The Best Humbuckers

[Mikos1000]

Hi all,

I have a Yamaha 335 style guitar from the 80s, it’s an SA800.
The guitar itself sngreat but I think I can improve on the 40 year old pickups and wiring.

I like the fact the tone pots allow you to split them to single coil mode and I tend to use this for rhythm playing and Humbucker mode for lead lines. When using them as humbuckers they are not very clear so would like to keep this splitting option in any new set up.

I know this is an SD forum but my question is this;

What are the best humbuckers out there for this guitar?
I figure if I start with the best and work my way down to a price I am prepared to pay.

I’ve done some reading on SD and a shop also recommended bare knuckles.

This will be my main guitar and I m only going to do this once so will want to upgrade wiring, pots etc the lot.

I play soul, r&b, funk, blues, indie.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[gsammo79]

Re: The Best Humbuckers

Hi all,

I have a Yamaha 335 style guitar from the 80s, it’s an SA800.
The guitar itself sngreat but I think I can improve on the 40 year old pickups and wiring.

I like the fact the tone pots allow you to split them to single coil mode and I tend to use this for rhythm playing and Humbucker mode for lead lines. When using them as humbuckers they are not very clear so would like to keep this splitting option in any new set up.

I know this is an SD forum but my question is this;

What are the best humbuckers out there for this guitar?
I figure if I start with the best and work my way down to a price I am prepared to pay.

I’ve done some reading on SD and a shop also recommended bare knuckles.

This will be my main guitar and I m only going to do this once so will want to upgrade wiring, pots etc the lot.

I play soul, r&b, funk, blues, indie.

Many thanks in advance.

If coil splitting is what youre trying to maintain then my advice would be to try something with a moderate output level. Brobucker '59/custom hybrid, Saturday Night Special could all be really good bridge pickup options. Neck humbucker: Jazz (bridge) in the neck position- -I have this neck humbucker, myself. '59 neck could be great too. I have my neck humbucker split on my guitar. It really gives my guitar a great, 3rd tone option.

 

[shadowfire90]

Re: The Best Humbuckers

Something lower output is best for the bridge pickup. However lower the pickup height if possible. Remember the lower the pickup height the lower the output will become. Think of the pickup as an ear to a speaker.

Tell us about your amplifier and or pedals. This will help us out big time. Maybe someone on here has a similar amp. All guitars sound different even if you bought two of the same guitar. I remember Larry Dimarzio mentioning how he played a few 1959 Gibson les pauls before buying his to Zakk Wylde mentioning this in one way or another.

Keeping the coilsplit is a breeze. It's one of the easier modifications someone can do.

All the bare knuckle pickups I heard through my amp when guys would bring them over to put them in guitars never made me want to go run out and buy one. Dare I say they are over rated. Especially since the Seymour Duncan custom shop could build a pickup around your exact needs instead for about the same price. The best approach is to first see what your heroes use. Though I'm sure you'll get some great recommendations from people on here.

don't forget about trying different picks and string types/brands.
stainless steel - brighter tone - avoid dean markley blue steel
pure nickel - warmer tone - avoid these on tremolos
just like pickups there is an EQ chart to see the benefits of this or that strings. I can't stand coated strings either.

as for picks
acrylic picks - D'Addario or Gravity picks
dunlop - ultex or flow picks
Graphtech Tusq picks are great. They have a deep , bright and warm pick to help with various sounds and they do sound different
Dunlop flow picks are my personal favorite . I feel it improved my playing with the grip as I couldn't stand jazz picks.

 

[TVFV]

Re: The Best Humbuckers

I think the Jazz set would work really well for what you play. It has clarity when it's in humbucker mode and a great split sound.

Sent from my SM-A205U using Tapatalk

 

[BluesIsBlood12]

Re: The Best Humbuckers

I've got a set of Antiquities in my 335, and they're fantastic. I'd assume Seths would be too. You'd have to special order both of them 4 wire though. Stock 4 wire I'd probably start with Whole Lotta Humbuckers.

I love the 59/Custom mentioned above, but it might be a little hot for the music you listed. Maybe not though, and you can always turn the gain down on the amp. It will split better than the others I listed. I use it with a 59n, but it would be interesting to try with a WLH neck.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: The Best Humbuckers

The 59/C is really a great suggestion for the bridge pup and it splits exceptionally well (to the Custom coil, not the 59 coil). I don't think it would be too hot at all.
The Jazz (neck) would be a good neck pup. I don't think I would use a Jazz bridge pup in the neck, however. Especially if you have the hybrid in the bridge. The Jazz (bridge) has a bunch more mids and output than the neck model and as much as I like it myself paired with a heavier bridge pup, I think it would be too overpowering (in tone and output) for the 59/C hybrid in the bridge. It may work fine if you keep it adjusted pretty low, but then you defeat the purpose of getting the bridge model.

 

[Mincer]

Re: The Best Humbuckers

Welcome to the forum!

I say 4 conductor Seths or Antiquities, and get ready for the best semi-hollow sound you will ever hear.

 

[blueman335]

Re: The Best Humbuckers

Another vote for Seths.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: The Best Humbuckers

It depends on you you want to use the guitar.

I like Seths (and '59s) in a semi-hollow . . . these low output 'buckers will give a clear and articulate sound that also handles gain well. They're perfect for blues, jazz, funk (Cissy Strut, James Brown type stuff all day!), soul, and reggae. But being low output they will sound very wimpy and bright when split. This is my preference - get a great humbucker sound and deal with kinda crappy split sounds.

In my opinion, the best sounds split come from something in the 10 - 16k Ohm range . . . but then you get a much middier and less open sounding humbucker. These higher output 'buckers will sound better for rock, hard rock, metal (which will be tricky, but can be done with a semi), and more heavily distorted sounds. They'll make a more convincing single coil tone . . . which you might find useful for funk and blues. But be aware that they'll be noisy when split, and unless you wire the volume/tone pot to change from 500k to 250 they may be a little shrill.

 

[justFred]

Re: The Best Humbuckers

APII set is my favorite all purpose set...but it's a very subjective deal.....

 

[BluesIsBlood12]

Re: The Best Humbuckers

But being low output they will sound very wimpy and bright when split. This is my preference - get a great humbucker sound and deal with kinda crappy split sounds.
In my opinion, the best sounds split come from something in the 10 - 16k Ohm range . . .

This is 100% accurate, and if you HAVE to have a split tone then 59/Custom is the way to go. The split tone is good, and the full humbucker retains all the good stuff about low output humbuckers. It's just that it MIGHT be a tad hot, which you can still account for.

Personally, with Ants in my 335 I have no problems getting blues tones from the neck and funk/R&B type tones from the middle or bridge, so the OP may not NEED split tones. Ants/Seths can probably do the job just fine.