PATB-2: This is a big surprise. With a ceramic magnet and >20k, amazingly it has that hi-fi sound. Power chords on distortion are articulate, solo notes are big, but its clean tone is the most surprising; sings through a Fender amp.
(I had a PATB-3 a few years back and it is easily my favourite pickup. But hell they are hard to get in HK.)
Fender SCN: I actually had them installed from an older guitar to a new one. Clean tones sing like a bell, and could get quite rude on distortion. And their hum-cancelling is done very well. Very quiet.
Dimarzio HS2 and HS4: These are the most disappointing. I installed the HS2s in the neck and the middle, and HS4 in the bridge. The HS4 is OK, but the HS2s are very thin on the highs, especially in position 4. And it's hard to balance the 3: when the HS2s are raised a tad they easily overpower the HS4. But I take note that they are essentially the first generation stack technology. People say the HSs thrive on distortion. I have yet to try that.
Just my two cents.
(I had a PATB-3 a few years back and it is easily my favourite pickup. But hell they are hard to get in HK.)
Fender SCN: I actually had them installed from an older guitar to a new one. Clean tones sing like a bell, and could get quite rude on distortion. And their hum-cancelling is done very well. Very quiet.
Dimarzio HS2 and HS4: These are the most disappointing. I installed the HS2s in the neck and the middle, and HS4 in the bridge. The HS4 is OK, but the HS2s are very thin on the highs, especially in position 4. And it's hard to balance the 3: when the HS2s are raised a tad they easily overpower the HS4. But I take note that they are essentially the first generation stack technology. People say the HSs thrive on distortion. I have yet to try that.
Just my two cents.
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