: Suggest Full Size 250k Humbucker for Strat

You're going to have to tell us more about your strat. Is it an alder body? Is the finferboard rosewood or maple? What sort of trem does it have?
 
Re: Suggest Full Size 250k Humbucker for Strat

One is an ash body with a maple neck, maple fingerboard. The trem is a Callaham vintage. This guitar tends to be on the bright sound side. Which is probably why I don't like the JB in it.

I also have a basswood with Koa top Strat(Special Edition Koa Strat) with a maple neck and Rosewood fingerboard and 2 point trem. I really want a good humbucker in the bridge of this one too. Also have Texas Specials on it. A humbucker on the bridge of it would make it perfect. This one is my favorite of the two and gets a really mellow tone.

So I am shopping for two humbuckers. One for each Strat.

Let's hear what the troops think will work best.
 
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Re: Suggest Full Size 250k Humbucker for Strat

I say Demon, 250 will sweeten the highs and beef up the mids...
Sounds perfect to me...
 
Re: Suggest Full Size 250k Humbucker for Strat

The Demon is tempting. No pun intended there. I have had the JB in other guitars also and always found it too harsh/ ice picky for my taste.
 
Re: Suggest Full Size 250k Humbucker for Strat

Try a PAF PRO.
Good all around humbucker in the bridge of a strat, and it balances well with the single coils.
It's what I use in my #1 gigging Strat.
 
Re: Suggest Full Size 250k Humbucker for Strat

Off the top of my head, I can think of 2 strats that Fender has produced with a humbucker and 2 Texas Specials:

Lone Star Strat -- used a Pearly Gates+
Richie Sambora Strat -- used a DiMarzio PAF Pro

I own a Lone Star Strat, and the PG+ sounds good with the 250K pots. I re-wired it so there is no tone control on the bridge, and it matches the other pickups pretty well.

Either of these pickups should work well.
 
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Re: Suggest Full Size 250k Humbucker for Strat

My Dave Murray Strat has 250K pots and Dimarzio Super Dist and 36th PAF - both sound great. Alder body, maple neck.
 
Re: Suggest Full Size 250k Humbucker for Strat

I have an uncovered 59b in my Epi LP with 250K's. it was a lil bright before the pot switch.

Can't say how it would be with a maple board with the long scale length. Possibly still bright with 250k's.

On that note, most "overwound" PAF-ish pickups will prolly do well. PAF Pro and Demon both sound like good choices.
 
Re: Suggest Full Size 250k Humbucker for Strat

Put PG on ash strat and Jazz on basswood strat.
 
Re: Suggest Full Size 250k Humbucker for Strat

another suggestion to add to the many already here, i've heard a few good reviews about mixing a jazz neck in the bridge spot with traditional singles. seymour himself has reccomended this for almost this exact type of application!
 
Re: Suggest Full Size 250k Humbucker for Strat

my favorite bridge humbucker to use with single coils and 250k pots is the pearly gates. not the pg+ that fender uses but the normal alnico II pearly gates.
 
Re: Suggest Full Size 250k Humbucker for Strat

Are you sure that richie sambora's strat used a 250k volume pot? I had the USA version of that guitar for a while but never looked at the wiring. The schematic for it isn't on the Fender site but the mexican version of his guitar without the 25db and a lot of other features had a 500k volume and 2 250k tones.
 
Re: Suggest Full Size 250k Humbucker for Strat

you shouldnt consider the one with the active circuitry, that preamp changes everything so regardless of whats in there it has no bearing on your passive setup.
 
Re: Suggest Full Size 250k Humbucker for Strat

I decided to try a Pearly Gates. I'll post my thoughts once it comes in.
 
Re: Suggest Full Size 250k Humbucker for Strat

I installed the Pearly Gates in my Ash Stratocaster. So far I really like it a lot over the JB. Balances with with the Texas Specials and works well with the 250k pots.
 
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Re: Suggest Full Size 250k Humbucker for Strat

I now have Pearly Gates trembuckers in both of my Strats. They sound good in both. I kinda like it the best in my Ash one. On a side note I was tuned 1/2 step down and find that I personally prefer sound of both of them in standard tuning. I just find that they respond better to standard. Maybe it has something to do with the 250k making them warmer and that 1/2 down just takes away too much top end.

Anyway thanks for the suggestions. Now it's time to play and not tinker with the guitars.
 
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