Hamer Studio with JB, other options?

[notesfield]

Hi,
I play a Hamer Studio with the JB/59 combo thru a Mesa Recotverb, alongside my Les Pauls. I love the Hamer's woody tone and build quality, but at times the JB is a bit brittle (due in part to the double cutaway and natural acoustically mid tones of this piece)
What are the thoughts here about either a Custom Custom or a Custom 5?
I consider the CUstom Custom because it is warmer, and I contemplate the Custom 5 because the tone chart depicts it as bigger or fuller sounding. The lack of mids could be offset by the Hamer's naturally mid tones? If anyone here has any experience with these pickups in question or with modding a Hamer like mine, please share your input.
Thanks!

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: Hamer Studio with JB, other options?

The CC is a good choice, as is an Alnico-Pro. COnsider also a Seth or Antiquity. As I've mentioned countless times here, my Sunburst Archtop(predecessor to the Studio) has a JB w/alnico-2 magnet and sounds awesome, however, it's all mahogany (a prototype guitar). That's another option.

Jeff

 

[rspst14]

Re: Hamer Studio with JB, other options?

I like the Rio Grande BBQ, although if your setup is already too midrangey it might not be the best choice for you. I'm not a fan of the custom series pickups, I found the CC to have way too much midrange and not enough bass. The C5 was just the opposite...too bassy, too bright, and too scooped in the mids. I've thought about getting a custom shop version of the Blues Trembucker...same winding specs, but with standard spacing, standard polepieces, and a nickel cover. The Blues is my absolute favorite Duncan bridge pickup, but it wouldn't look right in my Hamer.

Have you considered the Demon? It has less midrange than the JB, and it's not quite as trebly. I would think about maybe trying that.

Ryan

 

[Curly]

Re: Hamer Studio with JB, other options?

FWIW, the current Studios just use a '59 bridge.

 

[HamerPlyr]

Re: Hamer Studio with JB, other options?

When you say that the JB is "brittle", can you tell us what you mean by that?

Just to give you my knee-jerk reaction, I wonder what a Custom would sound like in that guitar. I thought of that p'up because I'm assuming that you want a p'up that's just a bit hotter in the bridge. Otherwise, I would suggest a '59 or Seth.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Hamer Studio with JB, other options?

I've had the JB, Custom 5 and Custom Custom in my Hamer Studio just like yours. I liked the JB best! Those guitars with the double cutaway do not have the low end a single cutaway Les Paul has and I felt that the JB had the fullest tone in that guitar...but I know what you're talking about with the "brittle" sound thing. Here's a tip: Hamer's have the tone control connected after the volume control...the 50's mod.

That makes them brighter and I think that's a plus when it comes to the neck pickup but maybe a minus (to some ears) when it comes to the bridge pickup.


Lew

 

[skh515]

Re: Hamer Studio with JB, other options?

I know this isn't my thread, but I have to ask.

Lew, are you saying that running the signal through the tone first and then through the volume will alter the tone?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Hamer Studio with JB, other options?

I know this isn't my thread, but I have to ask.

Lew, are you saying that running the signal through the tone first and then through the volume will alter the tone?

No. But the tone control can be attached before the volume control or after the volume control and connecting it after the volume control is called the 50's Mod when it's done in a Les Paul. The 50's mod makes for a brighter guitar tone when the volume control is turned down. IMO, this is because when it's connectted after the volume control the tone control is bleeding off treble from a lower output since it is bleeding treble from an attenuated output rather than from the full output of the pickups.

In a guitar with a master tone and two volumes, like a Hamer, it's difficult, if not impossible, to connect the tone control any other way.

I like Curly's suggestion of going with a set of 59's.

Lew

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Hamer Studio with JB, other options?

Another option would be replacing the tone pot with a 250K tone pot. Lew

 

[skh515]

Re: Hamer Studio with JB, other options?

IMO, this is because when it's connectted after the volume control the tone control is bleeding off treble from a lower output since it is bleeding treble from an attenuated output rather than from the full output of the pickups.

Lew

O.K., that makes sense. So on my current project with one HB, a 6-way switch, one Vol and one Tone, the best order might be: JB to 6-way to Tone to Vol to Jack. This will, or might, give me better control over the tone at lower volumes, right?

Steve

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Hamer Studio with JB, other options?

O.K., that makes sense. So on my current project with one HB, a 6-way switch, one Vol and one Tone, the best order might be: JB to 6-way to Tone to Vol to Jack. This will, or might, give me better control over the tone at lower volumes, right?

Steve

Top achieve the 50's mod: I would connect the tone control to the middle terminal (output) of the volume control or to the output jack. You'll accomplish the same thing and achieve the 50's mod which will retain highs better when the volume control is turned down. If you don't like it then just connect the tone control to the input of the volume control instead. But at least give the 50's mod a try...I really like in most guitars. With really bright pickups, it might not be what a player wants but with most pickups I prefer it.

Lew