Good bridge humbucker to match with MFDs?

[jking]

I have a mid 70s DiMarzio in the bridge now, but it's too low output and causes a pretty serious volume drop from the neck and middle MFDs. I'd like something with higher output and more bite than the DiMarzio.

Anyone have any experience with moving and matching?

[Danley]

I’m pretty alarmed any PAF humbucker could be overpowered by a single coil (even a hotter pickup like the MFD.) Are you getting full resistance out of the humbucker? G&L paired them with Schaller humbuckers in the ‘80s; they still make them and they tend to be available used.

[jdetente]

You might try adjusting the humbucker height also. As far as replacement recommendations, I like the Duncan Distortion when you get into the higher output pickups.

[jking]

I had it set up by a good local shop and they adjusted the heights to get the most equal sounds out of the pups. The paf can't go much higher and when I've tried lowering it, it gets worse.

I got it from a guy who had it lying around in a box for a while. I wonder now if there was a reason he want using it in the first place?

Thanks for the suggestion!

[Danley]

I agree the Distortion is an excellent pickup. My favorite humbucker is the Duncan Jazz Bridge, but it’s a lower output humbucker (though it *should* still be hotter than the MFDs, based on my guitars - I never had a guitar with both MFDs and a PAF, but I’ve had both separately and compared.) You can take advantage of Seymour Duncan’s policy with exchanges and experiment.

[jking]

Good idea! Thanks!