DMZ Fred(Another)In Bright Strat Body Advice...Blueman?

STRATDELUXER97

STRATDELUXER97

Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Hi all..Hope everyone is doing great?

Those of you that know me,know I've used the Fred pickup in one of my strats like since it came out.Sounds great in my other heavier/darker sounding strat.

Well I put one in a project body that was given to me and it's kinda bright.

I'm using the G&L PTB system in it with a 500k volume,500k treble,and the 1 meg bass pot.

The neck pickup is from my 80s Gibson SG and I Like it as is.If I go 250k overall,I think the N pickup might be a bit dark and it's A5 there.

What do you guys think I could do to tame the Fred a bit in the highs and give it more balls as far as a magnet swap?

The Fred pickup in my other strat is stock and I have 500k volume in that one..Whole different animal.

Thx all.
 
Re: DMZ Fred(Another)In Bright Strat Body Advice...Blueman?

You could put a resistor in series with the bridge pickup to tame it back. It's much easier than trying to do a mag swap on a DMZ (they glue the magnets in place).

I'd recommend 470k for the resistor value to start.
 
Re: DMZ Fred(Another)In Bright Strat Body Advice...Blueman?

Chistopher said:
You could put a resistor in series with the bridge pickup to tame it back. It's much easier than trying to do a mag swap on a DMZ (they glue the magnets in place).

I'd recommend 470k for the resistor value to start.
Click to expand...

Thx brother..You're awesome answering so quick..

Years ago I did a glued magnet swap on a DMZ for a forum brother..It was epoxied and yes it was a SOB to break apart and remove..Not all DMZ mags are glued though..I've done a ton of Duncans and the hybrid several years ago.Less tweaking these days,more playing.

The 470k seems like a cool idea or a push/pull that does 250//500k? Either way it will mess with the B/Humbucker together tones..Always a compromise..

Thought about maybe trying Fender's 375k like they use in one of the Tele models.

Thx again.
 
Re: DMZ Fred(Another)In Bright Strat Body Advice...Blueman?

If I were to magnet swap in my Fred..What do you all think? Blueman loves the UOA5 or maybe a RCA5? That's kinda what I'm asking.Hopefully this new Fred doesn't have the glued magnet!

I like A2 but not sure if it's the right magnet in this one.
 
Re: DMZ Fred(Another)In Bright Strat Body Advice...Blueman?

Anyone know if the recent DMZ Fred pickups have glued in magnets? Years ago I wrestled with this and it wasn't at all fun.
 
Re: DMZ Fred(Another)In Bright Strat Body Advice...Blueman?

STRATDELUXER97 said:
Anyone know if the recent DMZ Fred pickups have glued in magnets? Years ago I wrestled with this and it wasn't at all fun.
Click to expand...

I believe it's the newer models that have glued in magnets. As for your previous post, I don't know the Fred, so I wouldn't be able to tell you the best magnet for it, if you want to head in the direction of an A2, I'd definitely recommend starting with a UOA5 as a "middle ground", A5s are scooped magnets and the Fred isn't anything like that. An A2 might be too middy. What I'd do if I were you is start off with a RCA5, and if that doesn't work go to UOA5, then A2.

That's the thing with guitars, all the experimenting. Sometimes it's fun, sometimes you wish you magically knew all the answers.
 
Re: DMZ Fred(Another)In Bright Strat Body Advice...Blueman?

I've got a couple Fred's. They have very unbalanced coils which is where the brightness comes from. Mags come out fine (the main DMZ's that I've seen glued in were hotter ones, using rubber glue all the way to some rock hard epoxy); haven't seen their medium and vintage output models glued.

One Fred I put an UOA5 in, the other I used to make two hybrids with. An RC A5 will just smooth out the highs a little, but not fill in the mids. It's a subtle change and it sounds like you're past that point. Have you worked with UOA5's?
 
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Re: DMZ Fred(Another)In Bright Strat Body Advice...Blueman?

blueman335 said:
I've got a couple Fred's. They have very unbalanced coils which is where the brightness comes from. Mags come out fine (the main DMZ's that I've seen glued in were hotter ones, using rubber glue all the way to some rock hard epoxy); haven't seen their medium and vintage output models glued.

One Fred I put an UOA5 in, the other I used to make two hybrids with. An RC A5 will just smooth out the highs a little, but not fill in the mids. It's a subtle change and it sounds like you're past that point. Have you worked with UOA5's?
Click to expand...

Hello Rick...Actually you were nice enough to send me an UOA5 for the 59B in another guitar (335)...Still in that one actually.Are you thinking the UOA5 again for me? I was also thinking of doing a 250k/500k push/pull volume pot but I hate when the pot is up.

Not sure if this setup even mimics the actual 250k pot value when it puts that 470k/510k resistor in the mix? Haven't tryed this.

Personally I think the magnet swap is the way to go.
 
Re: DMZ Fred(Another)In Bright Strat Body Advice...Blueman?

Chistopher said:
I believe it's the newer models that have glued in magnets. As for your previous post, I don't know the Fred, so I wouldn't be able to tell you the best magnet for it, if you want to head in the direction of an A2, I'd definitely recommend starting with a UOA5 as a "middle ground", A5s are scooped magnets and the Fred isn't anything like that. An A2 might be too middy. What I'd do if I were you is start off with a RCA5, and if that doesn't work go to UOA5, then A2.

That's the thing with guitars, all the experimenting. Sometimes it's fun, sometimes you wish you magically knew all the answers.
Click to expand...

Thanks again for the postings.
 
Re: DMZ Fred(Another)In Bright Strat Body Advice...Blueman?

