The Inimitable HB-1

[jcreasy]

I've got a Chandler 555 that I really enjoy. Its got Seymour Duncan mini humbuckers. It is at a friend's house right now so I cannot check but they are one of the vintage lines. It sounds kind of like a cross between a Stratocaster and a Rick

Has anyone ever tried the HB-1 in 360's? I seem to recall Mr. Hall commenting that they could be coil split and so forth. Most of the posts I've seen (or recall) talk about putting one in the bridge only or comment on the Sussanna Hoffs model with a humbucker.

I'm wondering if I could get some similar noise out of my 360 if I replaced the toasters with HB-1s? Any insight?

Thanks,

JKC

[winston]

Jim, my 330 (that I purchased used) came with HB-1's. At full volume they have a more aggressive, crunchy mid range sound than hi-gain pickups. They push an amp to breakup a little earlier and produce very sweet Strat like tones when you roll back the volume pots just a tad.

I really like them but I will concede that they are not everyone's cup of tea, because they don't make a Rick sound like a classic jangly Rick. I fitted toaster covers over mine btw.

[electrofaro]

they don't make a Rick sound like a classic jangly Rick

Exactly a reason to fit them, Brian!

A lot of people (including RRFers) joke about stereotypical Rick sounds, but at the same time they go to great lenghts with all kinds of mods and pedals to get "that" Rick sound (jangle). A 360 with HBs and push-pulls sounds like a great idea, imo.

[jcreasy]

Thanks Brian...

Werner... Can they be tapped with push pull pots? I seem to recall reading somewhere that they could, but I cannot find it.

I'll search the forum again.

JKC

[winston]

I just edited my post Jim..........sorry for any confusion but my 330 came with HB-1's. That's what happens when you post in the middle of a project.

[weemac]

Thanks Brian...

Werner... Can they be tapped with push pull pots? I seem to recall reading somewhere that they could, but I cannot find it.

I'll search the forum again.

JKC

They can be tapped with the standard tone pot, you just wire the connecting wire between the HB1s coils to the unused leg of the tone pot and you will have a HB from 9 to 0 and a shiny single coil on 10. Simple and intuitive...

Eden.

[jdawe]

I posted a question about this a while ago and got some helpful responses here:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=402425

[jcreasy]

Thanks guys. There is a post on the Company Forum from some guy who wants to wire up a 350 like the Space Shuttle so I found some information there too.

Eden, are you saying standard tone pot and then when you roll all the way into it, it activates the tap?

Thanks.

JKC

[electrofaro]

Simple and intuitive...

Counterintuitive, imo... a push pull would be intiutive, pulling it up to get to single coil sounds.

[parker_knoll]

I've got an HB-1 in the neck of my 340 and I've got a Seymour Duncan Firebird mini humbucker in the middle which is the same pickup that's on the Chandler 555.

The HB1 in the neck is furry sounding but gives a good jazz sound and i combine it with the middle or bridge to add some attack.

I changed the volume pot to a 500k which helps to brighten it a little as well.

[wmthor]

At full volume they have a more aggressive, crunchy mid range sound than hi-gain pickups. They push an amp to breakup a little earlier and produce very sweet Strat like tones when you roll back the volume pots just a tad.

I had HB's in my 360 for several years. Brain pretty much described the tone. The reason I did the swap was that the 360 sounded so much like my 1997 (hot toasters), and I'm not one to have two guitars that sound alike. I wanted to wire it like a 380 Laguna, but never got around to it. I've since sold the it to a friend and he still has the HBs in it.

The 360 became my primary guitar whenever I attended a blues jam.

Blues Jam with HB equipped Rics

BTW, here's an older thread (2003) regarding the HBs.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=22748