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Posted by: Blavod Nov 3 2015, 09:02 AM

Hi GMCers!

I am looking to replace the pickups of my cort superstrat project, its a H-S-H config with floyd rose. I already know which humbucker i am going to put (SD 59/JB set, well known classic and not too expensive...), but i am struggling to find a replacement for the single coil...

I use this pickup quiet a lot, mainly in conjunction with the neck/bridge pickup in split position in order to have fenderish bluesy tone or nice clean tones... Do you have any suggestion?

Thanks GMCers!

Posted by: PosterBoy Nov 3 2015, 11:57 AM

The Dimarzio Area 67 is a good choice

Posted by: Sensible Jones Nov 5 2015, 06:05 PM

I have the Jazz/JB Jr combo in my Ibanez with a DiMarzio Evolution Single in the middle position!

Posted by: Mertay Nov 5 2015, 09:01 PM

When checking the market, make sure not to buy a very vintage spec. (low output) single.

It's a common mistake as although its bought for more vintage tone, the output gets low with humbuckers and you can't raise it too much cause it will touch the pick when playing. Previous suggestions are pretty good.

Posted by: Blavod Nov 5 2015, 09:20 PM

Hi guys! Thanks for your answers!

In fact Mertay thanks a lot cause i was aiming for a vintage single coil! (the SSL-1 from duncan). On a Fender i realllyyyy enjoy the 2nd and 4th positions, so i was expecting a vintage pickup to offer this kind of sound. So you definitely don't recommend the SSL-1?

Sensible Jones, what are your feelings regarding the DiMarzio Evolution Single in the middle position?

Poster boy, with the area 67, do you come close to this typical fenderish sound at 2nd and 4th pos?

Thanks!

Posted by: Mertay Nov 5 2015, 11:02 PM

You're welcome I don't have experience or at least that I remember of with the SSL-1.

I also have to say I've never heard a guitar with humbucker+single that can nail the 4'th (bridge+middle single coil) position as that sound is a very single coil thing. Infact, my friends who only plays fender's simply buy 3 single strat's cause of that sound and almost never use the bridge (bridge is a bit wimpy on vintage spec. strats, if upgraded with stronger pickup the 4'th position sound changes...).

2nd (neck+middle single) isn't so hard to get at least relatively close enough, even some humbucker's in parallel or split can do a nice job with that. I'd guess the wiring would make more difference in getting as close to that sound so wouldn't worry too much on single model for that application.

For duncan recommendation (since you have the humbucker's) its probably best to send an email to their support, I'm sure they've been asked this a few times. Also again for seymour duncan, contact Darius too as he made a bunch of video's for SD.

Posted by: jstcrsn Nov 6 2015, 01:35 AM

coil tap Hot rails ( Seymour Duncan )

Posted by: Todd Simpson Nov 6 2015, 02:30 AM

This is a good idea in that it gives you great flexibility You can can split it to get a single coil tone or use non coil tap for a much meaner tone. I wish all my single coil pickpups were hot rails that could split. There is one ibanez guitar that has two of them on in an HSS config by Andy Timmons.

Posted by: Mudbone Nov 6 2015, 05:43 AM

If your main objective is to use the middle single coil with a split humbucker, I would avoid getting a noiseless single. Just make sure the single in the middle is the opposite polarity of the coil in the humbucker it is going to be used to with, so you can get the noise canceling benefits.

A pure single coil in the middle position is a great choice. It is a classic sound. There are dozens of choices, so it can be a bit difficult to choose. I personally like DiMarzio, and they do make a http://www.dimarzio.com/pickups/strat/standard-strat/true-velvet-middle But if you want something cheaper, http://www.rosepickups.com/ does make good single coils for a good price.

Posted by: Sensible Jones Nov 6 2015, 12:46 PM

I have wired it so that positions 2 and 4 are working with split coils on the JB and Jazz and can get some very Strat-like tones, on it's own in the 3rd position it also sounds good, no loss of volume when switching between positions. All in all a great match. I've installed them in quite a lot of Customers guitars with different Humbuckers and always get the same response.

Posted by: Blavod Nov 6 2015, 02:42 PM

Ok guys, thanks a lot for your help! I'll let you know what ill buy!

Posted by: yoncopin Nov 6 2015, 04:00 PM

I just went through this same thing and ended up getting a Dimarzio Blue Velvet (the precursor to the true Velvet) on eBay for $30. I'd get a traditional single coil so you can do the coil split and get those Strat tones from position 2 & 4. I discovered that in a HSH configuration the middle pickup's polarity doesn't matter because a humbucker has both kind of coils for hum cancelling. This is the wiring diagram I foudn to be the easiest to follow.