Is the guitar playing world really divided

maxwidmer · December 15th, 2004, 11:02 AM

between Single Coil and a HB's?

I LOVE the SC tone, 100% devoted to it!

I've tried numerous times to get the "feel" for HB's but it doesn't work, it is not there.

I can see players using both type of PU's for different sounds but I assume each one of us has a preference, like a "genetic condition". I don't know, just thinking/writing aloud...

FunkJazz · December 15th, 2004, 11:05 AM

heh heh

I'M divided!!!!!!

kickz28 · December 15th, 2004, 11:10 AM

I have both HB and SC in different guitars and in the same guitars. Love them both!

Steve McGinnis · December 15th, 2004, 11:14 AM

If you prefer single coils, good for you! I really have no preference, it just depends on the song and which sound I think would fit better. I will say that it is probably easier to get a unique sound out of single coils ("your sound").

sean001 · December 15th, 2004, 11:38 AM

I have no bias. It is just that aside from playing metal, I plain can't get HBs to work for me. To tell the truth I have a hard time getting anything but a Tele to work for me. Nothing cuts as well live or sits as well in a mix...for me at least. I love a lot of HB sounds but I can't seem to get many good ones when I play.

Anonymous · December 15th, 2004, 11:51 AM

I like both, too. (Of course, I'm fond of both chocolate and vanilla as well.) ;-)

Btw, I saw this years ago (attributed to Robert Benchley): "There are two kinds of people in the world: those who believe there are two kinds of people in the world, and those who don't." ;-) CS

gls500 · December 15th, 2004, 11:53 AM

I seem to have no trouble playing any kind of pickup. In fact, different sounds make me play differently, which is a cool thing.

Joe-Bob · December 15th, 2004, 12:38 PM

I actually like both. That said, single coils have alot of drawbacks that humbuckers don't. IMHO, people who are only concerned with "cutting through the mix" have never sat out front and listened to their band, and are most probably playing WAY TOO LOUD.

trag-o-caster · December 15th, 2004, 12:57 PM

I've visited and appreciate both sides of the fence, but my yard is "Single Coil Only".

Hey, maybe I should run out and buy something with a 'bucker in it - just to have!

Time to look at Elderly.com!

Maggot · December 15th, 2004, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe-Bob

I actually like both. That said, single coils have alot of drawbacks that humbuckers don't. IMHO, people who are only concerned with "cutting through the mix" have never sat out front and listened to their band, and are most probably playing WAY TOO LOUD.

That's not true - sometimes if you're not cutting through the mix you'll turn it up too loud, but cut helps you keep your volume down and sit nicely in the mix, rather than being either too loud or inaudible.

KBR · December 15th, 2004, 02:11 PM

I love em both.
Single coils and Hbers (Voodoo) mainly
Love P94s/P90s, too.

Geo · December 15th, 2004, 03:19 PM

I'm glad there are both kinds (including P90s as SC)

genelovesjez · December 15th, 2004, 03:47 PM

"(Guitar tone) is a spice with many tastes... a dizzying array of textures... and moments."

TG · December 15th, 2004, 04:50 PM

I've had quire abit of experience with both and I'm now only really interested in the sound of single coils. I never hear a PRS or Les Paul and say to myself, 'what a nice tone' the way I do when I hear a tele, strat or a P-90 equipped guitar.
But one of the reasons I like teles is because it will so the single coil thing and also fatten up much like a humbucker when overdriven. Best of both worlds. Pity about the hum, though.

Actually, I do like the Dearmond (sp?) humbuckers you get on Gretsches. That's a cool sound.

e-merlin · December 15th, 2004, 06:33 PM

I primarily play guitars with single coils, but I like humbuckers when I want to turn the gain way, way up. For some reason I don't like humbuckers or P-90s clean but they sound great with distortion.

