Full set o' Full Shred?

[SCOTT502]

Hey all,

Anyone tried a Full shred bridge and neck combo? I just listened to it on the new tone chart (which is VERY cool), and thought the pickup sounded good in both positions. Im looking for an articulate pickup in both positions for my RGA 121. (Mahogany/maple cap.) I'm into a lot of different styles and want pickups that can shred with clarity..get raunchy..clean up well and split well.

Anyone?

 

[SCOTT502]

Re: Full set o' Full Shred?

If no one has used a set of these together, how about individually...are they kind of a niche p/u? anyone used one in the neck position?

 

[Pierre]

Re: Full set o' Full Shred?

They're not such a popular pickup, but to me they are highly underrated. I can imagin it'd sound really good in a Mahogany guitar. Are you sure the RGA121 has a maple cap?
I have mine with a Ceramic magnet in a basswood guitar. GREAT tone. Obviously it's all subjective but I totally love it. What do you want to know about it?

 

[SCOTT502]

Re: Full set o' Full Shred?

Hey Pierre,

Yea, it's got a maple cap that at its thickest point is maybe just under 1/2" thick..(its a carved top). Maple bolt on neck..rosewood fingerboard, hardtail.

As far as my question about the pick-ups, i've never really looked at them much and I havent seen much talk about them so I'm fairly clueless. The EQ chart on the bridge model seems like it indicates a bright p/u but the tone clip sounds fairly chunky, maybe on par with the Distortion (as far as low end is concerned) maybe just a little cleaner, am I right or not? Also how are the harmonics?

As far as using a Full Shred in the neck spot, listening to the clips it sounded good to me but I haven't heard much talk on it as a good neck p/u...what is its downfall ?

 

[Pierre]

Re: Full set o' Full Shred?

The stock FS has quite a little amount of low mids. So basically, it's crunchy, and as you add bass onto it you can almost see a graphical EQ changing. The bass are AMAZINGLY present due to this lack of low mids. Chunky... Mhmm I wouldn't say that. But you could get it to sound like it for sure. I never tried it cleaned up (at least with the A5).
The stock FS is THE pickup with THE best harmonics I ever heard. Ask anyone here, I doubt many people would deny that. It's just fantastic as far as harmonics are concerned. They ring clearly and loudly and are easy to get.
Most people use the FS as a neck pickup. Since it's an A5 magnet, it'd clean up nicely (unlike a pickup with a ceramic magnet). So it'd be high output, VERY clear, have great harmonics, a nice lead sound and clean up nicely

 

[Farkus]

Re: Full set o' Full Shred?

Can't speak for the neck version, but I love the bridge version of the Full Shred.

FWIW, I think the pickup sounds great when clean. My favorite guitar to use it in was Ash, so yes, it was bright. It has a very 'progressive' type of sound, kind of 'Hi-Fi', almost single coil-ish.

When played with distortion, I think the low end is very vocal and the high notes jump out with exceptional clarity.

I've been jonesin' to try the neck model.

Hope this helps.

 

[frehley]

Re: Full set o' Full Shred?

I have a Carvin DC127C with a set of Full Shreds and it has the most articulation of any pup I've picked up. I recorded an album with these pups and man, they really did the job. Sounds great clean, split and especially great when both are used together in humbucker mode or split. Absolutely crystaline clean tone. The neck pup is the finest neck pup I've EVER used bar none. Try em', you'll love em'. I play really intense metal stuff so if you want to hear them, check out the CREMATORIUM album "For all our sins".
All Full Shred.

 

[krankguitarist]

Re: Full set o' Full Shred?

I got a pair of full shreds in a korina super-tele I put together.

They really are somewhat of a niche product...both the neck and the bridge versions have a very "vowel-like" vocal quality when playing individual notes. They can be very, very crunchy. It took me a little while to get used to em to be honest, but now I love 'em.

The neck position is similar to the duncan jazz...though a little less clean and a little more powerful. I'm not really sure how to describe the bridge pickup...its bright, but not in an ice-picky way...just very, very articulate.

Not sure what else to say about em, they're great pickups to me.

 

[Pierre]

Re: Full set o' Full Shred?

I so wish they did a single coil sized version of it, or something very close

 

[SCOTT502]

Re: Full set o' Full Shred?

Thanks for the responses! They sound promising, I wonder why there's not more talk about them, it seems that the people who have tried them love them. From the descriptions "hi-fi" and "progressive" it sounds to me like they're Duncan's answer to a lot of the Dimarzio line.

 

[Farkus]

Re: Full set o' Full Shred?

That's exactly how I first thought of them. One thing I do like about DiMarzio pups I've tried is their note to note seperation (specifically the PAF Pro). However, I find the pup thin as well. This is not true of the Shred. It has that 'Hi-Fi' quality yet still has the balls that the PAF Pro lacks (IMO). In a way, the cleans of the Shred reminds me of EMG SA pups, but not nearly as...clinical sounding (just an opinion-no flames please).

Hope that helps.

Mark

 

[WGTP]

Re: Full set o' Full Shred?

The thing that is cool about the Full Shred is that it has the right EQ for distortions and the articulation to keep the distortion from sounding like mush.

With less deep bass, the distortion is smoother less farty sounding and with the articulation, you can really crank the gain for lots of sustain, but it doesn't sound as distorted because of the clarity, string seperation, etc. If it is too bright, cut back on the treble and you will still have lots of singing sustain from the highs. Best I've found for heavy distortion.

It also works well with light weight bodies to sort of clear them up and and add presence.

I haven't tried it, but for those thinking they are to bright and sterile/clean a 250K pot might help.

The Pearly Gates is the PAF equivalent. :bowdown:

 

[SCOTT502]

Re: Full set o' Full Shred?

Thanks for all the input! The neck pickup sounds like it might be what I'm looking for, is the bridge too thin? The eq curve kind of scares me, I like palm mutes a lot.

 

[Pierre]

Re: Full set o' Full Shred?

I doubt it'd be a problem dude Just don't expect to dial more chunk with the mid control as you usually can with pickups like the Custom. You'd just have to crank the mids AND bass if you want a good chugging. But it will NEVER mush up your pickup or make it muddy, which is why it's great about this pickup.

If you want more power though, a Ceramic magnet instead of the A5 works so well :32:

 

[Imp]

Re: Full set o' Full Shred?

you've got an RGA121? so have i

if you think the FS is gonna be a bit too thin, check out the screamin' demon.. that's what i've settled on for the bridge! it's awesome!

i have the dark-cap one, and im gonna probably go for a PG, jazz or a full shred for the neck..

tom

 

[SCOTT502]

Re: Full set o' Full Shred?

Hey Imp! Thanks for the response! Yea, I really really like my rga. My first choice was the violin stain but I couldn't find one and when I saw the natural maple finish I liked it just as much. Pearly Gates huh? I'll have to consider that one.