Fender Custom Shop Pickup Swap - And Why I Hate High Output Pickups!

I recently purchased a Fender Custom Shop 62 HSS guitar, I love the guitar but I cannot get on with the humbucker in the bridge position which is a Seymour Duncan JB. The Seymour Duncan JB is essentially a high output pickup measuring 16.4k. I used to own a couple of Suhr guitars with Thornbuckers and I loved everything about the tone of these pickups as they are low output measuring at 7.9k what I decided to do was to change the pickups and film the before and after the process.
To check the Suhr Thornbucker out on Reverb, click the link below.
reverb.com/uk/p/suhr-thornbuc...
The Studio Rats are core band members Paul Drew on guitar/production/mixing, drummer James Ivey and Dan Hawkins on bass. They collaborate with singers and musicians to produce radio-ready songs.

[@chazjr2390]

Wow! Loved this video! So much more clarity out of the Thornbucker!

[@sublyme2157]

Just got my first set of Thornbuckers, and I've got to say, I'm pretty impressed so far. Very dynamic and articulate. They split well too.

[@TomShreds]

This is the exact video I was hoping to find. You articulated everything I always noticed about the JB that annoyed me. Excited to swap over to a Thornbucker!

[@dennisdewinter1997]

What a great video and demonstration of those two pick ups! Your playing is excellent and a joy listen to. And your explanation of the whole process was intelligently articulate. Thanks so much!

[@aadityakiran_s]

Gear demos are best when people who know how to dial in a good tone and play something nice with it are doing it. Thanks for the upload. Because of you, I'm gonna order a custom set of HSS pickups for my Aria Pro II Fullerton.

[@RobvandenBoogaard]

This is such a good video in explaining how dynamics are changed with higher output pickups, thanks for that!

[@aaronglacier9213]

I agree I definitely got a lot out of this video I rock a fat Strat myself and sealing out the humbucker bridge for this thornbucker bridge sounds like the move

[@sroelit]

I began the video thinking “what sort of crazy person would swap pickups in a custom shop” but I ended thinking “what a huge improvement for that custom shop.”

[@matijabo]

I put Seymour Duncan's on Fender Player Srat... JB on bridge, Jazz on neck... Amazing result! I also play with dimarzios on strat's, which are much darker, but superb for heavy metal on dist or some jazz on clean

[@TheToneWork]

Finally a pickup review that actually makes sense. Thank you so much for this! Ordering the pickup now.

[@TheStudioRats]

Glad I could help

[@uncleremus64]

Well done. Thank you. I always wondered why I had to turn the filter down when I grabbed a guitar with high output humbuckers. Makes sense now

[@carlhardwickofficial]

Great video. I chose the JB for my H-S-S for the main reason that it splits well with the middle pickup. There's enough volume so that it matches when split. Having said that, in general, medium output HBs are my go-to...usually PAF output types.

[@CptCoitus]

Thank you for this comparison. I'm currently looking at different strat pickup options and I really don't know what I'm looking for. This helps clarify the choices. Cheers!

[@wooggeek]

Thank you ☺️ I am parting together a HSH strat, looking at thornbuckers , +, II ? Every review confirms that selection for my intentions. 🎸

[@AC5734]

I’m right there with you. I have a DiMarzio PAF Pro in one of my guitars, and a Duncan Slash in the other, and always seem to favor the tones of the Duncan. The added dynamic range just makes it so much better

[@VanjaSpirin]

PAF pro is 10k and this is not so hot pickup, but it is Alnico 5. Slash pickups are Alnico 2. Apples and oranges.

[@peterbrusch1493]

Had the same problem with a GFS EVH Pickup (11k) in the bridge position. Changed it to an IronGear Blues Engine (59 PAF Copy). Same effect. Sounds great now!

[@charlesfitzgerald3201]

Ok first time here and wow mate you sound fantastic , huge difference .l love the Thornbucker now thanks to you .

[@HenryMittnacht]

I didn´t expect this much of a difference! Thanks for letting us being a part of your experience!

