What bridge humbucker to match with Alnico-II Pro single coils?

[Hardtailed]

I have a Lite Ash Stratocaster which came stock with 3 Alnico-II Pro single coils. I want to install a bridge humbucker so I can use it live next to my LP (stock HBs).

Last time I've tried a mini-humbucker (Lil' 59 into an Am. Std. Tele) I was quite disappointed (the tone was just boring...).
So I want to put in a full size humbucker (with a new pickguard of course).

I was thinking maybe a Alnico-II Pro... I guess the tone would match the single coil?!?! Or maybe a Custom-Custom for a slightly hotter signal. I want a classic/modern hard rock kind of tone. I play through a Marshall DSL50.

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: What bridge humbucker to match with Alnico-II Pro single coils?

When I saw the title, I was going to suggest a Custom Custom. You beat me to it. I think either of those would be good choices.

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: What bridge humbucker to match with Alnico-II Pro single coils?

I have both the strat, and bucker version of the A2P, they are fantastic pups. The warmth from these pup is fantastic, if you went with the bridge bucker it would be a much closer match than the CC. It all depends what you want to do. With your amp you can definitely get the gain taken care of, some people's problem with the A2 magnets is the looser low end. I don't think it is much of an issue with some knob tweaking.

BTW Welcome to the forum!

Luke

 

[Hardtailed]

Re: What bridge humbucker to match with Alnico-II Pro single coils?

I don't really care about the looser low end, the tone from the Marshall is tight as hell and the guitar itself is very bright (Ash body, maple fretboard).
I'd like to retain the position 2 quack so I'd like it to sound good split, but more important, I'd like to be able to switch from my LP to the Strat and continue playing "chunky" rhytm without losing all my low end or sounding overly bright. The LP has the stock 490/498 combo so I guess loose low-end applies here as well.

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: What bridge humbucker to match with Alnico-II Pro single coils?

The CC will give you a good split sound, more convincing that the A2P. I'd go with the CC, or the JB. Since you are using 250k pots you won't have to worry about the JB being too bright. It will also give you a chunky sound. It's the quintessential superstrat pup.

Luke

 

[Stratcat]

Re: What bridge humbucker to match with Alnico-II Pro single coils?

A Pearly Gates bridge will balance well with the single coil in the neck.

 

[jeremy]

Re: What bridge humbucker to match with Alnico-II Pro single coils?

true enough. i put a set of aps1's with a pgb in a strat and the guy went nuts over the tone.

 

[Hardtailed]

Re: What bridge humbucker to match with Alnico-II Pro single coils?

A Pearly Gates bridge will balance well with the single coil in the neck.

I used to have a Fat Strat Texas Special which had a Pearly Gates "Plus" in the bridge (Alnico-V instead of II). It matched the single coils well (Texas Special) but by itself it was a pretty useless tone to me. Overly bright and icepicky, no "chunk" to it.