less bass, tight low end and high mids

[donbarzini]

in a solid mahogony floyd strat, custom 5 (sh-14) in there now. what's out there? I thought about the Custom Custom SH-11 but maybe too dark? Maybe the '78? I don't like a lot of low end, I like tight bottom yet chewiness and sparkly top end as well.

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: less bass, tight low end and high mids

imo, chewiness is inherent in a looser bass response mixed with very gritty breakup in the upper mids. something like a PG or '78 would probably work real well for what you're looking for.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: less bass, tight low end and high mids

It would help to know what sort of amplification and effect pedals you are using. What sort(s) of sound are you trying to produce?

 

[donbarzini]

Re: less bass, tight low end and high mids

It would help to know what sort of amplification and effect pedals you are using. What sort(s) of sound are you trying to produce?

Stock NMV Marshalls, sometimes a TS-808 or OD-1. Rock, nothing more than 80's levels of gain though and I'm not even going into Metallica territory. Tried a PG before in an alder body with Floyd, great sounding but still had a lot of bass in that pickup, I thought so anyway.

 

[blueman335]

Re: less bass, tight low end and high mids

You don't need to buy a new PU, just swap the magent. That's what Duncan did to create the Custom (ceramic), CC (A2), and C5 (A5). And A4 or A8 magnet in your PU will take off some bass, and still leave it tight. Try those, then decide if you need another pU.

 

[donbarzini]

Re: less bass, tight low end and high mids

You don't need to buy a new PU, just swap the magent. That's what Duncan did to create the Custom (ceramic), CC (A2), and C5 (A5). And A4 or A8 magnet in your PU will take off some bass, and still leave it tight. Try those, then decide if you need another pU.

I will consider that. I'm still leaning towards trying a '78, I'm thinking it would be a good fit with mahogany and more in the output range that I prefer.

 

[donbarzini]

Re: less bass, tight low end and high mids

You don't need to buy a new PU, just swap the magent. That's what Duncan did to create the Custom (ceramic), CC (A2), and C5 (A5). And A4 or A8 magnet in your PU will take off some bass, and still leave it tight. Try those, then decide if you need another pU.

I've been thinking more about the A2 in a Custom. Are there differences among different A2 magnets? Degaused, etc?

 

[blueman335]

Re: less bass, tight low end and high mids

I've been thinking more about the A2 in a Custom. Are there differences among different A2 magnets? Degaused, etc?

I use the common polished A2 in neck PU's for the slightly sharper sound, and roughcast A2's in the bridge for a smoother high end. With them being a low power magnet to begin with, I haven't used degaussed A2's.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: less bass, tight low end and high mids

Sounds like you're describing a JB2, it's slightly tighter in the low end than a stock JB, or at least seems that way. I think chewy is more a function of the big midrange from the A2, the JB2 has a load of it. I've not experienced the CC, but I've seen people say the JB2 has more bite and is not as dark, and I don't think it's dark or lacking top end.

The DiMartini and Lynch pickups are both closely related to the JB and have A2 magnets, as well as the Holdsworth.

 

[donbarzini]

Re: less bass, tight low end and high mids

I use the common polished A2 in neck PU's for the slightly sharper sound, and roughcast A2's in the bridge for a smoother high end. With them being a low power magnet to begin with, I haven't used degaussed A2's.

I'm thinking with a solid mahogany body and a Floyd rose, the common polished A2 wish a sharper edge may work out well. Is that what they use in a stock SH-11? I never swapped a mag but I'm sure it wouldn't be too difficult. A solid strat mahogany body already has a bold tone with a bigger low end so even if a pickup is stated to be "thin" sounding with a Floyd, that may be a good thing.

 

[donbarzini]

Re: less bass, tight low end and high mids

Sounds like you're describing a JB2, it's slightly tighter in the low end than a stock JB, or at least seems that way. I think chewy is more a function of the big midrange from the A2, the JB2 has a load of it. I've not experienced the CC, but I've seen people say the JB2 has more bite and is not as dark, and I don't think it's dark or lacking top end.

The DiMartini and Lynch pickups are both closely related to the JB and have A2 magnets, as well as the Holdsworth.

I have a lot of experience with the JB, I have an old 80's one in one guitar and I think that's probably what a newer one with an A2 would sound like, it seems a bit sweeter but I don't want to go with any form of JB in this mahogany/floyd strat.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: less bass, tight low end and high mids

I can't vouch for new vs. old, but a newer JB with the mag swapped (I used a polished A2) is a vastly different pickup from stock.

I imagine the CC is a polished mag, I've not seen a duncan with anything rough cast, and by all accounts if the CC had a rough cast A2 it would be even warmer/darker.