Joys/challenges of low output Humbuckers

[papersoul]

Re: Joys/challenges of low output Humbuckers

The problem is that anything with 42 gauge wire, even wound to 9.5k+ never seems to sound right for modern hard rock in the Tool-ish realm. Always sounds like I am forcing a vintage voiced pickup to do something it is not meant to do.

 

[Sludgenutz]

Re: Joys/challenges of low output Humbuckers

Since 1939, people have been trying to make a guitar sound like a sax.

I agree about the saxophone tone to a large extent, but I have been chasing the tone of big block V8's.:usa1:

edit: For neck pickups, I like a lower output. I tend to leave both pickup on a lot of the time, and roll back on the neck volume...so a lower, less boomy neck tone is nice. I have a 490R in my Gibson which a well known mud monster, but it is wired up permanently as a parallel bucker.

The Anderson H1 is a wonderful neck pickup. At 6.3K it is clean, and articulate. The split tone sounds better than I can play. I know others could really get into this pickup, as well as other Andersons.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Joys/challenges of low output Humbuckers

allan holdsworth has that 'sax' thing down...although a lot faster. i tend to think higher output pickups compress too much, and you don't have the dynamic range of something weaker- it tends to make many players sound the same.

 

[Orange]

Re: Joys/challenges of low output Humbuckers

Like a SAX _ yeah it-s true, electric guitar doesn-t have anything to do with classical guitar or acoustic, it has the sustain and screamslike a Sax does.

However someone made a joke on the harmonica earlier. I think the hramonica is a great instrument, one of my favourites it's so pure and make every song sound so nostalgic.
You can sound like a harmonica playing with the fingers, using a crunch and a volume pedal to do the violin effect.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Joys/challenges of low output Humbuckers

Well any Tele Bridge pup is going to have more perceived guts and balls than an equivalent strat pup because of the mounting and stringing.
Luke

...and the baseplate.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Joys/challenges of low output Humbuckers

allan holdsworth has that 'sax' thing down...although a lot faster. i tend to think higher output pickups compress too much, and you don't have the dynamic range of something weaker- it tends to make many players sound the same.

I got to see him at a clinic at a Carvin outlet several years ago -- plugging his Carvin guitar models. He talked at some length about how jealous he is of horn players, that he really doesn't like overdrive or distortion at all but it's the only way he can get the sustain he needs to "do things with the note" the way horn players do.

He is definitely Exhibit A in guitar players chasing the sax tone -- and has done a great job with it. You can't hear the difference from a picked note, hammered note, or pull-off when he does it.

 

[Shibby]

Re: Joys/challenges of low output Humbuckers

To weak is just a drag...

But generally, vintage output pickups make you work a little harder to shape the tone with your hands.

That's a good thing...puts more of your own personality into your playing and gives you a more unique tone.

High output pickups tend to make everyone who uses them sound more similar or the same, IMO.

It's why I rarely bring my guitars with humbuckers and usuually bring my Tele or Strat to the gig.

Lew

Coulndn't say more , Lew.. you're the true tonemaster:bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:

 

[alanfc]

Re: Joys/challenges of low output Humbuckers

Even though alan has thanked everyone, don't stop, keep coming with the answers!

bump,

and an updated question related to this......



You (all of You, not Rainmaker),
you changed out your S.Demon LesPaul bridge PUP for the Alnico Pro II.

Do you still have the APH in there??
How about amp settings, sustain, clarity, etc...and how about live and loud with the band. One guitar band or two guitar band.?

Have you switched back the S.Demon? And why...

THANKS

(oops my S.Demon is a "TB", will it fit in my LesPaul?)

 

[kdaviper]

Re: Joys/challenges of low output Humbuckers

low output pickups are for people who arent into blowing peoples guts out of their eyes 100percent of the time.
not for me.

 

[kdaviper]

Re: Joys/challenges of low output Humbuckers

yea, I'll be buying the AHB-2's as soon as possible

 

[gnoj_LL]

Re: Joys/challenges of low output Humbuckers

i think i'm cracking up reading these posts. i'm sure that you all know what you're talking about, but why would anyone want a guitar to sound like a sax? pardon my ignorance.

warm sounding.

i recorded a short guitar lead before using a lo-fi recorder and it turned out really warm and smooth. the the tone sounded like a saxophone. like the Bread leads played in a cassete tape, type of sound..

 

[donahue]

Re: Joys/challenges of low output Humbuckers

or 22k w/ an EMG afterbuner LOL, but that has its time and place

 

[Petrovsk Mizinski]

Re: Joys/challenges of low output Humbuckers

Maybe I'm just odd, but I don't even think the JB was as hot as I expected. I think it's got pretty good harmonics, and cleans up fairly well too, it's a good balance between really hot and low output.
That said, I've got an Alnico II pro bucker in my neck position, sounds great on cleans, coil splits really well,but can muddy up on the E string under heavy gain.

 

[NoOnesFang13]

Re: Joys/challenges of low output Humbuckers

Crank that Little '59 up there a little closer to the strings. With some humbuckers, depending on their wind, and magnet strength (yes it matters even though it's not in direct contact with the strings), they can get muddier the closer they get to the strings but open up when backed off. Then there's some that sound wonderful when they're right up there and horrid when backed off. You just have to mess with it and listen for the sweet spot. You'll know it when you hear it.

I agree with that I have a Dimarzio Virtual Hot PAF and when i put it in the middle and neck pickups were louder, the neck pickup BTW was almost flush with the pickguard, Anyway so i raised the bridge pickup up, and definatly found the sweet spot. You will hear it...:beerchug:

 

[Micah]

Re: Joys/challenges of low output Humbuckers

Even though alan has thanked everyone, don't stop, keep coming with the answers!

Gees man! Whats up with the pic?? I thought we were talking about pickups and then Im scrolling down and my pants start getting tight....:dunno:

 

[Micah]

Re: Joys/challenges of low output Humbuckers

I tend to like low-mid in the bridge, about 9.5k with a slug coil wound about 0.7k hotter than the screw coil. You get good punch but keep the vintage chime.

This is really interesting... How are you getting this variation? Is it custom wound or is it a hybrid of 2 particular pickups? Which pickups are they if it is a hybrid?

 

[Micah]

Re: Joys/challenges of low output Humbuckers

What about a Duncan CC? This is over 14k and alnico II....so does this mean it would have almost no bass?

Correct--the CC is very rolled off in the Bass dept--B-M-T is 3-7-7. Also the treble is less aparent as well (both charactoristics of the magnet). Its a very mids-y sound. I think one of the most amazing ways to hear the difference magnets make are to try all 3 of the Custom pickups-The Custom Custom, Custom 5 and the Duncan Custom. All 3 are exactly the same wind but have A2 in the CC and an A5 in the C5 and a Ceramic in the Custom. Huge variance in tone--

 

[Micah]

Re: Joys/challenges of low output Humbuckers

Nope. Weak pinch harmonics = weak technique. Keep practicing. :bigthumb:

I'll agree--Not that Im great @ them either--but Ive tried some pretty hot humbuckers and still had som issue with hetting these harmonics out tof them--the Duncan Distortion was the easiest I would say though--

 

[Micah]

Re: Joys/challenges of low output Humbuckers

Since 1939, people have been trying to make a guitar sound like a sax.

+1! The Sax was the original lead instrument in rock and roll! I think some time in the 50's someone tried using a guitar for lead. Before then it was a rhythm instrument--