Why the humbucker pickup sucks
Eventually, you come to realize that a humbucker sucks.
Why does the humbucker suck?
Before I tell you why the humbucker sucks, let's talk about what's good about it.
Two things make humbuckers good:
- Greater output
- Hum cancellation
...and that's it.
What makes the humbucker suck is that it's voiced "flat"
Any modern electric guitar with a humbucker in it, be it cheap, expensive or anywhere in between, is designed to have a flat output. If you took a 5-band equalizer and set everything to dead center, that's pretty much what a humbucker output sounds like...
...which is utterly boring, and that's where the suck happens.
Are there any humbuckers that do NOT suck?
Yes, but you'll laugh when you find out the reason why.
Humbucker that does not suck: DiMarzio Bluesbucker.
Reason why it does not suck: Voiced to sound like a P90 single-coil.
When you want a genuinely good sounding pickup, you either go single-coil or get a humbucker voiced to sound like one.
Why does the single-coil always sound better?
Humbuckers are voiced flat where its dynamics are, by design mind you, limited to the point where you hit a tonal wall that you can't break through. The best way I can describe this is that you'll always be wanting that "little extra" out of a humbucker but never be able to find it.
Singles - even for the dirt cheap kind - have no such tonal wall. You don't have to go hunting for that "little extra" with single-coil tone. It's there.
The humbucker is the easier pickup, but that will work against you
A big reason why so many players prefer the humbucker over the single-coil is because it's easier to deal with. Because the pickup is voiced so flatly, it'll pretty much sound good through any effect, any amp, etc..
With a single-coil, you have to work at it to make that thing sound right. It does not sound good in every amp. It does not take well to every pedal. In fact, some setups will sound absolutely awful with a guitar that has singles in it.
In the end however, an "automatic" pickup like a humbucker has a tone that's just lifeless, bland and dull. A single, as "quirky" as it might be, has actual tonal personality to it. Yes, it takes work to wrangle a good tone out of one, but that's the fun of it. (Yeah, fun. Remember that? The thing that's the reason you play guitar in the first place?)
Does this mean you should stop buying guitars with humbuckers in them?
No. But it does mean that you shouldn't go chasing after single-coil tone with a guitar that has humbuckers in it.
What's the best single-coil guitar for the guy "addicted to humbuckers?"
Telecaster or Les Paul with P90s in it.
Yeah, you could get a Strat if you wanted to - but - the Telecaster has a higher-output single in the rear/bridge position, and the P90 also has higher-output singles compared to a Strat.
The cheapest options are the Epiphone Les Paul Special I P90 or pretty much any Squier Telecaster.
If you're a Les Paul guy, I'd suggest the P90 'Paul specifically. If not a Les Paul guy, get the Tele instead.
There are two more reasons why I don't recommend Strats to guys addicted to humbuckers. You'll keep whacking that middle pickup constantly, and the fact cheaper Strats have no tone control wired to the bridge-only pickup position (which you will want, trust me on that one).
If you've been bored with your guitar lately...
...get a guitar with singles in it. Tele or Les Paul P90 are the easiest and cheapest way to get That Sound you've been looking for. It's there. You just needed the right pickup for it. And it's not a humbucker.
Guitar of the week #64 - Fender Special Edition Black Stratocaster
I made mention of this elsewhere, and now it gets a feature here.
This is best deal I've seen on an FSR (Fender Special Run) guitar from Fender, and I'll explain why.
This Fender Special Edition Stratocaster in black is a Fender Standard Stratocaster, Mexico version, but has a slight change that I'll tell you about in a moment. What makes this one special is that it looks very similar to the Fender Custom Shop David Gilmour Strat.
If you're sitting down, go check out the price of a Gilmour Strat and prepare for major sticker shock.
The FSR black Strat above is very similar in look to a Gilmour Strat, and happens to be the same price as a Standard Strat.
There's also something else that's really easy to miss. The headstock does not have the typical "transition" Fender logo seen on Mexico models, but rather the Fender vintage "spaghetti" logo usually only seen on American Standard Strats and other "Classic" or vintage-inspired models. So not only are you getting the cool look of a Gilmour Strat, you're getting the American spaghetti logo as well.
You're getting extra with this guitar for no extra cost above the price of a regular Standard Strat. Great look and the spaghetti logo. This guitar could be very easily mistaken for something much more expensive.
If you have the cash, get this guitar. Remember, the plastics can be swapped out to make a classic "Blackie" Strat, so even if you don't like the black guard/white pickups treatment, buy it anyway because you get the American-style vintage logo and can create a Blackie easily.
Usually, you don't see FSRs from Fender that are truly good deals. This is one of them where you are in fact getting more for less. If you know the Standard Stratocaster, you already know this guitar.
