Single coil in place of humbucker neck ?

Discussion in 'Guitars in General' started by Andrew Gerard, Jan 28, 2012.

  1. Jan 28, 2012 #1
    Andrew Gerard

    Andrew Gerard Member

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    So I picked up an Ibanez 1990 rg560, for 300 bucks. ( hss )



    I mainly play rg550 ( hsh ) and I LOVE the single coil in the neck, the bell like tone is so clean and glassy.. its a SD "vintage strat" So Now I want to put singles in 2 other of my rg550 which have humbuckers in them...

    Questions are:

    will I have to take out wood ? Can I modify the single coil not to ? Is there kind of plate to cover this empty space where the other half would be ?

    If I put just a single in... should it be closer to the NECK or BRIDGE in the slot...
    THANKS in advance for any help.

    I realize many will say P 90 is the solution, just curious if anyone else has done this already...

    Andrew Gerard


    Here is a video of the rg560 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfkdNhmnunI
     
    Andrew Gerard, Jan 28, 2012
    Andrew Gerard, Jan 28, 2012
    #1
  2. Jan 28, 2012 #2
    gulliver

    gulliver Supporting Member

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    You could also try a Dimarzio Bluesbucker, really nice hum canceling humbucker sized PU w/ single coil tone ... with a bit of PAF rattiness. You can flip it to see where the pickup picks up the best, as only one side is active.
     
    gulliver, Jan 28, 2012
    gulliver, Jan 28, 2012
    #2
  3. Jan 28, 2012 #3
    JB6464

    JB6464 Member

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    Seymour Duncan Phat Cat P90
    It's a single coil that drops right in a humbucker spot with no mods needed.
     
    JB6464, Jan 28, 2012
    JB6464, Jan 28, 2012
    #3
  4. Jan 28, 2012 #4
    Andrew Gerard

    Andrew Gerard Member

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    Great ! Is the Phat Cat very noisey ?


    Thanks will check it out.


    AG
     
    Andrew Gerard, Jan 28, 2012
    Andrew Gerard, Jan 28, 2012
    #4
  5. Jan 28, 2012 #5
    JB6464

    JB6464 Member

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    I have them and use them alot.
    Not noisey at all for a single coil pickup.
    They do have that slight hum like all true single coils have but they are a very fat sounding single coil with that nice cut you won't get with a humbucker.
    You should really try one , they are great pickups.
     
    JB6464, Jan 28, 2012
    JB6464, Jan 28, 2012
    #5
  6. Jan 28, 2012 #6
    L_Totti

    L_Totti Member

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    Or you can use a adapter ring from GFS and use a true single coil.
     
    L_Totti, Jan 28, 2012
    L_Totti, Jan 28, 2012
    #6
  7. Jan 28, 2012 #7
    JB6464

    JB6464 Member

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    Another cool idea as well .
     
    JB6464, Jan 28, 2012
    JB6464, Jan 28, 2012
    #7
  8. Jan 28, 2012 #8
    teleman55

    teleman55 Member

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    GFS Mean 90 or Dream 90 are a couple of others like the Phat Cat. Other makers have some too. I put Mean 90's in an Ibanez Artcore and like the result.
     
    teleman55, Jan 28, 2012
    teleman55, Jan 28, 2012
    #8
  9. Jan 28, 2012 #9
    Whiskeyrebel

    Whiskeyrebel Supporting Member

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    Dream 90 works well at the neck with a bridge humbucker.
     
    Whiskeyrebel, Jan 28, 2012
    Whiskeyrebel, Jan 28, 2012
    #9
  10. Jan 29, 2012 #10
    movingpictures

    movingpictures Supporting Member

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    Put a pickguard on it....
     
    movingpictures, Jan 29, 2012
    movingpictures, Jan 29, 2012
    #10
  11. Jan 29, 2012 #11
    L_Totti

    L_Totti Member

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    L_Totti, Jan 29, 2012
    L_Totti, Jan 29, 2012
    #11
  12. Jan 29, 2012 #12
    Andrew Gerard

    Andrew Gerard Member

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    WOW Airline Look very cool !!


    Thanks.
     
    Andrew Gerard, Jan 29, 2012
    Andrew Gerard, Jan 29, 2012
    #12
  13. Jan 29, 2012 #13
    harpinon

    harpinon Silver Supporting Member

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    If the 'bucker is a 4 wire pickup, you can remove the dummy coil wire and it should act as a single.
     
    harpinon, Jan 29, 2012
    harpinon, Jan 29, 2012
    #13
  14. Jan 29, 2012 #14
    Andrew Gerard

    Andrew Gerard Member

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    I ordered an Airline... I will wire it into my 1998 rg550 in the neck and make a video if anyone is interested.
     
    Andrew Gerard, Jan 29, 2012
    Andrew Gerard, Jan 29, 2012
    #14
  15. Jan 29, 2012 #15
    Drak

    Drak Supporting Member

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    For what you asked for, I wouldn't opt for the Phat Cat, I have one in a Tele neck and that thing is thicker/meatier/louder than some real HB's I have, not very single coil-ish in nature, at least for me.

    Two other recommends if the Airline isn't what you're after would be a Rio Grande Tallboy HB, which basically are two standard single coil pickups mounted side by side in a HB format, so you get real genuine SC sound AND HB sound too...
    http://www.riograndepickups.com/scart/ProductPage.asp?ImageLink=TBHB&ProductName=For+Humbuckings

    ...or a light-wind HB like a DiMarzio Eric Johnson, THAT is a light-duty true HB that really almost sounds like a SC, great sparkly chimy cleans from it, far more light-n-lively than my Phat Cat, (which I love for it's thick meaty tone btw).
     
    Drak, Jan 29, 2012
    Drak, Jan 29, 2012
    #15
  16. Jan 29, 2012 #16
    shane8

    shane8 Member

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    coil tap
     
    shane8, Jan 29, 2012
    shane8, Jan 29, 2012
    #16
  17. Jan 30, 2012 #17
    Andrew Gerard

    Andrew Gerard Member

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    Thanks Drak, those sound like great options.

    I think to get a real single sound, you need a single coil.

    Many hb come close though, Possible more dependent on the guitar eq etc..

    I am excited to install the Airline. It looks kinda groovy to boot..


    thanks for all the well informed thoughts.

    AG
     
    Andrew Gerard, Jan 30, 2012
    Andrew Gerard, Jan 30, 2012
    #17

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