Looking For SD Pickup ideas

[deadmeat]

Hey all –

I am refitting a guitar, and thought I’d try Seymor’s. I usually use EMG, but wanted a passive solution this time, and a buddy of mine loves them, so….

I play Fusion and Rock. I primarily use late 80 and early 90 Ibanez S540 “Sabers” – Thin mahogany bodies, HSH configurations (all). I use Mesa Boogie Mark IV and Triaxis amps with Mesa 2:90 power through stereo 2x12 oversized sealed enclosures. I also use a TC G-Force and an Eventide 3000. Here are the sound styles I usually go for:

1) Bridge – Allan Holdsworth clean and distortion: Smooth saturated distortion without too much brittle high-end , excellent low-mids, and a good low balance. Someone siad "JB" for this?

2) Center (or mix) – Frank Gambale ultra clean: Good hi-end, bright hi-mids, and not too much lows (but not hollow or low-lacking either).

3) Neck – Scofeild “Burned Brown” semi-distorted or Archtop-Clean: Well, you know – kinda hard to describe, but if clean, lots of low (without muddiness), good low-mids, and not too much highs. If semi-distorted just listen to Scofield, and you got it (I typically use a Gibson 137 for this tone, but would like to be able to get close to that with the solid-bodies).


Ok – thanks in advance for any ideas on which SDs to stick in there -

 

[rspst14]

Re: Looking For SD Pickup ideas

My pick: JB bridge, SSL-1 middle, Alnico 2 Pro neck.

Ryan

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Looking For SD Pickup ideas

My pick: JB bridge, SSL-1 middle, Alnico 2 Pro neck.

Ryan

I'm with Ryan but also think you should consider the Custom for the bridge, and also the Jazz for the neck. I've got a generic pup breakdown if you'd like me to post it.

Luke

 

[deadmeat]

Re: Looking For SD Pickup ideas

Sure - that would be cool. Any info would be great to help me make a desc before smacking down the dollars.

 

[tone4days]

Re: Looking For SD Pickup ideas

ah, i answered your other thread ... nice axe ya got there (see my avatar )

FG uses a hot rails in the middle of his signature yamaha guitar and he gets those cool clean sounds for chording accompaniment ... i use a duckbucker because i go mostly for a bluesy quack when i combine the middle (or by itself) ...

you HAVE to try a 59 in the neck ... it gets a GREAT sound for what you are describing ... the pickup itself warms up the thinness of the tiny body on that guitar, which in turn, keeps the pickup from getting too muddy ... really likes the tone control too ... i have an AiiP in my Brian Moore, but it isnt Sco-like ... i nail the 'still warm' tones with my 540s and a little chorus ... in fact, my 540s sounds more Sco-like in the neck than my ibanez semi hollow (i think the X500-XLs have something to do with that ) ...

for the bridge, i think you'd like a CC in order to get more holdsworth-esque tone ... i have a C5, which is more scooped ... i am winding myself a "two screw bobbins" CC at users group day for exactly this reason ... i love the JB in my brian moore, but it is in no way anything like a holdsworth esque tone ... i do not think you'll be happy with it in that guitar for that sonic objective

good luck
t4d

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Looking For SD Pickup ideas

Antiquity---A pup that is hand made by Seymour or MJ that has been artificially aged. The magnet has been degaussed and the cover has been distresses along with the screws so as to appear vintage. Everything is done to make these pups as close to an original that you would buy from a collector that was out of a guitar that was played everyday and gigged with. They have complex mids and are smooth. They are available in A2 or A5 magnet varieties. Vintage 2 Conductor Wire

The 59---The 59 is the quintessential A5 PAF (patent applied for) pup. Imagine getting in a time machine and going back to 1959 and swiping a brand new A5 pup from the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo and bringing it forward to today. They have found most homes in many neck slots. It has symetrical coils and lots of quack. It has thumping bass, a scooped mid, and cutting highs. Vintage 2 Conductor Wire

The Seth Lover---This pup is as true to the original as can be. This pup is unpotted and comes standard with a gold, or nickel pup cover. It has an A2 magnet and has good quack and fair mids. For this pup imagine going back in time to 1955 and grabbing one of the very first PAF's before they debuted in the LP's. This pup is warm and creamy, but can also get bright with the tone knob on 10. Vintage 2 Conductor Wire

The Alnico 2 Pro---The warmest of the Duncan PAF line. It has symetrical coils and is a modern take on the A2 PAFs. It has round bass and smooth treble, it also has lots of mids to make the guitar really sing. It will warm up the coldest or shrillest of guitars. The most well known Alnico 2 Pro user is Slash of Velvet Revolver and GNR. Standard 4 Conductor Wire

Pearly Gates---The PG is the hottest of the Duncan PAF line. It has asymetrical (mismatched) coils and an A2 magnet. The mismatched coils give this particular pup its rude personality. It has a frequency push in the Presence/Cut knob frequency band. This is the "Sizzle" PG owner talk about. It has the most mids of the Ducan PAF line and is also the hottest. Its patron is Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. Standard 4 conductor Wire

The Jazz---The jazz is the pup that bridges the gap between Vintage and Modern pups. Its output is at or around the vintage level. Don't let the name fool you this pup is very versatile and smooth. It has an A5 magnet and is very widely used in the neck slot. It is articulate regardless of the tuning as well. This pup negociates cleans or overdrive very well. Standard 4 Conductor Wire

The Custom Series---The Custom Series is all one pup configuration but with different magnets. The coils are symmetrical and the pups come with Standard 4 Conductor wire

Custom---The Custom is a PAF kicked up a few notches. This pup gets its aggressive edge from its Ceramic magnet. This pup has lots of grind with good treble and midrange. It also has ample bass for palm mute playing.

