I have two guitars. An Ibanez S470 and early Japanese RG570.

I am crushing for a single-coil sound that you might get out of a telecaster or another single-coil pick up guitar.

I am looking to modify my S470 to do this.

This guitar has a 2 humbucker, 1 single coil set-up (as many ibanezes)

Is there an option to replace the neck humbucker with a single coil without leaving a gaping hole where the larger humbucker used to be? Do I need to replace all my hardware after this?




In case I am not clear, a have been searching for this tone forever!

A single coil in a humbucker position sounds innovative, never heard of it before and I'm not sure it'll look too good but it's the saound you're after so...

However, I doubt it'll sound the way you want it to. I looked up your guitar and it's mahogany, the Tele- and Statocasters are Adler which is a lot brighter in it's foundation. Meaning mahogany won't let the mid and bright frequencies through in the way you want (if I analyze the twang sound right as strong mid and high frequencies)

I really do think you need a good guitar made out of adler wood for starters.

That's what I'm guessing.

I was thinking the same thing. The neck is nice but the mahogany body, as thin as it is, already gives that guitar a unique tone. I have been saving for a new guitar along those lines and I have been pressed over getting my first Les Paul or a Telecaster.

I think I am going to have to go for the tele because that is what has the tone I am looking for.

You will have a gaping hole if you replace a humbucker with a single coil but if you have a guitar with pickups mounted into the pickguard, then you could just buy a hss-pickguard and put a neck single coil in your guitar.

An alternative would be a coil split humbucker

I would agree with MickeM - you need alder body and alder neck with a nice single coil to produce a cool twang. If you can save a bit for a Tele guitar, it would be a very nice purchase - these guitars are very useful and they can serve you for many purposes, both playing and recording ones. If you want flexibility, try some SH combinations on the tele (bridge single+neck hum), or even vice versa.

Only a Tele sounds like a Tele!!!
Seriously though, if you don't want to buy a Tele and want to try for that sound from the S470 just replace the humbucker with a Split Coil one and 'Coil Tap' it as Zakk says, then you'll have the best of both worlds with the minimal amount of work. All you'd need to do is add either a Push/Pull Pot or just drill for a On/Off micro switch!