Superstrats - HH or HSH?

Loobs

SSH

xDaigaijin

Megii said:

lysander said:

I’m 100% with @digitalscream on this one.
The Ibanez 5 position switches on RGs with 2 humbuckers give me all the sounds I need, with no hum, I’m a fan of that config.

TTBZ said:

HH would be my vote but I can't stand middle pickups! I just find it gets in the way of my picking, and looks too busy. Doesn't produce any sounds I like either so bin it!

Philly_Q said:

HH, but no great logic to it, I just don't like the look of HSH (although somehow HSH looks OK on a Jem or RG, despite looking wrong on a Strat).  And there's certainly plenty of scope for different sounds with two humbuckers and a five-way switch.

All things being equal, I am coming down in favour of HH I have to say - I think it would do what I wanted, and a bit less congested than HSH on a 24 fret. The guitar I was specifically looking at actually has a 3-way selector plus coil tap, which is maybe not what I'd choose, but I could get a super-switch and change the wiring I would think.

Does anyone know anything about the trem unit on this guitar - it's just described as "double locking trem bridge". It's branded "Ibanez" and having looked on Ibanez' own website, I see it used on quite a few other new models.

https://www.pmtonline.co.uk/ibanez-rg420hpfm-blue-reef-gradation-electric-guitar?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIi8D_25ul6gIVQeztCh1lhAghEAQYBCABEgLIvvD_BwE#product-details

A quick look revealed this

https://ibanez.fandom.com/wiki/RG420HPFM

And on the trem

https://ibanez.fandom.com/wiki/Standard_DL_tremolo

Personally I'd avoid it because of the trem. If your friend has as an undeclared budget I'd suggest they consider something with either a Lopro or Edge Pro trem, both of which are much more stable. 

There is an RGR5220M TFG for sale here in the classified of which I have one or an RG1570 MMR of which I have several or if they have just won the lottery they could go for this 

https://www.gak.co.uk/en/ibanez-rg8520-j-custom-limited-almandite-garnet/936929

I know this one and would be happy to answer any questions just pm

prowla

I like HSS: the bridge humbucker with bite and depth plus the middle & neck single coil for the more bluesy sounds.

Switching the bridge pickup to single coil can get near to a Strat there too.

Megii

Daigaijin said:

Megii said:

lysander said:

I’m 100% with @digitalscream on this one.
The Ibanez 5 position switches on RGs with 2 humbuckers give me all the sounds I need, with no hum, I’m a fan of that config.

TTBZ said:

HH would be my vote but I can't stand middle pickups! I just find it gets in the way of my picking, and looks too busy. Doesn't produce any sounds I like either so bin it!

Philly_Q said:

HH, but no great logic to it, I just don't like the look of HSH (although somehow HSH looks OK on a Jem or RG, despite looking wrong on a Strat).  And there's certainly plenty of scope for different sounds with two humbuckers and a five-way switch.

All things being equal, I am coming down in favour of HH I have to say - I think it would do what I wanted, and a bit less congested than HSH on a 24 fret. The guitar I was specifically looking at actually has a 3-way selector plus coil tap, which is maybe not what I'd choose, but I could get a super-switch and change the wiring I would think.

Does anyone know anything about the trem unit on this guitar - it's just described as "double locking trem bridge". It's branded "Ibanez" and having looked on Ibanez' own website, I see it used on quite a few other new models.

https://www.pmtonline.co.uk/ibanez-rg420hpfm-blue-reef-gradation-electric-guitar?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIi8D_25ul6gIVQeztCh1lhAghEAQYBCABEgLIvvD_BwE#product-details

A quick look revealed this

https://ibanez.fandom.com/wiki/RG420HPFM

And on the trem

https://ibanez.fandom.com/wiki/Standard_DL_tremolo

Personally I'd avoid it because of the trem. If your friend has as an undeclared budget I'd suggest they consider something with either a Lopro or Edge Pro trem, both of which are much more stable. 

