Which humbucker to combine with 2 Antiquity "surfers"single coils?

[Marathanz]

Hi everybody!

One of my guitars is a so called Double Fat Strat (HH configuration) with a rosewood fretboard and Floyd Rose tremolo. I didn't play it for a while, being back into more "vintage" style guitars, but I have picked it up again and realised it's actually a very good sounding and useful instrument.
I did change the original pick-ups several times, looking for the best sound. I've tried a Custom Custom, a Custom 5, a Pearly Gates and ended up with a Jeff Beck in the bridge position, all trembucker versions. In the neck position is a '59 humbucker.
Right now I want to change to a HSS configuration. I have a set of SD Antiquity II "Surfer" single coils lying around, that I want to put in the neck- and middle positions. I think the JB is a bit too hot, in combination with the single coil pups. I would love to have a combination where the humbucker doesn't jump out too much, but most important for me is that the 2nd position (split HB with middle SC) would sound as vintage "Strat-like" as possible...
So, I'm asking for advice; does anybody here has experience? I have to pick from: JB - Custom Custom - Custom 5 and Pearly Gates trembuckers. Don't want to buy any new ones now.
Would alnico II and alnico V be an important factor in the choice?
Any tips would be highly appreciated!

Cheers, Marathanz

 

[El Supremo]

Re: Which humbucker to combine with 2 Antiquity "surfers"single coils?

You'll be using 250k pots I presume? Try the '59 neck in the bridge first, the highs will be slightly subdued by the lower value pots. Might balance nicely with singles.
The PG might also be a good choice, although I suspect that might get to dark with a 250K. Others will chime in on that soon enough though.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Which humbucker to combine with 2 Antiquity "surfers"single coils?

I'd go for the Pearly Gates. I love the sound this guy gets:

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Which humbucker to combine with 2 Antiquity "surfers"single coils?

+1 for trying the PG again.

Ideally, I would choose the Pearly Gates Plus (available through Fender). You could get a reasonable approximation by changing the stock Alnico 2 magnet in your pickup to an Alnico 5.

 

[wolf5150]

Re: Which humbucker to combine with 2 Antiquity "surfers"single coils?

The Pearly Gates Plus isn't a trembucker !

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: Which humbucker to combine with 2 Antiquity "surfers"single coils?

Doesn't matter IMNSHO. Drop the PG in there.

 

[wolf5150]

Re: Which humbucker to combine with 2 Antiquity "surfers"single coils?

You won't get strat quack in pos 2 with the PG.
its too weak split.

 

[Marathanz]

Re: Which humbucker to combine with 2 Antiquity "surfers"single coils?

Hi guys!

Thank you all very much for your feedback and advice! I think I'll first go for the PG indeed. Cool vid by the way, thanks!

:13:

 

[wolf5150]

Re: Which humbucker to combine with 2 Antiquity "surfers"single coils?

If you're going with 250k pots, I'd strongly recommend the JB


Set it low and you'll have perfect quack in pos 2.

That's how I have mine and it's perfect.

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Which humbucker to combine with 2 Antiquity "surfers"single coils?

I'm going to try the WLH in my HSS.

 

[wolf5150]

Re: Which humbucker to combine with 2 Antiquity "surfers"single coils?

I've got the WLH in my warmoth.
On its own its lovely but it doesn't split well if like me, pos 2 is important.

I'm about to put it up for sale and get the new Perpetual Burn.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Which humbucker to combine with 2 Antiquity "surfers"single coils?

You won't get strat quack in pos 2 with the PG. It's too weak split.

Don't split it.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Which humbucker to combine with 2 Antiquity "surfers"single coils?

If you're going with 250k pots, I'd strongly recommend the JB


Set it low and you'll have perfect quack in pos 2.

That's how I have mine and it's perfect.

The JB does sound real good with 250K pots.

But so does the Pearly Gates.

The PG in this clip is probably being used with 250K pots.

 

[Marathanz]

Re: Which humbucker to combine with 2 Antiquity "surfers"single coils?

