Replacing humbucker on a cutlass rs with a single coil

[Greenhammerman]

Hello, I’m new to the forum. I bought a new cutlass rs hss, thinking I wouldn’t mind the humbucker occasionally. However, I really enjoy the guitar and the sound of the neck and middle pickups but not the humbucker. I am thinking about buying a new pick guard and making it an sss. My question is how do I wire this with the silent circuit?Also, what bridge single coils would best match the current pickups? Will there be a change in volume or difference in sound when combining a new bridge pickup with the stock middle pickup? My preference in tone is Hendrix and SRV.

 

[GWDavis28]

Howdy, welcome. Try reaching out to customer service email'ish and asking them for the wiring idagram for a Cutlass (enter your year) and ask fo the SSS wiring.

You got it, lets see it!!!

Glenn |B)

 

[loocnmad]

My experience with the SSS is the bridge single is way too harsh, total ice pick in the ear. That’s just me, not everybody, so take it with the appropriate grain of salt.

I was able to get a stock loaded HSS pick guard and the HB was too warm and didn’t match the singles well. I’m thinking about getting a single size HB like a Duncan Little 59 with the four conductor lead to try both series and parallel.

 

[Iperfungus]

Sell it and buy a SSS version.

 

[DrKev]

I think it's a great idea. (I’m thinking of changing mine to HSH but with mini humbuckers or firebird pickups).

The stock single coils are very vintage sounding, 6kΩ resistance. A Dimarzio True Velvet Bridge would be good starting point.

For wiring, if you want the bridge pickup to use the silent circuit, it will share the circuit with the neck pickup. The bridge pickup ground then connects to the circuit board pad marked PHA next to the neck pickup ground wire. If the pickup you decide on is already hum cancelling and doesn't need the silent circuit, or has an additional shield wire, that goes to a G pad.

You will also have to make one small additional change. The pots are 500kΩ, with a 560kΩ resistor to ground on the switch for the single coils to think they are seeing 250kΩ pots while the umbucker sees the full 500k. That resistor should be connected to the last remaining lug on it's side of the switch or a bridge pickup could sound a little too shrill.

 

[beej]

I’d stick a rail style single in there- something between a single and humbucker. Then you don’t have to change up the wiring. Personally, I love the Dimarzio Chopper- I have one in my AL and it’s the right amount of heat. Would be an improvement over the stock HB.

 

[Greenhammerman]

Here she is, bought her new about two years ago from musicians friend. I find myself playing this guitar more and more now days… love the neck and playability. Tone is great and it’s very quiet… i just never use the humbucker… anyways… Thank you guys, I will be searching for a bridge pickup. DrKev that’s great info.

 

[beej]

Or really ... just replace the humbucker with another humbucker. There are a zillion out there. Get something with more high end to it.

 

[Rbg]

I was a single coil guy all my life and was struggling with LIII HH for in the beginning, but then discovered bare knuckle hum bucker pickups and stopped thinking about single coils at all. With BKP clarity and variety of voicing, you can easily find a replacement.

 

[Iperfungus]

I was a single coil guy all my life and was struggling with LIII HH for in the beginning, but then discovered bare knuckle hum bucker pickups and stopped thinking about single coils at all. With BKP clarity and variety of voicing, you can easily find a replacement.

The Bootcamp serie is also affordable.
The True Grit is a great pickup for a HSS Strat-like guitar with "bluesy" single coils in middle and neck positions: plenty of power, wonderful tone, good balance among frequencies.
Very good split as well.

 

[jlf599]

I was a single coil guy all my life and was struggling with LIII HH for in the beginning, but then discovered bare knuckle hum bucker pickups and stopped thinking about single coils at all. With BKP clarity and variety of voicing, you can easily find a replacement.

Seconded. I'm a HUGE fan of BKPs. While the Axis pickup is my favorite humbucker, when I want something different, I generally go to BKPs.

I've got a guitar with an Emerald set and one with and Abraxas set presently and it'd be a tossup which I like more. The Emeralds might win...but barely.

I've tried one of the vintage series - Mule set and liked it but the guitar they were in didn't stick around. Not the pickups' fault. I also tried a VHII + 2 Irish Tour singles and that was a cool combination but, again, the guitar was more of the problem than the pickups.

I'm really curious about the Rebel Yells and the Silos in the modern series but I've not tried them.

Even outside of BKs, there are so, so many options as Beej said. I'll bet there's one out there for you! Good luck!

J

 

[Rbg]

RY are absolutely amazing, most “expensive” sounding pickups in the line imo. Very close but different voicing/output are nailbombs and the crawler.

I agree on the true grit being absolutely great all around vintage-modern humbuckers. I am considering getting neck Silo soon as bridge may be a little bit too hot/compressed/modern for me. (May be not though

 

[Greenhammerman]

I’m thinking Seymour Duncan ssl-1 or something similar, the true velvet from dimarzio could also be in the runnings. Any other thoughts on a good single coil?. I have other guitars for humbucker sound. Just like the quality and playability, of the cutlass, over most other strats I’ve played. Replacing the humbucker with a single coil is the best bet for me.

 

[Rbg]

Bare Knuckle again haha Irish tour, or Rabea signature.

 

[Greenhammerman]

Thanks, I’ll take a look at those.