higher output pickup gain or lower output pickup gain
- Thread starter gsammo79
- Start date
Re: higher output pickup gain or lower output pickup gain
Low output pickup for high gain amp is perfect, I also lower my pickup height in high gain amps.
For vintage type amps like a Marshall 1959 a high output pickup can be nice to get that drive in lower volumes to.
But a vintage output pickup sounds the best all around for me.
Low output pickup for high gain amp is perfect, I also lower my pickup height in high gain amps.
For vintage type amps like a Marshall 1959 a high output pickup can be nice to get that drive in lower volumes to.
But a vintage output pickup sounds the best all around for me.
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Re: higher output pickup gain or lower output pickup gain
I used to be an "EMG or die" kinda guy. I used to like the mega fierce EMG Hets. Recently, though, I've been using Duncan '59's and DiMarzio PAF Pros because I found that some of my favorite recorded tones were made using PAF's (namely As I Lay Dying - Shadows are Security and Carcass - Surgical Steel). My Peavey XXX, which is a gain monster, seems to particularly like vintage-output pickups. I dig the open airy highs that I get from lower-output pups.
It's not even about versatility or OmGz m0aR dynaMicZ for me. I just run my pickups full-on, pick hard all the time, and hardly ever play clean at all. PAF's just have this cool kinda snarly, raw, slightly old-school voicing to them under tons of gain.
I used to be an "EMG or die" kinda guy. I used to like the mega fierce EMG Hets. Recently, though, I've been using Duncan '59's and DiMarzio PAF Pros because I found that some of my favorite recorded tones were made using PAF's (namely As I Lay Dying - Shadows are Security and Carcass - Surgical Steel). My Peavey XXX, which is a gain monster, seems to particularly like vintage-output pickups. I dig the open airy highs that I get from lower-output pups.
It's not even about versatility or OmGz m0aR dynaMicZ for me. I just run my pickups full-on, pick hard all the time, and hardly ever play clean at all. PAF's just have this cool kinda snarly, raw, slightly old-school voicing to them under tons of gain.
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bacosta1972
New member
Re: higher output pickup gain or lower output pickup gain
I prefer lower to medium Gain pickups that I can roll back the volume and get a cleanish tone. No mud!
I prefer lower to medium Gain pickups that I can roll back the volume and get a cleanish tone. No mud!
gregory
New member
Re: higher output pickup gain or lower output pickup gain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANwOUoZ9buA
Rockman sound without the need for a Rockman. I wince at the idea of a PAF Pro in the bridge played through a Rockman.
You can call a DiMarzio PAF Pro a PAF all day long but it doesn't make it true. Other than the name, very little about it is PAF; it certainly doesn't sound like one. It's very much a medium output pickup with a pronounced midrange and synthetic-sounding highs when placed in the bridge position.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANwOUoZ9buA
Rockman sound without the need for a Rockman. I wince at the idea of a PAF Pro in the bridge played through a Rockman.
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Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Re: higher output pickup gain or lower output pickup gain
Yeah, my bad, I didn't mean to say the PAF Pro was PAF-like. I just meant to say it's not high-output.
I still wouldn't say it has a very pronounced midrange, personally. Not like a high-output pickup. At least not compared to the JB or Dominion that I used to have in the same guitar. Each to his own.
I wouldn't say it's much hotter than PAF levels of output either. If it is a middle-output pickup, it's certainly way more towards the lower end of that spectrum, IME.
Yeah, my bad, I didn't mean to say the PAF Pro was PAF-like. I just meant to say it's not high-output.
I still wouldn't say it has a very pronounced midrange, personally. Not like a high-output pickup. At least not compared to the JB or Dominion that I used to have in the same guitar. Each to his own.
I wouldn't say it's much hotter than PAF levels of output either. If it is a middle-output pickup, it's certainly way more towards the lower end of that spectrum, IME.
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Re: higher output pickup gain or lower output pickup gain
Mind if I ask how you'd compare the dominion to the jb for high-gain riffing? I was recently considering a dominion bridge for a certain guitar but have never played one.
Mainly I'm curious about the front-end pick attack, beings that it's quite low in output compared to most "metal" pickups.
Mind if I ask how you'd compare the dominion to the jb for high-gain riffing? I was recently considering a dominion bridge for a certain guitar but have never played one.
Mainly I'm curious about the front-end pick attack, beings that it's quite low in output compared to most "metal" pickups.
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Re: higher output pickup gain or lower output pickup gain
The Dominion's slightly less compressed. The output levels of both are pretty similar. Maybe the JB has very slightly more, but that might just be it being slightly more compressed.
The Dominion's undoubtedly tighter and slightly thinner. Much more attacky and slightly dry-sounding. More modern-sounding. The JB's fatter and more old-school. Rather than being as attacky, it has more of that upper-mid grind with some added low-mids. Both are pretty mid-focused in their own sense, though.
The Dominion's slightly less compressed. The output levels of both are pretty similar. Maybe the JB has very slightly more, but that might just be it being slightly more compressed.
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gregory
New member
Re: higher output pickup gain or lower output pickup gain
You're right: the PAF Pro is not super high-output.
The JB has a very natural sounding lower treble bite rather than the AW sound of the PAF Pro. I can see how you could describe the PAF Pro as having a cocked-wah sound, especially depending on the wood of the guitar. If the JB is being given the same attribute, it would be at the sweet spot of the wah under gain, whereas the PAF Pro would be below that: somewhere in the region of the sweep that sounds nasally.
