I Don't Like Humbuckers !

[Jammin'John1]

There,I said it. I feel better now.
I have an old friend,and she hasn't suited me for a while.
She used to be my favorite ride 'till I decided to try humbuckers ..........again.
I put a Seth in the neck slot & a P-Rail & 500k's etc.,etc.
Then a Jazz neck,series & parallel 'buckers etc.
You get the drift............... but I can never seem to bond with her 'till now.

I got a Duncan Phat Cat neck pup in trade from a friend and I'm in love again.
Man,she sounds,feels,.....is good again.
I yanked out the rail a couple days ago & she's out the door.
I'm in love again.

JJ

[hongaku]

Nice looking guitar. If you're digging the Phat Cats, that's awesome; I'm glad you found some pickups you like that much.
Sorry you don't like any of the humbuckers you tried - though I hardly think it should lead to a blanket statement of "I don't like humbuckers".
There are humbuckers I really like and some I really hate; conversely there are single coils I really like and some I really hate. It is really, really subjective and there are too many options out there that I'm willing to bet you've never tried. But, maybe you are right and there isn't a humbucker out there that you would like - I just think you haven't tried the right one(s) though.
Regardless, keep rocking those Phat Cats if they make you happy; that's what it's all about after all, right?

[fezz parka]

Good humbuckers are usually A2 and 7k or lower. Anywhere else, and they're mudddddd.

[Mreilander]

Originally Posted by fezz parka

Good humbuckers are usually A2 and 7k or lower. Anywhere else, and they're mudddddd.

Amen to that!!

[robt57]

Originally Posted by fezz parka

Good humbuckers are usually A2 and 7k or lower. Anywhere else, and they're mudddddd.

I have a 500T with the ceramic magnets pulled in favor of one Alnico II bar and spacers. it reads 15.4 ohms, and even at 1/2 throttle it is not muddy what so ever. And I lean Single coils around 6k in my Teles. The 500T is at the neck, I actually tried in in the neck position in a Tele and it was to dull for me. YMMV, but me.. I avoid an Alnico II in the neck position HB wise.

[fezz parka]

We all have different ears and perceptions. My ears say overwound = muddy.



or go straight to it here.

[CyanideJunkie]

Originally Posted by fezz parka

Good humbuckers are usually A2 and 7k or lower. Anywhere else, and they're mudddddd.

No love for A4?

[dconeill]

Originally Posted by CyanideJunkie

No love for A4?

Apologies for my ignorance; but what do "A2" and "A4" mean?

[CyanideJunkie]

The A stands for 'Alnico' mate!

[AJBaker]

Originally Posted by fezz parka

Good humbuckers are usually A2 and 7k or lower. Anywhere else, and they're mudddddd.

And often unpotted, like Seths or Antiquities.
I like humbuckers that are bright and "spitty" if that makes any sense. I like them to be the oppiste of too smooth; I like being able to get some harsh highs if I want it, and all the microphonic clicks and clangs just make it sound richer.

This guy has the right idea:

http://leosounds.de/EN/humbucker_59classic_en.html

I have a set, but they deserve to be in a better guitar...

When you say 7k, do you mean with AWG42?

[fezz parka]

Originally Posted by AJBaker

And often unpotted, like Seths or Antiquities.
I like humbuckers that are bright and "spitty" if that makes any sense. I like them to be the oppiste of too smooth; I like being able to get some harsh highs if I want it, and all the microphonic clicks and clangs just make it sound richer.

This guy has the right idea:

http://leosounds.de/EN/humbucker_59classic_en.html

I have a set, but they deserve to be in a better guitar...

When you say 7k, do you mean with AWG42?

Yes to all of the above!

[robt57]

Originally Posted by fezz parka

We all have different ears and perceptions. My ears say overwound = muddy.

I used to say that all the time also. I guess my magnet swaps and un-balancing coil, and dial a shunts have satisfied me and not you. I say that because I know, or at least doubt highly you have no diddled all the same things and more.

I should also say I have several HB neck guitars where I only have the tone circuit in using both [or bridge] PUP. So I DO hear you..

My fav HB [git] are actually the T-Bobbins from my early 70s LP Custom. Which got sold in 1982 with Dimarzios in it [my Demeola phase].

I had one PUP rewound, well one coil wound 1.2 k hotter and use a spin a split to go any place from 8k unbalanced to 7k balanced to less resistance unbalanced in the other direction. I almost never use it balanced having got used to the bit of articulate sparkle it nets unbalanced.

YMMV of course

[robt57]

I'd add that when you amp is all set up for a Tele and you plug in a HB guitar, you are not even close probably... ;)

For 20 years, having been brought up on HB guitars, I could not get any tone I though I could use out a single coil guitar.

I bought a 67 Tele in the mids 70s, and between the radius and single coils, I could never get along with it or even use it live. So much for my Green Onion Asperations... But when I start playing after a 20 year non interest period, I got started with a few strats and then Teles, and this time it took a few year before I found HB workable. Took a while and diddling but I guess I finailly learned how to use both and get tone and response for the purpose of each.

It did take a while, maybe I should not have stopped for 20 years. ;)

[Phostenix]

Originally Posted by Jammin'John1

I got a Duncan Phat Cat neck pup in trade from a friend and I'm in love again.

I just put a Phat Cat in the bridge of a Strat style guitar. I'm loving it.

[Jammin'John1]

'buckers have their place,just not in my guitar.
The Phat Cat is A2.
It is big and clear at the same time. A win,win for me.

JJ

[mad dog]

I used to be single coil only, couldn't get comfortable with humbuckers. Had little use for them. What changed all that was a '66 ES-335. Took time, but now I get it for sure. Even crossed further into the dark side by trying a Les Paul, the one guitar I never planned on owning. At this point I'm playing humbuckers more than singles, P-90s coming on strong too.
MD

[cmeyer]

Originally Posted by fezz parka

We all have different ears and perceptions. My ears say overwound = muddy.



or go straight to it here.

Haha.....it is just me or is ol' Lee Roy kinda hammered?!?!!?!

[fezz parka]

Maybe.

[cmeyer]

LOL

[Sleph]

Just changed pickups in a Reverend charger from the std humbuggies to a set of Curtis Novak widerange style humbucker pickups...these are now my favourite pickups.

No hum....just the right amount of twang from the bridge....nice warmth from the neck without any muddiness.

I use the bass contour knob as a kind of rhythm/lead nob...it works well...and sounds great....these seem to give me the best combination of what I like most about single coils and humbuckers.