Which pickups have been used by the most diverse range of recording artists?

Re: Which pickups have been used by the most diverse range of recording artists?

In my experience, there's a chimey crispness that only single-coils possess, though sound more thin and light the more this is pronounced. On the other hand, there's some robust mamma-jamma that only humbuckers really have, unless of course you count stacked or humbucker-sized singles. Through the use of software modeling via a Focusrite interface, more often than not, there is no difference whatsoever once I've made a sound selection. No matter what guitar I use and which pickup configuration, they sound the same. So of course, this is going to be true, to some degree anyway, when using pedals and preamps. I would also argue that the more pedals you use, the more "away" from your guitar's original sound you're headed. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it does distort(no pun) the lines somewhat when it comes to original sound.
As much as I praise and glorify Johnson, he does have in his arsenal a myriad of pedals. So what's the OE sound?

Apples to oranges...
 
Re: Which pickups have been used by the most diverse range of recording artists?

I'd agree that single coils are more versatile than humbuckers. Humbuckers are inherently "scooped" due to comb filtering between the two coils. They sound rich as a result, but if you ever think there's something missing with a humbucker, that's because there literally is.
 
Re: Which pickups have been used by the most diverse range of recording artists?

I'd agree that single coils are more versatile than humbuckers. Humbuckers are inherently "scooped" due to comb filtering between the two coils. They sound rich as a result, but if you ever think there's something missing with a humbucker, that's because there literally is.

Funny, when I think quintessential Strat tone, I think slightly scooped mids, sparkling highs, and the bass depends on the position. Humbuckers, I think just the opposite. Rolled off highs, in your face mids, and a saggy bass.
 
Re: Which pickups have been used by the most diverse range of recording artists?

That goes to show how futile and unproductive it is to have anecdotal conversations based on uncontrolled/subjective methods of determining frequency response.
 
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Re: Which pickups have been used by the most diverse range of recording artists?

Not really futile. Once there's a reasonable sample of views, you can tell who the outliers in hearing are.
 
Re: Which pickups have been used by the most diverse range of recording artists?

Not really futile. Once there's a reasonable sample of views, you can tell who the outliers in hearing are.

I wouldn't say that there are any "outliers", just people with different setups. If everybody was playing an SH-4 in their Mahogany Les Pauls into a Marshall and some fella has his SH-4 in a Strat into a Twin Reverb, can you really blame him for hearing things differently?
 
Re: Which pickups have been used by the most diverse range of recording artists?

In the mid '90's it seemed that the JB was in every other guitar I stumbled across. I know they get a lot of hate but d-mn sure made a lot of great music and still do. Love mine paired with a '59 in both of my LTD EC400 AT's.
 
Re: Which pickups have been used by the most diverse range of recording artists?

Funny, when I think quintessential Strat tone, I think slightly scooped mids, sparkling highs, and the bass depends on the position. Humbuckers, I think just the opposite. Rolled off highs, in your face mids, and a saggy bass.

The scooping is in the upper mids because the coils are so close together. The Strat "quack" is a more true mid scoop, and a result of the coils being much farther apart.
 
Re: Which pickups have been used by the most diverse range of recording artists?

Qualitative data about what is the question, especially when derived from uncontrolled testing and presented in an echo chamber.

I'm more interested in the part about outliers. It's quite possible that the "outliers" are the ones who have a better grasp on the reality of the situation, hence the link.
 
Re: Which pickups have been used by the most diverse range of recording artists?

In the mid '90's it seemed that the JB was in every other guitar I stumbled across. I know they get a lot of hate but d-mn sure made a lot of great music and still do. Love mine paired with a '59 in both of my LTD EC400 AT's.

not to sidetrack the thread, but I just wanted to add to this post.
JBs were in tons of 80s axes too.. Matter of fact, just today, after not playing for about 3 weeks (it sure showed) I plugged up my 80s Kramer with JB/59 and it sounded amazing!!!

Also, I used to have a LTD EC400AT with that combo and it was killer. I stupidly sold it cuz I told myself I needed 2 vol/2tones and Ive regretted selling it ever since...
 
Re: Which pickups have been used by the most diverse range of recording artists?

Qualitative data about what is the question, especially when derived from uncontrolled testing and presented in an echo chamber.

I'm more interested in the part about outliers. It's quite possible that the "outliers" are the ones who have a better grasp on the reality of the situation, hence the link.

True. But it's just as erroneous to discount many data points simply because there are many of them.
 
Re: Which pickups have been used by the most diverse range of recording artists?

The scooping is in the upper mids because the coils are so close together. The Strat "quack" is a more true mid scoop, and a result of the coils being much farther apart.

LOL...you're full of shyte. Enough with that self aggrandizing claims already. I reckon you get your info from the same source as Thanaton did.
 
Re: Which pickups have been used by the most diverse range of recording artists?

I'd agree that single coils are more versatile than humbuckers. Humbuckers are inherently "scooped" due to comb filtering between the two coils. They sound rich as a result, but if you ever think there's something missing with a humbucker, that's because there literally is.

Do you actually understand WTF comb filtering is? Theoretically the result would be nasal, weak sound, not 'rich' as you CLAIM to have experienced.

The only thing missing in a humbucker is the hum, hence the name.

Thanks for the laugh, Louis C.K.
 
Re: Which pickups have been used by the most diverse range of recording artists?


I feel this one would have been better if he had used a hollow body.
 
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Re: Which pickups have been used by the most diverse range of recording artists?

...but to offer an answer to the question at hand (and again tip a hat to EJ), the stock* pickups in one of these have been quite diverse:


(*) which, from my limited knowlege about Gibson, seems to be mystery meat.
 
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