I want new pups for my Reish S-100

[tele4tone]

I've been playing my reish for a while, I've assessed that the neck pickup is not very musical. I can get quite a few workable tones out of the bridge pup, but the neck pup is not happening. I really don't need a high output neck pup. I really want something that is medium output with lots of clarity and bell like tonality. A four conductor pup would be great. I might just wire it out of phase and leave it that way.

Any suggestions? As much as I love my HB-1's in my S-73 they are kinda ugly without the covers and some one did a funky rattle can job on them. I won't be taking those out of it's current guitar anytime soon.

Thx, Jeff

 

[kakerlak]

The clearest bell-like humbuckers I've personally messed with are the Seymour Duncan Seth Lover models. I always thought they sounded very musical and sweet, whereas pretty much every other SD humbucker is at least a little bit dull, including the '59s that I believe came standard in those 90s S-100s/Bluesbirds...

I have absolutely no experience with any of the smaller boutique offerings, but I'm sure some of them must be pretty nice.

The only drawback on the Seths would be that they're 2-wire pickups... But your bridge unit may be 4 wire and, if you're only swapping the neck, you just need one of the 2 p/us to be 4 wire to do out of phase.

I really hate humbuckers as a lot. Almost all of them sound just a little bit muddy/dull/soulless. I think some of that is a byproduct of the majority of them being just a little hotter than they probably ought to be, PAF "clones" included.

On the other hand, the Guild HB-1s and the Seths, though different sounding, are among the very few I've run across that actually sound dynamic enough to be fun to use...

 

[MojoTooth]

buy some vintage Hb-1's or have MojoTone wind you a pair to your specs.

Sounds like you want the Classic Wound series like I have in my Blues 90:

"Classic Wound PAF's represent the best from the late 50s Era with just the right amount of output, making these some of the most versatile humbuckers available for almost any playing style. They are stock with alnico 2 magnets, short leg nickel silver baseplate, single conductor leads and vintage spec plain enamel wire. The neck pickup is a lower output for excellent clarity and warmth without becoming muddy like so many neck position humbuckers can be. The bridge pickup has a warm, airy presence with plenty of output and sustain. Together, the bridge and neck pickups are very well balanced."

http://www.mojotone.com/guitar-parts/Cl ... F-Spaced_3

 

[mad dog]

Here's a choice from left field. One of the best humbuckers I've heard in a long time is not a full size HB. It's the "undercover mini" by Tom Short, a mini-humbucker in a full-size HB shell. I'm always looking for intriguing, lower output type HB sound, and this is surely one of the best. Put this in the neck spot on a partscaster tele, rather deluxe-ish. Wonderful tone. No mud. Great clarity and warmth.

MD

 

[tele4tone]

Interesting. I put a Bill Lawrence humbucker ( with regular pole pieces not a blade) in my tele neck and it is very sweet. I can't find anymore of those pups anywhere or even mention that they existed.

Has anyone heard of Motor City Pickups? http://motorcitypickups.com/

Jeff

 

[GAD]

Vintage HB1s will not fit in a reissue without routing.

what's your budget?

$300 buys you the best damn humbuckers I've ever heard from Jim at WCR. http://www.wcrguitar.com/index.html

Tell him GAD sent you.

Here's my review of a couple of his sets: http://www.gad.net/Blog/2010/07/13/wcr-pickups-review/

He actually rewired the fender-suck-HB1 pickups in my SF4. He doesn't do rewinding anymore though.

 

[tele4tone]

As much as I like the HB-1's I have no desire to put them in my '98. I want something different. I would never take the pups out of a vintage S-100, but the reissues are a different story.

I'll checkout the WCR's.

Is it possible to just order one pick up not a set from these boutique guys? I wonder how the middle position works with a higher output bridge and a lower output neck pup?

Jeff

 

[GAD]

As much as I like the HB-1's I have no desire to put them in my '98. I want something different. I would never take the pups out of a vintage S-100, but the reissues are a different story.

I'll checkout the WCR's.

Is it possible to just order one pick up not a set from these boutique guys? I wonder how the middle position works with a higher output bridge and a lower output neck pup?

Jeff

Absolutely you can order only one pickup. Email or Call Jim at WCR if you're interested. He's a blast to talk with and a great guy.

 

[Thunderface]

As much as I like the HB-1's I have no desire to put them in my '98.

So while you're debating on which pickups to put in your reish ... I can sell you a vintage pair of vintage HB-1s, and I'll even throw in the rest of the guitar with 'em. :lol:

 

[tele4tone]

I haven't forgot you TF..... :lol: