Never thought I'd be considering this...

[Armotron]

Hey guys,
In the last couple days I have been struggling to choose between an HSS or HH setup on my strat with Bareknuckles.
The reason is, is that I have always liked a single coil in the neck, but now, Im also starting to really like the sound of a warm low output humbucker in the neck, and am worried that a bridge humbucker with the tone low can not replicate this sound. I also really like the sound of the possible humbucker combinations also, it also would be original to have 2 covered humbuckers in a strat.
Im also arguing with myself as to if my playing has started to become more suited for humbuckers, my playing is very smooth and soft but also fast at times. My fingers also get a pretyy mellow sound against my strat, i dont play to rugged like I used to. Im thinking that Strat pickups might be better for a more rugged blues player(ex: srv) and humbuckers better for a smooth blues player(ex: clapton). lately Im also wanting to get a strong  rock tone at times.

I love the feel of my strat, but im just not sure about what pickups would be best for me. It would be easy if i had 2 guitars, but that cant happen right now, I need one to handle want im needing most. Im leaning towards HH, what do yall think?

[TwilightOdyssey]

That is too individual a preference for anyone's opinion to make much of a difference; even cosmetically, it's up to you.

As a compromise, you can always put a P90 in the neck.

I personally love the sound of a SC in the neck position. I think HBs sound too unfocused; but, thats just my opinion.

[Armotron]

Thats a good thought, maybe a P90 might work but im not sure if I want something in between, I have a Lindy Fralin Steel Pole, I think Ill try that out in the neck and see if its close to the right sound, then I might get a chrome soapbar. One question, will those soapbars fit in a rout for a humbucker or are they too long? Actually, I think a humbucker sized P90 would be better anyway.

[PhilKing]

P-90's are too long, unless you have the 'bathtub' routed body.  then they will fit fine.  I have H/S/S with Crawler/P-91/P-91 in an old PRS EG and love the sound.  I have a Mississippi Queen (H/B sized P-90), in the bridge position of another guitar (with a set neck), and it sounds great too.

With the MQ in the neck though, I would go for one of the mid-power H/B in the bridge.

I love the Riff-Raff/Stormy Monday combination too.  I have A5/A4 and the cmbined sound is very Peter Greenish.

One last possibility is a mini-Mule in the neck.  This is a nice tone, no hum but much more like a single coil (Steven Stills used to use a Firebird with CSNY, as did Clapton for a couple of months with Cream).

[Armotron]

I love the Riff-Raff/Stormy Monday combination too.  I have A5/A4 and the cmbined sound is very Peter Greenish.

One last possibility is a mini-Mule in the neck.  This is a nice tone, no hum but much more like a single coil (Steven Stills used to use a Firebird with CSNY, as did Clapton for a couple of months with Cream).

Very Interesting, that just might work, now, whats makes the mini mule more stratish, is it that its smaller or? Is there also a mini Stormy Monday? I think Im going Mule bridge, just not sure about the neck if I went with either a humbucker or mini-hum. Im leaning more towards a humbuckers even more now.

[PhilKing]

I guess it is the smaller width, giving a narrower pickup area.  I'm sure Tim can explain it better than me though and he can also tell you if you can get a Stormy Monday version.

 The other good thing about this pickup is that it can fit into a standard H/B rout if you don't use the plastic surround.  I have mine in a Firebird surround, but you could put it into a scratchplate too.

btw. There was a Tele with a Stormy Monday neck and I think a Boss bridge at LGS and it sounded great.

[Armotron]

I think a mini humbucker might work perfectly, either that or a Stormy Monday neck. I think ill shoot Tim a Email soon about that. Thanks

[jt]

:D Sorry Armotron you sound like you want your cake & eat it !!
For what it`s worth  IMHO i think  TO is wrong [ sorry Ben ! ] if you play a lot of rythem guitar in the neck position i think a single coil is a good way to go, if on the other hand you play mainly lead in the neck position then a H/B is the way to go. H/B`s give a great solo tone in the neck but once you start playing rythem passages they can become unfocused unless you go down the road of having coil taps series/parallel switching etc.

[Armotron]

Im more of a lead guy myself, I like playing leads in the neck. Its too bad I want it all!
But I think im wanting to go HH. Ill probabally get some other coil combinations to at least try to accomplish getting both sounds.
I think ill be pretty damn happy either way, i've only heard awesome things about all of these pickups, I shouldnt be soo picky!  :D