Hot pickups and classic rock
- Thread starter Wayne27
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BriGuy1968
New member
Re: Hot pickups and classic rock
Yup.
Yup.
canon_mutant
New member
Re: Hot pickups and classic rock
Well, I can't but "classic rock" encompasses such a wide variance that it depends a bit on what you want to play? I generally reach for Alnico II, single coil Strat, and that classic P90 raunch and roar too when playing classic rock. I am also quite impressed with the Alnico 4 SD Saturday Night Specials that will handle about anything from ACDC to ZZ Top but are rated <10K DC. Alnico 5 in the bridge is OK but I wouldn't want more than like 13K at the most even there.
Well, I can't but "classic rock" encompasses such a wide variance that it depends a bit on what you want to play? I generally reach for Alnico II, single coil Strat, and that classic P90 raunch and roar too when playing classic rock. I am also quite impressed with the Alnico 4 SD Saturday Night Specials that will handle about anything from ACDC to ZZ Top but are rated <10K DC. Alnico 5 in the bridge is OK but I wouldn't want more than like 13K at the most even there.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: Hot pickups and classic rock
Yes - you can play any music with any pickup.
You may need to turn the vol on the guitar down. You may need to go gently with the gain knob on the amp. But yes you can.
Played in a band and did ZZ Top with a Distortion. Actually sounded pretty good. With the gain set far lower than you would expect....and a touch of tone knob.
Yes - you can play any music with any pickup.
You may need to turn the vol on the guitar down. You may need to go gently with the gain knob on the amp. But yes you can.
Played in a band and did ZZ Top with a Distortion. Actually sounded pretty good. With the gain set far lower than you would expect....and a touch of tone knob.
PFDarkside
of the Forum
Re: Hot pickups and classic rock
Not to mention some good classic rock was recorded with JBs and Super Distortions.
Not to mention some good classic rock was recorded with JBs and Super Distortions.
Re: Hot pickups and classic rock
Excessively hot pickups often lack the dynamics wanted for edge of breakup tones. But there are hotter pickups that smooth out nicely with low volume knob settings that can do it just fine.
Some of them darken up too much as the volume gets rolled off, so might need a treble bleed more than a brighter, lower output pickup.
PATB-1b or PATB-3 are great for a ridiculous range of music, for example. The Custom 8 or the original Custom are also great, particularly for punchy rhythm parts.
A lot can be compensated for on an amp with good tone controls and a wide gain range, though I'd prefer not to fight a more metal-targetted ceramic pickup for low gain stuff... On the other hand, George Lynch often managed to get smooth tones out of a Distortion after a lot of struggling in the studio. Question is would you rather struggle to get the sound, or use something that makes the job easy?
Excessively hot pickups often lack the dynamics wanted for edge of breakup tones. But there are hotter pickups that smooth out nicely with low volume knob settings that can do it just fine.
Some of them darken up too much as the volume gets rolled off, so might need a treble bleed more than a brighter, lower output pickup.
PATB-1b or PATB-3 are great for a ridiculous range of music, for example. The Custom 8 or the original Custom are also great, particularly for punchy rhythm parts.
A lot can be compensated for on an amp with good tone controls and a wide gain range, though I'd prefer not to fight a more metal-targetted ceramic pickup for low gain stuff... On the other hand, George Lynch often managed to get smooth tones out of a Distortion after a lot of struggling in the studio. Question is would you rather struggle to get the sound, or use something that makes the job easy?
Re: Hot pickups and classic rock
^Yeah, I'd think tone and feel-wise, it becomes a bit of a compromise. You'd have a reduced dynamic range, which might not work well for the songs that need a wide one. These days, though, there are lots of pickups that are good for many different styles of music. I wouldn't want to play classic rock with an Invader or SLUG, but I could with a Black Winter set or Pegaus/Sentient combo.
^Yeah, I'd think tone and feel-wise, it becomes a bit of a compromise. You'd have a reduced dynamic range, which might not work well for the songs that need a wide one. These days, though, there are lots of pickups that are good for many different styles of music. I wouldn't want to play classic rock with an Invader or SLUG, but I could with a Black Winter set or Pegaus/Sentient combo.
Re: Hot pickups and classic rock
When you mean "Excessively hot pickups often lack the dynamics wanted for edge of breakup tones", do you mean that hot pickups push your amp into overdrive too early? I'm abit new to hot pickups.
When you mean "Excessively hot pickups often lack the dynamics wanted for edge of breakup tones", do you mean that hot pickups push your amp into overdrive too early? I'm abit new to hot pickups.
