What are some good hybrid pickups?

[stinkfeet]

I'm wondering if anyone has some good hybrid pickup recommendations to try. My favorite pickups seem to be a custom sh-5 and a JB. I like the more aggressive mids both of them have.
I'm looking to try:
Pegasus/Custom
Pegasus/JB
SH6N/Screaming Demon (I need to try a SH6N in the bridge by itself)

 

[NotDemanic]

I somehow acquired a hybrid neck pickup that I really love. It's a 59n/Jazzn and it sounds glorious in my Jackson DXMG.

 

[Seashore]

Check out this thread, the second post has descriptions of a few hybrids that Orpheo made.

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/forum/the-pickup-lounge/336847-pegasus-custom-hybrid-an-overview

I've found them to be kind of a crap shoot. The ones I've made have all been brighter and had less of a compressed feel than their donor pickups, but they can be weird in the mids. I haven't done any of the combos you're asking about.

 

[stinkfeet]

I've found them to be kind of a crap shoot. The ones I've made have all been brighter and had less of a compressed feel than their donor pickups, but they can be weird in the mids. I haven't done any of the combos you're asking about.

I guess I kind of noticed that I really didn't like the mids I was hearing on the 59/custom hybrid and was hoping the others would be better. Same with the BKP that are supposedly mismatched, I thought the mids never sounded as good as a JB.

What Hybrids have you tried?

 

[Seashore]

Not a ton, I've only made hybrids out of stuff I had on hand. A JB, a Distortion, a Pegasus, and Bare Knuckle Brute Force bridge and neck. Those are all symmetrically wound. I tried mixing Duncan coils with BKP coils in different combos.

The strongest core mids I got were with a Distortion screw coil and a BF bridge slug coil, with the double thick ceramic Distortion magnet. It made for a great lead tone. The ones with wider mismatches had more audible high mids and high end, sometimes a bit harsh. Right now I'm using a Brute Force bridge/neck hybrid with that same double thick magnet and an additional spacer mag. It's very bright and aggressive.

If you like the JB mids better than any of the asymmetrically wound pickups you've tried, a hybrid might not be what you're looking for.

 

[Chistopher]

I took the liberty of having ChatGPT craft an answer for you in the style of Jerry Seinfeld:

**[Scene: Jerry’s Apartment]**
**George**: *(sitting on the couch, looking frustrated)* You know, Jerry, I’ve been thinking about getting a new guitar. My current one’s just... not cutting it.

**Jerry**: *(looking up from his cereal)* What’s wrong with your guitar? Is it the sound?

**George**: The sound! It’s awful. I need something with a little more... *punch*. Maybe a hybrid humbucker pickup, you know?

**Jerry**: *(confused)* A hybrid what?

**George**: A hybrid humbucker! It’s like a regular humbucker, but it blends the warmth of a single-coil with the power of a humbucker. You get the best of both worlds. It’s revolutionary!

**Jerry**: *(smirking)* Hybrid? You mean like a guitar that's trying to save the environment?

**George**: *(serious)* No, no! It’s about the tone, Jerry. The tone! You get that full, rich sound with less buzz. It’s the future!

**Jerry**: *(shrugs)* So, it’s like a fancy pickup for people who can’t make up their mind? Just pick a side, George!

**George**: *(rubs his head)* It’s not about picking sides, Jerry. It’s about having options. We’re in the 21st century. Why settle for one thing when you can have the best of both?

**Kramer**: *(bursting through the door, wild-eyed)* The best of both?! You’re talking about hybrid pickups? That’s nothing! You wanna know the real future of sound?

**Jerry**: *(sarcastically)* Oh, here we go...

**Kramer**: *(excitedly)* It’s all about the *pedalboard*, Jerry! You get a few thousand effects in there, you’re playing an orchestra by the time you hit the third chord. It’s like the guitar is doing a whole Broadway show!

**George**: *(eyes widening)* Broadway? What does that have to do with pickups?

**Kramer**: *(grinning wildly)* Everything! Hybrid humbuckers? Pfft. That’s a *starter kit*, George! You’re gonna need a *whole new mindset* if you wanna truly innovate. I’m talking, like, *guitar as a lifestyle*, man!

**Jerry**: *(rolling his eyes)* Here we go... Kramer's gonna start a band with his pedals and his “lifestyle.”

**Kramer**: *(ignoring Jerry, pointing at George)* You get the hybrid humbucker. Then, you get the *electro-acoustic effects loop* — and *boom*! You’ve got yourself a *sound revolution*! Forget the guitar! It's all about the journey, the vibe!

