Single coil pickups vs coil split humbuckers

[Ripken Holt]

I'm looking at either getting a used SE Custom 24 or SE Soapbar. I will probably be playing mostly clean music such as classic country with some rock n' roll but I will play mildly "hard" stuff from time to time. I'm leaning towards the Custom 24 just because I think it would be cool to have humbuckers for when I want a change of pace. The thing I worry about though is that using coil split humbuckers as my main single coil pickups will sacrifice some of the twangy, bright sound that I am going to want 75% of the time. I don't really know if this is true (duh, that's why I'm asking) Can you tell the difference between coil split humbuckers & single coil pickups? Because if not, I think I'm gonna go with the Custom 24. FYI this is going to be my sole guitar for now if that makes any difference.

 

[gball]

I feel you would have to play them both, preferably side-by-side, to make a final decision regarding what is going to work for you since you don't have experience with tapped 'buckers.

I like tapped humbuckers for some applications, including "Classic" R&R and compressed Country sounds. I don't feel they fare as well for twangy country or give you the same cut and dynamics that a true Fender-Style single coil does. Good ones are maybe a bit closer to a P-90, but still not really the same beast at all.

From your description I would likely be leaning toward the Soapbar. You can always put an upgraded pickup and go hotter, mini-hum or P-90 sized hum if you want.