SD 78 vs. Suhr Thornbucker bridge

[ericcomposer72]

Looking for the most bell-like response for single-notes, without honky mids, and with the most clarity, in a high gain setting. Guitar is a Suhr Modern Satin, amp is a Boogie Mark IIc+.

I have the Suhr SSV in the neck, and I absolutely love it for what I described above. Tons of bell-like resonance, and splits really well.

I've tried the Suhr SSH+, SSH, SSV+, and DSV in the bridge. None of them quite did it for me- not enough of that bell-like ring.

[beaubrummels]

I wouldn't call the 78 Model "bell-like." The most "bell-like" I've played that wasn't honky mids was the Brobucker, but I wouldn't use it for high gain. Perhaps a Custom Custom might work for both bell mids and handle some gain. But I don't have a Suhr guitar or Mesa Boogie.

[Adieu]

78 is supposed to be an EVH-inspired bucker right? Then unless they screwed it up, it's gonna have mids


There's plenty of scooped pups in the SD catalogue. Look for those.


Or, hey, SINGLE COILS. Want bells, go Fender.

[ericcomposer72]

I wouldn't call the 78 Model "bell-like." The most "bell-like" I've played that wasn't honky mids was the Brobucker, but I wouldn't use it for high gain. Perhaps a Custom Custom might work for both bell mids and handle some gain. But I don't have a Suhr guitar or Mesa Boogie.

Check this out:

https://youtu.be/XOezSlwgqiA?t=103

He's splitting the 78 in this clip, but still, it is an extremely juicy, bell-like sound. I found that pickups that do this very well split still maintain a bit of the bell-like quality when full.

[ericcomposer72]

78 is supposed to be an EVH-inspired bucker right? Then unless they screwed it up, it's gonna have mids


There's plenty of scooped pups in the SD catalogue. Look for those.


Or, hey, SINGLE COILS. Want bells, go Fender.

To clarify- not looking for scooped necessarily, just not "honky" mids. I tried the Suhr SSV+, and I would describe those mids as "honky," almost in an obnoxious way. Even, so, I think it's an awesome pickup, just not what I would want to play every day.

I would try a scooped pickup, if it was vintage-style, lower output, very open/not-compressed, with that bell-like resonance.

Definitely looking for a humbucker, though

[ericcomposer72]

N.B.- I have a Suhr Thornbucker arriving in the mail today; however, I need to drill out the lugs to install it into my Suhr Modern Satin (direct mount pickups), so I want to be sure I'm not missing out on another good option before I destroy its resell value!

N.B. 2- I have the Suhr SSV neck installed in the Modern Satin, and I absolutely love it. It gives such a beautiful bell-like resonance, and when split, really evokes a strat-y sound. I edited my OP to mention this pickup.

[ToneFiddler]

i am not sure about bell like, but the screamin demon might be what you are looking for!
it has a bright attack.

it‘s not high output, open/not compressed, got the clarity and holds up perfectly under gain!

[beaubrummels]

78 is supposed to be an EVH-inspired bucker right? Then unless they screwed it up, it's gonna have mids


There's plenty of scooped pups in the SD catalogue. Look for those.


Or, hey, SINGLE COILS. Want bells, go Fender.

Mine sounds thin. but granted I didn't put it in an Alder strat with w/Floyd so far. But relatively, it sounds like a Pearly Gates with the bass rolled off. IME that's what makes it able to get the starved-plate brown sound without a Variac.

[beaubrummels]

Check this out:

https://youtu.be/XOezSlwgqiA?t=103

He's splitting the 78 in this clip, but still, it is an extremely juicy, bell-like sound. I found that pickups that do this very well split still maintain a bit of the bell-like quality when full.

I would be interested to know what the amp was.

That just sounds like the tone is rolled off to me. I would not have thought of that as bell like, but that is cool - everyone has their own words for sounds.

[eclecticsynergy]

I'm going to suggest something completely different: the Anderson H2. (Not the H2+, which is overwound like a JB. The regular H2.)
These are made with rod magnets like a singlecoil and it gives them a more bell-like character.
Nice fast attack and great definition, without sacrificing fullness.
Another benefit is that they split amazingly well.

[Teleplayer]

I'm surprised you can't get the tones you want with either Suhr SSV+ or SSH. I doubt the Thornbucker is going to solve this for you. Compared to SSV+, the Thornbucker bridge has more mids, and lower output. I've used them both in the same guitar. On top of that, the Thornbucker will typically give a warm balance in a guitar that is largely Mahogany construction. The PT signature guitar is all mahogany and its actually mid heavy on the bridge pickup.

[Reee]

N.B.- I have a Suhr Thornbucker arriving in the mail today; however, I need to drill out the lugs to install it into my Suhr Modern Satin (direct mount pickups), so I want to be sure I'm not missing out on another good option before I destroy its resell value!

N.B. 2- I have the Suhr SSV neck installed in the Modern Satin, and I absolutely love it. It gives such a beautiful bell-like resonance, and when split, really evokes a strat-y sound. I edited my OP to mention this pickup.

did you ever try an SSV in the bridge?

[ericcomposer72]

I would be interested to know what the amp was.

That just sounds like the tone is rolled off to me. I would not have thought of that as bell like, but that is cool - everyone has their own words for sounds.

It's not so much how it is EQ'd (not much to do with the tone knob's affect on the sound), it is a particular resonance of the string that is picked up by the pickup. I'll post some other examples.

[ericcomposer72]

I'm surprised you can't get the tones you want with either Suhr SSV+ or SSH. I doubt the Thornbucker is going to solve this for you. Compared to SSV+, the Thornbucker bridge has more mids, and lower output. I've used them both in the same guitar. On top of that, the Thornbucker will typically give a warm balance in a guitar that is largely Mahogany construction. The PT signature guitar is all mahogany and its actually mid heavy on the bridge pickup.

I guess "mids" is actually not specific enough a term. I found the mids in the SSV+ to be too "honky;" nasal, upper-mids. These mids are actually really good for sound projecting and cutting through, just not what I was looking for.

I find the mids in the Thornbucker to be more low-mids (like what are accentuated with a closed wah pedal- not that is sounds like a closed wah, but those frequencies are stronger). I also find the Thornbucker to give me the bell-like resonance more readily than all of the other Suhr pickups I've tried. In that regard, the fact that people describe it as more of a 'single coil" response is what does it. As mentioned, single-coils naturally pick up that bell-like resonance.

Generally, I don't see many people who play with high gain looking for this type of resonant response from their [humbucker] pickups (and vice-versa- many people who use the pickups I like don't play with the amount of gain I use). It's been an interesting search. So far, I'm pleased with the Thornbucker. Perhaps there is still something out there that does it even better, though.

[ericcomposer72]

did you ever try an SSV in the bridge?

I was about to, but I went for the DSV. I had read (even expressed by Mr. Suhr himself) that the "DS" series has less mids and a warmer sound than the "SS" series, so I went with that one. Perhaps the fact that the SSV is unbalanced would have actually gotten what I wanted a letter better, now that I understand them more. However, all recommendations (including from Suhr customer service) were that the Thornbucker would do what I want better than the SSV, even if similar.

My Thornbucker arrived yesterday, and so far I like it.

Edit: with all of that said, I still do not exclude the fact that the SSV could possibly do what I want even better, despite all of the conflicting advice!