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True single coil tone in neck pickup.

screamingdaisy

New member
Joined
Mar 29, 2006
Messages
332
I'm looking at options for getting a true single coil tone out of my neck pickup.

I've tried a few different PAF style pickups and I've come to the conclusion that I'm simply not a fan of neck humbuckers, thus I'm looking at options for neck single coils.

Does anyone make something that's similar to a Fender single coil? Or am I limited to humbucker sized P90s?

Any other options?
 

WBPickups

New member
Joined
Jan 7, 2007
Messages
154
get an underwound neck humbucker. About 6.43-6.85K's. Un-balanced coils... They sound great! There is a few guys out there that can make you one. Good luck!

PS, I want an Orange amp in a bad way....How do you like the AD140?
 

powergus6000

New member
Joined
Sep 13, 2005
Messages
230
I have heard really good things about fralin p92s.

They are noiseless p90ish sounding pickups in a humbucker shaped package.
 

screamingdaisy

New member
Joined
Mar 29, 2006
Messages
332
PS, I want an Orange amp in a bad way....How do you like the AD140?

I really like it. It's a very clean amp that can get some cool overdrive tones. I tried the low wattage thing for awhile and found out it's not nearly as fun as an amp with alot of headroom. I usually play in power trios, so I need an amp that gives me an extremely solid rhythm tone and 30w just wasn't cutting it. This amp is very solid, way more fun, and actually sounds better at low volumes than any of my low wattage amps did.

It isn't capable of a whole lot of distortion on it's own, even with the preamp dimed it sounds more like heavy overdrive than distortion. That said, it takes pedals really better than any other amp I've used except a Fender Princeton... but good luck getting a Princeton anywhere near as loud.

It also takes guitars the same way. Plug a Les Paul and a Strat into it and it won't even sound like you're using the same amp.... pickup differences just scream through this amp.
 

PunkRawkGuy

Formerly WillC
Joined
Dec 19, 2001
Messages
842
Seymour Duncan Stag Mag in the neck.
It is two single coils with magnetic pole pieces wired together. It's a lot clearer and crisper than many muddy sounding neck pickups and when split, it sounds like a single-coil neck pickup, around 8k for each coil, so it's not weak.
 

Guitar_Mc

New member
Joined
May 7, 2006
Messages
196
I'm looking at options for getting a true single coil tone out of my neck pickup.

I've tried a few different PAF style pickups and I've come to the conclusion that I'm simply not a fan of neck humbuckers, thus I'm looking at options for neck single coils.

Does anyone make something that's similar to a Fender single coil? Or am I limited to humbucker sized P90s?

Any other options?

If you have a 4 wire humbucker, just wire up one of the coils. Thats not just a single coil sound, it IS a single coil pup.

You could put in a push-pull pot to ground out one of the coils and have both single and humbucker. I did this in my Carvin and it works great.
 

screamingdaisy

New member
Joined
Mar 29, 2006
Messages
332
If you have a 4 wire humbucker, just wire up one of the coils. Thats not just a single coil sound, it IS a single coil pup.

You could put in a push-pull pot to ground out one of the coils and have both single and humbucker. I did this in my Carvin and it works great.

I already have a split Duncan 59 in the neck. I'm looking at a true single coil because it has this upper end "clang" (for lack of a better term) when the guitar's volume is on 10 and I never use it in humbucking mode anyway.

I might also just leave it as is and buy a BFG.
 

Gunbucker

New member
Joined
Aug 31, 2002
Messages
218
DiMarzio Humbucker From Hell. Not exactly sparkling, shimmering single coil twang, but rather close, without losing any of that humbucker muscle.
 
Joined
Jan 12, 2003
Messages
600
I'm looking at options for getting a true single coil tone out of my neck pickup.

I've tried a few different PAF style pickups and I've come to the conclusion that I'm simply not a fan of neck humbuckers, thus I'm looking at options for neck single coils.

Does anyone make something that's similar to a Fender single coil? Or am I limited to humbucker sized P90s?

Any other options?
The underwound Shaws are great neck buckers.
I have had good luck with the 7.4 - 7.7K T-tops, even the last of the production, got one that is a 1980. I would stay with one that has between 18 and 25 Gauss..The more magnetic pull, the thicker and somewhat fuzzy-er sounding they seen to get for me.
The above mentioned pups can be anywhere between 20 and 35 Gauss; I do not think they were consistant when they charged and or stored them.
I had a few older Duncan Alinco II's pros or what ever they are called, that were acceptable.
I'm with you, I love a clean, clear sounding neck pup. If you have an All Mahogany axe, it will be more difficult to get that sound than one with a maple neck and top. Lastly height adjustment can do wonders on a neck pup.
 

jeffc

New member
Joined
Jun 1, 2005
Messages
1,720
KORINA & MAHOGANY

That is a great looking axe you have in your signature.

What exactly is it ?

JF
 

nevizzzy

New member
Joined
Oct 29, 2006
Messages
1,196
i have bareknuckle mules in my lp which read 7.0 neck and 8.2 bridge. for that woody and non muddy tone at the neck pickup a mellow humbucker will do the job:2zone
 

PunkRawkGuy

Formerly WillC
Joined
Dec 19, 2001
Messages
842
I'll second the Dimarzio Humbucker From Hell suggestion. I still prefer the Duncan Stag-Mag as it is two legit single-coils on one plate, but the HfH is dead on. A buddy of mine used to use one and live or on CD, it sounded just like a good Strat neck pickup. It has the chime and clank that only a single-coil should have (with no hum).
 

madryan

New member
Joined
Jul 17, 2007
Messages
395
New member here, Greetings!

I'd have to say that the Humbucker from Hell is my favorite neck pup. I currently have one in a Jackson dinky and it sounds incredible. I'm going to get one for my Les Paul also.
 
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