Good bridge Humbucker for Strat - 250k pots only

[gavquinn]

Hi Guys,

I'm looking for a humbucker for the bridge of a Strat. It doesn't need to be hot, just not too bright.

The catch is, the guitar will be routed for the bridge HB, but the 250k will not be changed to 500k. It has to be as bright as a G - Type guitar with 250k pots, vol and tone.

I'm looking at the Stormy Monday and the Riff Raff, does anyone have experience with these in an otherwise stock Strat?

Can anyone recommend a bridge humbucker that will be bright enough with a 250k pot?

Thanks!

[darkbluemurder]

I think your pre-selection is appropriate for what you want. Normally a PAF-type pickup works well in a strat that has 250k pots. And indeed I would keep the 250k volume pot in this application.

Cheers Stephan

[Alfi27]

The only problem with a PAF pickup and 250k pots is that the output will be even lower than with 500k. That could be an advantage in terms of balancing it with the single coils, and it will certainly be very balanced. I did it a month ago, and it worked quite well, but I ended up wiring it up with one of my custom wirings (500k vol for humbucker, 250k vol for singlecoils and 250k tone for singlecoils). I like a little extra oomph in the bridge position anyway, and the tone was better in my ears. 250k with humbuckers always has this weird mid range thing going on; very hard to describe but it is there. It is better to experiment, and I can supply you with a wiring diagram if you wish to try "my" custom wiring. That wiring solves two issues I always had with strat guitars: having to compromise between 250k/500k, and lack of individual volume controls like I love so much with Gibson LP/SGs.

[lonestarrevival]

The only problem with a PAF pickup and 250k pots is that the output will be even lower than with 500k. That could be an advantage in terms of balancing it with the single coils, and it will certainly be very balanced. I did it a month ago, and it worked quite well, but I ended up wiring it up with one of my custom wirings (500k vol for humbucker, 250k vol for singlecoils and 250k tone for singlecoils). I like a little extra oomph in the bridge position anyway, and the tone was better in my ears. 250k with humbuckers always has this weird mid range thing going on; very hard to describe but it is there. It is better to experiment, and I can supply you with a wiring diagram if you wish to try "my" custom wiring. That wiring solves two issues I always had with strat guitars: having to compromise between 250k/500k, and lack of individual volume controls like I love so much with Gibson LP/SGs.

I have the same issue. I am considering double volume solution too for 250k vol pot with RiffRaff for my Strat - though I don't have the PU yet.   But a tone pot is useful or even essential to humbuckers according to my experience - maybe keep the original 250 k tone for all three, would that  be good enough with regard to the 'mid range thing' you mention and I too notice? Cause a 500 k tone wouldn't be too practical to use with singles I guess.

[Telerocker]

The only problem with a PAF pickup and 250k pots is that the output will be even lower than with 500k. That could be an advantage in terms of balancing it with the single coils, and it will certainly be very balanced. I did it a month ago, and it worked quite well, but I ended up wiring it up with one of my custom wirings (500k vol for humbucker, 250k vol for singlecoils and 250k tone for singlecoils). I like a little extra oomph in the bridge position anyway, and the tone was better in my ears. 250k with humbuckers always has this weird mid range thing going on; very hard to describe but it is there. It is better to experiment, and I can supply you with a wiring diagram if you wish to try "my" custom wiring. That wiring solves two issues I always had with strat guitars: having to compromise between 250k/500k, and lack of individual volume controls like I love so much with Gibson LP/SGs.

I'm with Alfi on this one. 500K for me on the bridge, 250k on the singles.

