which are the warmest sd single slot humbuckers?

[cmopatrick]

I'm just getting to the point of upgrading pickups in an '09 PRS SE Santana, but I want to be a bit unorthodox and set it up with both single coil and humbuckers. Let me explain my thinking, I sometimes like more of a strat sound and at others like the warmth of humbuckers. Since this model has a 22 fret neck, I have more separation between the bridge and neck openings, not quite as much as a strat, but close. I'm thinking of using two sd strat single coils (haven't decided which, but the surfer and hendrix ones are about tied as my favorites right now), one in the half slot closest to the neck and one in the half slot closest to the bridge, then wire in a pair of single slot sd humbuckers (normal or rails) in the other half slot openings. I think I'd wire the two sets on opposite sides of a toggle, so I could have one sound or the other at the flip of a switch.

Thing is, the demos of the single slot humbuckers sound a bit brighter than I would want for this scheme to work. From what I've read so far here, you folks are willing to offer opinions, so here goes: in your opinions, what are the warmest single slot humbuckers here? For that matter, do you have opinions on the basic idea of having both options on one guitar?

Thanks for your time considering this and anything you might have to say (okay, type)
.

 

[Der Oberherr]

Re: which are the warmest sd single slot humbuckers?

No idea about the merits of your idea, but as for the warmest single coil sized humbucker, I would probably say the hot rails.

 

[Mincer]

Re: which are the warmest sd single slot humbuckers?

The Hot Rails are indeed, the warmest.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: which are the warmest sd single slot humbuckers?

If I understand your idea correctly, you are looking for two single coils, one for the neck and one for the bridge, and two single coil sized humbuckers, one neck and one bridge?

I think your idea has some value to it. I saw a YouTube video once where the guy wired four single coil sized humbuckers into a Les Paul copy without any routing. If I remember correctly, he had a Hot Rails and Little 59 in the neck and a JB Junior and Duckbucker in the bridge.

I'd say for what you want to do I'd put the Hot Rails in bridge, closest to the bridge, and a Lil 59 in the neck, closest to the neck. For the single coils, both of your ideas of the Surfers or Hendrix sets are good ideas.

 

[cmopatrick]

Re: which are the warmest sd single slot humbuckers?

Awesome feedback, everyone. Christoper, I especially appreciate the ideas on how to lay things out and about the Little '59.

Thank all of you very much!

 

[cmopatrick]

Re: which are the warmest sd single slot humbuckers?

I'd say for what you want to do I'd put the Hot Rails in bridge, closest to the bridge, and a Lil 59 in the neck, closest to the neck. For the single coils, both of your ideas of the Surfers or Hendrix sets are good ideas.

Well... the neck side looks like it would work, but the bridge would have a problem, wouldn't it? I say this because both the Hendrix and the Surfer have the triangle on the base that projects out... and unless I expand the cavity, wouldn't that make it difficult to pair with the rails closer to the bridge? Would it change the sound so very much to have the Hendrix/Surfer bridge pup next to the bridge and the rails in the other single slot?

 

[Chistopher]

Re: which are the warmest sd single slot humbuckers?

Which pickup is closest to the neck wouldn't make as big of a difference in the neck position, but in the bridge slot the pickup that is closest to the neck is twice as far from the bridge as the one that isn't. This would make it beneficial to put the hotter of the two pickups closest to the bridge.

 

[cmopatrick]

Re: which are the warmest sd single slot humbuckers?

... in the bridge slot the pickup that is closest to the neck is twice as far from the bridge as the one that isn't. This would make it beneficial to put the hotter of the two pickups closest to the bridge.

AH, didn't think of that... guess I'll have to mod the body. Thank you again.