Tricking out my strat with single-coil sized humbuckers

[jmcorey]

So, I am looking for versatility here. Want this guitar to do everything except metal. Play through an Axe Fx.

Thinking of going with the double-screw aesthetic rather than the rails approach. But no matter what, I will make sure they match. I don't want to mix a JB jr with a cool rails, for example. So I am going for a modified Everything Axe set.

The one time I personally played a little 59 I found it a little dark and muffled. I think I find them that way in recordings I hear, also. I am thinking that the Little Screamin Demon would be more articulate. Overall, I have found neck humbuckers to be too wooly. The bridge version of the JB jr also seems over the top. I believe that I'd like something around 10k for the bridge.

So what I am proposing is:

Neck Position - Little Screamin Demon Neck
Middle Position - Duckbucker
Bridge Position - JB Jr Neck (Yes, that's right a 10k humbucker for the bridge position, with the overall tonality of an overwound humbucker).

What, if any, problems do you all foresee?

Thanks,

Joe

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Tricking out my strat with single-coil sized humbuckers

Sounds good to me. If you want versatility, a master series/parallel switch would be in order it might also be worth noting that the Duckbucker is a Lil' 59 in parallel with the screws in different places. I'd also suggest having the middle position on a 5-way switch being neck and bridge in parallel as opposed to the traditional middle pickup alone. But that's preference, I've never cared for a HB in the middle, regardless of if it's series or parallel, but many people find it a useful tone.

 

[gregory]

Re: Tricking out my strat with single-coil sized humbuckers

I haven't tried the JB Jr. Neck in the bridge spot, but I'm pretty sure it would sound good.

I'd also suggest having the middle position on a 5-way switch being neck and bridge in parallel

+1 if using a Duckbucker! I do like a second humbucker in the middle, but not really a fan of the Duckbucker/Vintage Rail. Unless you find it aesthetically displeasing, I'd recommend something like a DiMarzio HS-2 instead. I specifically mention the HS-2 due to its weak output to go with weaker single-sized buckers in the bridge and neck.

If you're sure about the JB Jr. Neck and the Screamin Demon Neck, I'd try the SLSD-1n in the middle together with the SJBJ-1n in the bridge before putting it in the neck just to see if you like it. It could be that SJBJ-1n/SLSD-1n/SLSD-1n would be a great combo with the middle active in position 3.

The SLSD-1b is also a good candidate for the bridge spot as is the SL59-1n. With the SLSD-1b in the bridge spot, either the SL59-1n or SLSD-1n could work just fine in the middle spot (again, active in position 3).

I would definitely go with the SLSD-1n in the neck spot when paired with a weaker sc-sized humbucker in the bridge spot.

 

[gregory]

Re: Tricking out my strat with single-coil sized humbuckers

the Duckbucker is a Lil' 59 in parallel with the screws in different places.

I feel compelled to ask: how do you know this to be a fact???

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Tricking out my strat with single-coil sized humbuckers

I feel compelled to ask: how do you know this to be a fact???

It's about as much fact as the IM1 being a copy of the Custom Custom that was in the Frankenstrat. I've done some measuring and close enough in DCR for me to assume they are the same. When they are both in series or both in parallel, they sound very similar, enough so that the screws being different could account for the difference.

But I'll admit, it is just an assumption. I have no stone cold proof of it either way.

 

[gregory]

Re: Tricking out my strat with single-coil sized humbuckers

It's a pet-peeve of mine and I'm sorry, but why must people posit assumptions as if they are fact?!?

 

[gregory]

Re: Tricking out my strat with single-coil sized humbuckers

Thinking of going with the double-screw aesthetic rather than the rails approach. But no matter what, I will make sure they match.

Since you said "but"...

DiMarzio has some very interesting lower-output options.

In order of increasing output for the neck and middle:
Cruiser Neck
Cruiser Bridge
Fast Track 1
Satch Track

In order of increasing output for the bridge:
Cruiser Bridge
Fast Track 1
Satch Track
Chopper

 

[Mincer]

Re: Tricking out my strat with single-coil sized humbuckers

The only thing I can say about the Duckbucker is that it may seriously get overpowered by the other 2 pickups. You might consider a more powerful middle pickup with a Stratty tone (maybe a STK-S4).

 

[jmcorey]

Re: Tricking out my strat with single-coil sized humbuckers

Since you said "but"...

DiMarzio has some very interesting lower-output options.

In order of increasing output for the neck and middle:
Cruiser Neck
Cruiser Bridge
Fast Track 1
Satch Track

In order of increasing output for the bridge:
Cruiser Bridge
Fast Track 1
Satch Track
Chopper

I've thought about the DiMarzio rails, but I've heard they don't quack well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Aceman]

Re: Tricking out my strat with single-coil sized humbuckers

I force nothing but tone awesome!

Might also try a lil PG neck, and put the Demon in the bridge.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Tricking out my strat with single-coil sized humbuckers

You know - with Axe Fx, that's where the real diversity will happen anyway.

 

[gregory]

Re: Tricking out my strat with single-coil sized humbuckers

My Seymour Duncans don't quack all that well, either. I can run the middle in parallel like a Duckbucker for positions 2 and 4, but it still doesn't sound like single coil quack. I could go the extra step and remove 6 screws, but it's still not going to get me there.

 

[gregory]

Re: Tricking out my strat with single-coil sized humbuckers

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mjuHN0AoUi4

 

[jmcorey]

Re: Tricking out my strat with single-coil sized humbuckers

Great suggestions, everyone. Now, about color!

Candy Apple Red, maple fingerboard, white pearl pickguard.

White or parchment?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Tricking out my strat with single-coil sized humbuckers

I'd go with white.