Single coil tone from a humbucker

scotte_za · #1 03-09-2009, 10:01 AM

I have this guitar which I am refinishing at the moment. It has a single humbucker route which is set back just slightly further than a standard middle pickup route, an alder body, maple neck and fretboard and fender-style trem (which I might block).

I want to get a tone out of it similar to Hendrix's (quite a difficult goal, I know). I'm looking for that rounded, singing single coil tone with just a hint of twang In particular, the tone on Little Wing. I know my amp choice plays a big part in this, but I'm working on that too

Here's a pic of the body:

Which pickup do you think would be appropriate for my situation? Should I get a decent vintage humbucker and only wire up one of the coils? Or is there a humbucker which I can just wire in a standard fashion which will help me achieve this tone? I might have problems getting hold of DiMarzios without ordering them online, but Duncans aren't a problem to get hold of in South Africa.

mi2tom · #2 03-09-2009, 10:03 AM

You can get any humbucker and coil tap the bucker.

scotte_za · #3 03-09-2009, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mi2tom

You can get any humbucker and coil tap the bucker.

Do you have any recommendations in terms of which humbucker to choose? I've always worked with high output pickups, so I'm a bit lost in blues/modern rock territory.

Algiman · #4 03-09-2009, 10:26 AM

Dimarzio Bluesbucker may work for you - it is voiced to sound like a P90 but splits to a strat single coil sound. I have one in the neck of one of my guitars and really like it.
You can tap any humbucker of course, but they mostly sound like tapped humbuckers rather than a true single coil.

scotte_za · #5 03-09-2009, 10:32 AM

OK cool, thanks for the replies guys

Someone told me on the Seymour Duncan forum that I am wasting my time with this guitar because the pickup route is so far from the bridge route. What do you guys think? They reckon that I'll only be able to get more old school Jazz tones outta this instrument.

_FR0D0 · #6 03-09-2009, 10:37 AM

If seymour duncan is your way then you should get a Stag Mag

scotte_za · #7 03-09-2009, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _FR0D0

If seymour duncan is your way then you should get a Stag Mag

That looks like exactly what I want! Thanks

Jacob K · #8 03-09-2009, 12:17 PM

Why don't you just put two single-coil size pickups in the guitar? For example, you could do 1 real single coil and a singlecoil-size humbucker for some funky tone variations.

nickcoumbe · #9 03-09-2009, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotte_za

OK cool, thanks for the replies guys

Someone told me on the Seymour Duncan forum that I am wasting my time with this guitar because the pickup route is so far from the bridge route. What do you guys think? They reckon that I'll only be able to get more old school Jazz tones outta this instrument.

I don't think it is a waste of time, although I normally think of Hendrix type sounds as being on the neck PU.

The guitar looks cool either way

scotte_za · #10 03-09-2009, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacob K

Why don't you just put two single-coil size pickups in the guitar? For example, you could do 1 real single coil and a singlecoil-size humbucker for some funky tone variations.

Is that really possible? Because that would be a perfect solution for me! A vintage sounding single and a lil '59 would be awesome!

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickcoumbe

The guitar looks cool either way

It wil be, I'm painting it in glow in the dark paint :P

docc · #11 03-10-2009, 01:18 PM

Rio Grande - Tallboy; Halfbreed; Miu Grande
Lace Pickups - Dually Lace Sensor Series
Tom Anderson - 'H' Series

The construction of these is of 2xtrue single-coil pickups side by side (not the P.A.F. style).

EMG 89

EEF13 · #12 03-10-2009, 03:54 PM

Hendrix used the neck pup most of the time so you wont really get his sound from a bridge pup

Konnis · #13 03-10-2009, 04:57 PM

Actually, I'm pretty sure that Hendrix got his guitar wired up so he could use both bridge and neck pickup in the same time.

scotte_za · #14 03-11-2009, 04:39 AM

Those Lace pickups ad the EMG 89 look very interesting, does anyone have experience with the 89?

However, now I'm considering putting a Roland Midi pickup in the guitar to control a Synthesizer for some interesting Psytrance action

Or maybe I'll stick to the original plan, who knows?

I found myself another guitar to use as my old school rock machine, posted pics here: http://www.jemsite.com/forums/f19/ng...ele-88138.html