The Pickups Thread

[AutomationBias]

I just put a set of Lollar Imperial Low-Winds in my DGT and I like them a lot more than the stock DGT pickups.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Seriously debating putting the original Dragon IIs back in my PRS. I've currently got some Mojo PAFs in there but I'm just not using it and my Les Paul is getting all the play time. I'm thinking if it actually sounds properly different I might pick it up more. It currently sounds a lot like my Les Paul but with less bass.

 

[Mikael Dez]

The SD Custom is just what the doctor ordered for my PRS

 

[la szum]

Seriously debating putting the original Dragon IIs back in my PRS. I've currently got some Mojo PAFs in there but I'm just not using it and my Les Paul is getting all the play time. I'm thinking if it actually sounds properly different I might pick it up more. It currently sounds a lot like my Les Paul but with less bass.

Makes sense to me! I am much more a fan of tonal diversity than tonal overlap. I want options---and by options
not 10 different versions of the same thing.

 

[Mikael Dez]

Seriously debating putting the original Dragon IIs back in my PRS. I've currently got some Mojo PAFs in there but I'm just not using it and my Les Paul is getting all the play time. I'm thinking if it actually sounds properly different I might pick it up more. It currently sounds a lot like my Les Paul but with less bass.

A good excuse to tune it to something fancy

 

[SillyOctpuss]

A good excuse to tune it to something fancy

Any suggestions?

 

[Mikael Dez]

Any suggestions?

I love DADFAE - which I picked up from Opeth. It's "spooky" sounding, ethereal, it makes it easier to play some things that would otherwise be impossible in standard tuning.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

I love DADFAE - which I picked up from Opeth. It's "spooky" sounding, ethereal, it makes it easier to play some things that would otherwise be impossible in standard tuning.

Ah I see what you mean now. I took 'tune' to mean tune the sound via some fancy parts but you mean a totally different tuning. Ignore me I'm an idiot.

 

[Jarick]

Finally swapped the Thornbucker Plus out for the Thornbucker 2 in my PRS. Not sure how I feel about it.

The TB2 seems lower output than the TB+ even though it measures hotter at 9.05k vs 8.75k. I expected to have a fuller sound compared to the Plus but there's less low end. It's also brighter up top, not in a harsh way but it almost sounds like the coils are split a little bit. I have to raise it up higher than the Plus pretty close to the strings to get it to balance with the neck pickup which is flush with the ring. It sounds good by itself but seems to have more of a mismatch with the neck pickup which sounds pretty bassy in comparison (and the TB neck is one of the leanest humbuckers I've used).

I think the TB2 may be better with single coils in an HSS guitar, and then the TB/TB+ set for PAF-ish stuff.

I'm a bit torn if I should try a Woodbucker neck to go with the Woodbucker bridge or maybe try an SSH+ to go with the SSV neck.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Finally swapped the Thornbucker Plus out for the Thornbucker 2 in my PRS. Not sure how I feel about it.

The TB2 seems lower output than the TB+ even though it measures hotter at 9.05k vs 8.75k. I expected to have a fuller sound compared to the Plus but there's less low end. It's also brighter up top, not in a harsh way but it almost sounds like the coils are split a little bit. I have to raise it up higher than the Plus pretty close to the strings to get it to balance with the neck pickup which is flush with the ring. It sounds good by itself but seems to have more of a mismatch with the neck pickup which sounds pretty bassy in comparison (and the TB neck is one of the leanest humbuckers I've used).

I think the TB2 may be better with single coils in an HSS guitar, and then the TB/TB+ set for PAF-ish stuff.

I'm a bit torn if I should try a Woodbucker neck to go with the Woodbucker bridge or maybe try an SSH+ to go with the SSV neck.

Different winds, mismatch between the coils, magnet charge and strength could all cause those differences.

 

[Mikael Dez]

My custom came with a black pickup ring that fit the trembucker. My jazz did not come with a pickup ring lol. Pickups sound perfect, I need to shop now.

 

[Chocol8]

need to shop now.

For strings?

 

[Mikael Dez]

For strings?

Ha, no I got those on. Matching pickup rings, and now I’m looking into wooden ones

 

[Chocol8]

Ha, no I got those on. Matching pickup rings, and now I’m looking into wooden ones

Don't feel bad! There was one night many years back where I was googling home metal plating options so I could get all the hardware on a guitar to match perfectly. Luckily I came to my senses before I hit the buy button!

 

[Jarick]

Different winds, mismatch between the coils, magnet charge and strength could all cause those differences.

I'm betting it's the magnet...Suhr says that they use different magnets that have been degaussed to spec. I wouldn't be surprised if this A2 is a little under charged. Frankly I'm really tempted to throw a set of full charge polished A2's in the Thornbuckers. I just love A2 PAF's when they have mismatched coils as it's so clear.

 

[Jarick]

My custom came with a black pickup ring that fit the trembucker. My jazz did not come with a pickup ring lol. Pickups sound perfect, I need to shop now.
View attachment 44568

Is that an SE Hollowbody II?

I'm a huge sucker for ivory rings. When I had SE's I wanted to upgrade the rings to the Core models because the stock ones had a gross yellow tint. It's silly but I think the Core rings look so dang good, like a proper bone/ivory color.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

I'm betting it's the magnet...Suhr says that they use different magnets that have been degaussed to spec. I wouldn't be surprised if this A2 is a little under charged. Frankly I'm really tempted to throw a set of full charge polished A2's in the Thornbuckers. I just love A2 PAF's when they have mismatched coils as it's so clear.

That makes sense. I've swopped magnets in humbuckers a few times now. It's a nice cheap mod that's totally reversible so no reason not to try.

 

[Jarick]

That makes sense. I've swopped magnets in humbuckers a few times now. It's a nice cheap mod that's totally reversible so no reason not to try.

I went through tons of magnet swaps and here's my current preference:

• A2 seems to work well in low wind pickups because they tend to have a scooped EQ and the A2 softens the highs and lows
• A5 seems to work well in higher wind pickups because they tend to have boosted mids and the A5 adds highs and lows
• A4 seems to work in pickups where you want to leave the EQ flat

There's variations of course, but that seems nice. Most of the time full charge A5 neck humbuckers sound woofy to me unless they are wound to reduce low end like the Duncan Jazz. Thornbucker neck I think uses a degaussed A5 to soften the low end. But I like the Wolfetone Dr Vintage with A2 quite a bit.

On the bridge, lower wind pickups with A5 seem to be too bright, like the Duncan 59. Thornbucker has A4 for neutral EQ, and I like the Wolfetone Marshallhead with A2 as well. Hotter pickups like the JB and Custom seem better with A5 magnets though.

 

[Mikael Dez]

Is that an SE Hollowbody II?

I'm a huge sucker for ivory rings. When I had SE's I wanted to upgrade the rings to the Core models because the stock ones had a gross yellow tint. It's silly but I think the Core rings look so dang good, like a proper bone/ivory color.

Yes it is! For now I ordered a black pickup ring for the neck, but ivory sounds very nice!