[@bluwng]

It is different but is it a difference you want?

[@HenryMittnacht]

@@bluwng In this case I would have embraced it!

[@xocnibor]

Wow, love the Thor bucket in the bridge. JB’s are traditionally really good. With that high of output, I believe you had the JB Trembucker in there, they do make a lesser output bridge JB. You would have had a different experience with the regular JB. However, the Suhr sounds amazing, I’ll be putting one in my Strat. Thank you!

[@micwalt]

Wow! Thornbucker sounds amazing!

[@kurtz1993]

Thank you for making this video! It is very informative. Years ago, I modded my first guitar with JB and whenever I picked that guitar up I always felt something was a bit off. Now I made the test and for my style of playing is definitely the clarity in the JB I don't like. I am actually looking for a Bare Knuckle VHII as I heard h the sound samples and really loved it.

[@alexnismachin]

Uauuu....what differece the Thornbucker did on your guitar.....it came to life! Congratulations for the video.

[@timgo1]

wow, thx a ton. I have a suhr with an Aldrich and have the same issues. I think this is the way to go, sounds so good at that lower ouput!

[@trenthogan4212]

The Thornbucker sounded amazing, but damn that Les Paul sounded killer as well...

[@terrycrochet4709]

Great video, just ordered a thornbucker!

[@garywaddell6309]

Great comparison Paul, another great video. I have Sire version of your Les Paul, your guitar collection is superb. Cheers!

[@brunolatella6280]

Brillant video I have a very similar Custom shop and was having same issue once I saw this video , I purchased a thornbucker , now im absolutely thrilled Thank you .😊

[@TheStudioRats]

Glad it helped

[@KevinSmithdc]

I love my Duncan JB. It's in the bridge position of a 1997 Anderson Cobra. Sounds awesome.

[@WhenHariMetKari]

Thanks. Maybe the thornbucker is the way to go. I did not know that higher the output would result in a loss of clarity. You the man.

[@MrReptilianhumanoid]

This is actually super helpful, because everyone raves about the JB so much, it's in soooooo many guitars, I probably would've ended up having a guitar with one in it eventually. But I totally agree, I don't like that cocked wah-never get enough clarity- sound. I'll opt for something else that's lower output.

[@KevinSmithdc]

There's a good reason why it's in soooooo many guitars.

[@stevejacques9359]

Lower output doesn't equate to clarity. I have 17k pickups in my guitars and their clarity is excellent. It also goes without saying that there are lots of other guitar pickup manufacturers besides Seymour Duncan.

[@SwampRabbit5150]

Dude you're a MONSTER player, very nice

[@uhj4]

I love your videos, Paul!

[@TheStudioRats]

Glad you like them

[@nigelsmith721]

The difference is incredible.

[@jaricklosey4607]

Love Thornbuckers. I have a set of them in my Les Paul, low output Seymour Duncan’s in my HSS Ibanez AZ, and Dimarzio 36th PAF in my PRS. I prefer those lower output humbuckers as they mix better with single coils and P90s.

[@therewasascene]

JB’s totally usable for high gain depending on what you’re going for but that Thornbucker matches sooo well with single coils

[@SouthpawSatch]

I find some guitars suit a higher output pickup whereas others suit lower output. I love both. There is something special about a low output pickup being pushed to its limits. The Thornbucker is a great pickup. I regret selling mine too

[@Fibson86]

Wow! What difference...sounds massively better with the thornbucker.

[@53nocaster]

I'm sure there is a good reason for a high gain pickup in the bridge position of a strat, but I can't think of one. The Suhr pickup sounds great. You did a good and noble thing

[@PaulHillGuitarist]

I have been thinking about swapping the bridge pickup in my Strat (currently single coil) for a Duncan Custom Custom or JB. This video has certainly got me thinking. Loving the tone of that Suhr pickup!

