Need Help Choosing

[Arjay]

Hi all, I have an early 1990's USA Centaura that came stock with a SD 59 in the bridge, but I dont really care for it too much. It sounds too broken up and grungy. I was wondering if anyone on the HFC has had this problem and what pickups could i try to fix it.

[tomteriffic]

Bob, if level matching with the single-coils is an issue, try backing off the '59's height. It's a pretty low-to-medium output pickup and that will reduce the output to match the single-coils and also reduce the breakup and grunge. But, IMHO, it's not a prime choice for a bridge pickup for that guitar. A Rio BBQ or a Duncan Custom 5 might be closer to the ticket at reasonable prices.

[atquinn]

"Broken up and grungy" to me sounds like you want something that's smoother with no compression as opposed to the relatively bright PAF you've got in there now. I second the BBQ recommendation. I'd maybe suggest a Custom Custom over a Custom 5 because the CC is thicker, but they'll both have more compression/smoothness than the 59. However, if you're looking for a good match with the single coils, all the pickups mentioned will be a worse match than the 59. To me, going to the bridge pickup in an SSH guitar is like kicking in the nitro boost, so that wouldn't be an issue. You might be different though...

-Austin

[murkat]

Hi all, I have an early 1990's USA Centaura that came stock with a SD 59 in the bridge, but I dont really care for it too much. It sounds too broken up and grungy. I was wondering if anyone on the HFC has had this problem and what pickups could i try to fix it.

if you could be a lil more specific in your goal, we could point you in the correct direction.

In a two humbucker guitar, I like the 59' in the neck. the A5 mag suites it in my ears. A seth lover or 57' classic in the bridge with a A2 mag warms it up. PAF type pups are very tweaky in height adjustment as well with diff magnets. But knowing your tone goal could be more helpful to acheivement.

[Mike Lee]

I would have expected a 90's Centaura to have a JB in the bridge instead of a '59. Have you checked the sticker on the bottom to verify what it is?

One has to take care to describe the desired tone of a pickup with respect to the type of amp and amount of gain used. Played clean, a PAF is rather bright and clear, but under distortion it can lose focus. Higher gain pickups like a JB sound darker and thicker clean, but the extra mids really scream and cut under heavy distortion.

If you really do have a '59 and don't like how it sounds loose and unfocused under distortion, the Duncan Custom, Custom Custom, Custom 5, and JB are all good options to increase the midrange cut and presence. The first three are all the same coil with different magnets - ceramic, Alnico 2, and Alnico 5 respectively.

I find the BBQ Bucker, and Rio HB's in general to be too dark for my tastes.

If you really want a stout and thick pickup, the DiMarzio Tone Zone is cool too, and was used in the later Hamer Diablos.

[Arjay]

Thanks for all the input guys, it really helped. I'm gonna fool around with a few of the pickups mentioned and determine which one I like from that. Thanks again!

[Siaip Ciuvas]

I have swapped SD JB to DiMarzio ToneZone in bridge position and can't be happier since As well diMarzio PAF Pro in the neck sounds uber cool too compare to JB it had there (yeah, there where two JB pups on my Diablo).

just my 2 cents.