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  • EVH Wolfgang Special Pickup Quandry

    hi all,

    this will be a little long-winded. thanks in advance for any input!

    i really am impressed with my MiM EVH Wolfgang Special. it's very resonant, sustains great, and has an awesome neck. i've got the setup tweaked to my liking at this point, as well.

    ...except i dislike the neck pickup. It's muddy, mushy on the low strings, and has very little high end.

    the bridge pickup is pretty ok. it's not my favorite, but it's not bad at all. i used to have a Peavey Wolfgang Special, and really did like those pickups a lot.

    i've already disconnected the 250k tone pot from the pickups and installed a .047 cap for the neck pickup. while these things helped to some extent, the fundamental character of the pickups hasn't changed.

    i'd like something with more definition and clarity to low notes, more clarity to the high end, and more snap to the response, vs. the mush that i get now.

    questions are:
    1. the unique shape of the pickup cavities and pickup baseplate - the edges are rounded, so the typical squared-off corners on your SD or Dimarzio offerings will need to get modified somehow. should i mod the pickup, swap the baseplate with the evh stock baseplate, or what?

    1A. i called Dimarzio about rounded corners, and they have a PCB baseplate that they can offer as a custom measure that has rounded corners. they have been using these on their 7 string pickups for a while, and i didn't know that they were available for the 6 string models. these would not have "legs" so i would just need longer screws and some foam for height adjustment on a direct mount. I haven't reached out to SD yet about their offerings.

    2. what should i put in there in place? some thoughts are
    - Custom Custom bridge (if I'm doing the bridge, too, this sounds like a great fit) - not sure on the right neck model to complement it here.
    - Dimarzio Bluesbucker or Air Classic neck, AT-1 bridge (any input on these appreciated)
    - Peavey Wolfgang set from ebay


    thanks!

    Dave

  • #2
    Re: EVH Wolfgang Special Pickup Quandry

    Originally posted by chewpac View Post
    hi all,

    this will be a little long-winded. thanks in advance for any input!

    i really am impressed with my MiM EVH Wolfgang Special. it's very resonant, sustains great, and has an awesome neck. i've got the setup tweaked to my liking at this point, as well.

    ...except i dislike the neck pickup. It's muddy, mushy on the low strings, and has very little high end.

    the bridge pickup is pretty ok. it's not my favorite, but it's not bad at all. i used to have a Peavey Wolfgang Special, and really did like those pickups a lot.

    i've already disconnected the 250k tone pot from the pickups and installed a .047 cap for the neck pickup. while these things helped to some extent, the fundamental character of the pickups hasn't changed.

    i'd like something with more definition and clarity to low notes, more clarity to the high end, and more snap to the response, vs. the mush that i get now.

    questions are:
    1. the unique shape of the pickup cavities and pickup baseplate - the edges are rounded, so the typical squared-off corners on your SD or Dimarzio offerings will need to get modified somehow. should i mod the pickup, swap the baseplate with the evh stock baseplate, or what?

    1A. i called Dimarzio about rounded corners, and they have a PCB baseplate that they can offer as a custom measure that has rounded corners. they have been using these on their 7 string pickups for a while, and i didn't know that they were available for the 6 string models. these would not have "legs" so i would just need longer screws and some foam for height adjustment on a direct mount. I haven't reached out to SD yet about their offerings.

    2. what should i put in there in place? some thoughts are
    - Custom Custom bridge (if I'm doing the bridge, too, this sounds like a great fit) - not sure on the right neck model to complement it here.
    - Dimarzio Bluesbucker or Air Classic neck, AT-1 bridge (any input on these appreciated)
    - Peavey Wolfgang set from ebay


    thanks!

    Dave
    I have a Wolfgang guitar that I purchased last year. Great guitar, this particular one is one of the last years that model was produced in Japan. I did not care for the stock pick ups either. I made the following modifications:

    - reversal of the wiring for the pick up selector switch. I don't care how Eddie uses his, to me it was upside down

    - replacement of both potentiometers with 500k CTS pots. Personally I did not care for the low friction pots.

    - New Seymour Duncan pick ups, pearly gates in the neck, Jason Becker perpetual burn in the bridge. One of my go-to combinations as the PG has a sweet tone with a clarity in the high-end and the Becker is very detailed and clear in the upper mid range

    The pick up required modifications. I used a Dremel tool to file the baseplate to fit the rounded cavity. I find the Dremel tool to be extremely handy in my workshop particularly with pick up mounting screws that are too long for the cavity. The small saw blade can cut them down in a jif. I think I got it at Walmart for about 30 bucks.

    With the above modifications the Guitar meets my needs when playing a heavy rock or metal.

    Hope this helps.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: EVH Wolfgang Special Pickup Quandry

      Originally posted by jaminben55 View Post
      I have a Wolfgang guitar that I purchased last year. Great guitar, this particular one is one of the last years that model was produced in Japan. I did not care for the stock pick ups either. I made the following modifications:

      - reversal of the wiring for the pick up selector switch. I don't care how Eddie uses his, to me it was upside down

      - replacement of both potentiometers with 500k CTS pots. Personally I did not care for the low friction pots.

      - New Seymour Duncan pick ups, pearly gates in the neck, Jason Becker perpetual burn in the bridge. One of my go-to combinations as the PG has a sweet tone with a clarity in the high-end and the Becker is very detailed and clear in the upper mid range

      The pick up required modifications. I used a Dremel tool to file the baseplate to fit the rounded cavity. I find the Dremel tool to be extremely handy in my workshop particularly with pick up mounting screws that are too long for the cavity. The small saw blade can cut them down in a jif. I think I got it at Walmart for about 30 bucks.