There is an RGR5220M TFG for sale here in the classified of which I have one or an RG1570 MMR of which I have several or if they have just won the lottery they could go for this 

https://www.gak.co.uk/en/ibanez-rg8520-j-custom-limited-almandite-garnet/936929

I know this one and would be happy to answer any questions just pm

Very much obliged to you for your trouble @Daigaijin - I will have a look at the guitars in the classifieds certainly. Re the locking trem, having read your link, got to say I'm not keen - a shame it's not one of their better units, and it does tend to put me off the guitar. But in general I need to decide if I actually want a locking trem at all - a very real possibility I might go for an RG hard tail at the mo, but we will see.

ICBM

lysander said:

The Ibanez 5 position switches on RGs with 2 humbuckers give me all the sounds I need, with no hum, I’m a fan of that config.

The middle pickup on its own hums... OK, you might never use it . But I do.

To fix that and still give hum cancellation in the 2 and 4 positions you need a stacked single coil and a superswitch, unfortunately - the second coil needs to be only on in the middle position.

But if you’re going to use a superswitch, you can then have both humbuckers - either full or split - in the middle position, which may be more useful.

xDaigaijin

Megii said:

Daigaijin said:

Megii said:

lysander said:

I’m 100% with @digitalscream on this one.
The Ibanez 5 position switches on RGs with 2 humbuckers give me all the sounds I need, with no hum, I’m a fan of that config.

TTBZ said:

HH would be my vote but I can't stand middle pickups! I just find it gets in the way of my picking, and looks too busy. Doesn't produce any sounds I like either so bin it!

Philly_Q said:

HH, but no great logic to it, I just don't like the look of HSH (although somehow HSH looks OK on a Jem or RG, despite looking wrong on a Strat).  And there's certainly plenty of scope for different sounds with two humbuckers and a five-way switch.

All things being equal, I am coming down in favour of HH I have to say - I think it would do what I wanted, and a bit less congested than HSH on a 24 fret. The guitar I was specifically looking at actually has a 3-way selector plus coil tap, which is maybe not what I'd choose, but I could get a super-switch and change the wiring I would think.

Does anyone know anything about the trem unit on this guitar - it's just described as "double locking trem bridge". It's branded "Ibanez" and having looked on Ibanez' own website, I see it used on quite a few other new models.

https://www.pmtonline.co.uk/ibanez-rg420hpfm-blue-reef-gradation-electric-guitar?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIi8D_25ul6gIVQeztCh1lhAghEAQYBCABEgLIvvD_BwE#product-details

A quick look revealed this

https://ibanez.fandom.com/wiki/RG420HPFM

And on the trem

https://ibanez.fandom.com/wiki/Standard_DL_tremolo

Personally I'd avoid it because of the trem. If your friend has as an undeclared budget I'd suggest they consider something with either a Lopro or Edge Pro trem, both of which are much more stable. 

There is an RGR5220M TFG for sale here in the classified of which I have one or an RG1570 MMR of which I have several or if they have just won the lottery they could go for this 

https://www.gak.co.uk/en/ibanez-rg8520-j-custom-limited-almandite-garnet/936929

I know this one and would be happy to answer any questions just pm

Very much obliged to you for your trouble @Daigaijin - I will have a look at the guitars in the classifieds certainly. Re the locking trem, having read your link, got to say I'm not keen - a shame it's not one of their better units, and it does tend to put me off the guitar. But in general I need to decide if I actually want a locking trem at all - a very real possibility I might go for an RG hard tail at the mo, but we will see.

My pleasure The Ibanez guitars seem to get very little love on here I'm a huge fan so anything I can to spread the love. As for hard tails I have no clue, never used onr, but I'm guessing there may be better guitars of that type.

If this might be a toe dipping exercise, then a 1550 (has pick guard) or 1570 (direct mount pickup) used in the 300 - 500 range will give you a flavour with low risk.

Always worth checking out the specific model on the

https://ibanez.fandom.com/search?mobile-app=false&query=Rg1570

Worth noting that the neck field will have a link to the Ibanez Neck Wiki that should help with dimensions if that's an issue for you, it's usually the deciding factor for me

skullfunkerry

thegummy said:

hassleham said:

HSS always

For me HSS looks better than either by far; looks great actually.

Particularly because I think a metal cover on the humbucker looks really good with HSS but having 2 metal covered humbuckers on a Strat just looks terrible to me (I actually sent my humbuckers back to have the covers removed when I put them in to a Strat). 