**George**: *(looks at Jerry, confused)* What just happened?

**Jerry**: *(shrugging)* That’s Kramer. It’s like being hit by a ton of... noise.

**Kramer**: *(exiting dramatically)* I’m gonna start a *pickup revolution*! You’ll all see!

**George**: *(grabbing his head)* I just want a guitar, Jerry. Is that too much to ask?!

**Jerry**: *(smirking)* Apparently, yes.

**[End scene]**

 

[orpheo]

Pegasus/Custom
Pegasus/JB
SH6N/Screaming Demon​

Yup, I tried these.

The Peg/JB is good. Keeps the JB vibe intact but opens it up a bit and makes it less spikey but it does make it more trebly.

Peg/Custom is like a 59/custom in flavor but more bold, tighter, more aggressive and also a bit more open. Think Custom5 but indeed, more open, dynamic, harmonic.

sh6n/SD, I tried it with an alnico 8. At the time I liked it. Chewy mids, singing highs, crunchy overall and tight lows, but the alnico 8 started to tire me, so I swapped in an alnico 5 and then it became a bit limp, weak in the midrange, icepicky in the highs. The double thick ceramic was a good one, but didn't differ that much from the original sh6n sonically. A bit more open I guess.

 

[stinkfeet]

If you like the JB mids better than any of the asymmetrically wound pickups you've tried, a hybrid might not be what you're looking for.

That's what I'm thinking, Though I might try the Pegasus hybrids just to see and if I don't like it I'll try and add some flank magnets to the stock Pegasus and see how close I can get it to a BKP Juggernaut.

 

[zionstrat]

Has anyone done a JB/Custom?

I've always imagined it might provide the great split in number two position with the JB coil but also solve the upper mid-range spike which can be a challenge on certain guitars.

 

[orpheo]

Has anyone done a JB/Custom?

I've always imagined it might provide the great split in number two position with the JB coil but also solve the upper mid-range spike which can be a challenge on certain guitars.

Yes, I have done that. It's close to the Dimarzio Evo in specs but sonically it's a different beast. Both have 44 & 43 awg wire, alnico 5 or ceramic, but the tones differ. The jb/Custom is way more 'chewy' than the Evo, which is more biting, a bit thin, very cutting. If the Evo cuts, JB/Custom sledges its way through a mix. The upper mid range spike is still there, but the lower mids are filled out a lot. The highs are not as open in the JB, and more subdued. The Custom always felt congested to my ears; the custom alnico III makes it go more open, and the Custom5 bumps the highs and cuts the mids a lot imho.

JB/Custom5 hybrid, though, is where I live. Cut, Crunch, upper mid range spike, filled out lows (which makes leads feel more flowy, and punches through the mix). I like it. But then again, I like many hybrids.

 

[stinkfeet]

Yes, I have done that. It's close to the Dimarzio Evo in specs but sonically it's a different beast. Both have 44 & 43 AWG wire, alnico 5 or ceramic, but the tones differ. The jb/Custom is way more 'chewy' than the Evo, which is more biting, a bit thin, very cutting. If the Evo cuts, JB/Custom sledges its way through a mix. The upper mid range spike is still there, but the lower mids are filled out a lot. The highs are not as open in the JB, and more subdued. The Custom always felt congested to my ears; the custom alnico III makes it go more open, and the Custom5 bumps the highs and cuts the mids a lot imho.

JB/Custom5 hybrid, though, is where I live. Cut, Crunch, upper mid range spike, filled out lows (which makes leads feel more flowy, and punches through the mix). I like it. But then again, I like many hybrids.

Those sound like something I'd really like, I guess I'll have the right amount of coils to try them all out too if I buy a Custom, JB, and a Pegasus. I was wondering about a JB/Custom hybrid since they seem like a good match. I've also been thinking about trying an evo too since I've been interested in a PAF Pro and a higher output version of it. Thanks!

 

[orpheo]

The pafpro feels more creamy, fluid, than the Evo. The Evo is very clear, super sensitive to picking. I really like the Evo but maybe it's the guitar and not the pickup that does it so well for me.

peg/custom5 is like a custom but more aggressive, dynamic, open, less 'squashed'
peg/jb is like jb/custom but even more open, and more aggressive. I really dig that pickup. Perhaps this is the closest to the Evo that we can come with Seymour Duncan coils.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I don't think the PAF Pro and the Evo Neck are are all that similar.

The PAF Pro is one of the brightest if not the brightest humbucker I've tried. I would describe the PAF Pro as hotter, slightly beefed up Jazz but with an even more exaggerated attack. The PAF Pro left a very big impression on me because when I had it paired with a Dominion in the bridge, the PAF Pro in the neck was actually the brighter of the two. I hated that, LOL. Also, FWIW, the way they describe the PAF Pro as having "aw" mids, you'd think it's a mid-focused pickup. It's really not. I've had DiMarzios that have that "aw" voicing to the mids way more prominently.

