S/C sized humbucker for Legacy

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bigben
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S/C sized humbucker for Legacy

Post by bigben »

Since getting my ASAT's, I find that if I want to hear a single coil bridge tone, it's gonna be on an ASAT. But I still LOVE my Legacy. Its a 3 bolt USA, I think a 1993. I am seriously thinking about putting a sincle coil sized humbucker in the bridge position. Buying a strat sized humbucker keeps me from having to buy a new pickguard. I'd rather it sound legit and will buy one if need be, but if theres a decent sounding s/c sized humbucker that 1. works with the stock PTB electronics, 2. Sounds good and 3. splits(4 wire) acceptably for the 4 position, please recommend it to me!

I put the expander switch mod in my Legacy 15 years ago, along with a Dimarzio Virtual Vintage Blues bridge pickup. I'd use the mini toggle to split the coils for the 4 position.
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Nubs
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Re: S/C sized humbucker for Legacy

Post by Nubs »

I got this one for my strat and really dig it. It has a nice crunchy twang to it and is very clean & crisp.
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SouthpawGuy
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Re: S/C sized humbucker for Legacy

Post by SouthpawGuy »

bigben wrote:Since getting my ASAT's, I find that if I want to hear a single coil bridge tone, it's gonna be on an ASAT. But I still LOVE my Legacy. Its a 3 bolt USA, I think a 1993. I am seriously thinking about putting a sincle coil sized humbucker in the bridge position. Buying a strat sized humbucker keeps me from having to buy a new pickguard. I'd rather it sound legit and will buy one if need be, but if theres a decent sounding s/c sized humbucker that 1. works with the stock PTB electronics, 2. Sounds good and 3. splits(4 wire) acceptably for the 4 position, please recommend it to me!

I put the expander switch mod in my Legacy 15 years ago, along with a Dimarzio Virtual Vintage Blues bridge pickup. I'd use the mini toggle to split the coils for the 4 position.
I replied on another forum, might as well post it here also ....

How about the Gotoh Power Blade that comes stock in the Legacy Special ? It responds well to height adjustments. Near the strings it can rock out with ease, set low it sounds a bit more strat like. And of course it works with the PTB controls. I seem to recall reading on the G&L forum that it can be split for single coil or parallel.

I have two Specials, the cherry burst has the pickups set low, sounds much more like a strat, though the in between positions aren't as good as on an alnico V equipped Legacy. The blue one has the pickups set a lot higher, no problem pulling off rock or classic metal tones with that one.

gratuitous pics.

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And there is also the DiMarzio Injector. It doesn't sound as fat or full as the Gotohs, but it does retain a lot more of the quack when combined with an Area 67 in the middle. I have that setup in a Legacy and an EBMM Silo Special.
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NickHorne
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Re: S/C sized humbucker for Legacy

Post by NickHorne »

Another possibility to consider is simply to put bridge-and-middle-in-series in place of the bridge-only selection, using the stock Legacy bridge pickup.
A bit of wiring at the 5-way (needs a 4-pole 5-way, like Allparts sell) but no big difficulty to do.
Sounds chunky and big, but with a very single-coil snarl to it. Probably best if you don't change any pot values.
bigben
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Re: S/C sized humbucker for Legacy

Post by bigben »

Thinking the Legacy Special pickup is my best option. Question: the G&L Store sells "Paul Gabon dual blades" for $79.99. I thought Gotoh made these pickups, but I cannot find the Gotoh Dual Blades for sale anywhere. Anyone know enough to elaborate? Are the the same?
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Craig
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Re: S/C sized humbucker for Legacy

Post by Craig »

bigben wrote:Thinking the Legacy Special pickup is my best option. Question: the G&L Store sells "Paul Gabon dual blades" for $79.99. I thought Gotoh made these pickups, but I cannot find the Gotoh Dual Blades for sale anywhere. Anyone know enough to elaborate? Are the the same?
First of all, let's get Paul's name correct: It's Paul Gagon. Here is a link to his bio on G&L website: About Paul Gagon.

Paul designed the Legacy Special pickups and Gotoh builds them for G&L. So, yes the ones in the G&l On-Line Store are the same ones that G&L uses on the Legacy Special and Invader models.
IMO, the POWER BLADE HUMBUCKER would be an excellent replacement pickup for the the bridge pickup in your Legacy.

Hope this helps.

:ugeek:
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bigben
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Re: S/C sized humbucker for Legacy

Post by bigben »

Dang autocorrect ;-)

So, did Paul design those FOR G&L or for Gotoh? They've been putting them in Legacy specials a pretty long time. And Gotoh still makes and sells them. If I bought a Gotoh Power Blades pickup off ebay, is it the same as the one I could get from the G&L store?
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Craig
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Re: S/C sized humbucker for Legacy

Post by Craig »

bigben wrote:Dang autocorrect ;-)

So, did Paul design those FOR G&L or for Gotoh? They've been putting them in Legacy specials a pretty long time. And Gotoh still makes and sells them. If I bought a Gotoh Power Blades pickup off ebay, is it the same as the one I could get from the G&L store?
Specifically for G&L, see: http://guitarsbyleo.com/FORUM/viewtopic ... 145#p63145.

Hope this helps.

:ugeek:
--Craig [co-webmaster of guitarsbyleo.com, since Oct. 16, 2000]
Welcome! Read This First
Got a G&L question? Check out the: G&L Knowledgebase
Current G&L Specifications and Options
bigben
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Location: Cincinnati, Ohio

Re: S/C sized humbucker for Legacy

Post by bigben »

Thank you. Im glad I posted the question, as I was going to buy a Gotoh Power Blades pickup off ebay. I now know that one will not be the same as what's in a Legacy Special and the one G&L sells will be. I KNOW that one works well with the Legacy and its PTB controls/electronics and was designed to do so, so that will be what I probably get. Thanks again
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teefus
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Re: S/C sized humbucker for Legacy

Post by teefus »

the pickups from the legacy special are fantastic. they are very powerful and sound great in that guitar. i was very impressed with mine. it's the only guitar i own that i did not change the pickups.