Humbuckers or Single Coils?

Squidgy Black

Which do you guys prefer?

I recently converted to a semi-hollowbody prs style with 2 'buckers, after using a strat and an sg with single coils, and I think I've finally found the tone I've wanted

I'm a sucker for a decent beefy crunch sound, EL84's and humbuckers are my perfect combo

Zombienosh

Single Coils

I'm a humbucker fan myself, less noise and beefer tone, however 2 of my guitars have a coil tap so its nice have the single coil tone sometimes, it all depends on what you're playing.

PeterIanStaker

Single Coils

Strat with HSS layout is going to be my next weapon.
Cover a lot of tones with that setup.


(If I ever get the cash)

Alanstrainor

I'm more of a single coil guy myself. Specifically a strat. I do have an edwards LP though! It doesn't beat my Bacchus strat though...i dont think anything ever will.

rcaz

Zombienosh wrote: »

it all depends on what you're playing.

Quoted for truth.

I think everyone needs both. Sure you might use one more often, but what about that one song where you need the other?

My main guitar is a Telecaster standard with a Hot Rails in the bridge, and it does me fine (not necessarily perfectly) most of the time. I'm counting the days to getting my Jazzmaster fixed up though...

...It would help if I had a defined number of days to count

Dord

P90's for me!

Technically they are single coils, just a different size and shape.

damonjewel

I have installed a couple of P90s and love the tonal variety. My next build is a telecaster with hopefully 2 phat cat P90s.

quicklickpaddy

P90's

Clean tone for me it's single coils every time. I have a few guitars with humbuckers and use them a good bit too but it's SSS Strats for me

eagle10

Not voting because they both have thier pros and cons!
I kinda play lots of different stuff and need variety.
Was using a les paul for a while but trying to play certain songs on it broke my heart always loved the strat tone and playability.
Now I'm using a prs it has best of both worlds.

I really cant say which I prefer or which is better, but if I could only have one guitar it would be a strat sss.

Ravelleman

P90's

I'm going to say single coils, particularly ones located in the neck position.

Although, I do really like some non-standard humbuckers like Filtertrons.

Demeyes

I like having both. I play a lot of heavier stuff and humbuckers are great for that but there are times where single coils are king too. I probably use about 50/50 at the moment with single coils in my tele vs humbuckers in most of my others.

Menolias

Single Coils

love my EMG 81/85 combo

Paolo_M

When choosing a pickup it's context, context, context for me, horses for courses and all that.
I'm lucky to have guitars with buckers, single coils and actives.
Don't own a P90 geetar but may have to indulge...

rcaz

Why are P90s separate to single coils in the poll?

eoin5

I play with single coils mostly but I'd be lost without me humbucker in the bridge.

Squidgy Black

Single Coils

El Pr0n wrote: »

Why are P90s separate to single coils in the poll?

I know they're single coils, but in my opinion it's quite a different sound and I said sure why not :rolleyes: In saying that though, I should've put in active humbuckers technically....

rcaz

stetyrrell wrote: »

I know they're single coils, but in my opinion it's quite a different sound and I said sure why not :rolleyes: In saying that though, I should've put in active humbuckers technically....

But then should a Telecaster bridge pickup have a separate entry to Telecaster neck pickup?

Ravelleman

P90's

I think most people regard p90s as being distinct from Fender style single-coil pickups. Even the briefest of surveys on guitar message boards will show you that people think of Fender style pickups when they see the word single coil written. P90 refers to the Gibson style single-coiled pickup. So they're different.

Not that the semantics of pickup names actually matters here. :pac:

It's all about teh tonez, man.

rcaz

Ravelleman wrote: »

I think most people regard p90s as being distinct from Fender style single-coil pickups. Even the briefest of surveys on guitar message boards will show you that people think of Fender style pickups when they see the word single coil written. P90 refers to the Gibson style single-coiled pickup. So they're different.

Not that the semantics of pickup names actually matters here. :pac:

It's all about teh tonez, man.

It's not about semantics, there are single coils and humbuckers and piezos, are there any other kinds? P90s aren't humbuckers or piezos.

There's a lot of variance within Fender-style single coils too. But going with the tone, stick lipstick pups and Charlie Christians in the poll too...?

Alanstrainor

But everyone loves p90s...that's why!

Seziertisch

There are so many other factors influencing the voicing of a pickup that I really can't see the point in putting that much emphasis on whether it is a single coil or humbucker or whatever.

I have heard humbuckers with one coil wound heavier than the other that have had a lot of the characteristics people would generally consider to be belonging to single coils e.g. articulate, clear and punchy sounding and definitely not smooth and warm.

I have also heard humbuckers with magnet pole pieces which would sooner remind you of a strat or tele pup than a PAF. One of the reasons a P90 sounds quite different to a regular Fender pup is that it has screw as opposed to magnet pole pieces. Go to the TV Jones website and have a listen to the clips up there of the Classic pickups and the Magnatrons; the same pickup, one with screw pole pieces the other with magnets.

The type of magnet used also has an influence, there is a pretty big difference between alnico 5 and alnico 2 magnets and ceramics have their own thing going on again.

The resistance of the pots in the tone circuit also has a pretty big influence on the voicing.

Dord

Oh how I wish I owned this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FInjFmM8qR0

P90s sound damn awesome

Ravelleman

P90's

Nice guitars in Fretted Americana's videos. Pity about the guy. He's really quite annoying.