HSS and pot configuration to get that perfect 80s New wave tone

[Tone Meister]

Re: HSS and pot configuration to get that perfect 80s New wave tone

In mine, the PAF Pro is an excellent match for the AP2s. Before I declare it done, I do plan to try a pair of SSL-2 and a 59/Custom in rhe same wiring configuration.

But the PAF Pro - AP2 - AP2 setup is really good, nice and crisp in all positions with zero compression.

 

[beaubrummels]

HSS and pot configuration to get that perfect 80s New wave tone

When I was in the 80’s, I got New Wave tones using a G&L F100 with stock pickups. It could split the pickups and flip the phase, which was part of it.

In the 90’s I copped 80’s tones when needed using “The Strat” with stock HSS pickups and also a Yamaha that had stock active HSS pickups. Both were not very high output guitars and could split the bridge pickup, which was important.

The other ingredients were no dirt box or booster before the amp, bright clean speakers in the cab and/or plenty of treble/presence on the amp.



...and a delay. Delay. Delay. Delay.

 

[STLMTLHD79]

Re: HSS and pot configuration to get that perfect 80s New wave tone

Ok so I have been thinking about this tone more and more since I posted this.

I am in the process of building a Tele/superstrat using an old Mahogany Kramer Tele shaped body with HSS configuration and a sweet Warmoth Strat neck with Ebony fretboard. Pickups are going to be to start with a Dimarzio Double Whammy bridge humbucker, SSL-3 middle and a SD YJM in the neck.

My question is, will this pickup configuration work well? How well does the Double Whammy split?
To get that 80s new wave tone (IE an SSS strat in the 4th selector position bridge/middle), will i need to have the middle pickup reverse polarity?

 

[Tone Meister]

Re: HSS and pot configuration to get that perfect 80s New wave tone

Not familiar with the Double Whammy, but the middle and neck choices are hot, maybe too hot for those tones. And yes, to split the bridge and pair it with the middle in position 4 the middle PU needs to be rwrp. That is exactly how mine is wired.

This is the drawing I've been using.

 

[Aceman]

Re: HSS and pot configuration to get that perfect 80s New wave tone

If you are going DiMarzio, think seriously about a Humbucker from Hell. Seriously. I do like a PAF Pro also, though.

But as said - big headroom clean solid state amp, plus some Dyna Comp, and a Delay, with whatever gives you the single coil tone of your choice. And yes - a chorus is never a bad idea.

 

[STLMTLHD79]

Re: HSS and pot configuration to get that perfect 80s New wave tone

If you are going DiMarzio, think seriously about a Humbucker from Hell. Seriously. I do like a PAF Pro also, though.

But as said - big headroom clean solid state amp, plus some Dyna Comp, and a Delay, with whatever gives you the single coil tone of your choice. And yes - a chorus is never a bad idea.

Been tossing around some ideas with this build in terms of bridge humbuckers. i have a bunch I could try (Screamin Demon, Full Shred, Double Whammy, Custom 5, JB, JB double screw) for this application. Of these pickups, what do you guys recommend?

 

[Tone Meister]

Re: HSS and pot configuration to get that perfect 80s New wave tone

I've recently been on this same HSS journey. Although I'm not shooting for the same processed 80s new wave tones, I am going for a versatile setup that isn't full bore max output. In short, great cleans to cover a wide range of music and the ability to sound great with gain.

The PAF Pro was very good (excellent) paired with Alnico Pro 2 singles and was very well balanced. But last night I installed a 59/Custom and two SSL-2 and first impression is this setup is gonna be a winner. A quick height adjustment balanced things out decently. The 59/C has more mids than the PAF Pro and I'll have too see how that works on stage. Well pleased here at home thus far.

 

[STLMTLHD79]

Re: HSS and pot configuration to get that perfect 80s New wave tone

I've recently been on this same HSS journey. Although I'm not shooting for the same processed 80s new wave tones, I am going for a versatile setup that isn't full bore max output. In short, great cleans to cover a wide range of music and the ability to sound great with gain.

The PAF Pro was very good (excellent) paired with Alnico Pro 2 singles and was very well balanced. But last night I installed a 59/Custom and two SSL-2 and first impression is this setup is gonna be a winner. A quick height adjustment balanced things out decently. The 59/C has more mids than the PAF Pro and I'll have too see how that works on stage. Well pleased here at home thus far.

good call. Hmmm. I already have a Kramer F3000 HSS configuration with a 59/custom Hybrid in the bridge with coil split, but the middle single coil is a stock (probably Schaller) and pretty weak. Maybe i will just put an SSL-1 in that middle position and be good to go. In that case, i may make this Kramer Tele build a full-on shred machine!

 

[Tone Meister]

Re: HSS and pot configuration to get that perfect 80s New wave tone

good call. Hmmm. I already have a Kramer F3000 HSS configuration with a 59/custom Hybrid in the bridge with coil split, but the middle single coil is a stock (probably Schaller) and pretty weak. Maybe i will just put an SSL-1 in that middle position and be good to go. In that case, i may make this Kramer Tele build a full-on shred machine!

The 59/C is pretty mid-heavy so the cleans from it alone are limited, as far as the ways I plan to use it. But the position 4 split is excellent - splitting to the slug of the 59/C and mixing with the middle SSL-2. So yes, that SSL-1 should work great. Basically I have full Strat sound and functionality in positions 1-4 and balls to the wall with the 59/C bridge.

I'm still using a 500K volume and 250K tone pots, and I've found that subtle changes on either control make an appreciable difference. The numbers on the controls mean a lot more than on most other guitars. Just a notch down on the tone smooths things out nicely, and tone full up gives great bite with gain. I have a show Thursday and that will tell the tale.

 

[STLMTLHD79]

Re: HSS and pot configuration to get that perfect 80s New wave tone

The 59/C is pretty mid-heavy so the cleans from it alone are limited, as far as the ways I plan to use it. But the position 4 split is excellent - splitting to the slug of the 59/C and mixing with the middle SSL-2. So yes, that SSL-1 should work great. Basically I have full Strat sound and functionality in positions 1-4 and balls to the wall with the 59/C bridge.

I'm still using a 500K volume and 250K tone pots, and I've found that subtle changes on either control make an appreciable difference. The numbers on the controls mean a lot more than on most other guitars. Just a notch down on the tone smooths things out nicely, and tone full up gives great bite with gain. I have a show Thursday and that will tell the tale.

I forgot to mention a few things about this Kramer F3000. The 59/custom is not wired to a tone pot, just the 500k volume. I may have to have that one re-wired to the tone. The neck pickup is a SD hot Rails. So, looks like i just need to get an SSL-1 or SSL52 RWRP, connect the 59/custom to the tone pot and should be good to go. Looking forward to this!