[lonestarrevival]

The only problem with a PAF pickup and 250k pots is that the output will be even lower than with 500k. That could be an advantage in terms of balancing it with the single coils, and it will certainly be very balanced. I did it a month ago, and it worked quite well, but I ended up wiring it up with one of my custom wirings (500k vol for humbucker, 250k vol for singlecoils and 250k tone for singlecoils). I like a little extra oomph in the bridge position anyway, and the tone was better in my ears. 250k with humbuckers always has this weird mid range thing going on; very hard to describe but it is there. It is better to experiment, and I can supply you with a wiring diagram if you wish to try "my" custom wiring. That wiring solves two issues I always had with strat guitars: having to compromise between 250k/500k, and lack of individual volume controls like I love so much with Gibson LP/SGs.

I'm with Alfi on this one. 500K for me on the bridge, 250k on the singles.

Gentlemen and Ladies I understand the verdict is often that humbuckers need 500k pots.  The original poster was talking about some very bright PAF pu's though, I myself am interested in Riff Raff for my strat.  I suspect these could only possibly sound decent with 250 k pots in a strat if at all, so maybe we should say these are not suitable for this kind of guitar?

[Telerocker]

A RiffRaff with a 500k pot in strat will be bright, maybe way to bright. It might work nice with a 250k pot. A humbucker with a 250k pot is a matter of preference. Like Alfi I am not so fond of the impact on the mids. But anyway, Stormies, RiffRaff, Mule work with 250k.

[lonestarrevival]

right... neither am I fond of the mids with humbuckers and 250 k pots as far as my experience goes...  I may take a chance with Riff Raff nevertheless, thanks for the answer... I apologize to the original poster for hijacking his  thread...  we had similar interests though

[gavquinn]

Thank you all for your answers, gives me something to think about! No need for apologies, info helps, although you can imagine; I've asked this question elsewhere online and at times hit a awl with people saying: 500K for humbuckers.

I don't fancy the sound of a bright humbucker in a maple strat with 500k, that could be very bright. I don't want a twangy humbucker tone.

I want to get a bit of G-type sound in the bridge. I also didn't want to go down the 'hot' route unless I had to. I know that output will equal more 'fatness' but I don't want to overpower the neck and middle. Also, I play through a Blackstar, so there's enough gain there; I personally don't need output. I prefer lower output humbuckers.

I also didn't want to put a 500k vol in where, say the bridge tone is located because then I'd have no bridge tone and I'm not up for adding another 500k tone.

I've also read that the Mule doesn't suit a strat, can anyone dial in here?

[gavquinn]

I think your pre-selection is appropriate for what you want. Normally a PAF-type pickup works well in a strat that has 250k pots. And indeed I would keep the 250k volume pot in this application.

Cheers Stephan

Thanks Stephen,

There are a few people here that mention tonal changes etc to go this route, can you say more about it?

The only thing I was thinking was that the Stormy Monday was a little mid-lacking.

Also, the Riff Raff may be a little too hot. I have good word that to keep the pickup bright, an output of 8K or under is recommended.

Thanks,
Gav

[Telerocker]

Mules work well in strats if you use 250k.

[lonestarrevival]

The only problem with a PAF pickup and 250k pots is that the output will be even lower than with 500k. That could be an advantage in terms of balancing it with the single coils, and it will certainly be very balanced. I did it a month ago, and it worked quite well, but I ended up wiring it up with one of my custom wirings (500k vol for humbucker, 250k vol for singlecoils and 250k tone for singlecoils). I like a little extra oomph in the bridge position anyway, and the tone was better in my ears. 250k with humbuckers always has this weird mid range thing going on; very hard to describe but it is there. It is better to experiment, and I can supply you with a wiring diagram if you wish to try "my" custom wiring. That wiring solves two issues I always had with strat guitars: having to compromise between 250k/500k, and lack of individual volume controls like I love so much with Gibson LP/SGs.

So the vintage humbucker sounded fine on your strat-type guitar with 500k volume and no tone pot I suppose,  I wonder what that pu was, and what kind of strat it is, they should have been not too bright kind ?  Maybe I should learn about your wiring system because I can't bring myself to press the button for the humbucker I chose for my 250k set up.  It will be no use if I change my wiring because it will be both strat-spaced and  probably too bright for my strats.