[@frantisca]

Hi Paul. I’ve got a loaded pickguard with a Suhr SSV+ in the bridge position to replace a JB as well. 14-16k is way too high output to match the single coils on a Strat. As an alternative, I have another pickguard with a French boutique Alnico 2 humbucker. Close to PAF 7,6 K output which is very good too. The JB is far too muffled for playing clean with dynamics. A good pickup for sure but the only match for a JB on a Strat is a ‘59 on the neck which makes an HH combo for hard rock/metal. My 2 cents… Great CS Strat btw 😉

[@Ryan_Q3L]

What a gorgeous guitar and the sounds are incredible too. I still liked the Seymour Duncan but the Suhr was clearer.

[@jonthehermit8082]

Cool man. You did a good job explaining to me why I hate high output pickups as well. I’m always trying to tell my buddy with his metal guitars that I like natural string sound, and that’s why I hate his guitars.

[@bartnettle]

I got the exact same problem with H directly wired to jack and the cocked wah bridge tone. Was thinking of split coiling it.

[@harrysearia1784]

Great comparison video

[@ronchabot3449]

Sounds so much better wow 👏

[@ronchabot3449]

It even sounds like it has more sustain as well

[@michael_caz_nyc]

Also look into: Lambertone's "Crema" and the Lollar "Low-wind Imperial" - I do love the Thormbucker too. Low Output is the way to go. Great demo & explanation.

[@Darthhalitosis]

Killer sound man :) and great playing

[@Darthhalitosis]

Also, can you share a link to where you got the stacked pot? I'm looing to do the exact thing you have done to my strat plus

[@TheStudioRats]

Hi judd. Cheers! It came with the guitar.

[@CentaurusRelax314]

Interesting insights. I had a JB in a Strat once. Bought it, ostensibly, because it was 'close to what EVH' used. But, i never liked it. Didn't know why. I also didn't think i was getting as much distortion as i would expect, but didn't know to attribute that to compression. I've never been a fan of Suhr guitars, but have recently become enamored of some of the pickups (SSV and HSV+) in a Modern T demo i found. I planned to get a PRS S2 and swap in those pickups, but now I need to consider the Thorn.....

[@boobooau]

You made me do it ... still waiting for mine to arrive :)

[@mingury]

Wonder how Thornbucker compares to Shawbucker which is another PAF style humbucker in HSS strats. Thanks for the video btw!

[@GregoryPearsonMusic]

Great video. The only thing more I would be greatly interested in is hearing what they sound like split.

[@faridh2999]

Night and day, good choice pickup 👍

[@arnyarny77]

the metallic green with the tortoise shell pickguard is awesome

[@piyachansri5719]

MASSIVE IMPROVENT

[@jackschijven8219]

Very informative. Thanks.

[@kuitaristi3003]

JB with modern wiring is sure high output pickup for metal mostly, but when using it with 50's wiring you can use it for everything because, when you turn your guitar vol and tone pots you can get many different tones, and get back the lost clarity too because 50's doesn't lose highs when you turn volume pot down. Then you can use parallel wiring with 50's same time if you have push- pull pot and get more tele like sound too. My opinion JB is the most versatile pickup out there. That Thornbucker is pretty sweet too!

[@VanjaSpirin]

JB is raw, dark and without complex harmonic structure. I use paf-s for metal, Toneriders, Donlis and Dimarzio. Much better sound and much better chug. Also, better all rounders.

[@earthstrong-43.72]

Pete Thorn knows tone. Those pickups sound amazing!

[@GertvanderDoes]

Love the Thornbucker+ in my Strat. Works great with Texas Specials. Love the zebra look too!

[@dougwood7098]

The JB still sounded just fine but if you wanted something a little less output then the Seymore Duncan Custom Custom would've done the trick nicely! I thinks it's the best pickup ever made!

[@checkitout611]

That's a good one and I like the 59 as well. I found the JB matches up with Seymour Classic Stack single coils really great. Love my JB but I also have a guitar the the Thornbucker and it's fantastic and paired that with Suhr 69+ singles. For either one just a few amp eq tweaks and they both are great.

