DiMarzio Forum

DimarzioForum.Com => The Pickup Place => Everything you wanted to know about .... => Topic started by: FeinMusic on June 27, 2009, 06:31:44 AM

Title: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: FeinMusic on June 27, 2009, 06:31:44 AM
Okay, I've been on this forum a couple months now and in that time odds are I've been singing the praises for this pickup.

DiMarzio describes this pup as being glassey and combining the sound of a Strat and the power of a PAF and I'd be inclined to agree.  The HFH in the neck position does a very convincing job of producing strat neck tones in Les Pauls but with a somewhat bigger, thicker sound while retaining a clean, bright tone with the highs slightly rolled that I've been able to use for anything between Blues Rock and Jazz.  Dirty up the HFH and you have a smooth but still defined lead tone perfect for sustaining two hand tapping and legato work especially with the tone rolled down to taste.

My experience using the HFH with a Mo'Joe and Norton in the bridge has also made me quite fond of the middle configuration's tone which in both cases has been configured to be more in favor of the HFH to produce a very nice tone that I can only liken to guitarists like Jimmy Page (think like the first solo from The Ocean or Black Dog) and Mick Ronson (like the clean electric guitar in Space Oddity) or perhaps early Gin Blossoms because played clean it is chimey but still lush and dirty it is nasty and pronounced.

The pickup also handles effects well as I will attest to in this somewhat okay video footage of my band performing live with most of the playing and all of the guitar soloing being done through the HFH using distortion, chorus, delay and boost as fit.
I plan on posting actual sound clips in a few days once I get a real microphone if not before that. :madness:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3xYGXilYSQ&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eyoutube%2Ecom%2Fuser%2Fseafooddynamite&feature=player_profilepage[/youtube]
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: CityofBlindingLights on June 28, 2009, 02:22:27 PM
Nice man, thanks for posting that. +1 Karma for youuuuuu!

Edited to embed your clip into your post, hope you don't mind.
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: FeinMusic on June 28, 2009, 04:06:33 PM
Not at all man!   Im horribe at video editing so when I learn how to convert VOB files into something i can cut apart I will have more
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: FeinMusic on June 29, 2009, 04:33:22 PM
I should add that I wanted to make a les paul sound like a strat for some time and this was all that came close neckwise
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: CityofBlindingLights on June 29, 2009, 04:44:07 PM
That's what the HFH is for man
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: DocNrock on July 02, 2009, 08:54:41 PM
Nice clip!

I have the HfH in a Jackson PS-4, neck slot.  I get a great Knopfleresqe tone out of it.
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: Jimbojones on July 11, 2009, 10:08:01 AM
I have the HFH in my RG and it is by far my favorite pickup to put in the neck. I have gone through a bunch of bridge pups, but for some reason I just cannot let this one go. It is so clean and very unique. I think some may be put off by the name as it sounds like some kind of Metal high gain thing, but it is absolutely the cleanest humbucker out there. I love how mellow it is, and it may be a bit on the trebly side, but having the a nice open neck pup is freakin awesome. Before I got this, I NEVER used my neck pickup, and now more often than not I find myself playing the neck. I cannot say enough good things about this pickup.
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: arellanon on July 17, 2009, 08:34:23 PM
The Humbucker From Hell is on of DiMarzio's most unique pups. I have used it at the neck and bridge positions of a Kramer Striker and in both instances it sounded good. It has a very nice acoustic sound and its distorted nature is clean and aritculate. I can't wait to try in on the neck of a hardtail; I will definitely update when I do.
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: LuredMaul on July 24, 2009, 11:35:59 PM
CLIP


http://www.dimarzioforum.com/user_uploads/luredmaul/HFH.mp3
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: Tom63 on July 25, 2009, 12:32:21 PM
CLIP


http://www.dimarzioforum.com/user_uploads/luredmaul/HFH.mp3
Wow it really does sound like a single coil when clean. Would like to hear it with a bit of gain on though, if you've got the time of course. :)
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: LuredMaul on July 26, 2009, 12:54:56 AM
Gotta get it back in somethin first shouldn't be too long.
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: alfaromeo90 on August 26, 2009, 04:26:14 PM
What is the best body wood for the Humbucker from Hell?
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: CityofBlindingLights on August 26, 2009, 07:21:13 PM
What is the best body wood for the Humbucker from Hell?

It'll work well in anything. In mahogany, it has a more shimmery, acoustic-like quality, while in swamp ash it's a bit more stratty, and definitely snappier.
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: buddroyce on August 31, 2009, 10:27:29 AM
What is the best body wood for the Humbucker from Hell?

