best humbucker for my strat?

fluffytone72 · June 09, 2014, 03:05:03 AM

Hey guys,

So I'm going to be buying a new humbucker for my 60th anniversary strat (with Warmouth pro neck). Currently I have stock singles in the neck and middle and a JB Jr. in the bridge. My band is getting ready to do a bunch of shows in the next few months so I want my tone to be in top form (we are a jamband so obviously guitar tone is critical to the show!) Anyhow, the JB jr. is ok, but I'm looking for something more fullbodied and warm, that distorts smoothly but still has a little punch to it. So far, I've been looking into the Seymour Duncan Custom Custom, Porter Classic, Seymour Duncan 59, and Lollar Imperial F style humbucker. All seem like good contenders, but I'm interested in what you guys think? Any recommendations/thoughts? My signal chain is as follows: guitar>sarno steel guitar black box>polytune>wilson wah>proton envelope filter>analogman comprossor>earthquake devices univibe>ts9 silver>analogman king of tone>custom built klone>tc electronic X4 delay>fender twin reverb 65 reissue (1x12 stock jenson, 1x12 eminence cannabis rex).

Here's a couple youtube videos that give you a taste of where my tone is at the moment (excuse the sloppy guitar playing, this is not my best work but I did feel that my tone was decent at this show), also note the bouncing around the room tease from our other guitar player in the MLB jam

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLfhWLj8ycE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuNk_AL8r50

Buffered · June 09, 2014, 08:43:31 AM

My first suggestion would be for the SD '59s. Jimmy Herring has these in his strats and I think he has pretty good tone! What type of wiring are you thinking of going with? HH or HSH configuration? I have a JB/Jazz setup in my SE and they're great coil tapped toneage, but YMMV. The JB is very rockin'

Jkendrick · June 09, 2014, 09:31:54 AM

I just put SD 59s in my '89 PRS Custom. It's obviously not a Strat but I love them.

Down_With_Sco · June 09, 2014, 01:22:16 PM

I thought Herring uses Lollar Imperials?

Buffered · June 09, 2014, 03:34:37 PM

Quote from: Down_With_Sco on June 09, 2014, 01:22:16 PM
I thought Herring uses Lollar Imperials?

I think he has those in his Telecasters, but the Fenders made by Gene Baker have the SD '59s. Good call though!

fluffytone72 · June 09, 2014, 04:41:24 PM

Here he says he has lollar imperials in one of his strats which is one of the reason's I was considering them. I know he also has 59's in another one
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkoPZY_fD0c

fluffytone72 · June 09, 2014, 04:52:30 PM

Quote from: Buffered on June 09, 2014, 08:43:31 AM
My first suggestion would be for the SD '59s. Jimmy Herring has these in his strats and I think he has pretty good tone! What type of wiring are you thinking of going with? HH or HSH configuration? I have a JB/Jazz setup in my SE and they're great coil tapped toneage, but YMMV. The JB is very rockin'

I'm thinking of going HSS, keeping the stock singles in neck and middle, then getting a nice humbucker for bridge. I've heard most people who have gone HSH or HH on a strat have not been happy with the tone and have since switched to HSS, Jimmy Herring being the exception, but I do not believe he is of this earth so I guess I should say "human beings" seem to not like this setup, I see myself having the bridge bucker on 99% of the time and just using volume and tone controls for different sounds, then either coil tapping or switching to neck for a single coil sound every once in a blue moon.

Buffered · June 09, 2014, 05:29:17 PM

Quote from: fluffytone72 on June 09, 2014, 04:52:30 PM
Quote from: Buffered on June 09, 2014, 08:43:31 AM
My first suggestion would be for the SD '59s. Jimmy Herring has these in his strats and I think he has pretty good tone! What type of wiring are you thinking of going with? HH or HSH configuration? I have a JB/Jazz setup in my SE and they're great coil tapped toneage, but YMMV. The JB is very rockin'

I'm thinking of going HSS, keeping the stock singles in neck and middle, then getting a nice humbucker for bridge. I've heard most people who have gone HSH or HH on a strat have not been happy with the tone and have since switched to HSS, Jimmy Herring being the exception, but I do not believe he is of this earth so I guess I should say "human beings" seem to not like this setup, I see myself having the bridge bucker on 99% of the time and just using volume and tone controls for different sounds, then either coil tapping or switching to neck for a single coil sound every once in a blue moon.

