Are sc sized buckers worth it?

[The Kernel]

I've heard people say that single coil sized humbuckers don't sound like full sized buckers, nor do they have that single coil sparkle... so why bother with them? Do they sound good, or are they just a failed attempt at turning single coils into humbuckers?

[metlking]

They're great for keeping somewhat of an original look and not having to router out the body of a nice guitar to fit a full size bucker in....and they work quite well in some situations, in my opnion. I do like the HotRails for Teles or Strats.......

Still, I prefer the full sized HB over a "Lil" or "HR"..........

[poweredbysoul]

+1 for full size hb. Tryed a few of the sc sized but was always missing something. Most strats are routed for a HB just change the pickguard it's really worth it..

[jerryjg]

If you wanna do the rails Duncans, I would agree that the SHR-1 hot rails bridge is as you describe-useless except for uberthrash.
The other rails are absolutely fantastic. My favourite is the SCR-1n cool rails in the neck of a H-S-S. It balances well with a full size bucker and it sounds excellent-plenty of single coil Fender style tone, but also cranks a decent humbucker raunch.
Also, the SVR-1 vintage rails is another noisless rails pickup that sounds really fender-ish, but is best used in the middle-it wont balance so well volume wise in the neck with a bridge Paf 'bucker. There are other Duncan SC configured bucker/stacks also.
I just ran down my take on the rails. I love the rails pickups.

[JohnnyGuitar]

I've heard people say that single coil sized humbuckers don't sound like full sized buckers, nor do they have that single coil sparkle... so why bother with them? Do they sound good, or are they just a failed attempt at turning single coils into humbuckers?

You don't have to sound like something to sound good. SC sized buckers can sound good without reminding you of anything...

[baritone]

Squished humbuckers just sound different from single-coils and full-sized humbuckers, usually. I think I like them better than full-sized hmbuckers.

[PylonRacer]

Milage does vary. I like the JBjr in the bridge of my alder Strat better than the full size one I have in a short scale magohany body. To be honest, for heavy blues & classic rock, I like the sound of that Strat/JBjr combo as much or better than any other HB equiped guitar I've played. I think it cuts better than the full sized (more focused?); but still has great harmonics and complexity. I think the neck scale and wood contribute to the difference as well.

[Empty Pockets]

I like 'em. I know somebody who uses a Hot Rails in his Strat for the blues...sounds great.

[alashredder]

What about for metal? I just bought a lil screamin' demon from a forum member here, and want that humbucking sound that I love from the regular screamin' demon.

[ArtieToo]

I agree with others that a Cool Rails is a unique beast unto itself. Great little pup with a nice punch and spank. I was also surprised by how much a Lil 59 sounds like a big 59. Not exact, but close.

I've got a JB Jr. sitting here on a shelf for a long time. I gotta try that sucka'.

[PylonRacer]

I agree with others that a Cool Rails is a unique beast unto itself. Great little pup with a nice punch and spank. I was also surprised by how much a Lil 59 sounds like a big 59. Not exact, but close.

I've got a JB Jr. sitting here on a shelf for a long time. I gotta try that sucka'.

That's funny. I'm got the opposite situation. I' have a lil '59 thats been hanging around for a few years ;and I keep telling myself that I'll swap it out with the JBjr to give it a try. I've had a hard time pulling the JB from my Strat since it sounds so nice. Wth some gain, it's easy to pull Robben Ford type tones with it.

My main complaint is the volume difference between it and the other single coils. I'm assuming the lil 59 may be better since the full size is lower output than the JB. Also the 59 will probably sound better clean. To me the mid hump of the JB really stands out when clean - not in a good way. Position #2(bridge+middle) gets way overpowered by the JB. But you can solve this by either splitting the JB or running itself in parallel when in that position. I have a 3-way toggle. Parallel is brighter than split and is a little snappier when combined with the middle pickup.

Have fun!

[millsart]

I don't think they are worth it because I'm one of the few that actually likes a SC even in the bridge

But then again Jimi, David and John (Hendrix, Gilmour and Frusciante respectivley) all used/use SC's even in the bridge so its not bad company to be in.

[loudriver23]

I have mixed feelings about the Lil guys I have a Jbjr in my strat and a LIL59 in my tele.
I'm just luke warm about the JBjr, and would replace it with a hot single if I thought my guitar was worth saving.
As for the Lil59, I just love it. It does give a very nice PAFish flavor, not the same as a full sized bucker, but certainly usable, more than usable, it really sounds nice.
That said, if your guitar is routed for a full sized bucker, I'd just buy a new pickguard and put a full sized guy in there. To me the 20-40 dollars for the new guard is more than worth it to get a full sized guy in there. They split much better IMO and that alone is worth going with the full sized bucker.

[lousy_player]

I have a JB jr. in my strat and I love it. It works great my style of playing [Rock/Worship]... kind of like any Brit sounding stuff you hear. complements the SSL1s nicely.

[edsmith]

A Hotrails sounds like a vintage humbucker on steroids to me. Fat enough for whatever you need. I think they're definitely worth it depending on what you're looking for.

[Robert Delahunt]

Because we don't like the hum, that's why we bother with them. There are quite a few people that use the Fender SCN noiseless pickups in their guitars, as well as Seymour Duncan stack single coil/humbuckers. I've tried the Classic Stack Plus pickups and I like 'em.

Granted, I don't own any such pickups now: now the Strat I own has plain single coils. I find I like their tone over all other types of pickups. So some is to get rid of hum, some is because people like the sound. To each his own.

[thucydides]

You don't have to sound like something to sound good. SC sized buckers can sound good without reminding you of anything...

I agree completely.

[ArtieToo]

That's funny. I'm got the opposite situation. I' have a lil '59 thats been hanging around for a few years ;and I keep telling myself that I'll swap it out with the JBjr to give it a try. I've had a hard time pulling the JB from my Strat since it sounds so nice. Wth some gain, it's easy to pull Robben Ford type tones with it.

My main complaint is the volume difference between it and the other single coils. I'm assuming the lil 59 may be better since the full size is lower output than the JB. Also the 59 will probably sound better clean. To me the mid hump of the JB really stands out when clean - not in a good way. Position #2(bridge+middle) gets way overpowered by the JB. But you can solve this by either splitting the JB or running itself in parallel when in that position. I have a 3-way toggle. Parallel is brighter than split and is a little snappier when combined with the middle pickup.

Have fun!

Thanks for that info. I'm going to put my JB Jr. between two tapped Quarter Pounds. (SSL-4's) The JB will be on a rotary switch so that I can have it in series or parallel. Between the JB in parallel and tapping the QP's, hopefully I can get things to balance out in at least one configuration.