[@vitorgarcia7]

I play heavy stuff and prefer low to medium output exact for that reason. Great video

[@roderickbalt8993]

Great vid! Still it's hard to make a generalizing statement for all high output vs low output pickups. But I could definately heard that the low output was a lot brighter and agressive sounding and the high output was a lot smoother.

[@abundantlyredundantboy]

Exactly my response also...The Duncan was definitely smoother, very balanced growl to the distortion. The Suhr sounded bright and harsh. Of course you can make almost any sound you want out of a guitar with digital manipulation. Never truly know what a guitar sounds like unless you have it in your own hands.

[@carsgunsandguitars]

An HSS Strat with a low-output humbucker and a set of quality alnico vintage style singles with a treble bleed kit can do it all. I agree completely and what a beautiful guitar!

[@mattpeterson553]

[4:21] Gibson SH5/TB5 Customs are the unsung magical pickup. I first came across them in 2002 when I was using the Seymour Duncan sound clips to chose the pickup for my Warmoth Guitar. Out of everything I heard, they were the best all-around pickup I heard. When I first fired up my Warmoth strat, I kinda thought "huh, this kinda reminds me of an artist who came out in 1978…" My other guitar was a Kramer Pacer Deluxe with SD SSL-1 single coils in the neck and middle, and a JB in the bridge. The JB was OK, but I never gelled with it: depending on the amp, either it was dark, or more often than not, it had this weird thin sound on leads. The Custom had heavenly harmonics, yet had a thicker lead sound. Yes, it was a ceramic, so in the right context, it could kinda sound single-coilly, but nonetheless, it sounded thicker, yet hi-fi, compared to a JB. The SSL-1s were golden. coda: Yes, I tried the Custom Custom and the Custom 5: they suck. Completely unbalanced pickups, IMHO (and nothing like EVH).

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers for the comment

[@bondavy]

Thank you for the video. Now I am even more convinced that my choice is JB 😃

[@AngusClarkGTR]

Great demo as always. Did you ditch the Kinmans? Thornbucker sounds great. Did you ever try a Duncan ‘59 in a strat? I quite like it.

[@dimitrisbizos4068]

Thanks for the great video! By no means am I to be rude but the pickup that really shins here is the Custom Bucker :)

[@mightymikeamps9317]

I just ordered one of these for a Parts caster I built. Hopefully it sounds good with a Northern Ash body. It has HS (no middle pick up) Vintage Trem, beautiful rootbeer stain, with about 11 coats of clear, but on a Northern Ash Frankie Body black tortoise pickguard, EVH 78 style head stock , flame maple, blue abalone dots, Neck, Tusq nut, Gotoh Locking Tuners, Wolfgang style truss adjustment. It has Motorcity Woodward 3 Strat neck pickup which is just an amazing pickup if you like Jimi and SRV (It has an A3 magnet). It’s a concept guitar I call SRVH.. Very close to the Van Halen 1st Album black and white spec, but without the stripes, and a a great neck Strat pickup. Initially it was to show that some of my Amp builds could get the Brown Sound tone back when I used build, mod, and restore amps. but I like a versatile guitar. Plus I would feel self conscious playing the Striped guitar or the SRV signature. Finding the perfect humbucker has been a PITA!! I have changed more humbuckers in this guitar than some change their underwear. I recently pulled out an old MityMite1400 and put in a SUHR Modern+… It was way too high gain. I use a very similar spec as this Pete Thorn pickup on my 1976 Destroyer and R8 custom shop. Both have the Blue Sky Set by Sheptone which are also A4/8.4k on the bridge. I found a black bridge 53mm Thornbucker for $129 shipped. So what the heck. You and Pete are probably my favorite Demo guys. Can’t wait to try it! Hopefully this will Sound good with this guitar.

[@johnwebb2562]

Does it really sound that different apart from the EQ curves being altered. Is it not possible to achieve the approximate result by using a good equaliser. At the end the sound of the Thornbucker was enhanced by the BB pedal only. Thanks 👍 for the demonstration. Best regards 😸 . John

[@Tatted-ne7tu]

I’m in this exact situation with a Charvel Danhage model. That does it, out with the JB. I just don’t like the muffled tone compared to the beautiful single coil air. Thanks for this.