Well the cool thing with going HSS is that you can get a few different types of Humbuckers and just get alligator clips to try them out and see what you like best and ebay the rest. SD has a return policy I think... What type of tones are you looking for? I put WCR Fillmores in my LP and I get great Duane tone, for example. Sorry if you already explained that.

fluffytone72 · June 09, 2014, 06:15:57 PM

Well the cool thing with going HSS is that you can get a few different types of Humbuckers and just get alligator clips to try them out and see what you like best and ebay the rest. SD has a return policy I think... What type of tones are you looking for? I put WCR Fillmores in my LP and I get great Duane tone, for example. Sorry if you already explained that.
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Yeah,unfortunately I don't even have the money to front that.haha.being in college and what not. I'm looking for a smoother tone, but still with a little bite. Nice and thick and juicy. Really leaning towards the 59 right now.

dontpanic · June 09, 2014, 07:21:43 PM

Whats up guys. Long time lurker first time poster here. I have been meaning to put up my rig as my intro piece, but haven't quite gotten around to it yet. With that said, this is a hot topic for me, as I was skeptical about pickup selection for my strat. I have to give my praise to the SD '59. It rocks. At first, it kind of threw me off with sort of a metallic tone, which still sounded very smooth, if that makes any sense. But, with a little time, it has warmed up beautifully and really nails the punch I was looking for. Ironically, lately I have been gliding through middle only and neck only... feeling the Kimock vibes...

fluffytone72 · June 09, 2014, 08:05:05 PM

Quote from: dontpanic on June 09, 2014, 07:21:43 PM
Whats up guys. Long time lurker first time poster here. I have been meaning to put up my rig as my intro piece, but haven't quite gotten around to it yet. With that said, this is a hot topic for me, as I was skeptical about pickup selection for my strat. I have to give my praise to the SD '59. It rocks. At first, it kind of threw me off with sort of a metallic tone, which still sounded very smooth, if that makes any sense. But, with a little time, it has warmed up beautifully and really nails the punch I was looking for. Ironically, lately I have been gliding through middle only and neck only... feeling the Kimock vibes...

Yeah seems like everyone raves about the 59', right now it's between that and the porter "smooth" pickup. talked to the guy who runs the operation at porter electronics today and he said it's the smoothest humbucker out there... I saw The Werks a few weeks ago and fell in love with that guitar player's tone, I'd want a little more punch then what he has, but if you haven't heard him play youtube the werks and listen to something..smooth as butter guitar tone

express50express · June 10, 2014, 08:35:20 AM

I would try the Seymour Duncan Little 59. I have one of these in my strats and it is great. I also have it wired for both single coil and humbucker. It is not expensive either, and sounded better than I expected. I would start with something like this first.

http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/electric/stratocaster/medium-output/little_59_for_s/

Heady Jam Fan · June 10, 2014, 05:16:02 PM

My experience has been that all of these "PAF" style pickups sound pretty similar. My Lollar Imperials sound a whole lot like 59's and Schaller Golden 50's, but they sound a bit more balanced when switching from neck to bridge, or bucker to single. Is that type of refinement worth the extra cash? Up to you... as far as tone, SD 59's will get you there IMO.

Buffered · June 11, 2014, 08:28:02 AM

Quote from: Heady Jam Fan on June 10, 2014, 05:16:02 PM
My experience has been that all of these "PAF" style pickups sound pretty similar. My Lollar Imperials sound a whole lot like 59's and Schaller Golden 50's, but they sound a bit more balanced when switching from neck to bridge, or bucker to single. Is that type of refinement worth the extra cash? Up to you... as far as tone, SD 59's will get you there IMO.

Fluffy, maybe some folks have experience with single tone of 59s? I think a good chunk of the balance has to do with how high the pickups are in relation to each other.

dontpanic · June 11, 2014, 05:25:39 PM

I agree that they are similar in sound, with tiny nuances of tone variety. I plan on getting a mexi strat soon to experiment with. Maybe some lollars. But, still, the 59 is a great pickup for your guitar. Plus Trey plays em