Can someone fill me in on Hot for Strat Livewire Single Coils?

[tomswaelen]

I'm thinking about buying these, but would they suit my style? I do play lots of clean stuff, but I like the occasional distortion. Musicians I like (and play) are the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix... So lots of blues and clean stuff. Would the Hot Livewires suit my need? Or how about Classic Livewires? Let's keep this discussion on active pickups for now (by which I mean I don't want any "Livewires suck! Get this or that!" discussions. At least not right away )...

 

[tomswaelen]

Re: Can someone fill me in on Hot for Strat Livewire Single Coils?

I'm thinking about buying these, but would they suit my style? I do play lots of clean stuff, but I like the occasional distortion. Musicians I like (and play) are the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix... So lots of blues and clean stuff. Would the Hot Livewires suit my need? Or how about Classic Livewires? Let's keep this discussion on active pickups for now (by which I mean I don't want any "Livewires suck! Get this or that!" discussions. At least not right away )...

Still noone? Harmony Central has only 2 reviews on the Hots, and none on the Classic Livewires... Can someone help me out by telling me something about these two pickups?

 

[Kac]

Re: Can someone fill me in on Hot for Strat Livewire Single Coils?

Well I had the Hot for strat in the Bridge of a standard strat that one different points had both a maple and a rosewood fretboard. Alder body.

The pick-up is hot... I would compare it in output to a humbucker, but not quite there... With my duncan Pick-up booster I could get a really full rocking humbucker sound out of it. As for the music you meantioned. I did play some jimi with this pick-up, but used the Fender Lace Sensors I had in the guitar for Stevie RV type stuff... It's a good pickup for rock and I used it to play a few Metallica songs. If you're dead set on active pickups for a strat, than this one would be a good choice for your bridge position.
Rock On :13:

 

[tomswaelen]

Re: Can someone fill me in on Hot for Strat Livewire Single Coils?

Well I had the Hot for strat in the Bridge of a standard strat that one different points had both a maple and a rosewood fretboard. Alder body.

The pick-up is hot... I would compare it in output to a humbucker, but not quite there... With my duncan Pick-up booster I could get a really full rocking humbucker sound out of it. As for the music you meantioned. I did play some jimi with this pick-up, but used the Fender Lace Sensors I had in the guitar for Stevie RV type stuff... It's a good pickup for rock and I used it to play a few Metallica songs. If you're dead set on active pickups for a strat, than this one would be a good choice for your bridge position.
Rock On :13:

Well, if I were to choose these pickups, I would go for the entire set, so in neck, middle and bridge position... So maybe they're too hot? It might make it easier to control your tone and distortion by using the volume knob...

How about the Classic Livewires?

 

[Kac]

Re: Can someone fill me in on Hot for Strat Livewire Single Coils?

I wouldn't put in a whole set of LiveWire Hots.... But a hot in the bridge and 2 Classics might work out well for ya.
I say, give it a try.
Rock On :smoker:

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Can someone fill me in on Hot for Strat Livewire Single Coils?

I think it's hella-versatile. Clean, it's a little hotter than your optimum classic rock tone, but it's still pretty good, pile on the gain, and you're in metal territory.

 

[tomswaelen]

Re: Can someone fill me in on Hot for Strat Livewire Single Coils?

I think it's hella-versatile. Clean, it's a little hotter than your optimum classic rock tone, but it's still pretty good, pile on the gain, and you're in metal territory.

Well, I'm by no means a metal lover, so maybe it is best to go for the Classic Livewire set? By the way, how much controls does that set have? 2 x volume, 1 x tone?

 

[tomswaelen]

Re: Can someone fill me in on Hot for Strat Livewire Single Coils?

Here's the reply from Alex for Seymour Duncan:

DO NOT get the Hot Live Wire set as it is totally wrong for the style of music you are playing.
I really think the APS-1 Calibrated Set would be a better way to go. The Classics LiveWires are cool, but may be a little too hi-fi sounding for the style you like.

What would he mean by "hi-fi sounding"?

 

[TheGZeus]

Re: Can someone fill me in on Hot for Strat Livewire Single Coils?

Here's the reply from Alex for Seymour Duncan:

DO NOT get the Hot Live Wire set as it is totally wrong for the style of music you are playing.
I really think the APS-1 Calibrated Set would be a better way to go. The Classics LiveWires are cool, but may be a little too hi-fi sounding for the style you like.

What would he mean by "hi-fi sounding"?

Listen to the samples.