Page 1 of 2

Humbucker Advice

Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 8:02 pm
by hatshirt
i am getting back an Epiphone SG custom back that i traded to a friend and need some help in the realm of humbuckers. the stock pickups are shit and i'm gonna change them for something better. i usually play Fenders so i'm used to a single coil sound and would like so try to create as much of that as i can when swapping the stock pickups. so my question is, what humbucker in the market today can create the best jangly, clean tone? thanks!

Re: Humbucker Advice

Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 8:31 pm
by Ancient Astronaught
gfs makes some pretty rockin p90's in a humbucker sized pickup, the sg is still going to be meatier than a fender but with p90's it'll be like a hefty jazzmaster.

Re: Humbucker Advice

Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 8:38 pm
by Holy Schnikes
I'd second the p90s or better yet, look into some coil tapped Humbuckers or p90s...

Re: Humbucker Advice

Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 9:50 pm
by bubstance
Somehow I ended up with a Smit's Pickups CharlieHorse... it's one of those humbuckers that is two Strat-style slug coils (with real Forbon bobbins!) side by side with a 4-conductor wire for options. It's very bright and jangly for a humbucker... I'd say it's damn close to the early Fender Wide Range sound.

Here's a link.

Re: Humbucker Advice

Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2011 7:29 am
by tim
I have a pair of Seymour Duncan 59s in my Les Paul. They are very much humbuckers but still have a nice clean sound. They're bright without being shrill and are a fair bit cooler than other humbuckers I've tried.

Re: Humbucker Advice

Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2011 7:43 am
by husc
I have a Seymour Duncan JB4 , not very clean, but loud and great harmonics.

Re: Humbucker Advice

Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2011 1:17 pm
by bob the r0bot
GFS makes WRHB knock offs in normal sized enclosures. That's pretty much as fender-y as humbuckers get. They're on the cheaper side too.

Re: Humbucker Advice

Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2011 2:55 pm
by Ironbird13
DiMarzio Humbucker from Hell, very stratish sounding for a HB (not a high power br00tz as the name suggests) its only 5.89kOhm
http://www.dimarzio.com/pickups/humbuckers/humbucker-hell

i have one in the neck of my Eagle, with an Invader in the bridge, can go from br00tz to almost clean by just changing pickups :thumb:
sounds real nice clean or with a little dirt, not so good with full on distortion though

Re: Humbucker Advice

Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 5:18 am
by colin
I've never been a big fan of humbuckers, but I picked up a 70's MIJ Les Paul copy last week anyway. I liked the sound of it a lot more than most LP's I've played to be honest, but I think it sounds just a touch thin and trebly for an LP. Following a hunch I checked today, and sure enough the pickups are actually single coils hidden under gold covers. :lol:

Obviously I'm not planning on spending a ton on pickups for a cheap guitar, so I'm thinking of trying out GFS. Seeing as I am more of a single coil man, I'm planning on going for a Mean 90 for the neck. Should I go for a set of Mean 90's or should I go out on a limb and put a humbucker in the bridge?

Anyone have experience with the P90 and humbucker combo? Any recommendations as to which GFS 'bucker would be a good match for the Mean 90? Or should I just play it safe and go with two Mean 90's?

Re: Humbucker Advice

Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 6:05 am
by Hacken
Try the Dream 180 humbucker and wire it for coil tapping. I was just thinking about a set up like that. Or go with two humbuckers and coil tapping, it´s gives you so much options!

Re: Humbucker Advice

Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 1:29 pm
by fishballs
I have a love/hate relationship with humbuckers... I've gone down the path of boutique and went full circle back to Seymour Duncans... I can't say these are perfect, but it wasn't a struggle to find 'em locally.

Re: Humbucker Advice

Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 3:54 pm
by hbombgraphics
I installed a Dimarzio Eric Johnson HB in the neck of a friends ESP Viper it is still a bucker but they have nice chime,
Viper is pretty close to an SG, but this pickup got him close to single coil sounds and I don't think the price is that bad for a signature pickup.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessor ... tom-pickup

Re: Humbucker Advice

Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 4:44 pm
by foomanfat
Mean 90s all the way! I put a set in my Dot and I think they sound pretty dec.
I'm a single coil guy as well.

Re: Humbucker Advice

Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 5:27 pm
by eatyourguitar
I already have a strat so if I ever got an SG I wouldn't want it to sound like a strat. you can get a bridge HB that is plenty bright. it really depends on what else you play. the 59 in the bridge is probably the most normal average pickup you could get so I would start there. and maybe a jazz for the neck. on ebay you can get a jazz/59 set used. thats how they come on many major brands. jazz neck, 59 bridge

Re: Humbucker Advice

Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 8:23 pm
by hatshirt
thanks for the responses everyone :thumb: i decided to go with a set of SD 59's. i've heard alot of good things about them and i was able to get the matched set for $96 with a discount at work. i'm gonna put the fucker together this weekend and throw on a bigsby that i aquired. goin with the vibramate as well. i'll tell you all how this endeavor plays out.