I have UOA5's in a variety of PU's (Custom, '59B, Fred, A2PN, 498T, 490T, numerous bridge & neck hybrids, etc), they sound different from each other because of the various winds. Look at how many A5 HB's there are, and the winds put their tones & EQ all over the map. Look at how warm WLH and the BBQ are, and how bright and clear Jazz's are.
 
Re: DMZ Fred(Another)In Bright Strat Body Advice...Blueman?

blueman335 said:
I have UOA5's in a variety of PU's (Custom, '59B, Fred, A2PN, 498T, 490T, numerous bridge & neck hybrids, etc), they sound different from each other because of the various winds. Look at how many A5 HB's there are, and the winds put their tones & EQ all over the map. Look at how warm WLH and the BBQ are, and how bright and clear Jazz's are.
Click to expand...

Naturally I'm also trying different strings too.
 
Re: DMZ Fred(Another)In Bright Strat Body Advice...Blueman?

I guess you already know about the things that can be done. I'm not sure a magnet swap is needed here.

What I found with these humbuckers such as Fred and PAF pro, they get a lot smoother as they are raised close to the strings.

Just raise both neck and bridge pickups by adjusting the screws 1/2 turn or a full turn. Then you may a fuller, less fizzy tone.

If you want to run the Fred at lower height, then 1M parallel resistor can be a help or otherwise just roll off the tone knob.
 
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Re: DMZ Fred(Another)In Bright Strat Body Advice...Blueman?

Teleplayer said:
I guess you already know about the things that can be done. I'm not sure a magnet swap is needed here.

What I found with these humbuckers such as Fred and PAF pro, they get a lot smoother as they are raised close to the strings.

Just raise both neck and bridge pickups by adjusting the screws 1/2 turn or a full turn. Then you may a fuller, less fizzy tone.

If you want to run the Fred at lower height, then 1M parallel resistor can be a help or otherwise just roll off the tone knob.
Click to expand...

Yep down many roads already..I have a 250k/500k push pull for the volume that I will try.See if the pickups like the 250k value?
 
Re: DMZ Fred(Another)In Bright Strat Body Advice...Blueman?

Teleplayer said:
I guess you already know about the things that can be done. I'm not sure a magnet swap is needed here.

What I found with these humbuckers such as Fred and PAF pro, they get a lot smoother as they are raised close to the strings.

Just raise both neck and bridge pickups by adjusting the screws 1/2 turn or a full turn. Then you may a fuller, less fizzy tone.

If you want to run the Fred at lower height, then 1M parallel resistor can be a help or otherwise just roll off the tone knob.
Click to expand...

Ive been a Fred user since it came out in 89 or so..I actually think it sounds better down a bit like 3/32.But this new Fred is bright in this other guitar.
 
Re: DMZ Fred(Another)In Bright Strat Body Advice...Blueman?

2 more final suggestions to take out unwanted brightness. Just for the sake of it!!!
1) Unscrew the hex pole pieces on the A and D strings by 1/2 turn (all 4 of them). That will shift the string balance which makes your chords a warmer voicing.
2) Watch out for any issue with bridge saddles, as some saddles are bright and can affect the tone more than the body wood. If the saddles are worn you will have awful harmonic overtones on the Fred.
 
Re: DMZ Fred(Another)In Bright Strat Body Advice...Blueman?

Mags are a buck a piece John - get a few. Heck - try an A8 in there! Probably more juice than you want, but again, for $1, what if it's awesome??? Along with A2, etc...
 
Re: DMZ Fred(Another)In Bright Strat Body Advice...Blueman?

Thanks for the posts guys...

As much as I hate a push/pull pot,I'm going to see if both humbuckers like the 250k value?

I'm already using some pure nickel EB Rock N Roll strings on this guitar that I love and it tamed it some.

The bridge and saddles are new and not the issue.

If I do the magnet swap I'm leaning towards the UOA5...

I was doing this magnet swap thing very early on and as long as that magnet isn't glued in place,easy to switch it out.

After that..Maybe good firewood piece! LOL
 
Re: DMZ Fred(Another)In Bright Strat Body Advice...Blueman?

Aceman said:
Mags are a buck a piece John - get a few. Heck - try an A8 in there! Probably more juice than you want, but again, for $1, what if it's awesome??? Along with A2, etc...
Click to expand...

I think the A8 would be a little much for me.
 
Re: DMZ Fred(Another)In Bright Strat Body Advice...Blueman?

One other possible option- wire a low-value cap off the Fred to ground with a trimpot as a tone control. That way you can dial down the highs just a little to taste on that pickup (without changing the overall voice much) and leave it permanently, or use a push-pull to bypass it for full brightness when you want.
 
Re: DMZ Fred(Another)In Bright Strat Body Advice...Blueman?

So again I have to say thanks to Rick(Blueman) for turning me on to these UOA5 magnets.

I switched the stock A5 out of my bridge Fred pickup for this magnet and it's the second time I went this route.The other UOA5 was in a 59B.

I also went with warmer EB Rock N Roll strings because this was a brighter Ibanez strat bodied guitar.

Perfect...The guitar just seems to sound sweeter now and like there's a a slight compression on notes now that I just didn't notice with the A5..I Love A2 bridge pickups normally but these mags are perfect for my needs.

I didn't think I Lost any overall output and I adjusted the pickup to exactly where I had it..I do notice slightly more mids,lower mids and def alot less treble overall..The balance with the Gibson neck humbucker out of my SG is alot better also..Just a warmer,smoother pickup..

I Left the 500k volume pot in this one because the neck pickup just seemed lifeless and choked with a 250k there.

My other darker H/S/S strat is darker and sounds great with the stock Fred A5..I really like this pickup alot and this Fred has been in this guitar since 1989..

Anyway...Thanks again to Blueman and all of you that posted...Perfect,Happy!
 
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