single coil or humbucker = clean tone ?
- Thread starter foxblinkhope
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If you wanna chug a lot, get a high gain amp.
Single coils are good for funk and blues rock - mainly cause the quack and twang of single coils are suited for these two styles. Also note definition when playing funk chords are easily heard on single coils. It also depends on what kind of pickups (magnets/windings) are used. For these two, mid/low-mid output is suitable.
High output single coils would gravitate you more towards the basic rock/hard rock tones.
humbuckers are good for hardcore, basic rock, its not too good for funk because it may get muddy and note definition is not as clear when playing 3 note/4 note chords. It also lacks twang and quack, but the output is smoother and thus used for classic rock/rock/hard rock.
BUT, of course it is not limited to these two, you can always use humbucker equipped guitars to play funk and blues rock. Its just a matter of preference.
Answering your question as to stacked humbuckers, you might wanna try looking at seymour duncan's line of single coil sized humbuckers. They are a direct retrofit into the cavity of the mex strat.
Just to let you know, Tom morello of Audioslave/RATM uses a strat that has been modified ( re routed for FR and locking nut + hot rails in the bridge )
You might wanna do some research on the hot rails to put into the bridge for your lead tones.
And leave the single coils in the neck and mid for rhytmn.
Single coils are good for funk and blues rock - mainly cause the quack and twang of single coils are suited for these two styles. Also note definition when playing funk chords are easily heard on single coils. It also depends on what kind of pickups (magnets/windings) are used. For these two, mid/low-mid output is suitable.
High output single coils would gravitate you more towards the basic rock/hard rock tones.
humbuckers are good for hardcore, basic rock, its not too good for funk because it may get muddy and note definition is not as clear when playing 3 note/4 note chords. It also lacks twang and quack, but the output is smoother and thus used for classic rock/rock/hard rock.
BUT, of course it is not limited to these two, you can always use humbucker equipped guitars to play funk and blues rock. Its just a matter of preference.
Answering your question as to stacked humbuckers, you might wanna try looking at seymour duncan's line of single coil sized humbuckers. They are a direct retrofit into the cavity of the mex strat.
Just to let you know, Tom morello of Audioslave/RATM uses a strat that has been modified ( re routed for FR and locking nut + hot rails in the bridge )
You might wanna do some research on the hot rails to put into the bridge for your lead tones.
And leave the single coils in the neck and mid for rhytmn.
but i rather like the tone at the 4th position.penta-tonic
New member
hahahahahaha. single coil or humbucker = clean tone? nope u got it wrong. its amp with dirt channel bypassed or all effects in chain bypassed = clean tone (not to mention amp has to have plenty of headroom and no tear in speakers) hehehe. i just had to do it la. :lol:
4th position is neck and middle, it will have no effect if you change the bridge into stacked.
position 1 and 2 will have change.
1 = bridge
2 = bridge - mid
3 = mid
4 = mid + neck
5 = neck
You might wanna tweak it a bit in the end after u change the pickups.
Like the controls
to
Volume - Tone ( bridge ) - Tone ( neck and mid )
This will give you more versitility with the rails since you now can have a tone control on it.
And what pentatonic said is true, clean tones come from guitar -> amp.
The guitar just provides a signal, withour dirt its clean.
Single coil gives you a certain tone, humbuckers give you a different tone.
position 1 and 2 will have change.
1 = bridge
2 = bridge - mid
3 = mid
4 = mid + neck
5 = neck
You might wanna tweak it a bit in the end after u change the pickups.
Like the controls
to
Volume - Tone ( bridge ) - Tone ( neck and mid )
This will give you more versitility with the rails since you now can have a tone control on it.
And what pentatonic said is true, clean tones come from guitar -> amp.
The guitar just provides a signal, withour dirt its clean.
Single coil gives you a certain tone, humbuckers give you a different tone.
Nope, 1 is always bridge, its the lowest position and furthest away.
Fender spec sheets list it this way as well.
higher numbers are closest to the neck
lower numbers are closest to the bridge.
Anyway, the tone for bridge-mid if you change to rails, it might not be that much of a difference, just smoother tone. Although you might lose a bit of twang and quack.
I think noodling around with the tone pots would eventually get u the tone you want.
Fender spec sheets list it this way as well.
higher numbers are closest to the neck
lower numbers are closest to the bridge.
Anyway, the tone for bridge-mid if you change to rails, it might not be that much of a difference, just smoother tone. Although you might lose a bit of twang and quack.
I think noodling around with the tone pots would eventually get u the tone you want.
bin4christ
New member
lightice: what rails would u recommend? hot/ cool? is the diff between these two only in the output or what? and what about the other single-coil-sized humbuckers, like lil 59, JB jr, etc?
lightice: u'd be surprised if u do a phase reversal on your humbuckers. they can do funk very well.
jumpman: there is NO WAY a single coil sized humbucker can get you anywhere near a les paul tone. it might bring u halfway there, but it depends a lot on the body wood and mass. a strat just can't do it.
jumpman: there is NO WAY a single coil sized humbucker can get you anywhere near a les paul tone. it might bring u halfway there, but it depends a lot on the body wood and mass. a strat just can't do it.
foxblinkhope
New member
another question. on the pick up selector there is rhythm and treble. rhythm is the bridge pickup or the neck one?
foxblinkhope
New member
on an sg? i supose its the same right?
foxblinkhope
New member
alright, thanks alot! 