The best alternative to the Fender Stratocaster
When you want something Fender that isn't a Fender, you want this.
An alternative to the Fender Stratocaster that some of you out there might in fact prefer is the G&L Legacy.
What is G&L?
A guitar company founded by Leo Fender, George Fullerton and Dale Hyatt in the 1970s. Leo Fender was first with Fender guitars (obviously), then Music Man, then G&L. The letters mean George and Leo.
What is a G&L Legacy?
Arguably, it's what the Fender Stratocaster would have turned into had Leo stayed with Fender and not sold the company in 1965.
The Tribute Legacy's body and neck are imported while the USA Legacy is all-USA made.
I actually like the Tribute better for one specific reason. 12-inch fingerboard radius.
The USA Legacy uses what's called a G&L "Modern Classic" neck which has a 9.5-inch radius. It's a bit on the slim side and a great neck.
However, the fact you can get a really awesome Strat that has real-deal Strat tone in rosewood or maple fretboard with 12-inch radius? I honestly think the Tribute is the better buy here even though it's the cheaper model.
Make no mistake, in Tribute or USA version, the Legacy is totally a high-end Strat.
In closing, I'll just say this. If you wish the Strat Fender makes (Mexico or USA version) had just "something a little extra", consider a G&L Legacy and you'll probably really, really like it. And I can assure you that you're not settling for less by getting one.
Guitar of the week #63 - Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster '60s in Burgundy Mist
Is this a future collectible? Yes.
Someone emailed me a while back and was asking me whether or not he should buy this guitar because he loved the color so much. I honestly think he had already made the decision to buy it and probably has by now.
I'm talking about the Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster '60s in a finish called Burgundy Mist, and it does come with the color matched headstock.
There is actually a history behind the color matched headstock. A long time ago, a headstock that matched the color of the body used to be considered a premium option that you would pay extra for. And in some respects, it's still that way today. The CV Strat is an upper-tier Squier. You definitely don't see low-tier Squiers with this finish option.
Is there anything special about this particular Squier CV '60s Strat other than its finish and color matched headstock? No. It is the same price as a CV '60s model in a more traditional color such as sunburst.
In other words, the fact you're not charged any extra for what should cost more is actually a pretty good deal.
Burgundy Mist is not everyone's color. And neither is Sherwood Green (which is a CV '50s model because of its maple fretboard and lower-output AlNiCo III pickups). However, the color matched headstock does mean it's an instant collectible, and they will shoot up in value the moment Squier stops making them.
Is the CV a good Strat? Yes, it is. It's very easy player, sounds great and it's built well.
My recommendation is that if you have the cash, get one before they're gone.
When is an Epiphone better than a Gibson?
That can be summed up in one word: Availability.
One (of several) complaints I have about Gibson is that they have several really good models but don't make them in a Gibson USA version. Or if they do, it's a cut rate version of it that doesn't have all the features you want...
...which is where Epiphone comes in. They make the stuff Gibson should be making now.
A classic example of this is the 3-pickup Epiphone Black Beauty Les Paul Custom. Yeah, it's a bit expensive for an Epiphone, but it ticks all the right boxes. It has the diamond inlay on the headstock, all the binding, all the proper electronics and so on. Everything is there and it's missing nothing. You really do get a true Black Beauty 'Paul from Epiphone. Nobody else is making this right now. Not even Gibson.
Two examples of genuinely good Epiphone models that you can't get from Gibson (or would have a really hard time finding from Gibson)
What a guitar, and what a steal this is. If you liked the cheap-and-good Epiphone Les Paul Special I P90, wow are you going to love this. Seriously. This guitar has that raspy and "gritty" single-coil P90 sound and is a total tone monster.
I consider this a "sleeper" Les Paul and am genuinely surprised more people don't buy it. And it comes in gold. GOLD. And it has binding and trapezoid inlays! What more do you want?
You know the old saying "they don't build 'em like they used to"? The '56 is built like they used to make them. If you don't believe me, try one for yourself. You won't be disappointed.
Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro in Silverburst
If you want a guitar that turns heads that is not a Black Beauty, it's a Les Paul Custom in Silverburst.
This is sometimes known as the "ghost" finish, and wow does it work well. Ever since it was introduced in the 1970s, the 'Paul has always taken well to a Silverburst finish.
If you were ever trying to decide which Epiphone Les Paul gets everything right where the look, price, features, resale value and so on are all correct, this is that guitar. It is literally a can't-go-wrong Les Paul as far as Epiphone is concerned.
There is good stuff from Epiphone when you look
Sometimes your "dream Gibson" might not be a Gibson at all simply because Gibson doesn't make it...
...but Epiphone probably does. Be on the lookout and you'll find some truly great offerings from the brand.