Humbucker Sized Single Coil Pickups
After an email chat about an old Wide Range Humbucker modification I came up with these.
These Single Coil voiced Humbuckers (affectionately named Wide-'O's") are based on the old Wide Range Humbucker trick where the 3-a-side hidden threaded magnets were removed from each bobbin leaving a hum cancelling single coil tone from the remaining pickup. While not intended to be a vintage recreation of the Wide Range Humbucker (I make those here) & its modification, I've tried to create a pickup close to the tone that will fit into a standard humbucker rout. Essentially a humbucker sized single coil but with more presence and fatter tone. Like the standard single coil, each string has its own magnet for clarity & string definition.
Essentially a hum-cancelling single coil tone from a standard humbucker sized pickup.
You can customise them with either the warmer, slightly more resonant Alnico 2 magnets or the more attacking, slightly brighter Alnico 5 magnets in either a lower outout 12mm tall rod magnet or the stronger, higher output 16mm rod magnet for more attack.
PLEASE NOTE - THESE SINGLE COIL VOICED PICKUPS FIT STANDARD HUMBUCKER CAVITIES. Also, I can stagger the magnets to follow your neck radius. Just let me know whether you have a 7.25", 9.5", 12" etc etc neck radius and I'll stagger the magnets accordingly. This way you can keep a good action on your setup.
You can purchase a set of my Custom Wide 'O' Single Humbucker sized Single Coil Bridge & Neck Pickup Set here
Handwound in my workshop here in Manchester
Use the tabs below to view the full range of Creamery Handwound Humbucker Sized, Single Coil Voiced Pickups
Humbucker Sized, Single Coil Voiced Pickups
Classic Wide 'O'
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Magnets Alnico 2, 3 or 5 Coil Wire 42AWG Lead Wire Vintage Braided Bridge Output 8.3k Neck Output 7.4k Single Coil Voiced Humbuckers
With the lower output magnets the tone is classic single coil - clean, bright with typical bridge bite. The bridge pickup has a non-ferrous copper plate underneath the magnets to shift the resonances toward the lows, resulting in a slightly fatter, more pleasant tone.
With the fully charged magnets, when the volume is rolled up the pickup has a more modern aggressive & biting attack with an output that can really drive an amp - somewhere between a higher output Tele bridge & P90. Still bright with lots of air but balanced by more in the mids. A great pickup if you're after Humbucker Sized single Coil voiced pickups.
With the Neck pickup, the lower output magnets the tone is sweet, clean & warm in the neck position with clarity and great string definition. With Alnico 5 magnets the tone has a more modern brighter, snappier attacking voice. A great Single coil voiced pickup in a Humbucker size for the neck position.
You can buy a calibrated Bridge & Neck set of my Classic Wide 'O' Pickups here> Back to full range of Humbucker Sized, Single Coil Voiced Pickups
Humbucker Sized, Single Coil Voiced Pickups
Fat Wide 'O'
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Magnets Alnico 2, 3 or 5 Coil Wire 42AWG Lead Wire Vintage Braided Bridge Output 8.3k Neck Output 7.4k Single Coil Voiced Humbuckers
A fatter pickup due to the mix of taller & shorter magnets. Where the standard "Wide-O" is single coil voice in a humbucker size, the "Wide-O" Fat Bridge & Neck pickup replaces the slugs with shorter Alnico 2 magnets. Each string still has its own magnet for clarity & string definition. The difference with this fatter bridge is that the shorter/lower charge pole magnets widen the area of string magnetised, creating a beefier tone but unlike the humbucker where the bar magnet lies underneath both the slugs & screws giving an even spread of magnetised string, this variation gives the tone of the point of magnetisation over the pole with a kind of residual tone of the string above the slightly magnetised opposite pole.
This in effect is similar to the sound fading from magnet to slug which is somewhat fatter than a single coil but not as beefed up as a humbucker. Essentially a single coil voice with more presence in a standard Humbucker size.
You can buy a calibrated Bridge & Neck set of my Classic Wide 'O' Pickups here> Back to full range of Humbucker Sized, Single Coil Voiced Pickups
Humbucker Sized, Single Coil Voiced Pickups
Wide 'O' Hot Coil
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Magnets Threaded Alnico 5 Coil Wire 42AWG Lead Wire Vintage Braided Bridge Output 12.3k Neck Output (Currently Bridge Only) Single Coil Voiced Humbuckers
A fatter, higher output pickup designed specifically for the bridge position.
Individual threaded magnets help you balance the strings with your guitar's neck radius.
Still with a bright attack, the Hot Coil Wide-O pickup warms up the bridge position giving a higher output single coil tone.
Essentially a hot single coil voice with more presence in a standard Humbucker size.
You can buy a calibrated Bridge & Neck set of my Wide 'O' Pickups here> Back to full range of Humbucker Sized, Single Coil Voiced Pickups
Reviews of my Handwound Humbucker Sized, Filtertron Style Pickups
You're a genius. Soundhole Wide 'O' sounds amazing. I have the new sound. Thank you!
Alex Kapranos, Franz Ferdinand
Just fitted the Wide Range Humbucker upgrade into my 72 Custom Telecaster yesterday. What a revelation. Fantastic tone, dynamics and note separation. Actually unlike any pickup I've ever heard. Everything I like about single coils and more- and so much better than the muddy sounding 're-issue' 'bucker that Fender ship the guitar with. These are the tones I was looking for. Thank you! Very happy.
Gary Mortensen-Barker
The Tele is back together. Wide-Os from The Creamery sound absolutely amazing! You want chime? You want air? Love them.
Paul Roub
I did sit with the guitar and have a good listen to your pickups. They do sound rather nice, definitely humbucker fullness, but there's a sparkle to the highs that one doesn't get with a traditional h/b. I guess your idea works! Good stuff......it's always nice to find something different.
Roger Giffin, Giffin Guitars
I'm really liking them. I especially like the neck pickup, the Wide-O goes very well with the fat Wide-O in the bridge.
Mark Harman
Sounds great! Really happy with everything. Your stuff is Spot-On.
Anthony, Moose Guitars
The pickups crossed the pond, made it safely to my doorstep, and are now resting comfortably in my guitar. Firstly, I want to say how unbelievably amazing they sound!. The stock Humbuckers in my guitar sounded dull, and all together underwhelming. The Wide-O's are absolutely flawless. Your pickups have completely nailed that elusive tone, I've been chasing after.
Thank you very much for being so patient with my questions, and guiding me through the process of finding the right sound. You do fantastic work. I can't say enough good things about your customer service, or the quality of your products. Thank you again!Chris Freeborn
I love this pickup!
Paul J
