What do you like for humbuckers and what styles of music do you use them for.

I am thinking about trying out some different HB's for my Orville LP. It has Gibson 57 classics in it now which I am fairly happy with, but I think I can find something more to my liking. I am going to try a Duncan 59 that I have in the next few days.

I have the stock 490's and 498's in my Standard and have been satisfied with them.

I mainly play classic rock so think the standard LP into a Vintage Marshall sound is what I usually go for.

I would also like to try and replace the HB in my Kramer Pacer with something that will get me a little closer to the LP type sound. I have a Duncan 59 in it now but it still lacks the balls that I am looking for.

Dos,
Check yer email...

You have to try the Rio Grande BBQ/Texas humbuckers. They're amazing. I've tried Duncan 59's and Gibson 57 Classics, and the Rios blow them both away. I'm a classic rock and blues guy, and they are absolutely perfect for everything I play.

I've been thinking about replacing the Dimarzios in my Parker Fly Deluxe. They're just so thin and nasally. The guitar sounds great unplugged, so I have high hopes for it.

I looked on the Duncan website at the eq-profiles of their different pickups, looking for pu's with lots of beef and bottom end. I settled on a pair of parallel-axis trembuckers, which I got cheaply on ebay, so if they suck I can unload them without much of a loss. Now, I've just got to find someone willing to modify this super-thin guitar to fit them. I think the DiMarzios were custom made to fit.

I use Burstbucker V's (5's) in my new LP Standard, and I really like them. I'm going for a think creamy sound ala Warren Haynes. My last LP was a classic and had the 490-series pickups, and I hated them. That's actually the main reason I got rid of that guitar. The pickups didn't sing at all and seemed and were a little harsh. The did work well for heavy music where you used alot of preamp gain.

Head

quote:

---

Dos,
Check yer email...

---

I gots nuthin

My '91 strat has stock laces.....so that covers my mello electric stuff for now. Not humbuckers I know..... I just thought I'd throw that in first to help explain all the high output monsters I'll bring up here.

I have three Gibson specials(2 SGs and a LP)all with X2-Ns mounted backwards in the lead spot, for a bit more brutal & aggressive attack. I don't know why but it works. My old tech mounted my first one this way...... and when I had it turned correctly it lost something. Anyhow......that 's one of my little secrets for Worm Wagon heavy sound.

I have always used a Duncan Distortion in my LP Custom. I tried a dimarzio distortion and a mega drive duncan way back........And exchanged for the DD, and it has done great in the'83 Farrari Red Custom ever since.( That is the response I was chasing when I stumbled onto the X2-N thing. The only sound the singer would go for with my SG....my planned replacement for the custom.) I tossed a new red DD in there. The old one was red, but has faded a bit, and is now in the Dragon BC Rich that usually hangs in our living room. A bit older but still a very good p/u. The DD cleans up real nice for such a hot pickup.

I tried an Invader and DimeBagDerryl Duncans in the SG.....and they were not happening. That Invader moved on ....but I got a new, very loud, one in an import Fender esquire. That thing is a freak, it's louder than the last two Invaders I had around. (one is on the now in neck spot of a Faded SG....crazy) The Dimebag ended up in my Goldtop Hamer(import...darn you real Hamer owners!) where it has a tight ass heavy response and is a killer brutal p/u.

The 498 that was in the LP special is now in the Neck spot of the special SG, and is more functional than the invader in that position, for sure.

My other two thrasher imports(Yamaha and Ibanez) have Dimarzio multibuckers in the lead spot.....and one is obvously louder than the other. Great pick up .......not so great consistency. I had heard that about duncan lately too, and this Esquire's Invader backs that up.

I need a stock Humbucker guitar again, one of these days. I like the SG Supremes w/57s that keep getting cheaper.....now only $1799.99. Yea ....one of these days;-)

The JB is one I've wanted to try. Seymore Duncan is just north of us here, up in Santa Barbara.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: TastyRiffs101,

Of all the guitars and all the humbuckers I've ever tried, my fave is the JB. Duncan hit something right on this one.

The Duncan JB SH-4 is what came stock in 2 of my Kramers. With my tube amps though they seem to have a mid hump similar to a TS. At least from what I remember. They just seemed a little too smooth. Maybe I need to give them another try.

Maybe it's the shine of memory, but my fave distortion tone was my Pacer thru my 2205. R-O-C-K my man.

I 2nd the Rio Grandes (especially the BBQ bucker). Big, fat, warm, - allows you to actually USE the treble control on your amp instead of turning it waaay down.

The meatiest humbuckers I have ever tried that don't sound at all artificial and don't venture into "high output metal" territory.