Custom Custom---The Custom Custom is a midrange heavy pup that lends itself to leads and warming bright guitars. This pup gets its huge midrange from the Alnico 2 magnet. I has smooth bass and treble. Essentially it is an overwound A2 PAF.

Custom 5---The Custom 5 is a pup with an EQ very identical to The 59. It has thumping bass, scooped mids, and cutting treble. Like the 59 it is a bright pup that will liven up dark guitar, but the bass can be overwhelming in a bassy guitar, or the the treble overwhelming in a trebly guitar.

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Looking For SD Pickup ideas

JB---The JB is in a class of its own. There is really no other pup like it. It has fair bass and lots of treble. This particular pup has a large upper mids spike that allow it to cut through the mix like no other. It can be heard on countless recording especially throughout the 80's. Lots of people like to pair it with a Jazz or 59 in the neck. In bright guitars it is usually soldered to a 250k pot just like the original Seymour made 30 years ago.


There you go man!

BTW, WELCOME TO THE FORUM!!!

 

[deadmeat]

Re: Looking For SD Pickup ideas

Sweet - thanks all. Luke, thanks for posting that - very helpfull.
Tone4days - Yea, I love the old Sabers - got tons of them (I pick them up and customize them whenever I see them - check this one out - my main axe:

 

[tone4days]

Re: Looking For SD Pickup ideas

dude, i checked your website ... your dragon sabre RULES!! .... is that inlay or paint?

very drool-worthy! .. nice live rig you got there too ...

are you upgrading the dragon or the yellow?

cheers
t4d

 

[deadmeat]

Re: Looking For SD Pickup ideas

Thanks much. Actually, Iv'e got to post pics of the other Sabers - about 10 more that are not on the site. The two that I'm thinking about upgrading are an older black finish w/shark fins, and a newer 1520 (babinga - sp?).

That's all inlay work. Got a few like that - body done by Pat Parker in Southern Maryland, and the neck and headstocks done by me. I'm starting to do bodies now as well.

 

[deadmeat]

Re: Looking For SD Pickup ideas

ah, i answered your other thread ... nice axe ya got there (see my avatar )

FG uses a hot rails in the middle of his signature yamaha guitar and he gets those cool clean sounds for chording accompaniment ... i use a duckbucker because i go mostly for a bluesy quack when i combine the middle (or by itself) ...

you HAVE to try a 59 in the neck ... it gets a GREAT sound for what you are describing ... the pickup itself warms up the thinness of the tiny body on that guitar, which in turn, keeps the pickup from getting too muddy ... really likes the tone control too ... i have an AiiP in my Brian Moore, but it isnt Sco-like ... i nail the 'still warm' tones with my 540s and a little chorus ... in fact, my 540s sounds more Sco-like in the neck than my ibanez semi hollow (i think the X500-XLs have something to do with that ) ...

for the bridge, i think you'd like a CC in order to get more holdsworth-esque tone ... i have a C5, which is more scooped ... i am winding myself a "two screw bobbins" CC at users group day for exactly this reason ... i love the JB in my brian moore, but it is in no way anything like a holdsworth esque tone ... i do not think you'll be happy with it in that guitar for that sonic objective

good luck
t4d

What is the CC? (Sorry - I'm a little confused about the naming convention)

 

[Nite_Maresz_25]

Re: Looking For SD Pickup ideas

What is the CC? (Sorry - I'm a little confused about the naming convention)

The CC is the custom custom. Its like all the other buckers that have 'custom' in the name but this one has and Alnico 2 magnet. It has somewhat low bass, but have good amouts of treble and midrange.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Looking For SD Pickup ideas

The CC is the Custom Custom. It's the same pickup as the Custom, or the C5, but with an Alnico II magnet. It has nice lows, smooth, but not too tight or dense. The mids are super sweet and the highs sing without being brittle. IMO it can cover from classic rock thru singing hard rock leads no problem. It takes gain very well, and doesn't muddy up like some other pups do...especially in a lighter weight, thin body guitar like what you are using.

I'm not to famalier with center singles, as I don't have a guitar in that configuration. I'd go with a flat pole piece vintage pup however if it were mine, maybe an APS-2.

For the neck I think the APH humbucker is the ticket. It is the sweetest, smoothest, creamyest neck bucker out there in my opinion. It has a great warm clean tone, yet still retains a little bit of shimmer. It also soaks up all the gain you can throw at it, and still retains clarity.

My recording any playing skills are not in your league, but you are welcome to click on my soundclips down in my sig, and listen to Heavens Door and All Right now. Heavens door is the APH for clean and leads, and CC for distorted rythym. All Right Now is all CC. Both were done thru my Boss GT-6 direct to computer, but I can replicate the sounds very closely using my modded JCM 800.

Good Luck.

 

[tone4days]

Re: Looking For SD Pickup ideas

hey deadmeat ... i am kinda busy the next weekend, but if you want, maybe we could arrange to get together and you could play my 540s with the C5, duck, and 59 .. i live in ellicott city, not too far north on 29 from your area ... you could also try the brian moore with the AIIP and JB ... it is actually pretty similar to the 540 in alot of ways

let me know
cheers
t4d

 

[deadmeat]

Re: Looking For SD Pickup ideas

That actually sounds good. I got a pretty cool studio at the house in Silver Spring if you wanted to make the trek down here? anyhow, email me at scott@postmodernblues.