Yamaha Pacifica pickups

[Preston723]

I own a Yamaha Pacifica guitar. It was my first guitar, and now I own an Epiphone G400 Deluxe, but back to the Yamaha. I'm thinking of replacing all the parts and whatnot, re-painting it, etc. Put my question here is (obviously) about pickups. The layout of the pickups on the guitar is somewhat strange: there are two single coil pickups perpendicular to the neck, and one humbucker, like in this picture:

http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/shop_image/product/d95dd2d2bed5212424693bfc2f4c053c.jpg

Anyway, my main choice for the single coil pickups is a set of Seymour Duncan Hot Rails. However, if I get two of the same pickups, it will be a bit strange, as they have the same sound, right? So I have two options: I can get a neck pickup and a bridge pickup, or I can get a Cool Rails series pickup and put it in with the Hot Rails one. Can I do that second option? Or should all the pickups in the guitar have a similar output level?

 

[Ted]

They should ideally have a similar output level.

How come you're replacing pickups in a Pacifica?

Why not sell the guitar and get a Warmoth. Isn't that why were all here?

 

[Preston723]

It's a cheap guitar, not an expensive one. Like I said, it's a starter one. But thanks for the output advice. And no, I don't think we're all here for buying a Warmoth. I see this site more as a guitar maintenance/building and part replacement site. But, whatever.

 

[Xplorervoodoo]

You can put the same pickups in all 3 locations, and they will sound different.  The closer to the neck, the warmer they will sound, the closer to the bridge, the brighter they will sound.

Pickup height can also affect the sound and volume of the pickups.

Really, it's all personal taste though.

 

[Preston723]

So if I get to of the same pickup and put them in different places, they'll sound different? I guess that works...

 

[Xplorervoodoo]

So if I get to of the same pickup and put them in different places, they'll sound different? I guess that works...

Yes, my strat has 3 EMG SA pickups in it, and they all sound different.  I'm not much of a tone authority, but maybe one of the more experienced people can confirm that the theory behind my answer is correct?

 

[DocNrock]

So if I get to of the same pickup and put them in different places, they'll sound different? I guess that works...

This is what I was going to say.  That said, I have a W strat build with a hot rails bridge, vintage rails middle, and cool rails neck.  One of these days, I might replace the vintage rails with another cool rails, or a hot rails neck.

 

[jackthehack]

Typically, a calibrated set of Strat single coils will have the neck/middle pickup output about the same, with the bridge pickup higher.

Placement of any pickup will effect tone, getting brighter/more treblely  going towards bridge.

Typically a bridge pickup IS of higher value, but if you go to extremes, like "vintage" output single coils and a super high output bridge humbucker, you may have issues with your amp output level when you kick up or down, pickup output-wise.

Experiment to your heart's content, you may find a combo that isn't "typical", but is perfect for you...

 

[ironiguana]

I have a hot rails bridge with a cool rails in the middle and neck in a Fender starcaster (cheap guitar).  Cool rails is a really nice pickup for those positions.  Very nice cleans and distorted tones.