[@Wileylikethehawk]

I have been highly considering installing a Thornbucker in my PRS Santana. This video is going to make it happen.

[@nigeldaddyo]

don't rule out the thornbucker plus model.

[@wizrom3046]

I'm glad you didn't damage the guitar... "NOOOOOO! I SCRATCHED IT!" 😎

[@XxAiRuNxX894]

I wish i watched this video before I ordered my jb for my American pro 2 strat. I’ll use it for a bit and definitely order a thornbucker later on!

[@Nghilifa]

The Thornbucker got that sizzle back. I just took my JB (before I watched this video though!) out of my Explorer EXP83 for pretty much the same reasons. I need more dynamic range.

[@trevlocke1962]

Lovely guitar and the Suhr defo made a difference, might need to change the JB on my Charvel now :-)

[@MartinCliffe]

Suhr Thornbucker is my favourite humbucker, I have it in 3 guitars

[@drummcitty6610]

Thanks for the help

[@nelevybalanon4026]

HI great video 1 thing can i put thornbucker covered pickup to my strat? or is there any difference covered vs open? are they plug and play?

[@Ottophil]

I love the JB in my strat. I hate single coils when I wanna play loud and fast. I think of it as a boost. Instante afterburner

[@rodedawg77]

I have the opposite hss setup, a JB with Suhr ML neck and middle. They mix well using all 250k pots and a .033 cap. Its a "JBJ" from the early 90s though, not one of the new ones

[@tomfoolery2082]

Iv tried a few different pups in an SG , thornbuckers i think are the keepers . Id buy em again .

[@msi1985]

I want the bridge pickup from your LP! Jeepers that breaks up real nice

[@keanuuuu]

Thornbucker sounded great, so are you using a TBX stacked pot for the volume? How is that wired up? Special wiring to enable the 500k pot for the humbucker ?

[@JesseJuup]

When there is a mismatch in volume between pickups, you can just add a resistor. But if there is a tonal mismatch, then of course changing pickups will be the right option.

[@allpdmusic]

HA! I just emailed you about the great sound from this guitar now I know why. Looks like I'll be buying a Thornbucker. What do you suggest for the single coils in the neck and middle to go with that Thornbucker in the bridge?

[@tommywallberg]

I have a American sss strat pro II and would like to swatch the bridge pickup to a humbucker will the value go down due that change? I’m considering Monty’s or Surh humbucker for the bridge and leave the rest like it’s is or should consider a complete change of all the pickups? Monty’s has several years of pickups and I don’t know which I should choose unless I only change the bridge single coil to humbucker.

[@ReinhartSchneider]

You made those Thornbuckers sound phenomenal. Great playing. Thank you for the demonstration.

[@tomaszbaran]

Well done on the Thornbucker, this is such a great choice! Small tip: you can reverse that pickup 180 degrees it will look nearly like a regular strat, just without the slant. I also have a zebra Suhr in the bridge put in like that :)

[@Timbo6669]

It will be out of phase though.

[@tomaszbaran]

@@Timbo6669 yes, thats definitely worth checking, it willa depend on the polarity and coil orientation of the middle pickup. Also, you could choose which coil od the HB geht's engaged, if the pickup is split on position 2.

[@ilmisxx2]

@@Timbo6669 no it won't as long as magnet inside the pickup isn't flipped and the leads are not soldered out of phase flipping the pickup won't put it out of phase

[@Timbo6669]

@@ilmisxx2 my bad if I’m wrong. I was told otherwise. Can you pls tell me Why then are most humbuckers labelled at the bridge edge (of the p’up) with a brand or underside with arrows, to go one specific way (as they state in the instructions in the p’up box)?

