Humbucker to single coil ?

T

twonky

New member
Wassup?

I am getting ready to possibly buy a De Armond Starfire (semi hollow, like an Ephiphone Casino, but not nearly as nice) anyway, I mostly like the guitar but have found myself leaning towards the sound of single coil pickups recently.

This friend who is selling suggested that I install a coil tap via a push/pull thingy in the tone knob. That sounds like a capital idea because I get the best of both worlds right?

Are the two single coils that are paired up to make the humbucker normally lower output on thier own. I know this is kind of a per guitar basis kinda question, but would you guys suppose that is the case?

And also does anyone know if there are P90 that can fit into the space where the humbucker used to be? any conversion kits?

thanks for any info

Twonky
 
Most humbuckers sound lousy when split in a conventional way, not to mention when you set your amp for one mode, the other will sound bad since there is such a contrast between the two both tone-wise and output-wise. Yes, 1 side of most humbuckers tends to be weak, especially when compared to the full-on sound. Certain models from after-market pickup mfrs, Duncan, Dimarzio, etc. are supposed to work pretty good at this according to their info. There are a couple variable coil split schemes available, I have one on a humbucker guitar, and it works well - very versatile. I don't have a schematic or I would post it - you can do a web search and find one. Washburn uses this in their Idol series guitars, and have gotten excellent reviews.

There are several P-90 sounding pickups available in a drop in humbucker replacement size, some are humbucking, some are single coils. Kent Armstrong makes one I think, Dimarzio has a P90 sounding Bluesbucker model, sorry I don't remember who makes what, but I researched it a few months back and there were quite a few available...
 
twonky said:
I mostly like the guitar but have found myself leaning towards the sound of single coil pickups recently.
Click to expand...


Sounds like you should skip it then and just get a guitar that you like that is meant for single coils. I found mine in the tele.:D
 
Fellers, thanks. As usual, lots of good info

Outlaws, you make a good point. The problem is that I am kind of a big guy. 6'5" w/ some big ol' fingers so ergonomics definitly come onto my guitar buying equation. So when I fing a guitar that has the right width neck and a good sized body, I sort of have take what I can get.

I will admit that some of it is vanity as well, I really hate playing a guitar that looks like a ukalele on me. There, I said it.

I have been searching for a good semi-hollow on the cheap for a while its not that I hate humbuckers I just find that more often than not I tend to go for the single coil sound.

That being said I am definitly looking at Teles as well


Peace!
BIG Twonk
 
twonky said:
Fellers, thanks. As usual, lots of good info

Outlaws, you make a good point. The problem is that I am kind of a big guy. 6'5" w/ some big ol' fingers so ergonomics definitly come onto my guitar buying equation. So when I fing a guitar that has the right width neck and a good sized body, I sort of have take what I can get.

I will admit that some of it is vanity as well, I really hate playing a guitar that looks like a ukalele on me. There, I said it.

I have been searching for a good semi-hollow on the cheap for a while its not that I hate humbuckers I just find that more often than not I tend to go for the single coil sound.

That being said I am definitly looking at Teles as well


Peace!
BIG Twonk
Click to expand...


Well I am not quite 6' 5", but I am 6' 2" and my LesPaul has some small ass frets and distance between strings if you ask me....so I kind of know what you mean. I know that Fender does make many different size necks if you look around. My 52 RI Tele is massive compared to my LP. I used to have a strat a long time ago that was closer to the LP so I know the sizes are out there if you look.
 
"hey outlaws why do you post everything twice??"


I am blaming this on the server here. I have gotten into the habit of coping my message so that when the page freezes and doesn't go anywhere I can paste it without having to retype my message. I try to delete them if the thing does post twice but sometimes the second post doesn't show for 10 minutes or so and I miss it. :(

I know I am not the only one who has problems with this server though because it has been discussed before about this thing being slow as a mofo and not loading the pages all the time.
 
Well, the fouble posting doesn't seem to increase post count, and I've got an SG with Suymour Duncan Sh-4 and SH-14's with coil taps, and they work just fine. I can make it sound almost exactly like a telecaster.-Richie
 
alpost forgot what this was about, i have a tele with a DiMarzio humbucker with coil tap and both its single coil/doublecoil sounds are convincing, but( ofcourse it was designed for that...
 
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