The PAF Pro makes a great neck pickup, but now we're getting into the camp of guitars equipped with higher output pickups in the bridge, unless you like having a mismatch, of course. Anyway, we already had this discussion.
For me it's more about voicing than output, though there are definite differences in trends between high output and low output pickups in terms of the balance of harmonics created under gain as well as the attack. Differences in bass response and feel can also be dramatic, especially with dropped tuning. None of these things tend to favor vintage output pickups unless you like unfocused, loose and fizzy. Preferences can change depending on whether you play rhythm or lead, and then there's the style in which you play either.
You're right: the PAF Pro is not super high-output.
The JB has a very natural sounding lower treble bite rather than the AW sound of the PAF Pro. I can see how you could describe the PAF Pro as having a cocked-wah sound, especially depending on the wood of the guitar. If the JB is being given the same attribute, it would be at the sweet spot of the wah under gain, whereas the PAF Pro would be below that: somewhere in the region of the sweep that sounds nasally.
The PAF Pro makes a great neck pickup, but now we're getting into the camp of guitars equipped with higher output pickups in the bridge, unless you like having a mismatch, of course. Anyway, we already had this discussion.
For me it's more about voicing than output, though there are definite differences in trends between high output and low output pickups in terms of the balance of harmonics created under gain as well as the attack. Differences in bass response and feel can also be dramatic, especially with dropped tuning. None of these things tend to favor vintage output pickups unless you like unfocused, loose and fizzy. Preferences can change depending on whether you play rhythm or lead, and then there's the style in which you play either.
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Silence Kid
New member
Re: higher output pickup gain or lower output pickup gain
Seems like most people here think high output pickups are obsolete; I'm not complaining about that, but I actually am eager to hear someone "defend" higher output pickups, since the fashion is to do the opposite thing.
(I have my own opinion on high output and single coils, but to me the point becomes a lot more blurred with humbuckers which have a lot more variable design, and I can't really generalize so much myself.)
Seems like most people here think high output pickups are obsolete; I'm not complaining about that, but I actually am eager to hear someone "defend" higher output pickups, since the fashion is to do the opposite thing.
(I have my own opinion on high output and single coils, but to me the point becomes a lot more blurred with humbuckers which have a lot more variable design, and I can't really generalize so much myself.)
Dave Locher
New member
Re: higher output pickup gain or lower output pickup gain
Me! High output pickups (Super Distortion etc) into a medium-gain amp sounds muscular, thick, and gives great dynamic range if you want it. Better for hard driving rythm than a high-gain amp with any level of pickup. IMO, YMMV, and so on.
Me! High output pickups (Super Distortion etc) into a medium-gain amp sounds muscular, thick, and gives great dynamic range if you want it. Better for hard driving rythm than a high-gain amp with any level of pickup. IMO, YMMV, and so on.
chadd
Well-known member
Re: higher output pickup gain or lower output pickup gain
I play a Recto (road king, actually) and prefer lower to mid output pickups. Then again, I prefer my tones to be more grit and less percussive.
I play a Recto (road king, actually) and prefer lower to mid output pickups. Then again, I prefer my tones to be more grit and less percussive.
Demanic
PenultimateTone Member
Re: higher output pickup gain or lower output pickup gain
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Eurika!
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SrDeMaFp
New member
Re: higher output pickup gain or lower output pickup gain
Agreed - well said! I dig high output pickups, but low-medium gain pups really do have a nice clarity and grind in a high-gain rig. I use and dig both.
Agreed - well said! I dig high output pickups, but low-medium gain pups really do have a nice clarity and grind in a high-gain rig. I use and dig both.
Re: higher output pickup gain or lower output pickup gain
For me,
The best p'up between high output and low (PAF) style I think is the 59/Custom. One coil is 7K and the other is 4K, if you like to use those kind of resistence factors, anyway, the uneven coils give it some grit, and the A5 mag keeps it fairly tight on lows and sharp on highs.
It can be rolled back to actual BB King like cleans. I have used it on my guitar through a newly acquired mint 65 Princeton Deluxe Reverb re-issue. When rolled down it does sound like a low wind PAF. I know, I had one. Full up it can break up the front end of a tube amp quickly. I use them at the very few gigs I play. Around the house I like my Seth Lover with an A4 or A5 rough cut pickups.
I have many things, but these are about this post.
Hope this helps.
Steve Buffington
For me,
The best p'up between high output and low (PAF) style I think is the 59/Custom. One coil is 7K and the other is 4K, if you like to use those kind of resistence factors, anyway, the uneven coils give it some grit, and the A5 mag keeps it fairly tight on lows and sharp on highs.
It can be rolled back to actual BB King like cleans. I have used it on my guitar through a newly acquired mint 65 Princeton Deluxe Reverb re-issue. When rolled down it does sound like a low wind PAF. I know, I had one. Full up it can break up the front end of a tube amp quickly. I use them at the very few gigs I play. Around the house I like my Seth Lover with an A4 or A5 rough cut pickups.
I have many things, but these are about this post.
Hope this helps.
Steve Buffington
Der Oberherr
New member
Re: higher output pickup gain or lower output pickup gain
Currently I'm liking high output humbuckers into a high gain amp, but that's because it's all I've ever really used. I just like the punch and the power of high output. However, I have yet to try lower output pickups that aren't single coils, and so can't really make a comparative decision.
Currently I'm liking high output humbuckers into a high gain amp, but that's because it's all I've ever really used. I just like the punch and the power of high output. However, I have yet to try lower output pickups that aren't single coils, and so can't really make a comparative decision.
