SL3/DK2 why two pups the same?

[MartinBarre]

On the SL3 and I believe the DK2 (probably more in the Jackson range as well) they have a humbucker and two single coils that are the same model.
Wouldn't it give more options, tonally, to have three totally seperate pickups. I mean, the humbucker in the bridge, a true single coil in the middle and a stacked humbucker in the neck? Even two different stacked humbuckers in the neck and middle would seem to make more sense than two of the same type offering the same basic tone?

No? Am I missing something?

[shreder13]

It would, but its probablly cheaper for the company.

[toejam]

You're still going to get a darker/warmer tone from the neck position.

[KBRR]

change the pickups

[MartinBarre]

change the pickups

But that's not my point. I haven't even heard the pickups yet, they might be fantastic.
I just wonder why they never put, for example, a genuine single coil in the neck position, just to make the instrument more versatile?
I don't know if it's cheaper to put two the same in - if they buy all their pups in bulk wouldn't it then be just as cheap to put in a different one?

It just seems kinda strange to have a humbucker with two single coil holes and fill them with more humbuckers.
As I say, I might well LOVE the SL3 as is, I certainly hope so - but I'm thinking something like a Fender strat single coil might be worth putting in neck or middle, just for the different tonal options.

This is just a question - I'm just looking for a discussion to try and understand better how these things work.

[emperor_black]

I'm guess the volumes of the high output SH4 TB will not match up with a fender's single coil. So, when you want to switch between pickups, you will have a huge vol difference.

even though those are humbuckers in the size of a single coil, the general consensus is that they still dont equate to the warmth and fullness of a full size humbucker. So, in many cases it can be considered as best of both worlds. So, there you go. versatility!

[levantin]

Why does Kirk Hammett use two emg-81's? Yes he's a naff player But apart from that some people don't really mind that sort of thing because pickups are just one variable in the great equation of tone. Plus the pickup will react differently to a different location in the guitar body and to the string and wood dynamics accordingly. For example, IMHO the tonezone sounds really muddy and unintelligible to me in the bridge but in the lead position it sounds really articulate and fluid. Same pickup, different location, resulting in a completely different sound. Perhaps the pickup models on the dk2/sl3 react somewhat differently in the different positions and are carefully calibrated to produce great tones...

Or it could be that jackson has overstocked them

[toejam]

Why does Kirk Hammett use two emg-81's?

Why does he use an EMG H (single coil in humbucking housing) in the neck of his '85 Custom Rhoads with an 81 in the bridge?

[MartinBarre]

Why does Kirk Hammett use two emg-81's? Yes he's a naff player But apart from that some people don't really mind that sort of thing because pickups are just one variable in the great equation of tone. Plus the pickup will react differently to a different location in the guitar body and to the string and wood dynamics accordingly. For example, IMHO the tonezone sounds really muddy and unintelligible to me in the bridge but in the lead position it sounds really articulate and fluid. Same pickup, different location, resulting in a completely different sound. Perhaps the pickup models on the dk2/sl3 react somewhat differently in the different positions and are carefully calibrated to produce great tones...

Or it could be that jackson has overstocked them

But Kirk knows his sound and only needs those pups to produce it. Along with a wah wah pedal. He also has other guitars to do things like mellow tones. Say I wanted to play "One" on the SL3 for example? A true single coil would do nicely for the clean parts.

Someone buying an SL3 may want it to do a wider variety of tones. I know they (the two stacked humbuckers) are in different positions so will give a different sound, but a lower output pup would allow, say, nicer clean tones?

Emperors point about volumes is good - I better not buy a Fender single coil!

[Newc]

I thought the DK-2 had singles? DId they upgrade them to stacked/single-spaced hums?

[MartinBarre]

I thought the DK-2 had singles? DId they upgrade them to stacked/single-spaced hums?

Maybe it does, I thought it had stacked hums like the SL3. I'm pretty sure it has two of the same type whatever they are.

Yeah just looked. It comes with two STK-1 single coils. Same thing then - why not a different type for the DK2, like a stacked humbucker?!

[destructin_od]

I thought the DK-2 had singles? DId they upgrade them to stacked/single-spaced hums?

DK2 had seymour duncan stk1's.They are double wounded single coils.They are humbucking but their character is more like a single coil.They are like those noiseless pickups.

[emperor_black]

DK2 had seymour duncan stk1's.They are double wounded single coils.They are humbucking but their character is more like a single coil.They are like those noiseless pickups.

from the MF website:

DK2:
Seymour Duncan pickups: SC101 single-coil (mid and neck), JB TB4 humbucker (bridge)

SL3:

• Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan© JB TB4 Humbucking Pickup
• Middle pickup: Seymour Duncan© SHR-1N Humbucking Pickup
• Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan© SHR-1N Humbucking Pickup

[levantin]

Why does he use an EMG H (single coil in humbucking housing) in the neck of his '85 Custom Rhoads with an 81 in the bridge?

Joe, it's disturbing that you know so much about metallica

But Kirk knows his sound and only needs those pups to produce it. Along with a wah wah pedal. He also has other guitars to do things like mellow tones. Say I wanted to play "One" on the SL3 for example? A true single coil would do nicely for the clean parts.

Someone buying an SL3 may want it to do a wider variety of tones. I know they (the two stacked humbuckers) are in different positions so will give a different sound, but a lower output pup would allow, say, nicer clean tones?

Emperors point about volumes is good - I better not buy a Fender single coil!

Exactly, as with the Kirk Hammett example, not everybody looks for versatility in a single guitar. And also, on the other hand, as I said before, pickups sound different in different positions and react differently to amp and guitar settings. Your pickups are only one part of the equation. Your tone can be versatile according to how you utilise the different variables.

[MichaelLitvak]

i have a 2006 DK2 and it got duncan designed single coils.. they sound awesome for clean tones