Vihar · December 15th, 2004, 07:38 PM

Single coil with humbucker is the sweetest.

lenny · December 15th, 2004, 07:52 PM

the only time i would use humbuckers is for loud rock and roll with lots of distortion.
for clean, to my ear, single coils sound a lot better

ramblinmike · December 15th, 2004, 07:56 PM

as a rule i consider myself a SC person. but that being said, i'm not a big fan of super overwound single coils. and sometimes those vintage output pickups just don't push an amp the way a good humbucker will. when i was in Japan the past few months i acquired my first all humbucker guitar.

fenderfan · December 15th, 2004, 07:58 PM

..when I played a Gibson ES335 through two Bandmasters, and I just loved that 335 to death. Nowadays (maybe due to my own hearing damage!), I can only "hear" single coils. When I try a humbucker guitar, it just sounds so woolly or muffled to me...and I really would love to get a 335 again because they are such beautiful guitars. But...I saw that Lindy Fralin has an ad in Vintage Guitar which says that he now has a humbucker-looking pickup that is truly a single coil, so maybe....

Tim Armstrong · December 15th, 2004, 10:51 PM

I like them all! You can't have too many flavors....

Cheers, Tim

DADGAD · December 16th, 2004, 01:14 AM

I though it was gonna be hollow body vs. solid body guitars.

stantheman · December 16th, 2004, 10:53 AM

I don't use Picks - for me my TONE always cuts through.
That "thing" that You insist upon putting between Your Soul and The Guitar has got to go...

dhdfoster · December 16th, 2004, 12:18 PM

The only humbucker tones that I think are really awesome are on old ZZ Top records, but those are not run-of-the-mill humbucking tones.

December 15th, 2004, 11:02 AM	#1 (permalink)
maxwidmer Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: None of your Business Posts: 287	Is the guitar playing world really divided between Single Coil and a HB's? I LOVE the SC tone, 100% devoted to it! I've tried numerous times to get the "feel" for HB's but it doesn't work, it is not there. I can see players using both type of PU's for different sounds but I assume each one of us has a preference, like a "genetic condition". I don't know, just thinking/writing aloud... __________________ "Excuse me while I kiss the sky"

December 15th, 2004, 11:14 AM	#4 (permalink)
Steve McGinnis Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 832	Not me, I love them both. If you prefer single coils, good for you! I really have no preference, it just depends on the song and which sound I think would fit better. I will say that it is probably easier to get a unique sound out of single coils ("your sound").

December 15th, 2004, 11:38 AM	#5 (permalink)
sean001 Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Gilberts, Illinois Posts: 308	not me I have no bias. It is just that aside from playing metal, I plain can't get HBs to work for me. To tell the truth I have a hard time getting anything but a Tele to work for me. Nothing cuts as well live or sits as well in a mix...for me at least. I love a lot of HB sounds but I can't seem to get many good ones when I play. __________________ The more you drink, the less I stink...

December 15th, 2004, 12:38 PM	#8 (permalink)
Joe-Bob Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Dallas, Texas Age: 46 Posts: 4,016	I actually like both. That said, single coils have alot of drawbacks that humbuckers don't. IMHO, people who are only concerned with "cutting through the mix" have never sat out front and listened to their band, and are most probably playing WAY TOO LOUD. __________________ "German is the language God uses when He really means business." --FZ

December 15th, 2004, 12:57 PM	#9 (permalink)
trag-o-caster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Flushing, Michigan Posts: 4,631	I've visited and appreciate both sides of the fence, but my yard is "Single Coil Only". Hey, maybe I should run out and buy something with a 'bucker in it - just to have! Time to look at Elderly.com! __________________ Timothy Jon Lamb

December 15th, 2004, 11:05 AM	#2 (permalink)
FunkJazz TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: planet utah Posts: 94	heh heh I'M divided!!!!!!

December 15th, 2004, 11:10 AM	#3 (permalink)
kickz28 Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Gaspe, Quebec, Canada Age: 23 Posts: 748 1 Photos	I have both HB and SC in different guitars and in the same guitars. Love them both!

