Mosrite single coil vs. humbucker

[Strat-o-rama]

So let's talk about 'em! In the early seventies, many models were available with humbucking pickups---they look like the single coil Ventures style pickup, only they have the double row of pole screws.
How are they different from the like-sized single coil we all like so much? Output difference? Most importantly, how do they sound different on any given model (say, a Mark 1 The Ventures). Were the humbuckers any different on those beautiful 1970's Celebrity 1 with the gold/transparent maple finish--compared to the soldid body models?
Dennis, I know you can offer up an opinion/observation. Who else wants to chime in?

[oipunkguy]

i would say the humbuckers had more mid range to it's tone and had a softer output. plus no hum

[jfine]

I've never compared them side-by-side, but I used to have a 350 Stereo with the humbuckers, and my recollection is that they were pretty dark-sounding. Seems like they had a pretty hot output too--the guitar I was using before I got the Mosrite was a Les Paul Deluxe with the mini-humbuckers, and the Mosrite pickups were at least that hot, and my memory tells me the Mo was maybe a little hotter, and definitely darker. But I haven't heard the Deluxe since I got the Mosrite in 1974, and I got rid of the Mosrite in '76, so my memory has to go back 36 years--I wonder how accurate it is?

[oipunkguy]

they dont sound nearly as dark in a basswood body and maple neck. ive played them next to each other and the darker tone is fairly minimum to my ears, but diffently present. my 350 is dark sonding too, but it's all mahogany. i would also say that the p-90 version have more presence, but the humbuckers are little more smooth sounding, if that makes any sense. I also wax potted mine, and before I did the humbuckers were way more responsive but the pickup squeel was bad. before I potted them, i had to play with the tone turned down half way to prevent feedback.

[Strat-o-rama]

Thanks guys. I was wondering if they might sound a tad brighter in one of those early 70's Celebrity 1 with the maple body. I'm thinking a sound that would be a tone in a neighborhood between Junior Barnard and Junior Watson--west coast swing blues/rockabilly. (Not that I can play like either, but with enough woodshedding, maybe I can get in the ballpark).