      With the above modifications the Guitar meets my needs when playing a heavy rock or metal.

      Hope this helps.


      Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
      this is incredibly helpful. thank you!

      i hadn't really looked in to either of those models, so i just did some investigation and initial impressions are great.

      looks like a dremel tool is in my future, regardless. i'm sure i can justify one of those with some projects around the house...

      cheers.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: EVH Wolfgang Special Pickup Quandry

        Is this a peavey wolfie special? If so, have you tried swapping the the neck for the bridge and vise versa? I did this in my 1997 wolfie and it was a huge difference and improvement, and there's no doubt that the 16k monster should be in the bridge position, and the dual gauged bridge in the neck. When you do this the pickups sound suspiciously like the ebmm DiMarzio set that was in his ebmm signature and make that guitar come alive and mean sounding.

        The pickup that was used in the neck of the peavey wolfie is definitely more suited as a bridge pickup. Some feel it was a suspicious move by peavey, and that eds really have the pickups opposite to the way peavey sells the guitar stick. But you know the Internet.

        Anyway try this first before considering putting a dremmel to your guitar. I have a suspicion you will be much happier with it.
        Last edited by Joey Voltage; 09-06-2017, 08:32 AM.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: EVH Wolfgang Special Pickup Quandry

          Originally posted by Joey Voltage View Post
          Is this a peavey wolfie special? If so, have you tried swapping the the neck for the bridge and vise versa? I did this in my 1997 wolfie and it was a huge difference and improvement, and there's no doubt that the 16k monster should be in the bridge position, and the dual gauged bridge in the neck. When you do this the pickups sound suspiciously like the ebmm DiMarzio set that was in his ebmm signature and make that guitar come alive and mean sounding.

          The pickup that was used in the neck of the peavey wolfie is definitely more suited as a bridge pickup. Some feel it was a suspicious move by peavey, and that eds really have the pickups opposite to the way peavey sells the guitar stick. But you know the Internet.

          Anyway try this first before considering putting a dremmel to your guitar. I have a suspicion you will be much happier with it.
          Not a Peavey. EVH.

          Interesting idea on the Peavey, though...kinda explains the reversed pickup switch orientation...huh.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: EVH Wolfgang Special Pickup Quandry

            Originally posted by chewpac View Post
            Not a Peavey. EVH.

            Interesting idea on the Peavey, though...kinda explains the reversed pickup switch orientation...huh.
            Ah, bummer! Oh well. I always get excited when this is brought up and it ends happily with little done. Btw what do the pickups read in this special?
            Last edited by Joey Voltage; 09-06-2017, 12:47 PM.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: EVH Wolfgang Special Pickup Quandry

              I just read the specs, yeah swap them! It's the same deal as with the peavey. If you still want a closer sound still to the ebmm, swap the bridge pickups magnet with an a5. But I think regardless you will like the pickups rearrangement much better than stock.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: EVH Wolfgang Special Pickup Quandry

                Originally posted by Joey Voltage View Post
                I just read the specs, yeah swap them! It's the same deal as with the peavey. If you still want a closer sound still to the ebmm, swap the bridge pickups magnet with an a5. But I think regardless you will like the pickups rearrangement much better than stock.
                I may give this a shot!

                Also read about half-aired tone zones and air nortons today to get axis-like results, so that might be on the table, too.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: EVH Wolfgang Special Pickup Quandry

                  Originally posted by chewpac View Post
                  this is incredibly helpful. thank you!

                  i hadn't really looked in to either of those models, so i just did some investigation and initial impressions are great.

                  looks like a dremel tool is in my future, regardless. i'm sure i can justify one of those with some projects around the house...

                  cheers.
                  We can also build pickups in the SD custom shop on specially made baseplates that will fit the Wolfgang with no modification required to the pickups or the guitar. A good option for those that are less DIY minded. Just shoot the CS a request if youa re interested.

                  Seymour Duncan Product Support Specialist
                  5427 Hollister Ave. I Santa Barbara, CA 93111-2345 USA
                  t: 805-964-9610 x.1028 f: 805-964-9749
                  E-Mail: [email protected]

                  www.seymourduncan.com
                  http://customshop.seymourduncan.com/
                  www.facebook.com/seymourduncanpickups
                  https://www.facebook.com/SeymourDuncanCustomShop/

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: EVH Wolfgang Special Pickup Quandry

                    Originally posted by Arwin View Post
                    We can also build pickups in the SD custom shop on specially made baseplates that will fit the Wolfgang with no modification required to the pickups or the guitar. A good option for those that are less DIY minded. Just shoot the CS a request if youa re interested.

                    http://customshop.seymourduncan.com/contact/
                    That's awesome. Thanks!

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: EVH Wolfgang Special Pickup Quandry

                      Originally posted by chewpac View Post
                      I may give this a shot!

                      Also read about half-aired tone zones and air nortons today to get axis-like results, so that might be on the table, too.
                      not quite. A half aired Norton will give you the neck pickup, but it will take two screw coils of the tone zone, plus drilling out the bobbin for slugs to get the axis bridge.

                      I would work with what you have first - just do the swap instead. You can do the swap over the weekend if you wanted. You can then change the magnet in the 16K pickup to A5, which will make it pretty much the EBMM pickup especially if the base plate is brass, and then half air the 13K pickup second. If that doesn't work, then worry about buying new pickups. but you have a few good options now that are either free, or dirt cheap.

                      By the way are the baseplates brass? they look it in the pictures I've seen, if so you are in good shape.

                      Comment

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