single coil size humbuckers

[mrpinter]

How do the single coil sized "junior edition" humbuckers compare to their namesakes (e.g. the Lil' Screamin' Demon compared to the full size SD, or the JB Jr. and the full size JB)? I've heard that ceramic magnets give a more aggressive pick attack, but how else do they compare sound-wise?

[Funkfingers]

The Li'l HBs are similar to but never exactly the same as the regular HBs of the same name. For anybody who does not wish to carve up their Strat or Tele, the Li'l models are an acceptable compromise.

[mrpinter]

The Li'l HBs are similar to but never exactly the same as the regular HBs of the same name. For anybody who does not wish to carve up their Strat or Tele, the Li'l models are an acceptable compromise.

When you say they are a compromise (even though "acceptable") I take it to mean you find them inferior in some way. Is that true? Have you - or anyone here - actually A/B'd them against each other? Or have enough playing experience with both to make an informed critique?

I'm thinking of these for a Warmoth build because I like the way they look; but if they don't do the job nearly as well I can obviously design a guitar with real humbuckers.

Thanks.

[idsnowdog]

The JB Jr is a good neck pickup but is too bright and anemic in the bridge. In the neck it can do SRV spank and is also a great shredder. If someone wanted something exactly like a full size JB in a mini-humbucker the Dimarzio Fastrack II is a better choice.

The Little 59 is a good pickup in the bridge or neck, but I don't think it sounds exactly like it bigger brother. It does a reasonable PAF approximation though.

The Little Screamin Demon is probably the closest sounding to its full sized brother.