A combo that didn't work!

[Artie]

It was a great plan . . . on paper. :blackeye:

Distortion neck, (12.7k) mounted in the bridge, with a Cool Rails bridge, (10.3k), mounted in the neck . . . in a pseudo-Cyclone configuration. They're both ceramic magnets. Should work fine . . . not!

The DD in the bridge was bright and shrill. The CR in the neck was a little dull. At least, in contrast to the DD. The only good thing was, if I split the DD, the two then balanced out beautifully, both in output and tone. Trouble is, it would have been a "one trick pony" at that point, and that wasn't what I wanted.

So, I swapped them. DD in the neck, CR in the bridge. This is much better, but still not great. (And , it looks weird.) To no ones surprise, the DD still overpowers the CR. The Cool Rails re-aquired the highs that it lost in the neck position, and the Distortion returned to its crisp, but not overly bright self. The DD by itself sounds good. The CR combined with the DD "split" sounds great. The CR combined with the DD full-on sounds pretty good.

The CR by itself, while better than it was in the neck, is still not great though. I think that its simply a matter of not working in this guitar, however. (The Patriot.) This guitar is in the process of being modded, with a Hipshot bridge on the way. Plus, I removed the "micro-tilt" mechanism, and the stapled-on emery cloth that was under the neck. (But thats a whole 'nother story.)

So I need to find a happy home for the Cool Rails. I've got two bone-stock Strats sitting here, so that shouldn't be a problem.

Hope this wasn't too long-winded, but I thought it might be interesting to hear about one that didn't work, to go along with the ones that did.

Artie

 

[tone4days]

Re: A combo that didn't work!

interesting, artie .. .funny how 'on paper' and 'in ears' doesnt always pan out, eh

too bad it didnt work ... what's next?

cheers
t4d

 

[FamousForSustain]

Re: A combo that didn't work!

Interesting. Do you think the problem might have stemmed from trying to put the neck pup in the bridge and vice-versa- i.e. if it were a DD bridge in the bridge and a CR neck in the neck might it work? I'm actually considering a combo very similar to this, a DD in the bridge, CR in the middle and maybe a Fralin Blues special in the neck, on a Predator.

 

[Artie]

Re: A combo that didn't work!

Interesting. Do you think the problem might have stemmed from trying to put the neck pup in the bridge and vice-versa- i.e. if it were a DD bridge in the bridge and a CR neck in the neck might it work?

Absolutely! It just goes to show, there's more to matching output and character than DC resistance. (Even though the magnets are both ceramic.)

I'm actually considering a combo very similar to this, a DD in the bridge, CR in the middle and maybe a Fralin Blues special in the neck, on a Predator.

I'd bet that a DD made for the bridge, with a CR made for neck/middle, would play real nice together. Actually, both ways that I tried mine, they both sounded great when combined. It was when you tried to use each alone, that there were problems, and even then, more with the CR than the DD.

I was just sitting here playing this, and I'm certain the DD in the neck is here to stay. Its perfect. Clear, bright, without being shrill, and articulate. I just need to find the perfect bridge to go with it. And all that needs to wait 'til I get the Hipshot in. I imagine that will affect the character of the guitar some more.

I'd love to hear, and see how your Predator works out. To contrast it to mine.

 

[Artie]

Re: A combo that didn't work!

too bad it didnt work ... what's next?

cheers
t4d

The Hipshot . . . then we'll see.

 

[FamousForSustain]

Re: A combo that didn't work!

Thanks for the advice. I'll let you know how it turns out when I finally get all this stuff thrown together.