humbucker advice wanted

[Iced Dragon]

Hi everyone, I'm new here.
I have a couple of questions for you ...  

First of all I'm looking for an all-round humbucker to put in my Hamer Centaura (swamp-ash body), mainly for some nice cleans and occasionally a full sounding overdriven lead tone. So it's not mentioned for the more heavy work (though being able to manage it would be a surplus).
My original idea was to put a SD Pearly Gates in it, but I heard BKPs are way more articulate and have more definition, I'd like to give them a try.

What do you guys suggest?


Then, I'm looking for a nice shred/metal set which might replace the SD Custom/jazz combination in my poplar Jackson RR1 (maple neck through body, ebony fretboard).
Aggressive, tight yet full sounding bridge pup
full, articulate neck pup for sweeping/tapping stuff


Thanks in advance,

Bjorn

[Twinfan]

Welcome  :D

For your Hamer Centaura, a good all round vintage style humbucker is the Mule.  This would do all that you ask.  If you really want to focus on clean tones, the Stormy Monday is the favourite as it is a bit lower output and a bit more balanced and warm, although not many people use it in the bridge position.  I would say the Mule is a better option if you want to use more than a light overdrive.

For your RR, I would suggest a Miracle Man bridge and a Cold Sweat neck.  These are the shred/metal pickups of choice.

I'm sure others will chip in and advise shortly  :)

[TwilightOdyssey]

Welcome!

I usually shy away from threads like this because it ends up being a list of every HB that Tim makes!

I would suggest a Cold Sweat combo for the Hamer, but with the following caveat:
Your amp must have an IMMACULATE clean channel!

If your amp has the least bit of snarl in the clean channel (like my Splawn or most Marshalls), the Cold Sweat will overdrive the amp if play with guitar's volume all the way up. I don't have volume controls on my guitars (long story), but I sometimes use a boost pedal set to attenuate the signal from my Cold Sweat to keep the clean channel clean.

For the RR, as suggested above, a MM/CS combo. Perhaps a Nailbomb in the bridge if you want a wider midrange peak.

[Iced Dragon]

Hi guys,

thanks for the advice so far.

my set-up:
Engl 570 pre-amp and VHT 2/50/2 with a TC Electronic G-Major in the loop.

I do believe its 'quite' clean.  :P

The Hamer has a HSS configuration, though ;)

[ericsabbath]

is there an alnico version of cold sweat for the bridge position?

[hunter]

Welcome  :D

For your Hamer Centaura, a good all round vintage style humbucker is the Mule.  

+1

Pearly Gates would be too hot/middy

Mule will do perfect cleans and real nice overdrive sounds.

[Iced Dragon]

How does the Mule sound split?

[Iced Dragon]

Would the Emerald humbucker suit my needs (instead of The Mule)?

[fps_dean]

Would the Emerald humbucker suit my needs (instead of The Mule)?

Probably, but I'd be looking at Mules or VHIIs for the Hammer and Nailbombs for the Jackson... I have a Nailbomb bridge (and trilogy suite neck and mid) in a ESP which is a simililiar guitar with just more wood and it absolutely slays and the harmonics are sick!