Favorite single coil pickup?

[VENGEANCE]

Hey everyone, just wanted to get an idea of what kind of single coil pickups you guys are using out there, from vintage sounding ones to stack single coils. I've been experimenting with noiseless pickups on my strat but somehow there's something lacking from my tone, perhaps the hum attributes to it?

 

[zesn]

anyone else dislikes the Texas Special too?
Cause i've read many reviews that it sucks but it sounds fine to me.

 

[subversion]

i simply love the Duncan Classic Stack +... (1)noise free (2)works in both Strat & non-Strat type guitars (have it in my Fender & Ibanez guitars) (3)sounds great clean + lots of distortion

 

[subversion]

... but it sounds fine to me.

they r acceptable to me as well. the Texas Specials sound excessively trebly & lacking in warmth- that's what people dislike about them but they are supposed to sound this way.

 

[skipper53]

Texas Specials are kinda there for that country twang, if you want something throatier.. yea. subbie's duncans are a viable option!

 

[subversion]

because i'm a distortion dweeb, i'm not too steep into the single coil tone. there was a time when i thought the proverbial single coil for distortion does NOT exist but i guess that was before the CS+ came my way...

 

[relinquish69]

I have Tonerider City Limits loaded on my ST-62 Stratocaster. The cleans are shimmering on that set. Tonerider are good for nailing those old school strat bell tones.

 

[Rokken]

dimarzio hs3 or seymour duncan YJM neck and bridge for me. i use high gain, so i use the single coils to remain the clarity of the notes

 

[empty71]

http://budzguitars.com./budzguitars/Home.html floats my boat

Authentic rootsy vintage tone!

 

[wck]

Stan Hinesley's Karmas are great. They're low output single coils, nice vintage-y sounds.

 

[VENGEANCE]

Vintage output pickups I would go for fender custom shop 69 or fat 50s, and I've tried a couple of tonerider pickups as well. They basically sound the same or even better then fender ones and very reasonably priced. Have a listen to the sound samples yourself, two thumbs up coming from me! http://www.tonerider.com/

Anyways, I'm not so familiar on high output single coils. I have a Jackson professional guitar and still am deciding on which model to go for, the pickup cavity seems to only fit seymour duncan single coils which is why I'm sticking to that rather then dimarzios. Suggestions from anyone that has experience with multiple models of seymour duncan single coils?

 

[MadWerewolfBoy]

So far I’ve only used 3 dimarzios singles and they’re quite good imo.

For the humbucking kinda singles, I’ve tried the Pro Track and currently, the Air Norton S, both in the neck position. The Pro Track really sounds like a PAF humbucker, though slightly towards the fat side but not muddy. The Air Norton S on the other hand is a lil less defined than the Pro Track and is bordering on the muddy side, I’m not too sure on their claim that it sounds exactly like a full sized Air Norton, but I like my neck pickup like that to get the ultra fat sound through harsh distortion.

Please pardon the sloppy playing, but an example of the Air Norton S tone through distortion can be heard during the bohemian and smoke on the water solo here: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150307056245120
Great for upper frets/ upper strings, but you can tell it's bordering on muddiness during the accending bohemian sequence when the lower strings were played. Can hide sloppy playing like that

The Dimarzio Virtual Vintage 54 Pro is the other pickup I’ve tried. I use it in the middle position and I like it more than the stock single coil of my pacifica. It has a pretty “safe” single coil tone, not the glassy brittle thin type. The best part about it is it’s totally silent and I use it when every I need that clean “uncoloured” acoustic tone or when I need the snappy tele-like sound in conjunction with the neck or bridge pickup in parallel wiring.

 

[CaboWabo]

Very happy user of scn noiseless here

 

[subversion]

that's one of the more appealing pickup by the manufacturer, really

 

[j_m_s]

I love the big dippers in my JM strat.

I also do very much enjoy the Dimarzio Area 58, Area 58 and Area 61 combination...

 

[ShredAddict]

Just curious. There are loads of custom pickup winders out there that can wind pickups to your specs but who makes the best custom winds and what determines whether it's a good custom wound pickup or not?

For high output single coils I don't think Fender, Tonerider or Lollar will fit the bill. Try any rail single coil pickup. Those work great on distortion. Many choices, Duncans, Dimarzios, Bill Lawrance, Sky, etc.

 

[MadWerewolfBoy]

good is subjective when it comes to tone, let alone best. there are quite a few people who love stock pickups, then in this case, swapping them out won't really be better for them.

 

[Gates]

No love for Lollars?

http://www.lollarguitars.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=strat-pickups

I have the dirty blonde set on my strat and it is dam versatile.

The blackface set has the best reviews though. Youtube it!