Absolutely massive pickup conundrum (a.k.a. why choice can be a bad thing), help!

[STLMTLHD79]

Re: Absolutely massive pickup conundrum (a.k.a. why choice can be a bad thing), help!

A little trick that really helps Strat single coils in the bridge is to put a baseplate on them.

But, humbuckers are awesome in the bridge position of Strats.

For my playing, the Pearly Gates gets the best harmonics. I like the Screamin Demon but if you are after harmonics I would go with the PG. That being said, harmonics do depend on technique...

I own multiple guitars with many different Duncans in them however, i find the Screamin' Demon to have the best harmonics of all them. Its is very clear, articulate, very sensitive to pick attack and seems to have more output than the 10k DCR would suggest. It sounds amazing in Strats/superstrats (mine is in a Charvel Model 3 Dr).

 

[STLMTLHD79]

Re: Absolutely massive pickup conundrum (a.k.a. why choice can be a bad thing), help!

Of the pickups you mention, the only ones i have experience with are the Screamin' Demon and Custom Custom. I do have a 59/Custom hybrid that I am going to install into a late 80s Kramer Focus 3000 that is an H/S/S pickup configuration. I have heard nothing but rave reviews on it and from the sound samples, it seems to have a similar pick attack to the Screamin' Demon and quite a bit of treble. I would say go check out the 59/Custom Hybrid video that is posted on that pickups description on the SD site.

I just installed a Custom Custom into my other Charvel Model 3 Dr a few nights ago. I really like it in this guitar-it has that Alnico 2 warmth that everybody loves and gets that VH 1984 tone with ease. The low end is a bit loose but still sounds great when playing heavy thrash metal riffs. I need more time with this one but so far, i really dig it. It has alot more character than the standard Custom IMO. I have a Custom 5 that will be going into a Les Paul Studio in the near future but i have zero experience with that pickup.

As i mentioned above, the Screamin' Demon is a very under-appreciated and missunderstood pickup. It does lack some low end but it is fantastic for 80s rock/metal. It cleans up really well and sounds so clear under heavy gain amp settings.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Absolutely massive pickup conundrum (a.k.a. why choice can be a bad thing), help!

I own multiple guitars with many different Duncans in them however, i find the Screamin' Demon to have the best harmonics of all them. Its is very clear, articulate, very sensitive to pick attack and seems to have more output than the 10k DCR would suggest. It sounds amazing in Strats/superstrats (mine is in a Charvel Model 3 Dr).

Of the pickups you mention, the only ones i have experience with are the Screamin' Demon and Custom Custom. I do have a 59/Custom hybrid that I am going to install into a late 80s Kramer Focus 3000 that is an H/S/S pickup configuration. I have heard nothing but rave reviews on it and from the sound samples, it seems to have a similar pick attack to the Screamin' Demon and quite a bit of treble. I would say go check out the 59/Custom Hybrid video that is posted on that pickups description on the SD site.

I just installed a Custom Custom into my other Charvel Model 3 Dr a few nights ago. I really like it in this guitar-it has that Alnico 2 warmth that everybody loves and gets that VH 1984 tone with ease. The low end is a bit loose but still sounds great when playing heavy thrash metal riffs. I need more time with this one but so far, i really dig it. It has alot more character than the standard Custom IMO. I have a Custom 5 that will be going into a Les Paul Studio in the near future but i have zero experience with that pickup.

As i mentioned above, the Screamin' Demon is a very under-appreciated and missunderstood pickup. It does lack some low end but it is fantastic for 80s rock/metal. It cleans up really well and sounds so clear under heavy gain amp settings.

Well, you should try a Pearly Gates someday

But there is no set formula of pickup(s) to get harmonics–different guitar players have different opinions on how to best get them.

And I was in no way trying to diminish the Screamin Demon–it is a great pickup...and makes for a killer neck pickup too.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Absolutely massive pickup conundrum (a.k.a. why choice can be a bad thing), help!

Everybody has their favorites...of stock Duncans (no magnet swaps...) mine are the Seth Lover and Pearly Gates.

They are the most comfortable and the most fun for me to play.

I remove the cover from my Seths, but prefer the covered version of the PG.

As for modern tones from a vintage style pickup, today's amps and pedals have so much gain that getting modern tones from a Seth or PG should be a breeze.

Hotter than vintage pickups do get a more dense, thicker, more opaque and less spacious/transparent tone though.

I don't like them as much...but I'm not after modern tones either. I'm an old school blues and rock & roll guy.

Also, I can thicken the tone of a vintage pickup with EQ but I can't add "breath" to a thick modern pickup.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: Absolutely massive pickup conundrum (a.k.a. why choice can be a bad thing), help!

A couple of things to keep in mind: You probably have 250k pots in the guitar and not all humbuckers work well with 250k pots. Any of those humbuckers are going to have quite a bit more output than the single coils that came in the guitar. If you are OK with a volume jump, then that is OK. You could also use one of the humbuckers with a coil tap to have both humbucker and more traditional single coil tones out of the bridge. You don't want anything too terribly different in character to the single coils unless you just want drastic contrast in tone.

1) Screamin' Demon -Great for what you are describing. I find it a bit stiff and unforgiving sometimes. Good with 250k pots.
2) Perpetual Burn - Another one perfect for what you are describing. Less bass than the Demon but very balanced and should mix well with singles. Never tried with 250k pots, so I don't know about that. My guess is it would be OK, because it is similar to a JB and they do well with 250K.
3) Pearly Gates - Another great choice. Bass not as tight as the Demon, but perfect in combo with single coils and works well with 250k pots. More traditional PAF character.
4) 59/Custom Hybrid - I personally do not like this one. To me it combines the worst traits of both the custom and the 59. Others love it.
5) Custom-Custom -Not the tightest bass. A warm pickup with 250k pots, but I think it works fine with them. This is what I have on my HSS strat.

No experience with the others...

 

[GilmourD]

Re: Absolutely massive pickup conundrum (a.k.a. why choice can be a bad thing), help!

I love the Custom Custom, but it isn't tight, and not a good choice for chuggy stuff. The Hybrid is a much better choice, but it is somewhat scooped. It blends well with singles and splits well. It doesn't have the mids of the CC, though. The Demon is also scooped, but the bass is a fraction of the treble. It works well with singles, but it isn't what you are describing.

I agree.

I have the '59/C Hybrid in my orange Strat, mixed with DiMarzio Area '67s in the middle and neck. It's a really versatile pickup. It's not HIGH output but it's not a low-output vintage PAF type, either. And it's not so much scooped as much as it has enhanced treble due to the coil mismatch. It works really well with the '80s pop rock type stuff my band does, does Van Halen INSANELY well, and I've certainly used it for chugga-chugga type stuff.

If you want, I can post a song my band recorded where I used that guitar. Unfortunately, I haven't used this guitar in one of my YouTube demos, yet.

 

[dotsdad]

Re: Absolutely massive pickup conundrum (a.k.a. why choice can be a bad thing), help!

Full size screamin demon is a great HSS pickup. It rawks, but doesnt overpower the singles.

I wouldnt call it warm though. It has strat bridge cut but adds Quite a big of meat to it.