Alpha/Omega vs. Full Shred

[noisy humbucker]

I’ve currently got the Alpha & Omega set and while I definitely like them, I wouldn’t mind a bit more girth and warmth.

I’m eyeing the Full Shred set but don’t have an easy way to try them out (which is what I’d usually do). Anyone have experience with these two specific sets? Thanks!

 

[bloughlin16]

Re: Alpha/Omega vs. Full Shred

I’ve currently got the Alpha & Omega set and while I definitely like them, I wouldn’t mind a bit more girth and warmth.

I’m eyeing the Full Shred set but don’t have an easy way to try them out (which is what I’d usually do). Anyone have experience with these two specific sets? Thanks!

I have the A/O set in all of my main guitars and have tried the Full Shred bridge on a bunch of different occasions; it actually came stock in one of the guitars I now have the Omega in. The Full Shred bridge is definitely fatter and warmer than the Omega, but it comes at the cost of a lot of the detail and separation you get from the Omega, in my opinion. I also found the low end and low mids of the Full Shred somewhat woofy.

 

[Juanhanglo]

Re: Alpha/Omega vs. Full Shred

I have the A/O set in all of my main guitars and have tried the Full Shred bridge on a bunch of different occasions; it actually came stock in one of the guitars I now have the Omega in. The Full Shred bridge is definitely fatter and warmer than the Omega, but it comes at the cost of a lot of the detail and separation you get from the Omega, in my opinion. I also found the low end and low mids of the Full Shred somewhat woofy.

Thank you!

You are the first person beside me that thinks the full shred has a fat midrange. Most just say it is very bright. I see it as having a really wide midrange with highs added for definition.
I can agree with the low end being somewhat woofy.

I look at the full shred as a classic metal pickup, while dactivators and such are for more modern metal, if that makes sense.

 

[6stringerguy]

Re: Alpha/Omega vs. Full Shred

Depending on the tuning, I’ve played both but don’t own the full shred.
The full shred is a little beefier but not as tight in the low end but still has a good amount of clarity.
The Alpha/Omega is one of my favourites but not for standard tuning due to the level of tightness in the low end.
The EMG 81/60 and Seymour Duncan Invaders are my favourite sets for standard tuning.

 

[bloughlin16]

Re: Alpha/Omega vs. Full Shred

Thank you!

You are the first person beside me that thinks the full shred has a fat midrange. Most just say it is very bright. I see it as having a really wide midrange with highs added for definition.
I can agree with the low end being somewhat woofy.

I look at the full shred as a classic metal pickup, while dactivators and such are for more modern metal, if that makes sense.

Yeah, I would say it's a more classic metal style of pickup. I think the name by nature leads to people not believing that it's fat-sounding, but it really is!

Though they're usually a more subtle change, I'm actually thinking that a magnet swap could lead to what you're looking for, OP. I just feel that you'd be getting something radically different from the Full Shreds that you might not like, and perhaps there's even some small tweaks you could do with your rig to get a little bit of that fullness and warmth you're looking for.

 

[audiocheck]

Re: Alpha/Omega vs. Full Shred

Yeah, I would say it's a more classic metal style of pickup. I think the name by nature leads to people not believing that it's fat-sounding, but it really is!

Though they're usually a more subtle change, I'm actually thinking that a magnet swap could lead to what you're looking for, OP. I just feel that you'd be getting something radically different from the Full Shreds that you might not like, and perhaps there's even some small tweaks you could do with your rig to get a little bit of that fullness and warmth you're looking for.

Okay, I agree too with the Full Shred Bridge being mid heavy and thick. It's been many years, but I didn't like it at all. Definition and clarity were low. The Full Shred Neck on the other hand is Bright, if I recall correctly? I viewed it as a sterile 59n, but that might be harsh words. I am going to try a Full Shred neck again, because I want to pair it with a Demon. The Full Shred Neck stayed many years in one of my Les Pauls, so it wasn't that bad. It maybe the opposed direction the OP wanted for the neck position?? Maybe the FSb in the neck, would give him a better neck choice??

 

[audiocheck]

Re: Alpha/Omega vs. Full Shred

I’ve currently got the Alpha & Omega set and while I definitely like them, I wouldn’t mind a bit more girth and warmth.

I’m eyeing the Full Shred set but don’t have an easy way to try them out (which is what I’d usually do). Anyone have experience with these two specific sets? Thanks!

As I mentioned in the above post. The Full Shred Neck might be the wrong direction than what you are looking for, in the neck position. it's like a more accurate Jazz pickup. I have never tried the Distortion Neck, but maybe that would be thicker?

Now, I have questions for you. How are the dynamic in the Omega? Does it feel compressed at 12.96K? I am a Vintage output guy, but was wanting to delve into the ceramic world. Would the Omega be too much for me, too compressed? What if the Alpha was used in the Bridge Position? I would assume that would have more dynamics at 8K, but would it be too bright?

Thanks

 

[bloughlin16]

Re: Alpha/Omega vs. Full Shred

The Omega is a lot less compressed than pretty much any other ceramic magnet, "metal" bridge pickup I've ever tried. That being said, it is still more compressed than your typical vintage output pickup: I would characterize its compression as being higher than most moderate output pickups but lower than high output as I mentioned. I feel that the Alpha would be super ice-picky in the bridge because it already has more pick attack and is a good deal tighter in the low end than most neck pickups. It really is a fantastic set, though. It's hard to say whether you'd find them "too compressed," but if there's any ceramic magnet, high output pickup set that I feel a vintage pickup lover would enjoy, it's this one.

edit: the Alpha is by no means an ice-picky pickup by nature, but as it was voiced for the neck position, I have a feeling that moving it into the bridge could cause it to sound that way.

 

[noisy humbucker]

Re: Alpha/Omega vs. Full Shred

Bloughlin has the right idea.

As silly as it is, I could totally live with the Alpha/Omega set - but I’m looking to go b/w zebra for this guitar and apparently Duncan can/will only make them in the default black on black scheme.

 

[audiocheck]

Re: Alpha/Omega vs. Full Shred

I’ve currently got the Alpha & Omega set and while I definitely like them, I wouldn’t mind a bit more girth and warmth.

I’m eyeing the Full Shred set but don’t have an easy way to try them out (which is what I’d usually do). Anyone have experience with these two specific sets? Thanks!

What about swapping regular sized Pole Piece screws for the Hex screws?