Re: Hot pickups and classic rock
Dimebucker is a unique pickup indeed. Easily suitable for classic rock and metal
It's also bright enough(especially wired volume-only) to not need a bleed when backing the volume, even waaay down.
It really shines in full-mahogany or basswood body bolts.
I don't think I've ever used my volume knob as much with such a scorcher pickup.
Dimebucker is a unique pickup indeed. Easily suitable for classic rock and metal
It's also bright enough(especially wired volume-only) to not need a bleed when backing the volume, even waaay down.
It really shines in full-mahogany or basswood body bolts.
I don't think I've ever used my volume knob as much with such a scorcher pickup.
Tone Meister
New member
Re: Hot pickups and classic rock
I think it would be easier to plug in and see for yourself. You're likely to get 50 different answers most of which don't really answer your question anyway.
In the end, guitar pickups are only a small piece of the signal chain.
I think it would be easier to plug in and see for yourself. You're likely to get 50 different answers most of which don't really answer your question anyway.
In the end, guitar pickups are only a small piece of the signal chain.
Silence Kid
New member
Re: Hot pickups and classic rock
A hot pickup can be like a megaphone. Imagine yelling through a megaphone vs. whispering through a megaphone; the result will still come out loud due to the inherent compression. A lower output pickup allows the response of your pickup tone more in line with the strength of your picking, so there is more dynamic range to your playing.
On the edge of breakup, the above matters to allow you to modulate clean vs. dirty sound.
Lower output pickups pretty much usually have a more even feequency response too, meaning that rolling off the volume on a high output pickup will not approximate a low output pickup precisely, although it can help to roll off volume when playing certain styles.
A hot pickup can be like a megaphone. Imagine yelling through a megaphone vs. whispering through a megaphone; the result will still come out loud due to the inherent compression. A lower output pickup allows the response of your pickup tone more in line with the strength of your picking, so there is more dynamic range to your playing.
On the edge of breakup, the above matters to allow you to modulate clean vs. dirty sound.
Lower output pickups pretty much usually have a more even feequency response too, meaning that rolling off the volume on a high output pickup will not approximate a low output pickup precisely, although it can help to roll off volume when playing certain styles.
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JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Hot pickups and classic rock
For me, my pedals & amps, my playing style, my hands, and ultimately my ears, lower output pickups work better for everything.
Yours may not be the same.
For me, my pedals & amps, my playing style, my hands, and ultimately my ears, lower output pickups work better for everything.
Yours may not be the same.
Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
Re: Hot pickups and classic rock
As time goes on, I've realized just what little pickups mean in terms of tone. Sure, they are an excellent icing on the tonal cake, but if someone tells you they can't play a certain genre on a certain pickup, they either aren't the most versatile guitar player, their amp/cab setup couldn't pull that tone anyway, or they are at an Eric Johnson level of tone snobbery.
As time goes on, I've realized just what little pickups mean in terms of tone. Sure, they are an excellent icing on the tonal cake, but if someone tells you they can't play a certain genre on a certain pickup, they either aren't the most versatile guitar player, their amp/cab setup couldn't pull that tone anyway, or they are at an Eric Johnson level of tone snobbery.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Hot pickups and classic rock
I learned this when I got my Super Reverb.
However, shortly after acquiring that amp, I got an Epiphone Les Paul with the Distortion set. The combination was the worst thing I'd ever heard. If that Les Paul had been my only guitar, I could've eq'd the amp for it to work, but those settings made my Strat and all other guitars sound awful.
I learned this when I got my Super Reverb.
However, shortly after acquiring that amp, I got an Epiphone Les Paul with the Distortion set. The combination was the worst thing I'd ever heard. If that Les Paul had been my only guitar, I could've eq'd the amp for it to work, but those settings made my Strat and all other guitars sound awful.
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Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
Re: Hot pickups and classic rock
Well if you are any good at guitar you should be able to establish your own authenticity. EVH got one of the most coveted guitar tones out there on a guitar that by his own admission was garbage. Jimmy Page and Kurt Cobain have also copped excellent tones out of cheap guitars. What did they all have in common? Great players and great amps.
Say what you want, but an Epi LP Special II will sound better through a '62 Bluesbreaker than a '59 Les Paul will sound through an Epi Valve Junjor.
Well if you are any good at guitar you should be able to establish your own authenticity. EVH got one of the most coveted guitar tones out there on a guitar that by his own admission was garbage. Jimmy Page and Kurt Cobain have also copped excellent tones out of cheap guitars. What did they all have in common? Great players and great amps.
Say what you want, but an Epi LP Special II will sound better through a '62 Bluesbreaker than a '59 Les Paul will sound through an Epi Valve Junjor.
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