Hi Wolf,

I'll try both. Thanks for the advice. Position 2 is indeed important to me!

Cheers,


Marathanz

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Which humbucker to combine with 2 Antiquity "surfers"single coils?

I'll try both. Thanks for the advice. Position 2 is indeed important to me!

Then get three single coils because getting a truly satisfying sound from a split humbucker ain't gonna happen.

If it was my guitar I'd put my two favorite single coils (Surfers) and my favorite bridge humbucker with 250K pots (PGb) in it and just enjoy the darned thing for what it is.

 

[Marathanz]

Re: Which humbucker to combine with 2 Antiquity "surfers"single coils?

Hi Lew,

Thanks for your advice. I'm going to do some experimenting. (Y)

Cheers,


Marathanz

 

[cptl975]

Reviving this thread. Did anyone have a successful and happy solution? Marathanz ?

I have the same question as the op. I want Surfers in neck and middle with the S-1 switch splittable humbucker in the bridge currently on the strat, maybe swapping that out later down the road.
However, I heard back from a SD support rep that they strongly advise against this. They claimed, "The Antiquity Surfers can not be paired with a split humbucker and be in phase. When splitting our humbuckers, the north coil remains hot (clock-wise wind). Because they opposite wind direction as our standard pickups, you can not put them in phase with another single coil pickup."

So I was a little sad and about to give up on Surfers for my HSS strat when I came across this post.

Any thoughts, recommendations?

Thanks!

 

[Clint 55]

Whoever said that is an idiot. You can wire stuff however you want. You just have to do things differently. Which hum do you want to use?

 

[PFDarkside]

Reviving this thread. Did anyone have a successful and happy solution? Marathanz ?

I have the same question as the op. I want Surfers in neck and middle with the S-1 switch splittable humbucker in the bridge currently on the strat, maybe swapping that out later down the road.
However, I heard back from a SD support rep that they strongly advise against this. They claimed, "The Antiquity Surfers can not be paired with a split humbucker and be in phase. When splitting our humbuckers, the north coil remains hot (clock-wise wind). Because they opposite wind direction as our standard pickups, you can not put them in phase with another single coil pickup."

So I was a little sad and about to give up on Surfers for my HSS strat when I came across this post.

Any thoughts, recommendations?

Thanks!

Can you provide the diagram you plan to use? Depending on how you are looking to split, the answer could be different.

Since you have a standard and RWRP Surfer and a JB (4 conductor I assume) you can definitely get what you are looking for.

From a difficulty standpoint, here’s how I see things from
easiest to most difficult.
1. Swapping electrical phase on single coils
2. Swapping phase on 4 conductor humbucker
3. Changing split coil on 4 conductor humbucker
4. Changing magnetic polarity on humbuckers
5. Changing magnetic polarity on single coils

The pickups you have should all be in phase, and since you have a (I assume) 4 conductor HB, it just comes down to putting the right single coil in the right position and splitting to the correct coil.

Most diagrams show splitting to the Stud Coil, which is North.
Your neck Surfer is South and your RWRP Surfer is North.
Assuming a “standard” wiring setup, putting the RWRP in thr Neck, the standard in the Middle and split to the stud coil, you should get hum cancelling in positions 2/4.

Before you cut wires to perfect length, please confirm. The above is what I’d start with, but I’d keep all wires full length so it’s easy to swap if needed. Also, you can check for hum cancelling and phase in a Strat pickguard by temporarily soldering to a loose Jack, connecting to an amp and holding the pickguard up to another guitar ti confirm phase.

 

[PFDarkside]

EDIT - I misread, you want to use the current Fender HB? Everything below relates to all Duncan stuff. You can still use the same methods though. You’ll want to hold your known pickup magnetic polarities (Surfers) face to face with each coil of your HB to determine it’s magnet polarity.

Once you determine which coil is split to in each position, you can then determine where each surfer needs to go. Then if you are out of phase, you swap white/black on your surfers to bring it all in phase.

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