December 15th, 2004, 11:51 AM	#6 (permalink)
Anonymous Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 0	I like both, too. (Of course, I'm fond of both chocolate and vanilla as well.) ;-) Btw, I saw this years ago (attributed to Robert Benchley): "There are two kinds of people in the world: those who believe there are two kinds of people in the world, and those who don't." ;-) CS

December 15th, 2004, 11:53 AM	#7 (permalink)
gls500 Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 894	I seem to have no trouble playing any kind of pickup. In fact, different sounds make me play differently, which is a cool thing.

December 15th, 2004, 02:11 PM	#11 (permalink)
KBR Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 662 10 Photos	pups I love em both. Single coils and Hbers (Voodoo) mainly Love P94s/P90s, too. __________________ KBR http://home.earthlink.net/~blueray/

December 15th, 2004, 03:19 PM	#12 (permalink)
Geo Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hendersonville, TN Age: 59 Posts: 2,499 15 Photos	I'm glad there are both kinds (including P90s as SC)

December 15th, 2004, 03:47 PM	#13 (permalink)
genelovesjez Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Age: 41 Posts: 3,735	"(Guitar tone) is a spice with many tastes... a dizzying array of textures... and moments."

December 15th, 2004, 04:50 PM	#14 (permalink)
TG Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Beside a bog in the west of Ireland Age: 47 Posts: 4,713 7 Photos	I've had quire abit of experience with both and I'm now only really interested in the sound of single coils. I never hear a PRS or Les Paul and say to myself, 'what a nice tone' the way I do when I hear a tele, strat or a P-90 equipped guitar. But one of the reasons I like teles is because it will so the single coil thing and also fatten up much like a humbucker when overdriven. Best of both worlds. Pity about the hum, though. Actually, I do like the Dearmond (sp?) humbuckers you get on Gretsches. That's a cool sound.

December 15th, 2004, 07:38 PM	#16 (permalink)
Vihar Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Hungary Posts: 170	Single coil with humbucker is the sweetest.

December 15th, 2004, 07:52 PM	#17 (permalink)
lenny Banned Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: New Haven, CT. USA Posts: 3,219	the only time i would use humbuckers is for loud rock and roll with lots of distortion. for clean, to my ear, single coils sound a lot better

December 15th, 2004, 07:56 PM	#18 (permalink)
ramblinmike Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2003 Location: Long Island NY Age: 23 Posts: 924	hmm as a rule i consider myself a SC person. but that being said, i'm not a big fan of super overwound single coils. and sometimes those vintage output pickups just don't push an amp the way a good humbucker will. when i was in Japan the past few months i acquired my first all humbucker guitar.

December 15th, 2004, 07:58 PM	#19 (permalink)
fenderfan Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Denver Posts: 523	Humbuckers back in my college band days ..when I played a Gibson ES335 through two Bandmasters, and I just loved that 335 to death. Nowadays (maybe due to my own hearing damage!), I can only "hear" single coils. When I try a humbucker guitar, it just sounds so woolly or muffled to me...and I really would love to get a 335 again because they are such beautiful guitars. But...I saw that Lindy Fralin has an ad in Vintage Guitar which says that he now has a humbucker-looking pickup that is truly a single coil, so maybe....

December 15th, 2004, 10:51 PM	#20 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Berlin, Maryland, USA Age: 49 Posts: 10,244	I like them all! You can't have too many flavors.... Cheers, Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

December 16th, 2004, 01:14 AM	#21 (permalink)
DADGAD Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Palmdale, CA Posts: 801	I though it was gonna be hollow body vs. solid body guitars. __________________ "I need to learn some new scales and stop obsessing about this stuff." http://www.myspace.com/slickshoes

December 16th, 2004, 10:53 AM	#22 (permalink)
stantheman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: White Mountains Posts: 5,071	I don't use Picks - for me my TONE always cuts through. That "thing" that You insist upon putting between Your Soul and The Guitar has got to go... __________________ Somebody Loan Me A Dime

December 16th, 2004, 12:18 PM	#23 (permalink)
dhdfoster Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: San Francisco, CA Age: 41 Posts: 945	The only humbucker tones that I think are really awesome are on old ZZ Top records, but those are not run-of-the-mill humbucking tones.