What is with all of the Single-hums? :(

[shreddermon]

I just don't get the custom shop's obsession with single hum guitars. Sure, it is kind of a Charvel "trademark". But let's look at their own poll results...

Configuration - Percentage

Double Hum - 39.8%
Single Hum - 23%
Hum/Single/Single - 20%
Hum/Single - 12.9%

So 40% of us want HH and 33% want either HSS or HS - 73% in total. So nearly three-quarters of the voters wanted something other than single hum!

More importantly, I repeatedly hear people (myself included) say that they're pretty much not interested in buying single hum guitars at all. I need the flexibility of a neck pickup.

I'll bet that if you ask the opposite, though - whether people who prefer the single hum layout will refuse to buy a multi-PU guitar? - you don't get anything like that same reaction. Additional tonal flexibility usually isn't a "negative" for guitarists, right?

We want Floyds and either HH or HSS/HS layouts. That is the big-ole-hunka-sweet-spot of the Charvel market! We've pretty much been saying so ever since the 25ths were released.

[Mr Metal]

Good point.........The H-H to me is the most versatile and I like S-H also (it's the coolest looking pickup arangement IMHO). With S-S-H the middle pickup gets in the way for me........but that's just me

Anyway, my theory with Custom Shop is that 1-Hum guitars look cooler, allow more to be done graphics-wise, and many artist-influenced models such as EVH and WDM were originally 1-Hum......And it is indeed very 80's....I wonder "half jokingly" if they also try to save the cost of a neck pickup?????

[Cygnus X1]

THEY aren't listening.
Funny, whenever I'm stuck with a single pup shredder, I stick a stacked hum in it.
Wonder why?

[sonicsamurai]

most 'classic' rock and metal tends to use the bridge pickup the most. single hum is pure classic 80s. u want a classic 80s rock guitar? buy a charvel. the 3 go hand in hand. simple as. and if u don't like it complain to [email protected]

[sonicsamurai]

So 40% of us want HH and 33% want either HSS or HS - 73% in total. So nearly three-quarters of the voters wanted something other than single hum!

thats an invalid point i think.

[Joe_Steeler]

I don't get the single hum either.
To make a true 80's shred machine yes, by all means. I have bought and will buy some more.

But in reality, unles you are in a cover band playing 100% 80's stuff it just not make any sense. I find myself playing the bridge hum quite a bit , but a lot of times I have to switch to the mid or neck single coils for certain rythmic sections or bluesy tones.

I guess I could take a couple of axes and set them on stands. But wouldn't it be nice to have a kick ass looking and playing axe to kill 80% of the set?
I wholeheatedly believe that the spice of life is variety. Too much of anything is boring.

[neilli]

Let's be honest, most people who like single hums like them because of the look. I know I do!

From a visual standpoint on rear loaded strat types, I like single hums. I like h/s. I don't generally like h/s/s (I said generally Pat!!) and I'm not keen on 2 hums.

However, from a versitility perspective, h/s/s or h/h with coil taps win every time. So at times, do I compromise versitility for looks? You bet. I'm shallow. So shoot me! 3 mini toggles give you more options, but they're a pain to use. Then you go down the BC Rich route with a million combinations that no-one ever uses....

[Axewielder]

I tend to destroy the knob, switches, and electronics on my guitars over time. I must say, the single hum/no tone/no switch configs are the most indestructible!

[shreddermon]

thats an invalid point i think.

Huh? How are the numbers invalid? Never taken a logic class, have you?

Let's be honest, most people who like single hums like them because of the look. I know I do!

I like the looks of a single hum layout, too. Especially if a graphic is involved. Nothing wrong with that. The only single hum guitar I've kept, though, is my EVH - so, yeah, I make exceptions, too. ...But it seems I like function a lot more than form.

[DonP]

Single hum and hum single are my two favorites.

To make a single hum more flexible, you can put in a tone knob, and have both volume and tone push/pull for parallel and single coil modes.

Then the question is, if only one pickup, which one?

[Rupe]

I like pretty much every combo out there for different things. I play in a 70's/80's hard rock/classic metal cover band so I can get away with a single hum guitar for most of the night. My favorite is a H/S as I like soloing on the neck pickup for sweeps and fast alternate picked runs. For the utmost in versatility, nothing really touches a H/S/S setup as that middle pickup combined with either the bridge or neck is where the sweetest clean tones lie. H/H is cool with the right pickups, but it seems too many guitars with this combo tend to sound too dark in the neck for me (I like a Duncan Jazz or PG for neck 'buckers). Hell, I even dig S/S/S for blues and classic rock. A well dialed in bridge single coil will cut through a busy mix like a knife and they track great for recording as well.
I never choose my pickup layout for "looks"...I always put function over form. That said, I can find functionality in pretty much every combination.

[~K~]

Single hums are no frills hotrods .. basically no B.S guitars .. it also leaves a lot of real estate for graphics. I'd never have done my bigmouths with anything but either 1 hum or a hum/single

[Tekky]

Single hums are no frills hotrods .. basically no B.S guitars .. it also leaves a lot of real estate for graphics. I'd never have done my bigmouths with anything but either 1 hum or a hum/single

+1

"The Hand" wouldn't have been as cool with more pickups. It's about simplicity for me.

[slayer]

My favorite pickup layout bar none is the Single Hum as I never and meen never use a middle or neck pickup. I will be ordering a new Carvin TL60C(Tele neck through type with Floyd) with just one Hum this year and the pointy headstock option-yea babyIf Jackson didn`t raise their prices through the roof, it would have been a Jackson or Charvel.

Jack

[shreder13]

I like to have a simple guitar and switch my amp for different tones. I play melodic death metal and all I use is 85's in bridge. The more knobs the worse I do live I just keep to 1 vol 1 tone.