[@ilmisxx2]

@@Timbo6669 Because the manufacturer sticks to the aesthetic that is already canon. Originally humbuckers were designed to not have adjustable screws at all but then later they were added due to marketing. Flipping a pickup might change the tone a bit if the pickup is wound in a way where one coil is considerably stronger than the other(usually the slug coil). Otherwise nothing changes but the look. You can try it yourself but even thinking logically flipping the pickup changes nothing, coil wire is still wound the same way, magnet polarity is also still the same way. If only it were that easy to flip the phase of the pickup... And strat bridge pickup would be what, a 1/4 out of phase? :D Whoever told you otherwise has no clue what they are talking about ;)

[@stavrost6559]

Wiring the JB parallel could partially fix your issue. In any case, I like the upgraded tone

[@christianboddum8783]

Thornbucker is Alnico 4 right? Al4 tames the midrange spike that Al5 gves, I like it a lot ;-)

[@alanpern]

Thanks dude!

[@colinmortimore218]

Great vid Paul. Didn't you fancy adding a switch to split the humbucker?

[@adampeters1241]

Awesome video. Convinced me to try a new pickup rather than sell the guitar. Thanks!

[@Poochpurtill]

Great sounds, I’ve just ordered a Jet 400 HSS after watching another of your videos and sent for a Thornbucker but now realise it says 50mm, Hope I’ve bought correct width ?? 😬??

[@chrislestermusic]

Did the Custom Shop run the excess wire in between the pickup poles like that? Thats nuts if they did.

[@Dr.Jekyll]

When you add in a boost pedal, doesn’t that add in the compression and extra distortion that you tried to get rid of by switching out the JB? And I agree with what others said, Seymour Duncan has a lot to choose from. You don’t have to leave the brand to get the sound of a lower output pickup.

[@MortenRoness]

Wow, this really sounded great. What more than the Matchless to get that dirty sound?

[@Tone5DP777]

I recently ordered a CS HSS Strat with an EVH Wolfgang. Unlike my other HSS Strats, it really had the "cocked wah" tone in the bridge, particularly single notes in the 9th through 14th fret range. I tried other higher output pickups, like the DiMarzio AT-1 and the Seymour Duncan Custom 5. Same cocked wah result. I spoke with Lindy Fralin recently and he said the cocked wah can be an issue with a humbucker in the bridge of a Strat when the pickup is too hot. Exactly what you showed in the video!! He is suggesting his Fralin Pro PAF, which is at 8.2k with Alnico II. I think your Thornbucker is Alino IV and around 8.2k as well. I've been very disappointed with my CS Strat in the bridge position, but your video gives me hope. Now just need to decide on which PAF humbucker to get. Thank you for the informative video!! Great tone and playing BTW!!

[@TheStudioRats]

Cheers! Yeah it can be a mismatch. Enjoy the Fralin.

[@afterstars]

I have a Dimarzio PAF Pro in a CS strat and people have always complimented the tone. Even my guitar tech was blown away.

[@Tone5DP777]

Thank you! I am thinking about changing pickups in my Jackson Soloist and the PAF Pro may be a great option.@@afterstars

[@dreamroots3590]

Hello, will this Suhr Thornbucker Bridge Pete Thorn Signature 53mm fit into my Fender Player HSS? What pickups are on your guitar in the middle and under the neck?❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@dpoultski2499]

Would have loved to hear some clean tones as well. I believe the Thornbucker is supposed to sound nice in that split position with the middle single coil.

[@mightymikeamps9317]

He twisted the red and white wires together IIRC, so I don’t think it’s wired to split the coils

[@azharkhan8796]

Does the Thornbucker split in position 2? How does it sound? I'm thinking of getting the Thornbucker II for my HSS with Suhr V60s. Currently have a high output Suhr Aldrich.

[@aaronglacier9213]

I just wanted to make sure I’m tracking everything. All you did was change your humbuckers but your middle and neck pickups were fender single coils, right? We’re the middle and neck fenders ceramic? Also you mentioned your strings are 10’s in someone else’s comment but we’re they the normal ones that came with your fender or perhaps were they another brands 10’s I’d love to hear back from you, cheers

[@arnyarny77]

let me ask you this, does Seymour Duncan have an equivalent to the thorn bucker ? or at least similar?