It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:46 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: What the difference between humbuckers and single pickups?
Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 1:44 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 12:20 pm
Posts: 57
Location: Canton
what's the main differences between a humbucker pickup and a single coil pickup that you see on most stratocasters?

_________________
"i"d rather die than go to Heaven"- Willam Murderface"


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 4:05 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 6:51 pm
Posts: 25350
Location: Witness Protection Program
Some people think of single-coil guitars as sounding more "clear" & "bright", while humbuckers are considered as sounding more "warm" & "fat". Depending on the type of music you play, you could prefer one over the other.

The way the humbucker is designed (two coils of opposing polarities right next to each other) makes it less likely to pick up electromagnetic interference, like from power lines, speakers, amps, cellphones, computer screens, etc.. Electromagnetic interference often causes single-coil pickups to hum...so the humbucker it "bucks" the "hum" :wink:

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 4:16 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 12:20 pm
Posts: 57
Location: Canton
oh ok, thanks a lot for that explaination.

so, would you say humbuckers are better for distortion, like in a metal sound?

_________________
"i"d rather die than go to Heaven"- Willam Murderface"


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 5:17 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Aug 01, 2008 9:12 pm
Posts: 671
Location: Western Spiral Arm of the Milky Way Galaxy
yes they are. look at ibanez, schecter, esp, and jackson. most have humbuckers. Strats aren't too good for death metal, unless you put some duncans or maybe dimarzio choppers!

But it depends on what ditortion you want. Strats and tele's give a twangy and clear ditortion. les pauls are renowned for their meaty, heavy sound, while strats are renowed for their brightness. so yes, metal= some form of humbucker. SOme people play metal with single coils... but i haven't seen any. If you have the right settings on an amp, you can sorta make a s-coil sound like a h-bucker. But not visa versa. i love single coils, and i don't think i will get a humbucker guitar, but i haven't played one yet.

-The Screamin' J

_________________
CURRENT RIG:
2008 Squier bullet stratocaster modified with Rumpelstiltskin pickups -> Dunlop GCB-95 Original Crybaby -> Fender Vibro Champ XD

"Could you take the stain from this pair of pants, and put in on this pair of pants?"


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 6:27 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 12:20 pm
Posts: 57
Location: Canton
ahhh ok i see.

but i love strats and metal, so i'll get a fat strat.

_________________
"i"d rather die than go to Heaven"- Willam Murderface"


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 7:06 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Aug 01, 2008 9:12 pm
Posts: 671
Location: Western Spiral Arm of the Milky Way Galaxy
in time, you could replace the neck and middle position of a fat strat with duncans/dimarzios. go to www.dimarzio.com/site[url] and click on pickup picker on the bottom right corner. They ask you what type of body you want, poistion of pickup, style of music, amp style, body wood, how you want to improve sound, etc. on most of my results i get the area '61 and the true velvets.


-The Screamin' J[/url]

_________________
CURRENT RIG:
2008 Squier bullet stratocaster modified with Rumpelstiltskin pickups -> Dunlop GCB-95 Original Crybaby -> Fender Vibro Champ XD

"Could you take the stain from this pair of pants, and put in on this pair of pants?"


Last edited by hendrixfan99 on Tue Aug 19, 2008 7:08 am, edited 1 time in total.

Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 7:07 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Aug 01, 2008 9:12 pm
Posts: 671
Location: Western Spiral Arm of the Milky Way Galaxy
in time, you could replace the neck and middle position of a fat strat with duncans/dimarzios. go to http://www.dimarzio.com/site and click on pickup picker on the bottom right corner. They ask you what type of body you want, poistion of pickup, style of music, amp style, body wood, how you want to improve sound, etc. on most of my results i get the area '61 and the true velvets.


-The Screamin' J

_________________
CURRENT RIG:
2008 Squier bullet stratocaster modified with Rumpelstiltskin pickups -> Dunlop GCB-95 Original Crybaby -> Fender Vibro Champ XD

"Could you take the stain from this pair of pants, and put in on this pair of pants?"


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 4:51 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jul 17, 2008 5:09 pm
Posts: 314
Location: Connecticut
Or do what Robin Trower does and boost your Strat for a heavy sound with cranked Marshalls and the Fulltone OCD overdrive pedal. This thing gives like an AC-DC sound but now like a overharsh sound crappy fuzz box.

_________________
Fender Natural reissue 70's Stratocaster!


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:51 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jul 17, 2008 5:09 pm
Posts: 314
Location: Connecticut
Also if your looking for a metal sound in a Strat, Di Marzio makes the Super Distortion bridge pickup in a single coil size to fit in the bridge pickup on a Strat which sounds like the Super Distortion humbucker they make for Gibsons.

_________________
Fender Natural reissue 70's Stratocaster!


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: