Which humbucker splits the best?

[Benjy_26]

Hello everybody.

I recently obtained an Epiphone Nighthawk Custom RI and I need some help deciding what pickup to use in the bridge. Currently, it is in stock configuration, and while the stock pickups sound pretty good as they are, I'm looking for a little bit more tightness to the overall sound and maybe a little bit more sweetness from the top end when split. I had a middle single coil wound up by Sentell pickups that measures around 7k on my multimeter and is loaded with strat style alnico rods vs the bar magnet found on the stock unit. I plan on installing a SM-1n in the neck (because I like the sound and I have a few laying about).
My question relates to the bridge slanted humbucker specifically. Currently, there's only 3 models that fit the bridge slot without any mods: the Duncan 59, JB, and Rio Grande's BBQ 'bucker. I worry that the JB is a little loose as a humbcuker in a mahogany body, but the 59 may not be great when split. The BBQ 'bucker is an unknown to me.

Another option would be to get another Duncan built as a shop floor custom on the slanted base plate. If so, I'll likely go with a Demon or a Custom.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Which humbucker splits the best?

I read in another thread that you can transfer your pickup of choice to the stock baseplate. The JB does split very well but it sounds like you're not to keen on it.

 

[Blille]

Re: Which humbucker splits the best?

I thought the JB being the best “true HB” split was almost consensus.

Does the hybrid use a 59 or custom baseplate? That could work.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Which humbucker splits the best?

I read in another thread that you can transfer your pickup of choice to the stock baseplate. The JB does split very well but it sounds like you're not to keen on it.

I like the JB's spit tones, especially in a bolt on guitar with a maple neck. I've had mixed results with it's full humbucler tones in set neck, mahogany single cuts.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Which humbucker splits the best?

I thought the JB being the best “true HB” split was almost consensus.

Does the hybrid use a 59 or custom baseplate? That could work.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I've never really messed with hybrid pickups. The only one I've spent any real time with was a Demon/PATB1b hybrid and a Custom Shop PG/Antiquity hybrid in a LP.

 

[VinceT]

Re: Which humbucker splits the best?

I love the split of the 59/custom hybrid.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Which humbucker splits the best?

Stag Mag.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Which humbucker splits the best?

I love the split of the 59/custom hybrid.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

This or a Custom.

 

[VinceT]

Re: Which humbucker splits the best?

This or a Custom.

Agreed, though I love the 59/Custom in all configurations!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Which humbucker splits the best?

Stag Mag.

Is the stag-mag wound on top of a baseplate?

 

[BlueFrankie]

Re: Which humbucker splits the best?

I like my Custom Custom split quite well.

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Which humbucker splits the best?

Is the stag-mag wound on top of a baseplate?

Yes; I suspect it would be as easy as anything else to swap onto a different plate.

For me the Stag Mag with both coils in series is a very vintage/low output pickup that has a lot of the quicker response characteristics and twang of a single coil, but with the EQ of a PAF (because of I don't know, comb filtering.) It's definitely unique full. Split, it sounds almost like a 'real' single coil (with differences because of I don't know, different Q factor it won't sound quite the same, but you do get an actual single coil with magnet poles.)

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Which humbucker splits the best?

Yes; I suspect it would be as easy as anything else to swap onto a different plate.

For me the Stag Mag with both coils in series is a very vintage/low output pickup that has a lot of the quicker response characteristics and twang of a single coil, but with the EQ of a PAF (because of I don't know, comb filtering.) It's definitely unique full. Split, it sounds almost like a 'real' single coil (with differences because of I don't know, different Q factor it won't sound quite the same, but you do get an actual single coil with magnet poles.)

That's interesting. I never gave the stag mag much thought, tbh.

 

[canon_mutant]

Re: Which humbucker splits the best?

I would stay away from metal covered pups if you like to go HB to split a lot. I have found all of my previous and current metal covered pup guitars to be anemic splitters. I have a couple of uncovered HB guitars, one Custom Custom [Custom] C-3 done for Godin that splits really well along with the Jazz. And the WLHs do OK split in my Epi LP but I literally call it my Led Zep guitar and rarely split it. But, generally, I just get frustrated and grab my Strat or one of 2 P90 guitars for "proper" SC tone.

 

[BlueFrankie]

Re: Which humbucker splits the best?

Seriously, the custom custom is a great pickup split or otherwise. The custom is tight, but the custom custom will give you the sweetness you crave. A2 magnet, but still a pretty modern sounding pickup. I really love it. I would say the main difference between the JB and the Custom Custom is that the mids in the Custom Custom are shifted down slightly making it less nasally and more like a singing tone. It growls too. Love it.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Which humbucker splits the best?

Seriously, the custom custom is a great pickup split or otherwise. The custom is tight, but the custom custom will give you the sweetness you crave. A2 magnet, but still a pretty modern sounding pickup. I really love it. I would say the main difference between the JB and the Custom Custom is that the mids in the Custom Custom are shifted down slightly making it less nasally and more like a singing tone. It growls too. Love it.

I may have to get a Custom wound on a slant baseplate, that way I can try the C5 and CC as well.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Which humbucker splits the best?

I would stay away from metal covered pups if you like to go HB to split a lot. I have found all of my previous and current metal covered pup guitars to be anemic splitters. I have a couple of uncovered HB guitars, one Custom Custom [Custom] C-3 done for Godin that splits really well along with the Jazz. And the WLHs do OK split in my Epi LP but I literally call it my Led Zep guitar and rarely split it. But, generally, I just get frustrated and grab my Strat or one of 2 P90 guitars for "proper" SC tone.

I hear ya. This guitar can't have a covered pickup at the bridge. The shape of the cavity militates against it.

 

[Blille]

Re: Which humbucker splits the best?

I've never really messed with hybrid pickups. The only one I've spent any real time with was a Demon/PATB1b hybrid and a Custom Shop PG/Antiquity hybrid in a LP.

Well, like some confirmed later, the 59/C hybrid might be a good fit for you.

 

[Ascension]

Re: Which humbucker splits the best?

I love the split of the 59/custom hybrid.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Same here and would think it would nail the tones you are talking in Bucker mode.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Which humbucker splits the best?

Silence Kid beat me to it, but the StagMag would be an excellent choice. There aren't many humbuckers that split as well as the SM. Great true single coil tone and pretty darn good series tone as well. It even sounds great in parallel.

Of course any of the Customs would be a good choice as well, my preference as a starting point would be the C5. You can adjust tone and performance by changing magnets to any of the alnicos or even a ceramic (not my cup of tea). Or even replace one of the coils with one from a 59, Demon, Jazz, or Pearly and create a hybrid which would also be a good choice for what you want.