I love the look of HSS I just miss the neck humbucker sound.

If I was really rich and could have loads of guitars I'd have an HSS Strat for the look in addition to having HH and SSS.

I know exactly what you mean about a metal covered humbucker in the bridge position:

Megii

Daigaijin said:

Megii said:

Daigaijin said:

Megii said:

lysander said:

I’m 100% with @digitalscream on this one.
The Ibanez 5 position switches on RGs with 2 humbuckers give me all the sounds I need, with no hum, I’m a fan of that config.

TTBZ said:

HH would be my vote but I can't stand middle pickups! I just find it gets in the way of my picking, and looks too busy. Doesn't produce any sounds I like either so bin it!

Philly_Q said:

HH, but no great logic to it, I just don't like the look of HSH (although somehow HSH looks OK on a Jem or RG, despite looking wrong on a Strat).  And there's certainly plenty of scope for different sounds with two humbuckers and a five-way switch.

All things being equal, I am coming down in favour of HH I have to say - I think it would do what I wanted, and a bit less congested than HSH on a 24 fret. The guitar I was specifically looking at actually has a 3-way selector plus coil tap, which is maybe not what I'd choose, but I could get a super-switch and change the wiring I would think.

Does anyone know anything about the trem unit on this guitar - it's just described as "double locking trem bridge". It's branded "Ibanez" and having looked on Ibanez' own website, I see it used on quite a few other new models.

https://www.pmtonline.co.uk/ibanez-rg420hpfm-blue-reef-gradation-electric-guitar?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIi8D_25ul6gIVQeztCh1lhAghEAQYBCABEgLIvvD_BwE#product-details

A quick look revealed this

https://ibanez.fandom.com/wiki/RG420HPFM

And on the trem

https://ibanez.fandom.com/wiki/Standard_DL_tremolo

Personally I'd avoid it because of the trem. If your friend has as an undeclared budget I'd suggest they consider something with either a Lopro or Edge Pro trem, both of which are much more stable. 

There is an RGR5220M TFG for sale here in the classified of which I have one or an RG1570 MMR of which I have several or if they have just won the lottery they could go for this 

https://www.gak.co.uk/en/ibanez-rg8520-j-custom-limited-almandite-garnet/936929

I know this one and would be happy to answer any questions just pm

Very much obliged to you for your trouble @Daigaijin - I will have a look at the guitars in the classifieds certainly. Re the locking trem, having read your link, got to say I'm not keen - a shame it's not one of their better units, and it does tend to put me off the guitar. But in general I need to decide if I actually want a locking trem at all - a very real possibility I might go for an RG hard tail at the mo, but we will see.

My pleasure The Ibanez guitars seem to get very little love on here I'm a huge fan so anything I can to spread the love. As for hard tails I have no clue, never used onr, but I'm guessing there may be better guitars of that type.

If this might be a toe dipping exercise, then a 1550 (has pick guard) or 1570 (direct mount pickup) used in the 300 - 500 range will give you a flavour with low risk.

Always worth checking out the specific model on the

https://ibanez.fandom.com/search?mobile-app=false&query=Rg1570

Worth noting that the neck field will have a link to the Ibanez Neck Wiki that should help with dimensions if that's an issue for you, it's usually the deciding factor for me

Cheers again! I have to admit I've always secretly liked the RG, although not the most obvious choice for the kinds of music I play. But life is too short, so I'm having one!  Will definitely look around at what is available used, and much appreciate the links and suggestions - Ibanez Neck Wiki sounds most useful in particular.

Megii

Just to update the thread, I found this offer, liked what I saw/read, and have purchased - should be delivered to me tomorrow.

Thought about things, and in the end I think an HH hardtail is what I'm looking for. Watched a few videos of similar Ibanez guitars being demoed, and the sounds I would want do seem to be there. So there we are, a bit sooner than expected, but the deal seems excellent and I thought no point delaying.

Will take a few pics and post some initial impressions when it arrives tomorrow, and all your thoughts and advice have been useful and appreciated, cheers!

https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/180108320410008--ibanez-rgew521fm-ntf-natural-flat