In my experience, it works with pretty much anything. There's no "best wood" but rather what would give you the best net effect in terms of the tone you're looking for.  I had a set of them in an Ibanez J Custom Rg1302 with a swamp ash body and it seriously sounded like a super loud strat! In a mahogany bodied, maple capped Les Paul, it's very open sounding. I'd say it's a VERY good pickup for a Les Paul if you find that the neck tone is always a little too dark.
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: mi2tom on September 04, 2009, 12:39:07 AM
How does the HFH sounded in split?
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: purple_voodoo on September 07, 2009, 10:20:40 AM
Very much the same I think.
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: buddroyce on September 07, 2009, 10:31:32 AM
How does the HFH sounded in split?

I actually just installed an HFH in a clients Les Paul with the Dial-A-Split control instead of a tone and to be totally honest, running the HFH in single coil mode sounds pretty much the same as it does in humbucker mode, except it's got a little less output and it's got the 60 hz hum.
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: FeinMusic on September 07, 2009, 08:05:17 PM
I kind of had a feeling you would say that
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: buddroyce on September 09, 2009, 03:11:13 PM
Maybe I should have said that it sounds like a paf in single coil mode instead to through you off ;)
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: FeinMusic on September 09, 2009, 03:47:21 PM
.... But that's kind of what it sounds like already?
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: KH Guitar Freak on September 26, 2009, 01:39:53 AM
Has anyone tried a HFH in the bridge position before???
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: CityofBlindingLights on September 26, 2009, 05:45:35 PM
Has anyone tried a HFH in the bridge position before???

That's where I love it.
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: KH Guitar Freak on September 27, 2009, 12:31:05 PM
Has anyone tried a HFH in the bridge position before???

That's where I love it.

Well then, describe to me how it sounds like then. I was thinking of a HFH/HS2/HFH setup in my Ibanez RGR470...
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: alfaromeo90 on September 27, 2009, 06:22:35 PM
the audio equivalent of shuriken...:)   i'd love to hear this!
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: FeinMusic on September 27, 2009, 07:24:57 PM
It's bright.  I've heard it described as borderline shrill and that discouraged me from trying dual HFHs a few months back.  It's not sounding like such a terrible idea if it's configured properly......
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: CityofBlindingLights on September 28, 2009, 02:06:27 AM
Has anyone tried a HFH in the bridge position before???

That's where I love it.

Well then, describe to me how it sounds like then. I was thinking of a HFH/HS2/HFH setup in my Ibanez RGR470...

It's pretty bright. LOTS of top end, tight bass. Rather clear and defined. Sounds pretty badass with some dirt, it really gives a whole new tone to your guitar. In mahogany it'd probably be more rounded (probably packs a lot of punch...), and it would probably ad nice cut to basswood. I like it in swamp ash, which helps accentuate its top end.

Personally, I prefer the D Activator Neck in the bridge.
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: Echad on September 28, 2009, 02:58:30 AM
Has anyone tried a HFH in the bridge position before???

That's where I love it.

Well then, describe to me how it sounds like then. I was thinking of a HFH/HS2/HFH setup in my Ibanez RGR470...

It's pretty bright. LOTS of top end, tight bass. Rather clear and defined. Sounds pretty badass with some dirt, it really gives a whole new tone to your guitar. In mahogany it'd probably be more rounded (probably packs a lot of punch...), and it would probably ad nice cut to basswood. I like it in swamp ash, which helps accentuate its top end.

Personally, I prefer the D Activator Neck in the bridge.

Is the Neck even sharper than the Bridge in it's place? Does it give that twang to it?
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: CityofBlindingLights on September 28, 2009, 05:57:41 PM
Has anyone tried a HFH in the bridge position before???

That's where I love it.

Well then, describe to me how it sounds like then. I was thinking of a HFH/HS2/HFH setup in my Ibanez RGR470...

It's pretty bright. LOTS of top end, tight bass. Rather clear and defined. Sounds pretty badass with some dirt, it really gives a whole new tone to your guitar. In mahogany it'd probably be more rounded (probably packs a lot of punch...), and it would probably ad nice cut to basswood. I like it in swamp ash, which helps accentuate its top end.

Personally, I prefer the D Activator Neck in the bridge.

Is the Neck even sharper than the Bridge in it's place? Does it give that twang to it?

Yes. Not as much crunch as the D Activator bridge, but it does have loads of twang, which is why I love it.

If you have more questions, please limit them to the HFH, or repost in another thread in order to keep this topic relevant.
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: Echad on September 29, 2009, 02:53:45 AM
OK... I heard, that when paired with a high output humbucker in the bridge, the HFH is too silent in the neck. Which is the relative output I should go for the bridge pickup with, if I want them to sound on the same loudness level?
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: FeinMusic on September 29, 2009, 03:47:04 AM
That all depends on how you have the pickups positioned.  I've had a situation where the HFH was louder than a Super 3 at similar heights and the Mo'Joe dwarfed it while being minimally higher up.  The Norton and Air Zone both seemed to be dwarfed by the HFH unless it was much lower.  I would not underestimate this pickup's ability to cut through when dirty
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: mi2tom on September 29, 2009, 04:00:58 AM
Who says the HFH is too silent? I've played it and I installed it on my yamaha, it can be louder than the tone zone.
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: Echad on September 29, 2009, 04:50:13 AM
Oh, so it can be used with anything - as long as the heights are concerned... Thanks for the info.
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: Jerryman on March 12, 2010, 03:02:17 AM
Its funny all the Humbuckers from Hell up for sale on Ebay from people thinking it was an all out brutal humbucker.
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: CityofBlindingLights on March 12, 2010, 10:59:30 AM
Its funny all the Humbuckers from Hell up for sale on Ebay from people thinking it was an all out brutal humbucker.

