What pickup to use for the ultimate allround guitar?

[ImNewToThis]

Im doing a super/ultimate guitar in either a strat, superstrat og les paul body
Im planing to put 3 humbuckers in it, with each having a switch were i can select between either coil, series of parralel operation. (doing this with a 4p4t switch for each pickup)
What humbucker could potentialy give me both a nice humbucker sound, but then when split, a nice twangy strat sound?
I looked at EMG 89's but then i couldn't get all of my options.
I did like the sound of a PRS se 24 with 85/15 both split and not.

TL;DR
Humbucker that sound much like a strat when split?

 

[Masta' C]

Re: What pickup to use for the ultimate allround guitar?

If you like the PRS 85/15 set, check out the "Custom 5" bridge and consider pairing it with something like the "Jazz" neck

If you like harder rock/metal, the JB has a great split sound.

 

[Mincer]

Re: What pickup to use for the ultimate allround guitar?

Triple Shot Rings on 3 humbuckers would be pretty versatile, although with any 'do it all' switching system, there may be just a handful of settings that you use all the time, so getting to those might require 2 or 3 switch moves. That being said, a Jazz, Stag Mag and 59/Custom Hybrid would provide a ridiculous amount of sounds.

 

[Ascension]

Re: What pickup to use for the ultimate allround guitar?

Easy 59/Custom Hybrid Bridge Sentient neck 3 way and a pair of split switches. Had the set up in my old KOA DC 127 Carvin for a while and it was fantastic. Went back to a Alt 8 bridge in that particular guitar but have a Hybrid Sentient set that is on hand just haven't decided where it's going yet.
Couple clips from a Christmas thing at my church running my old Mesa Subway Rocket and the DC 127 and this combo.
Split cleans and a country style solo threw this together on the fly sorry my playing was so sloppy.

 

[Ascension]

Re: What pickup to use for the ultimate allround guitar?

Same rig same gig next song in the set un miced amp full humbucker crunch channel on the Mesa few effects.

 

[Chris Pile]

Re: What pickup to use for the ultimate allround guitar?

There is no ultimate do-it-all guitar. Perfection is unobtainable, especially when seeking to excel in different situations.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: What pickup to use for the ultimate allround guitar?

That's just what people with no imagination say

With the right pickups and a couple switches (or triple shot rings), I could get a setup like this to sound like ANYTHING you can imagine a humbucker or single coil sounding like:

 

[jeremy]

Re: What pickup to use for the ultimate allround guitar?

stephen carpenter model? always loved those!

 

[Masta' C]

Re: What pickup to use for the ultimate allround guitar?

Agreed, the S-H-H pickup layout on those is pretty friggin' awesome.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: What pickup to use for the ultimate allround guitar?

IME The best and most versatile Humbuckers sound somewhat Fendery:stratty to begin with, split not required. Typically a Humbucker is good at one or the other. Either it sounds fantastic split and thick/muddy/spiky as a Humbucker, or it’s fantastic as a Humbucker and anemic/thin/weak when split. There’s a couple exceptions, but not many.

Having 6 coils in a guitar and splitting between them is fine to figure out which sounds you like, but once you’ve had that experience, the ultimate guitar will be the one where you only wire in the few sounds you actually can use.

 

[ImNewToThis]

Re: What pickup to use for the ultimate allround guitar?

What do you guys think of a Tom Andersen H1-? in the neck dont really know about the middel and bridge tho

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: What pickup to use for the ultimate allround guitar?

Those Andersons split well because of the vertical magnet placement. My H2 splits very well indeed. Good all-around pickup. Has a detailed and slightly hi-fi character not unlike my Suhr DSH. Cant speak to the H1 but they have a good reputation.

Another set that splits ridiculously nicely are the 1985 reissues from PRS - they have rod magnets in the slug coils like the original 1980s PRS pickups, which nowadays are hard to find (though there's a set up on eBay right now for $549). I put a reissue set in a '95 CE22 and they sound very much like the T&Bs in my favorite '87. Pretty sure the differences between the two guitars are responsible for the slight differences in sound & fingertouch. The reissues are discontinued now too, so now would be the time to grab a pair if you're leaning in that direction.

Duncan makes a humbucker made from two Strat coils called the StagMag. Haven't owned any myself but the general consensus seems to be that the split sound is great but the series tone isn't as rich or as smooth as a conventional bucker. To me it makes sense that they'd have that kind of character.

And a big +1 on the 59/Custom hybrid for good splits in a pickup with a great series tone!

 

[IMENATOR]

Re: What pickup to use for the ultimate allround guitar?

I think it really depends on what your favorite neck sound is. A well chosen HSH or HSS guitar are super versatile because of the HB bridge and SC middle. I have heard great comments about Screamin Demon bridge split sound, even Yamaha had a promo video demonstrating it. Also, keep in mind the P-Rail pickups.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: What pickup to use for the ultimate allround guitar?

I really liked both the Tone Zone bridge and Evo neck when split. The can be made to sound very close to single coils. In general I think that high output pickups split better. Low output humbuckers sound better as humbuckers, but end up very weak/bright when split.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: What pickup to use for the ultimate allround guitar?

That looks like an unnecessary P.I.T.A. (would require six switches, plus your normal guitar controls), when there is a product made by Duncan that does exactly what you want, with no "real" wiring alterations. They are called Triple Shots.

 

[ImNewToThis]

Re: What pickup to use for the ultimate allround guitar?

well yea but they are quite expensive compared to a simple 4 pole 4 throw switch

 

[Artie]

Re: What pickup to use for the ultimate allround guitar?

You actually only need a DP4T switch to get all four modes:



That's series, stud, screw, parallel.

 

[BluesIsBlood12]

Re: What pickup to use for the ultimate allround guitar?

P90 neck + split humbucker bridge would be about as versatile as I'd ever need, and without all that complicated switching. For SD products I'd say Phat Cat + 59/Custom. I would guess you could probably wire it so that the middle would "quack" a little with the split bridge.

I don't like trying to make 1 guitar do everything though. I have a PRS Vela that can cover just about any style, but for any given style I've got another guitar that would do it better. It's fantastic to have as a backup though.

 

[Artie]

Re: What pickup to use for the ultimate allround guitar?

I don't like trying to make 1 guitar do everything though.

I agree with this, but with one exception. When one is trying to hear for themselves what the different modes of operation sound like. It was only by my switching between stud and screw coil that I learned what the true difference was. Same for split & parallel. But if I was playing on stage, I'd want to keep it simple.

 

[donaldr]

Re: What pickup to use for the ultimate allround guitar?

Surprisingly, my most versatile guitar is an HSS Godin Exit 22. This guitar is a mix between a Strat (HSS, bolt-on neck, maple neck/fretboard, in-line tuners, fix bridge but with a trem block) and a Les Paul (mahogany body, single-cut, 24.75" scale). This guitar was modded with EMG 60/S/S with 3-way blade switch (no 2-4 position), master volume, one tone for neck/middle and one tone for bridge. Had the same pickup set but in an alder Superstrat and the result was totally different. This guitar does not have the "active" sound we are used to. Maybe not the best sound noodling alone in your bedroom but a very good sound in a band context (cut and clear).
So HSS is pretty versatile without fancy wiring and switches. Use a hotter set that 1-cleans well with the volume knob, 2-is brighter so you can use your tone pot for warm (3-4) or for cut (8-10).
I have an HS Strat with a Screamin Demon bridge (also with its own tone pot) and no need to split, just lower the volume and dimmed the tone.