Humbucker Advice
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- hatshirt
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Humbucker Advice
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!
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Re: Humbucker Advice
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.
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Re: Humbucker Advice
I'd second the p90s or better yet, look into some coil tapped Humbuckers or p90s...
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Re: Humbucker Advice
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.
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Re: Humbucker Advice
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.
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Re: Humbucker Advice
I have a Seymour Duncan JB4 , not very clean, but loud and great harmonics.
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Re: Humbucker Advice
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.
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Re: Humbucker Advice
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
sounds real nice clean or with a little dirt, not so good with full on distortion though
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

sounds real nice clean or with a little dirt, not so good with full on distortion though
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Re: Humbucker Advice
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.
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?

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?
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Re: Humbucker Advice
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!
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Re: Humbucker Advice
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.
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Re: Humbucker Advice
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
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
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Re: Humbucker Advice
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.
I'm a single coil guy as well.

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- eatyourguitar
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Re: Humbucker Advice
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
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- hatshirt
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Re: Humbucker Advice
thanks for the responses everyone
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.
