Ep103 Single-coil and Humbucker Guitar Pickups Tone Test

Can you hear the difference between a single-coil guitar pickup
and a humbucker? Test your ear by listening to my blind samples
played in the style of familiar songs. You should notice that the
lower output single-coil pickups sound thinner, brighter, and
with less depth but more clarity. The higher output humbuckers
sound thicker with more midrange, depth, and sustain. The twangy,
snappy sound of single-coil pickups typically work better for
clean tones and when light to moderate overdrive is in use.
Humbucking pickups typically work better for higher gain tones.
Humbuckers are actually two single-coils wired together.
Humbuckers get their name because they cancel the 60-cycle hum
that can be an issue with single-coil pickups in some settings
where electronic interference is present. All these sound samples
are played through a Kemper Profiling Amplifier using profiles
from Tone Junkie and Top Jimi. I used the same settings for both
guitars in each example. What are your favorite tones? Let me
know in the comments!


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GEAR
Squier Classic Vibe '50s Telecaster (hardware, pickups, and
wiring upgrades by Bluesman Vintage Guitars)
PRS McCarty 594 (Seymour Duncan SH-1 59 pickups)
Kemper Profiling Amplifier
Top Jimi '68 Sup Ld Profile Pack (1968 Super Lead)
Tone Junkie PLEXI SL KEMPER PROFILE PACK (1971 Marshall Super
Lead 1959SL)
Tone Junkie TWEED DELUXE KEMPER PROFILE PACK (Fender Tweed
Deluxe)
Tone Junkie 67 PRO VERB KEMPER PROFILE PACK (Fender Pro Reverb)