Actually, all of the HfH's on eBay seem to be from authorized DiMarzio dealers that sell on eBay. Banjomikez ALWAYS has a huge stock of pickups available.
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: slugworth on March 10, 2011, 10:30:02 AM
I was poking around looking at hollowbody Ibanezes and found this sound clip that was share-worthy.  Ibanez AS73 hollowbody with dual HFHs.  I'm not a jazz player but could really appreciate the jazz tone he's got going on.

http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=6995632&q=hi&newref=1 (http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=6995632&q=hi&newref=1)
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: seedlings on March 26, 2014, 01:23:45 PM
HFH sounds very much like a single coil.  Snappy and bright with an inductance of 2.47H.

Brief sound sample:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMS8ykeyP14

CHAD
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: jazzfromhell on April 15, 2014, 02:59:44 PM
It's funny with people thinking its a weak pickup, or doesnt balance well with a hotter pickup like the TZ. IMO Petruccis best tones (I&W and Awake) was a Tone Zone and a HFH. Killer epic progressive metal tones.
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: Octacoil on February 19, 2020, 03:00:03 PM
I had bad experience with humbucker from hell in a 22 fret alder strat. Sounds muddy and doesn't cut through live. That guitar have steve's special bridge. Its like the guitar switches off whenever I use the neck pickup clean or overdriven.
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: RayBarbeeMusic on May 20, 2020, 01:26:19 PM
My experience with it over the years is that it is nothing like a single coil and 100% just a low wind humbucker tone.   The duncan full shred neck does a better job at what dimarzio describes, especially with the pole piece mod I posted in the mod forum. 

Wish that wasn't true, because I'm generally a dimarzio guy and I can get them in more colors and cheaper.  Sadly, this pickup just does not cut it as a bright/tight single coilish humbucker, there are better options.

The ultimate, though it only comes covered, is the fralin twangbucker.  Wound to 9k turns in the neck position it has enough power to play nicely with a bridge humbucker, and it is bright and tight in the way the hfh claims, but sadly, is not.  Tracks fast playing like a champ.  Can still sound 'traditional' with a .0022uf tone control rolled back as well.
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: KH Guitar Freak on June 20, 2020, 11:13:26 PM
My experience with it over the years is that it is nothing like a single coil and 100% just a low wind humbucker tone.   The duncan full shred neck does a better job at what dimarzio describes, especially with the pole piece mod I posted in the mod forum. 

Wish that wasn't true, because I'm generally a dimarzio guy and I can get them in more colors and cheaper.  Sadly, this pickup just does not cut it as a bright/tight single coilish humbucker, there are better options.

The ultimate, though it only comes covered, is the fralin twangbucker.  Wound to 9k turns in the neck position it has enough power to play nicely with a bridge humbucker, and it is bright and tight in the way the hfh claims, but sadly, is not.  Tracks fast playing like a champ.  Can still sound 'traditional' with a .0022uf tone control rolled back as well.

Would sound single coil like IMO if you dial in a bright tone, and then pick and strum harder
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: RayBarbeeMusic on June 26, 2020, 04:30:55 PM


Would sound single coil like IMO if you dial in a bright tone, and then pick and strum harder
[/quote]

The high end might, but it would still lack the tight low end.

There are much better options if a single coil ish bucker is what you're after.  Hfh is a really old design, would like to see dimarzio take another crack at it.
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: Ayrton on November 24, 2021, 10:20:57 PM
The HFH is by far my favorite neck DiMarzio. Works very well in the neck of a vintage style Telecaster.
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: darkbluemurder on July 01, 2022, 05:54:25 AM
Overall it definitely does not sound like a single coil - way too much bottom end. To me it sounds like a PAF with an extended treble and high end (which is fine btw), and that extended high end may be what some perceive as "single coil tone".

Cheers Stephan
Title: Re: Humbucker From Hell
Post by: mmmguitar on July 01, 2022, 02:19:05 PM
Overall it definitely does not sound like a single coil - way too much bottom end. To me it sounds like a PAF with an extended treble and high end (which is fine btw), and that extended high end may be what some perceive as "single coil tone".

I had a similar impression of the EJ Custom. I get that EJ asked Steve to wind a PAF-style HB that would make his Les Paul sound like a Gretsch but it, the HFH, and Bluesbucker each have their own vibe, rather than sounding like facsimiles of a Filtertron, hot single coil, or P90 (as the marketing dept has variously claimed over the years).