Full size humbucker pickup to replace a JB in a strat.

[blackba]

I am not sure I am totally happy with the Seymour Duncan JB pickup in the bridge of my strat. It does split pretty well, but just seems to lack beef and has a bit too much mids at times for rhythm work. It works well for classic rock and punky stuff, but falls short when I need more gain. For my gigging rig I use a marshall 2553 silver jubilee with 2 Classic Lead 80's. To get a more modern sound I will use an EQ in the loop when I want those tones.

So here is what I am looking for in a pickup, all suggestions welcome, as well as telling me the JB pickup is fine and to switch amps to my mark IV. Its when we play stuff like Godsmack, Metallica, Collective Soul, Alice in Chains, etc where I feel the overall sound is not agressive enough.

- Needs to work with 250k pots
- Needs to sound good split coil (needs to come in 4 conductor cable version)
- Thicker than the JB, less mid and treble
- Prefer if the pickup is available used
- Less then $125 new or used.

It would be nice if it came in white and in a tremspaced version, but I can work around both of those.

Here is what I am thinking:
- Suhr Aldrich (Been wanting to try one in my les Paul, not sure how it would sound in a strat)
- Seymour Duncan Custom (I like the Hot Rails in my other strat, wondering if this will sound similar)
- Rio Grande BBQ (I have one in a couple of les Pauls and I like it)
- voodoo 59. (Don't know who makes this pickup, but I have seen a few threads singing its praises)

 

[J.B.]

BBQ

I have an Aldrich in my LP Custom and it kills too.

 

[redrol]

- Needs to work with 250k pots

In my experience the JB needs a 500k volume pot to sound correct.

 

[headlessdeadguy]

- Needs to work with 250k pots

In my experience the JB needs a 500k volume pot to sound correct.

+1

 

[ke2]

BBQ
.

Jason speaketh the truth!! I have one in mine, I use a 250kohm pot, and it is THICK!

 

[blackba]

- Needs to work with 250k pots

In my experience the JB needs a 500k volume pot to sound correct.

+1

I read that the JB was designed for 250k pots

The JB sounded totally different in my dual humbucker contemporary tele. It sounded thick and meaty compared to the strat, I assumed it was the difference in the wood, more than the pots, but it probably was some of both....

 

[guitarslinger]

IMO, all full-size humbuckers need 500K pots to sound right.

 

[redrol]

I would be willing to bet it was totally the 250k volume pot. I played this game for a couple months and as soon as I swapped the volume pot for the correct value (500k) the pickup came alive. So... food for thought.

IMO, all full-size humbuckers need 500K pots to sound right.

this is what I think too

 

[blackba]

Won't the SC's sound too bright with the 500k pots?

 

[badger71]

Won't the SC's sound too bright with the 500k pots?

Food for thought: Unless you use both tone knobs on the Strat, convert one to a volume and run your humbucker to the 500k and your single coils to your 250k.

 

[Code001]

Won't the SC's sound too bright with the 500k pots?

What you want is a resistor across the volume pot that activates when you swap to the single coils. I believe a 500k resistor with a 500k pot should create 250k. Try searching for the Anderson wiring setup. He does something similar to this.

 

[badger71]

Won't the SC's sound too bright with the 500k pots?

What you want is a resistor across the volume pot that activates when you swap to the single coils. I believe a 500k resistor with a 500k pot should create 250k. Try searching for the Anderson wiring setup. He does something similar to this.

or this^^^

 

[duodecim]

So here is what I am looking for in a pickup, all suggestions welcome, as well as telling me the JB pickup is fine and to switch amps to my mark IV. Its when we play stuff like Godsmack, Metallica, Collective Soul, Alice in Chains, etc where I feel the overall sound is not agressive enough.
[...]

I don't want to second-guess your opinion, but I've heard convincing Metallica tones done with a JB, and there are several (melodic) death metal bands using that pickup (e.g. Arch Enemy) with pretty heavy sounds. As the JB isn't really low-gain – are you sure it's the pickup that's holding you back?

 

[Code001]

I don't want to second-guess your opinion, but I've heard convincing Metallica tones done with a JB, and there are several (melodic) death metal bands using that pickup (e.g. Arch Enemy) with pretty heavy sounds. As the JB isn't really low-gain – are you sure it's the pickup that's holding you back?

Some people just dislike the JB. I can't stand them, personally. Just because someone gets a good tone with X gear doesn't mean it's the right item for you.

 

[blackba]

Won't the SC's sound too bright with the 500k pots?

What you want is a resistor across the volume pot that activates when you swap to the single coils. I believe a 500k resistor with a 500k pot should create 250k. Try searching for the Anderson wiring setup. He does something similar to this.

Looks like I need to change to a 5-way super switch to do this. I am wondering if changing to a 300k volume pot would be a good comprimise.

Anyone tried the Rio Grande Muy Grande Humbucker?

 

[Code001]

Won't the SC's sound too bright with the 500k pots?

What you want is a resistor across the volume pot that activates when you swap to the single coils. I believe a 500k resistor with a 500k pot should create 250k. Try searching for the Anderson wiring setup. He does something similar to this.

Looks like I need to change to a 5-way super switch to do this. I am wondering if changing to a 300k volume pot would be a good comprimise.

Anyone tried the Rio Grande Muy Grande Humbucker?

I honestly don't believe in compromising with something like that (it just doesn't sound as good, IMO). I'd either go dual volumes or go with the Anderson-style switching.

 

[Cflat96]

I have a pretty cool wiring diagram I drew up, that works really well. It works like the Anderson wiring, with some differences.
It basically tricks the single coils into seeing 250k pots while the humbucker sees 500k, using resistors. You'll need a superswitch, and a push/pull pot. Then the switching looks like this;

1-Neck Single
2-Neck & Middle Single
3-Middle Single
4-Middle Single & Full Humbucker (Middle Single & Split Humbucker with pot pulled)
5-Full Humbucker (Split Humbucker with pot pulled)

1 Volume, 2 Tones. One tone control is for the two singles, and the other is for the humbucker.

The Single Coils sound the same as they would with 250k pots, and the Humbucker sounds the same as if you were using 500k. I also like how the splitting is done manually. You can't get split position 5 tone with the regular auto switching. Plus, I think Middle & Full Humbucker sounds cool.

I did this on my Fender American HSS Deluxe I used to own, and it worked really well. Let me know if you're interested, and I'll send it to you.

 

[Code001]

If you could, can you send it to me?

 

[Cflat96]

I just drew it up quick with MsPaint. Save as and zoom in, if it's too small to see everything clearly. I think Anderson uses the 330k resistor. They say it comes closest to using 250k pots. (Keeping in mind that the other pots are all affecting the load). Feel free to try 470k also. By the way, you should be using all 500k pots for this to work.

 

[blackba]

^ Thanks for the diagram

A 330K resistor will make the SC's see about 200k (assuming the pots are exactly 500k)

The ironic thing is I just recently rewired my strat and replaced the pots. I put the push pull pot in the 2nd tone slot since it has a different feel than the others. Not sure what I am going to do at this point, but I still think the JB needs to go....