single coil sounds

[dNA]

I'm hoping to do a SxH setup on my first build. I can't decide what I dislike more, the look of a body-mounted single coil or those SC pickup rings. Both options are completely unappealing to me, and are almost putting me off getting a VIP because i won't like how the neck pickup looks.
I like how PRS does it

i would actually love to see a tele pickup body-mounted like that. that'd be so purdy
Is there any way to make it look that clean w/ standard strat pickups or do the ears just make it impossible? It's that I don't like the way you see the hard edges of the route when you body mount a strat style pickup. Especially that little v-dip from the baseplate.

grr


edit: this thread started out discussing one thing and went totally into a discussion of single coil sounds

 

[CrackedPepper]

Order a body custom with no routes and do it yourself?  I'd just call Warmoth and ask.

 

[rockskate4x]

only emg style singles can fit in the rout you want. Sorry dude...

 

[dNA]

i wish i could see the inside of that PRS to see how exactly it's mounted. cuz EMG single coils have ears on them for mounting.

 

[TroubledTreble]

It would be possible to have a custom pickup made. The pickup could be mounted the same way that a P90 is mounted i.e. screws straight through the bobbin. Or a custom pickup could be made without that "V" section on it. I had a body rear routed and the pickups routed for Lace pickups. I took those out and put in some custom made ones that resemble EMG only they are passive.

 

[dNA]

basically i would have to get it custom routed and then get custom pickups or try and get my hands on those PRS pickups aftermarket somehow. which i'm sure doesn't happen because nobody buys a PRS like that just to take the pickups out.

 

[DangerousR6]

I don't think you'd have to geta custom rout, if you look at those pups on the prs they look to be the same length as a emg would be. They just have a cover that goes to the edge, instead of dropping down to a tab. I bet if you could find some measurements on both, they're probably prett close to one another.... :dontknow:

 

[dNA]

all in all, this has me leaning towards just going with a thinline and not having to go the extra mile, because the VIP would already be costing me like 250 more w/o any customization

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Ditto.

 

[dNA]

i just ordered the Dimarzio EJ custom neck pickup to try out in my Ibby Artist. it's supposed to sound very strat-like, so if i like it i may still go the VIP route with a HxH setup. sounds like a lot less trouble

 

[rockskate4x]

also try the SD stagmag or dimarzio humbucker from hell.

 

[Dan025]

many modern single sized pups come without the ugly v section that normally holds the eyelets for the wires, most are noiseless but some such as new duncan rails have wires that exit that area and need that extra space and would be even uglier, duncans original design for the rails and stack had the wires exit underneath and were more convenient for non pickguard wiring. most that fit the emg route are rails/blade style or or sacked or otherwise noiseless but there are a few examples that are modern true singles such as i believe the duncan quarter pounders and duncan customs that fit the emg route. the route may need to be elongated slightly for the duncan pups, not sure. but DIY is an option too, just lettin you know that you can acheive a clean looks with singles and no pickguard.

 

[dNA]

well i installed the EJ custom in my Artist and i've decided that the neck position of that guitar is just flubby sounding. It's interesting, because this pickup has the crisp articulate attack and kind of glassy quality that I had expected, but there's just a lot more lows in my sound than i want, and I keep the bass at next to 0 on my amp in the first place. I think for that guitar i may just give up on getting nice cleans, because it sounds rippin for distorted tones and i should just be happy about it.
I take full advantage of DiMarzio's exchange policy, so I'll probably trade this neck pup for somethin


I've pretty much settled on doing a tele build w/ a tele neck pickup. I've decided I'd rather stay on cheaper, simpler side for my first build and let it be a learning experience. Down the line I'll have a better idea of what exact specs I want and if i do stick with a single coil in the neck, I'll custom route it so it's clean like that PRS

 

[rockskate4x]

HUMBUCKER FROM HELL is a very bright pickup that tries to sound like a single coil. Unless it's too late try to exchange that EJ for one of those. It'll fix your flubby bass problem I think.

 

[dNA]

HUMBUCKER FROM HELL is a very bright pickup that tries to sound like a single coil. Unless it's too late try to exchange that EJ for one of those. It'll fix your flubby bass problem I think.

i was definitely considering that. The EJ customs are supposed to sound strat-like too - and I admit it has a beautiful sort of chime to it that i like with a lot of gain, but clean tones are my priority now and everything in this guitar has sounded muddy. I'll probably give it a whirl (i've had the EJ for like a few days and immediately was put off) but i'm kindof afraid of getting stuck with another pickup that i won't end up using in anything. I considered trading it for whatever will go in the bridge of my warmoth tele, and just forfeiting the damn neck spot on that guitar.


It's amazing, because you can hear some of the tones i've gotten out of PAFs in my Artcore (full hollow). I have some treble filter caps on the volume pots, and it acts as a bass rolloff. I just want to have this sound as my starting point, not something i have to tweak things to achieve.
but isn't that the neverending struggle of being a guitarist and a tone freak?