I've had the Wagner DarkBursts in my LP for about a week now, and after a few gigs I have to say I love em. Nice smooth top end, tight bottom, enought mids to cut without being "middy." The neck pickup is very full and bridge pickup has not a bit of harshness. In combination with the RS Guitarworks Premium wiring kit, they really sing.

I likes 'em all!!

I've been a big Duncan fan forever and a day. All of his creations are cool. I have the Screamin' demon, '59, Pearly Gates, JB, P-90's. My new Les Paul just came in and it has a '59 in the neck and a Custom Custom in the bridge. I've been VERY skeptical about the CC because I HATE X 1,000,000 Duncan's description of that pickup: "buttery bottom end". What the HELL does that mean!!??!!? Anywho, that pup ROCKS--it's cleans up well and takes me strait into Warren Haynes territory on low gain and EVH on high.

2nd shout for the Rio Grande, the BBQ Humbucker is AMAZING---very powerful. "Muscle car tone mixed with the soothing satisfaction of a Kimber .45 auto"

quote:

---

Originally posted by Williebudda:
I likes 'em all!!

I've been a big Duncan fan forever and a day. All of his creations are cool. I have the Screamin' demon, '59, Pearly Gates, JB, P-90's. My new Les Paul just came in and it has a '59 in the neck and a Custom Custom in the bridge. I've been VERY skeptical about the CC because I HATE X 1,000,000 Duncan's description of that pickup: "buttery bottom end". What the HELL does that mean!!??!!? Anywho, that pup ROCKS--it's cleans up well and takes me strait into Warren Haynes territory on low gain and EVH on high.

2nd shout for the Rio Grande, the BBQ Humbucker is AMAZING---very powerful. "Muscle car tone mixed with the soothing satisfaction of a Kimber .45 auto"

---

I second the Duncan Custom Custom! It is my Fave! Also, the Duncan EVH custom shop is the Sh@T!

thanx for the heads up on the rio grande buckers. i love their strat,tele,& p-90 p/u's.i
was thinking of trying a pair in my hamer x-plorer.the stock duncans are ok,but i want something hotter,not metal,but it is a flame-top
x-plorer-it should sound like it looks!the bbq
& the genuine texas sound like a great set,just
what i was hoping they would sound like.thanks
guys!

If you like warm, the Rio Grandes are unequalled. And that is coming from someone who has spent more money than I care to admit on pickups.

For what it is worth (and you can judge what my taste is by this), I HATED the Duncan Custom Custom. I thought it was shrill and lacking in low end. It also broke up too easily. Not good for clean playing at all.

On the other hand I love a good 80's Duncan JB (the alnico V magnets age and warm the sound up a bit). That is my 2nd favorite next to the BBQ bucker which has a similar strong midrange, but with less highs and more bass. Perfect to warm up a Gibson style guitar whose bridge pickup is located so close to the bridge (like an SG).

In a very bass heavy guitar the Rios may be too "thick" in the mids. I absolutely love them though. In a class by themselves as far as I'm concerned.

What about the best humbuckers for non-rock style playing...ala Jimmy Nolan and all of the great Mowtown players who used Hums for RnB style playing...what hums have that clarity...articulation and punch...!!

More specifically the tone I am searching for is the guitar sound on Jean Knights "Mr. Big Stuff" from the seventies... no personal references intended..so hold the personal attacks to minimun please

Chow,
Seegs

Lately I have been switching pickups like I switch pedals but at the Moment in my McCarty I use Seymour Duncan 59N neck and a Custom 5 in the Bridge.

These pups are Full sounding clean and with distortion, I can cover any style I need with them but my main style is Hard Rock but I also play Classic Rock, Blues, and some old school metal!

quote:

---

Originally posted by Casey:
I've had the Wagner DarkBursts in my LP for about a week now, and after a few gigs I have to say I love em. Nice smooth top end, tight bottom, enought mids to cut without being "middy." The neck pickup is very full and bridge pickup has not a bit of harshness. In combination with the RS Guitarworks Premium wiring kit, they really sing.

---

I've been looking into the Wagner Darkburst for a while now.Is the neck p/u clear and open?I need a clear neck tone for chord work.I've been hearing alot of positive feedback on the Wagner p/u.

I have the Wagner crossroads in my SG and they are killer. Takes some fine tuning to get them set up right (I keep the polepieces on the bridge pretty level, with the pup as close to the strings as I can get, but I have the neck pup away from the strings with those pole pieces raised).

Very 'airy' and open, with tons of gain when you want it. As close to paf as I need to be.

-- GM