Mixing humbuckers and P90 style pickups

[Andrew W]

I was introduced to/seduced by Bare Knuckle Pickups at a guitar shop today and think I may have found my brand!  I have a query which may be a little idiosyncratic.  I've had a Gibson LP Special for years now which I love and for most things I play (Zeppelin-y era bluesy rock) it has been great.  Unfortunately it weighs a ton.  This fact, combined with a renewed interest in early Van Halen has led me to get a secondhand Ibanez JS100 for its weight and locking trem.  So my questions are :-

1) Can I mix a P90 style single coil (the Mississippi Queen sounds enticing) with a humbucker?  I'm thinking P90 at the neck and humbucker at the bridge. Will their outputs be matched with the toggle switch in the middle position?

2) The VHII seems tailor-made for that early Van Halen sound.  Would this be a good choice for the bridge of a smallish bodied basswood guitar?

I suppose it boils down to bluesy rock at the neck and Eddie at the bridge.  Can this be achieved or am I asking too much?

Many thanks,

Andrew

[HJM]

Hi there!

I don't think you'll have any problems level wise - what's the JS100 made of??

[Andrew W]

what's the JS100 made of??

I think it's basswood.

Cheers,

Andrew

[HJM]

The VHII is a bright pickup, but I'd bet in a basswood body with a rosewood neck it'll scream :twisted:

You have to work it a bit, but put the effort in an pick hard the tone is well worth it!

[Elliot]

Andrew - there is not alot of difference in output, although the middle has a slight drop - hear the clip i've posted for you in the Players section (recorded in true Seymour Duncan style - a short indistinct bar) - the first two bars are a Mule Alnico IV bridge, then the same in the middle and then an Alnico IV Mississippi Queen.  

All controls on the guitar were at 10 and the 'amp' was the Soldano model on the Guitarport.

and don't slag off my playing, coz I know its s**t

[PhilKing]

I have a Crawler and 2 P-90's in a PRS EG, and a Warpig and Mississippi Queen in my Explorer.  They mix with no problem.  Actually they have a great sound when combined.

I am sure Tim could wind the MQ to work with the VHII.

[TwilightOdyssey]

FYI, Phili has every configuration you can think of, aside from a single HB.
That man knows his stuff!!!!

[Andrew W]

Thanks for all the feedback guys it's helping me a lot.  OK, so I've had my fears about mismatched output assuaged - that doesn't seem to be a problem.  I guess my only queries now are tonal.  Having listened to a lot of the mp3s in the players section I think that the VHII does seem to give that early Van Halen sound I'm after but I'm wondering if there's any other pickups I should consider for the neck?

The Mississippi Queen sounds great but for that not so smooth but still rich bluesy rock sound are there any others I should consider?  Especially considering that it will be paired with a VHII (unless someone thinks that another pickup gives that definitive Van Halen sound).  Any words from the wise or does a VHII paired with a Mississippi Queen seem a sensible choice?

Once again, many thanks for the advice - it's all very welcome.

Andrew

[big steve]

do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

sounds like a great combo, the great thing about BKP is, if it doesn't suit you, there's a no-fuss returns policy.