Muy Grande Humbucker versus BBQ in the Bridge???

[Hectorp]

I'm looking for comments on the MuyGrande humbucker tone versus the Rio BBQ.

I play in the old school Jeff Beck genre where I like as much juice out of a note as I can and so the BBQ has been my go-to pickup for years.

Can the MuyGrande in humbucker mode create the same amount of energy and sweetness behind the notes as the BBQ?

Here's the situation: I have a project guitar...a Hamer Newport (semi-hollow...kind of like a 335) and I'm altering it by putting a 3-coil in the bridge position (a humbucker and a single coil in one ring).

Bridge: I already custom ordered a MuyGrande single coil from Rio without the little tab on it so I can fit it in the ring...now my dilemma is which humbucker to use: a Muy Grande or a BBQ.

I have been a lover of the BBQ bucker for years...but I'm also intrigued by the MuyGrande.

I have another guitar with a Rio Tallboy humbucker in the neck position and the humbucker tone is really nice, musical and not humbuckery/nasal...and the single coil sound is pure dripping wet Strat tone...I'd love to have that versatility in the bridge pickup...

What sayest thou?
MuyGrande Humbucker and Muy Grande single in the Bridge and a Halfbreed humbucker at the neck????:confused:

[Hectorp]

FYI:
I spoke to "Young Master" :hail:Greg from BCR Music and Sound (who I've known for years) and he encouraged me to use the MuyGrande humbucker in the bridge and the TallBoy humbucker in the neck. He said that the Muy Grande provides as much 'push' behind the notes as the BBQ, but that it was slightly more articulate...so that's what I'm going with.


Those pickups are now on order. I'll post a picture of the Newport Custom when the project comes together.

[Kizanski]

...I'm altering it by putting a 3-coil in the bridge position (a humbucker and a single coil in one ring).

That ought to be cool as hell!

[Hectorp]

Thanks....and the Newport Custom that I'm modifying is so cool to begin with. (Cherry Red, ebony board, crowns w/inlay at the first fret...and custom ordered...or altered...with a tune-omatic and a stop tailpiece only about an inch and a half from the TOM instead of halfway down the body like on most Newports...and super lighweight).

Dealing with the switching options will be the next major challenge...I'm not a fan of decorating guitars with mini-toggles...

I should post progress pictures: before; during and after.

[richedie]

Energy, sweetness, push, expressiveness behind the notes are a geat way to describe the BBQ. I always knew there were some intangibles I couldn't get a handle on. All I can say, is there has always been something about having the BBQ in the bridge of a guitar that just makes me want to play. They really sing better than most. Is it the compression? Then again, sometimes I find them fairly open. Some say they are modern sounding pickups but I get some of the best classic rock tones with the BBQ in a Les Paul....EVEN over a 9.7K hot PAF.