Anyone use the S-Deco?

bagouser

bagouser

New member
Not much info on this puppy, even after searching old forum posts.

I'm seriously considering getting an S-Deco bridge, 12K w A5, and using it in a mahogany/cocobolo top Telecaster I'm assembling.

This is one of the CS "mystery" pickups, with no soundclips or even a description below its picture on the SD website.

I'm pretty sure I have a good idea of what kind of sound I'm going to get,
but if anyone uses the S-Deco, particularly in mahogany, please take a few seconds to provide a short review.
Also, should I get it wax potted or not? What the hell is the real difference, anyway?

Thanks ahead of time.....you guys always come through with great advice and accurate reviews.
 
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Re: Anyone use the S-Deco?

Google trawled up this YouTube video of some guy demonstrating the pickup by murdering the melody of a piece known to me variously as "Black Autumn" or "The Messiah Will Come Again". (Both recordings by Roy Buchanan.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFkjsJXOSxM
 
Re: Anyone use the S-Deco?

ive heard one in another persons guitar but never in one of mine. it was really nice and its always been something ive wanted but never gotten around to getting one.

as far as wax potting there is a certain livelyness that unpotted pups have but if you use too much gain i think the difference goes away. the gain covers up the subtle difference and with out potting the pup is more susceptible to feedback.
 
Re: Anyone use the S-Deco?

bagouser said:
Not much info on this puppy, even after searching old forum posts.

I'm seriously considering getting an S-Deco bridge, 12K w A5, and using it in a mahogany/cocobolo top Telecaster I'm assembling.

This is one of the CS "mystery" pickups, with no soundclips or even a description below its picture on the SD website.

I'm pretty sure I have a good idea of what kind of sound I'm going to get,
but if anyone uses the S-Deco, particularly in mahogany, please take a few seconds to provide a short review.
Also, should I get it wax potted or not? What the hell is the real difference, anyway?

Thanks ahead of time.....you guys always come through with great advice and accurate reviews.
Click to expand...

I have a 10k SDeco2 that I use/used in the bridge position of a PRS Cu22. Its what you would expect from those spects. Smooth top with more push than a PAF. Its a great pickup.
 
Re: Anyone use the S-Deco?

i have an s-deco with an alnico 8 magnet installed in a prs with a rosewood neck and ebony board. i will post a more thorough review in my own post once i play it a little more, but so far i think it is an amazing pickup.

things i notice:
tight low end, volume (it is a loud pickup), good balance on regards to openness and compression. to me, a very hi-fi and modern PAF pickup.
 
Re: Anyone use the S-Deco?

One of my favorite pickups in my collection. Big, tight bottom, in your face mids, and a singing top end. PAFish vibe in a slightly hotter than PAF bridge pu. It is similar to a Brobucker, but tighter and bolder.
 
Re: Anyone use the S-Deco?

Would it be satisfying to someone like me who has a thing for high-output pickups? E.g., I tried a Fred in the bridge of one of my Ibanezes and thought it was too wimpy.
 
Re: Anyone use the S-Deco?

pzaxtl said:
One of my favorite pickups in my collection. Big, tight bottom, in your face mids, and a singing top end. PAFish vibe in a slightly hotter than PAF bridge pu. It is similar to a Brobucker, but tighter and bolder.
Click to expand...

this description honestly nails it to a T!
 
Re: Anyone use the S-Deco?

How did the S-Deco come about? Does it have history here on SDUGF like the 'Crazy 8' and 'Phat Staple', or is it all SD's own creation?
 
Re: Anyone use the S-Deco?

Big Mike Blues said:
SO tonally this would fit inbetween say a 59 and a custom?
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To a certain extent it depends which version you get. A 10k with an A2 will be very different than the 12k with an A5. I used a 10k A2 in the bridge slot of a PRS for years and thought it was an excellent overwound PAF style pickup. Wind it up to 12k and use an A5 magnet and you get louder and somewhat more aggressive. This combo would probably be somewhere between the 59 and a C5
 
Re: Anyone use the S-Deco?

King IzzO))) said:
Anyone ever compare to a Demon or a DDn? Spec wise seems really similar.
Click to expand...

Yes. Out of the production pickups, I find the Deco to be closest to the 'demon. All of my Deco's are iterations on the 12k version, but I will compare a 12k Deco with an alnico5 mag to a stock 'demon. Bass response is VERY similar in that both pickups produce a punchy and tight low end. The midrange is where things differ a bit. The deco has broader mids than the demon, and the slight increase in low/mids make the pickup sound by and large bigger and thicker than the 'demon. Both are relatively bright, but the 'demon def has more top end. The deco's top end I find to be a little sweeter and under control.
 
Re: Anyone use the S-Deco?

Funkfingers said:
Google trawled up this YouTube video of some guy demonstrating the pickup by murdering the melody of a piece known to me variously as "Black Autumn" or "The Messiah Will Come Again". (Both recordings by Roy Buchanan.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFkjsJXOSxM
Click to expand...
I just ate a hot dog and after that first bend of that youtube song it almost came back up! I had to turn it off immediately- that was rude, in a bad way.

I sure hope he has a significant other or some friends with no ears to tell him how awesome he is.
 
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