Trembucker vs Humbucker

[Orcane]

Hello there!

I have lately considered to replace the active stock pickups in a Ibanez superstrat in favor of a JB and a 59 neck that I had left from the last pickup replacement. I plan to have the whole electronics replacement done in a shop, but I also did some research on my own as to see what kind of installation options I have.
Unfortunately during my research I have realized that the bridge pickup that I planned to install doesn't have the right spacing. I need a trembucker.
I figured also that the Custom (SH5) in my main guitar doesn't have the right spacing. The high e string isn't covered by any pole piece. I'm blind, right? :smash:

So, I'm wondering whether I should not care and have the tech install the pickups that I have available or if I should actually look for a trembucker.
Would that make a huge tonal difference?

I'd be thankful for any comment on this topic, since I don't really know what to do now.

 

[Chad]

Re: Trembucker vs Humbucker

Is the high e string completely outside of the outer pole piece? If you play with gain and/or compression, it likely won't matter. If you play clean, in my experience, it does indeed matter. I have one guitar that clearly needs a TB-spaced pickup because the outer E strings are quieter.

 

[Orcane]

Re: Trembucker vs Humbucker

As for my main guitar I think I exaggerated a bit. The string runs over the pole piece, but it barely covers the metal area on the other coil, which I unfortunately don't know the name of. I thought that this is probably problematic, but I haven't experience audible volume loss on the e strings.
On the superstrat (Ibanez RGA72QM (2011 model)) I always thought that the high e string was never as audible as the other ones. Looks like they installed humbuckers as stock pickups as well there. I can't measure because the pickup has a cover and there are no (visible) pole pieces.

Considering that I think I should probably really go for a trembucker just to make sure..
Would it be a problem if I stick with the 59 for the neck position?

 

[marcello252]

Re: Trembucker vs Humbucker

No audible differences inmnsho opinion, tried both a number of times...

 

[Mincer]

Re: Trembucker vs Humbucker

Almost all of the time it doesn't make a difference, except to your OCD- the magnetic patterns are wide enough to 'hear' the string, With a powerful pickup like the JB, it matters even less.

 

[Orcane]

Re: Trembucker vs Humbucker

Thanks for the comments. I'll go with the pickups that I already have then.
On a side note, I won't have to deal with two spare JBs if I happen not to like them in the guitar.

 

[Orcane]

Re: Trembucker vs Humbucker

Me again.

I spent the last days thinking whether I really want to put the JB in or try other pickups for the bridge position.
Eventually I came to the conclusion to try out an SH-15 Alternative 8 after reading so many good things about it here.
The shop doesn't sell a trembucker, so I think I'll go with it a regular humbucker.

Almost all of the time it doesn't make a difference, except to your OCD- the magnetic patterns are wide enough to 'hear' the string, With a powerful pickup like the JB, it matters even less.

According to that statement and considering the even higher output of the Alternative 8 I should also have no problems with this pickup, right?

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Trembucker vs Humbucker

The shop doesn't sell a trembucker, so I think I'll go with it a regular humbucker.

which shop it that? any just any trembucker, or a specific one?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Trembucker vs Humbucker

Me again.

I spent the last days thinking whether I really want to put the JB in or try other pickups for the bridge position.
Eventually I came to the conclusion to try out an SH-15 Alternative 8 after reading so many good things about it here.
The shop doesn't sell a trembucker, so I think I'll go with it a regular humbucker.



According to that statement and considering the even higher output of the Alternative 8 I should also have no problems with this pickup, right?

No problems there either, but if you are going to buy it new, just order the Trembucker version.

 

[Orcane]

Re: Trembucker vs Humbucker

No problems there either, but if you are going to buy it new, just order the Trembucker version.

which shop it that? any just any trembucker, or a specific one?

Musicstore in Germany. They have a couple of trembuckers, it's just specific ones like the TB-14 and TB-15 that are not in the catalogue (yet?).

Anyway that was really not an issue. When the guy figured out that they don't have that model, he looked for it in other shops and ordered it.

Thanks for the advices. I'm looking forward to checking that new pickup configuration out.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Trembucker vs Humbucker

BTW, the TB-14 is the trembucker Custom 5. The TB-15 is the trembucker Alternative 8.