The Evo is not dark, but it's certainly not a 7-8K-ish pickup either when it comes to high-end, IME. I would say it's more midrange focused and smoother than the PAF Pro, just not as extreme as the Air Norton. I guess it also depends on which way you orient the Evo too since it's asymmetrical. I always oriented it with the hottest coil towards the bridge, same as the Air Norton.

JME/JMO.

 

[orpheo]

I don't think the PAF Pro and the Evo Neck are are all that similar.

The PAF Pro is one of the brightest if not the brightest humbucker I've tried. I would describe the PAF Pro as hotter, slightly beefed up Jazz but with an even more exaggerated attack. The PAF Pro left a very big impression on me because when I had it paired with a Dominion in the bridge, the PAF Pro in the neck was actually the brighter of the two. I hated that, LOL. Also, FWIW, the way they describe the PAF Pro as having "aw" mids, you'd think it's a mid-focused pickup. It's really not. I've had DiMarzios that have that "aw" voicing to the mids way more prominently.

The Evo is not dark, but it's certainly not a 7-8K-ish pickup either when it comes to high-end, IME. I would say it's more midrange focused and smoother than the PAF Pro, just not as extreme as the Air Norton. I guess it also depends on which way you orient the Evo too since it's asymmetrical. I always oriented it with the hottest coil towards the bridge, same as the Air Norton.

JME/JMO.

I didn't find the paf pro to be that bright, but I don't think we were talking about neck pickups but bridge pickups. I see no other reason why a peg/custom would be discussed, or a JB

The Evo neck is very glassy to my ears, like a Jazz but with a slightly more rounded top end, but not the fattiness of the alnico 2 pro or the full "girthy' midrange of the a2pro.

The air norton is just about right in the neck for me if I want a creamier tone, which the Evo can kinda do when I roll down the tone. but paf pro being bright? Never expected that.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I didn't find the paf pro to be that bright, but I don't think we were talking about neck pickups but bridge pickups. I see no other reason why a peg/custom would be discussed, or a J

The Evo neck is very glassy to my ears, like a Jazz but with a slightly more rounded top end, but not the fattiness of the alnico 2 pro or the full "girthy' midrange of the a2pro.

The air norton is just about right in the neck for me if I want a creamier tone, which the Evo can kinda do when I roll down the tone. but paf pro being bright? Never expected that.

I know these shootouts are kind of be taken as a grain of salt, but my experience with the PAF Pro kind of agreed with this comparison.

I think you can really hear it in the clean tone and the last lead line towards the end where the pick just goes chirp chirp chirp. My PAF Pro was like that too. I mean, the Jazz is also bright, and distorted, I feel like the PAF Pro has more girth. Maybe it isn't brighter than the Jazz per se, it's just REALLY attack-y.

Also, yeah, my bad. If we're speaking about the PAF Pro in the bridge, I like it there being attacky and aggressive.

 

[Seashore]

I just made another hybrid experiment that I'm pretty happy with. Not sure it's worth its own thread since I don't have clips, but I'll drop it in here. 500T/Invader. Only for the discerning connoisseur of high output ceramics (some might say "tone-deaf delusional moron").

The 500T is great in my baritone, but it's been sounding a bit soft since I put in new wiring and replaced the bridge (old bridge sounded snappier). I paired the screw coil and double-thick magnet trio from the 500T with the slug-position coil from an Invader, with hex screws instead of the big cap screws. The Invader coil is under the cover here because it's beat to crap; I also replaced the 500T filisters with hex head pole screws. The 500T measured 15.42k before the mod, hybrid measured 15.98k afterwards. I hoped that the slight difference between the coils would open up the high end and give me back some of the attack I was missing.




It did work, kind of. It sounds (just going by my ears) like the resonant peak got peakier. It's a little bit brighter and more jangly, noticeably harsher, more high mids, maybe a little bit thin-sounding in a "spaghetti western" way. Strident and slightly clanky. It's also got great pick attack, a slightly more dynamic feel, and a bit of that "hair" that makes the Distortion a cool pickup. Much of this is stuff that I've noticed in other hybrids - odd harshness in the mids coupled with a more dynamic feel. All in all, it's good and I'm keeping it. It works well for me in this position and pairs nicely with the neck Invader. Better fit than the stock 500T. But I'm also blessed with an amplifier that translates high mid spikes into responsive crunch. I don't think I would recommend it to anybody unless they have the pickups around and they need to move in this direction.

 

[Seashore]

Update to the above - I replaced the hex head poles in the photo (3/4" long) with filisters from a BKP Brute Force that are around 3/16" shorter. In addition to making it seem a tiny bit brighter, the weird upper mid clankiness in the attack has been reduced to the point where it no longer sticks out. Really, it sounds like a 500T, just brighter and more dynamic with a little bit more midrange - in other words, closer to how it sounded before I rewired the guitar and replaced the bridge. Bridge pup used to be going straight to the jack, and now I've got the same bite out of it with a volume pot in the circuit.