H/S/S Pickup sets

DefaultM

Considering getting a new pickguard for my Ibanez RG550 and converting it to HSS. I've never had a guitar with this set up before, what are some good balanced sets? Preferably dimarzio.

I think I want true single coils because I don't see the point in paying to convert to a single coil from a Humbucker and then putting a Humbucker back in.

Funkfingers

It might be worth considering noise-cancelling "singles". How deep are the pickup cavities? 

DefaultM

I'm not sure but I did have a Dimarzio Area pickup years ago and I just thought it sounded really dead. I've never tried a stacked single coil again after that. What are some good ones?

Alegree

Why more pickup manufacturers don't sell HSS sets is beyond me. I have a whole product page dedicated to them.

stimpsonslostson

My Ibanez has dimarzio injectors in neck & bridge and an area 67 in the middle. I really like it. (Paul Gilbert set in a fireman). 
All single coils, but hum cancelling & can really handle gain. 
They're quite P90ish in their response to the pots too- filthy to clean by dialling back the volume. 

Danielsguitars

I did a hss mojo set, it was a split coil paf and 2 60's singles 
I also did a seperate vol for the paf to balance it with the singles
I really liked this set up

I know it's not dimarzio but the principles the same

Well recommended 

DefaultM

Am I able to take out the neck Humbucker, then move the middle pickup and mount it in the neck Humbucker hole just to see what it sounds like? Or will a single not go on to a Humbucker pickguard route?

professorben

DefaultM said:

Am I able to take out the neck Humbucker, then move the middle pickup and mount it in the neck Humbucker hole just to see what it sounds like? Or will a single not go on to a Humbucker pickguard route?

Should do......I think. 

GoldenEraGuitars

I'll be making a strat with the Andy Timmons set in it. Dimarzio AT1 and a few Cruisers.

Outstanding pickups!

mike_l

I have a HS3 and HS2 in guitars, both are really nice "stratty" single coils. The -3 I've wired so as the second coil can be switched in/out which does alter the sound a bit (more mid, less treble, or vice versa).
Both work well with a Alnico 5 bridge 'bucker.
Also both sound good clean and driven.

DefaultM

Do you put the hs3 in the neck and the 2 in the middle? I had that set up before but I only had a Fender twin to play through so didn't really get to hear them under gain.

OilCityPickups

Alegree said:

Why more pickup manufacturers don't sell HSS sets is beyond me. I have a whole product page dedicated to them.

Agreed ... from day one I have done a good trade in HSS and HSH sets ... all of my humbucker range can be mixed and matched with my single coils ... the only issues being that many HSH sets require triangular mounting feet ... and so get baseplates matched to the customer's requirements.

A set under production at the moment

DefaultM

I sort of want to put a traditional Humbucker and 2 typical strat single coils in it, but it's a basswood superstrat and I can't decide if it will sound shit.

daveyh

Nope, it won't. I used to have a RG560 basswood; H/S/S and it was excellent with everything 
I put in it. 

DefaultM

Its the RG560 that I really want, but I'd probably pay £350 to £400 whereas the opinion of everyone selling at the minute seems to be at least £600.

JiJoe

Dimarzio Transition - I've got a set in a HSS Luke 3. Must surely be available as an after market set now. 

DefaultM

I can find the humbuckers but not the single coils for sale after market. Do the singles have a different name?

mudslide73

TheGuitarWeasel said:

Alegree said:

Why more pickup manufacturers don't sell HSS sets is beyond me. I have a whole product page dedicated to them.

Agreed ... from day one I have done a good trade in HSS and HSH sets ... all of my humbucker range can be mixed and matched with my single coils ... the only issues being that many HSH sets require triangular mounting feet ... and so get baseplates matched to the customer's requirements.

A set under production at the moment

@TheGuitarWeasel are those HBs white under the wrapping? If so I'd be very interested in a white A2 Nightfighter to go with my Stonetone neck and middle  

grungebob

If it was me I'd put a HS2 in the neck and middle with an Air Norton in the bridge. They sounded fantastic in my strat and silo. 

DefaultM

I've not tried the air norton as a bridge pickup. I had one in the neck of this guitar and it was awesome though. 
I've heard good things about the Norton as well. 

JiJoe

DefaultM said:

I can find the humbuckers but not the single coils for sale after market. Do the singles have a different name?

Ah right - yes, makes some sense I guess. There will be a bigger market for the HH I guess. Sorry for the curve ball