Andy Timmons AT-1 pickup tone

[giorashc]

Well, the story goes like this : I have a custom made Tom Anderson guitar which has a fender style body (alder wood). The guitar comes with VAx pickups which sound great but the pickup near the bridge is way too bright for my taste. I would have replaced the bridge pickup only but I rather not touch a perfectly wired circuit. So... I replaced the entire circuit (Removed it as is so I could install it easily back) with Andy Timmons pickup set (Neck = Middle = Dimarzio-Crusier, Bridge = Dimarzio AT1 custom) installed on a different pickguard.

Now the bridge sounds much more like I want it to sound BUT I do not feel that "fat" tone and warmth this pickup is told to have.

I used the following diagram for the wiring.

My signal-chain : Guitar --> TS808HW --> Carl Martin Compressor --> Engl Screamer AMP

Again, the sound has less bright hisses and the harmonics are great but still I am wondering what makes that punchy/crunchy tone when he plays.

 

[orpheo]

Re: Andy Timmons AT-1 pickup tone

Funny you bring this up. I spoke with Andy last thursday about his gear and essentially, his AT1 is like a JB but with softer highs (his own words) and he plays his amps LOUD. really, really LOUD. That's how he gets that punchy, crunchy sound. and... a lot of talent.

 

[giorashc]

Re: Andy Timmons AT-1 pickup tone

Funny you bring this up. I spoke with Andy last thursday about his gear and essentially, his AT1 is like a JB but with softer highs (his own words) and he plays his amps LOUD. really, really LOUD. That's how he gets that punchy, crunchy sound. and... a lot of talent.

Wow, what I wouldn't give for a talk with Andy . Your answer is much appreciated. As I play in an apartment I do not crank my 50W amp to even a medium level as I do not want to be kicked out . I read about cranking up the amp for producing all the juice from the tubes and it really makes sense. Since I started hearing his music about two years ago (yeah I know ... ) I was seeking that tone ever since and it was getting frustrating as I got (it seemed to me anyway) everything set : A fabulous quality guitar made by one of the best, a killer set of pickups and some of Andy's pedals he used to use or still using.
Anyway I'll find some place to play with no human ears around but mine

Thanks again !

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Andy Timmons AT-1 pickup tone

Andy is a cool guy and totally approachable. shoot him an e-mail or message him on FB and he'll eventually reply. any time I've ran into him at the Dallas guitar show, he's always stopped to answer question for whoever would ask. he's a cool cat.

 

[51501984]

Re: Andy Timmons AT-1 pickup tone

Funny you bring this up. I spoke with Andy last thursday about his gear and essentially, his AT1 is like a JB but with softer highs (his own words) and he plays his amps LOUD. really, really LOUD. That's how he gets that punchy, crunchy sound. and... a lot of talent.

I asked this question about the Air Zone a while back , I'm guessing with your description the AT-1 dosent sound like Dimarzios EQ chart makes it out to be , all bass and mids with very little treble ? Seems like Dimarzios EQ chart is like that for a lot of their pickups

 

[orpheo]

Re: Andy Timmons AT-1 pickup tone

No the at1 has. A lot of treble. It really is a softer jb. But dimarzios eq are not that good imhi. The super distortion is listed as warm. I dont find it to be warm. At all.it is like the duncan sh5 but with a bit more growl vs scream.

 

[Gplayerzzz]

Re: Andy Timmons AT-1 pickup tone

Funny you bring this up. I spoke with Andy last thursday about his gear and essentially, his AT1 is like a JB but with softer highs (his own words) and he plays his amps LOUD. really, really LOUD. That's how he gets that punchy, crunchy sound. and... a lot of talent.

Thats how it is with some amps. I only liked my Marshall ripping loud.

 

[chadd]

Re: Andy Timmons AT-1 pickup tone

Andy is a cool guy and totally approachable. shoot him an e-mail or message him on FB and he'll eventually reply. any time I've ran into him at the Dallas guitar show, he's always stopped to answer question for whoever would ask. he's a cool cat.

He did a Mesa clinic back home in the early-mid 90s and he was fantastic. He came over to the radio station where I was working and we did a nice little on-air bit. I wasn't really aware of him before that, but I have always followed him since then. He really was a great guy and even gave me some triaxis settings he got from another Mesa guy.

 

[giorashc]

Re: Andy Timmons AT-1 pickup tone

I can definitely say about Andy Timmons that he really knows a how to make his guitar sing. He influenced my playing considerably and made me hunt for that perfect tone he mastered to found. Definitely set me on an exciting adventure ... and definitely going to try some of Seymour Duncan pickups as well.

 

[RayBarbeeMusic]

Re: Andy Timmons AT-1 pickup tone

Running a 50W amp at apartment levels is like using a top fuel dragster to go to the convenience store and buy a loaf of bread. You're not using it for it's intended use, and you won't get a feel for it's real capabilities.

 

[chasebeavers]

Re: Andy Timmons AT-1 pickup tone

Lose the Tubescreamer. That's where your harsh high end is coming from.

 

[guitarvc]

Re: Andy Timmons AT-1 pickup tone

Andy also uses Mesa Lonestars and Stillettos. The Lonestar being his main sound. I have one and the amp has a great deal of lower midrange punch, so his pickups need to be a bit softer. Also the BB preamp is on all the time,along with his Carl Martin Compressor, which adds more punch.

 

[orpheo]

Re: Andy Timmons AT-1 pickup tone

He played an Atlantic last week cause the rental company didnt have a lonestar. He still sounded like himself.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Andy Timmons AT-1 pickup tone

He played an Atlantic last week cause the rental company didnt have a lonestar. He still sounded like himself.

exactly.

Nugent has played 5150s and sounded like Nugent. Clapton has played Soldanos and sounded like Clapton.

at that level, it's all in the fingers.

 

[WickedCoach]

Re: Andy Timmons AT-1 pickup tone

I have an AT in a strat and when I originally brought it home I wasn't really sold on it. However what I soon discovered is that you must really push the tubes with volume for that pu to sound good. When you do, it is one of the best sounding Lu's in Dimarzio's line. Crunchy yet nice and clear. Gotta crank that bad boy.

 

[RayBarbeeMusic]

Re: Andy Timmons AT-1 pickup tone

I don't find I have to play them loud to like them. That is purely amp dependent.

 

[chasebeavers]

Re: Andy Timmons AT-1 pickup tone

I dont have to play them loud. In fact, it doesn't seem to be picky about height adjustments, either.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Andy Timmons AT-1 pickup tone

^^^ what those guys said ^^^

 

[giorashc]

Re: Andy Timmons AT-1 pickup tone

Wow, and I thought all I have to do is just wire the pickups and the tone will pop up as soon as I play haha. Well, from your replies it seems I have to take much more into consideration.
Thanks for your helpful replies !! keep them coming !!!

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Andy Timmons AT-1 pickup tone

Wow, and I thought all I have to do is just wire the pickups and the tone will pop up as soon as I play haha. Well, from your replies it seems I have to take much more into consideration.
Thanks for your helpful replies !! keep them coming !!!

tell you what. buy a f-spaced AT-1 in zebra. if it doesn't work out for you, I'll make you a deal to take if off your hands.