Which 'S' for an high output but flexible HSH?

H

Hakkah

New member
Hi All,

I was after some opinions on the best ‘S’ pick up for an HSH configuration.

I have two Ibanez RG1570 guitars both have basswood bodies, rosewood on (mostly) maple necks and trems; and I’m looking to upgrade all 6 pickups. In other respects the guitars are stock but I will be adding sustain blocks at some point.

Amp-wise I am mainly using a twin MESA RoadKing V1 &V2 stereo rig.

As for style of playing I guess I would call it heavy rock but definitely towards the metal end of things.

Although its rock I’m partial to huge guitar sounds and have had some custom pickups wound that come out at about 18K (ish) and they are quite intense and do register on the face meltingly aggressive sound spectrum.

That said I have seen some demos of the Black Winter set and Nazgul/Sentient and they both sound very much like what I’m after, for some variety, but keeping in the high output/ powerful sounds arena.

Both sets seem to be both powerful and articulate with good note definition which is useful as I do lots of fills and licks round drone and single/twin note style riffs.

That said because I’m not into death doom destructo-metal-geddon so I do need some tonal flexibility hence the question about which middle pickup to match with these two face-peelers.
Over to you good people. Please let me know your thoughts and all opinions especially from musos with similar rigs would be much appreciated.

Cheers, H
 
Re: Which 'S' for an high output but flexible HSH?

Look up the Quarter Pounder for a more P90 type sound, or the JB Jr and Hot Rails for a more humbuckerish sound.
 
Re: Which 'S' for an high output but flexible HSH?

If you want a cleaner sound with those metal pickups, I'd suggest a Classic Stack. As a bonus, it is hum-cancelling.
 
Re: Which 'S' for an high output but flexible HSH?

Thanks for the reply. I have noticed the QP before posting looks like a good option. H
 
Re: Which 'S' for an high output but flexible HSH?

Thanks, interesting choice. I have no experience of the RWRP pickups. I gather that when selected on their own the RWRP has no effect on the sound. Hum cancelling is good too and the output in the ball park for the split on 2/4 selector option. Much appreciated, H.
 
Re: Which 'S' for an high output but flexible HSH?

If you want a single to be hum canceling when run with a split humbucker it needs to be a standard wind and not RW RP. Use a standard sing in a H-S-H and auto split your humbuckers on the 5 way and your only true single coil position without hum-bucking will be pos 3. Have one here now like that and have done several. Will give you the Strat tones through the middle and full hum-bucking on each end. I personally like a vintage output single there for the versatility of tones in 2,3 and 4. If you want hotter go with a SSl-5 or 6 as to me they sound far better with the split humbuckers than say a hotter and fatter SSl-3 or quarter pounder.
 
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Re: Which 'S' for an high output but flexible HSH?

Glad I checked That is the exact combo I'm looking for Thanks Much appreciated H
 
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