Need bridge pickup help
- Thread starter ToolmasterOfBrainerd
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ToolmasterOfBrainerd
New member
I've been playing with the 59/custom hybrid a lot this week and I'm having a problem. If I'm standing in front of a loud high gain amp (at the band's practice volume), I get uncontrolled high pitch feedback, as if the pickup is not correctly wax potted. I know I'm putting the pickup into a very harsh environment, but I haven't had this problem with other Seymour Duncan pickups before (or pickups from other good brands).
As for the sound, I like the 59/custom hybrid a lot, but I don't love it. I'm not sure exactly how to describe it. I can get some good chugs if I have an overdrive on, but without the overdrive it's almost like I'm playing a middle pickup instead of a bridge pickup. It's fantastic for lead playing, but it's not quite what I want for rhythm. The mismatched coils also make it quite noisy with high gain.
I can definitely live with the noise floor and make the sound work for me. Especially because I haven't done any magnet swaps yet, and I'm still dialing in the rest of the rig to match the pickup. I do really like some of the sounds I'm getting. However, the uncontrolled squealing is a huge problem for me. I don't want to be fighting that every single band practice and gig.
I did buy this pickup new, so I could do a 21 day exchange or reach out to customer service if the wax potting is defective on this one. Thoughts?
As for the sound, I like the 59/custom hybrid a lot, but I don't love it. I'm not sure exactly how to describe it. I can get some good chugs if I have an overdrive on, but without the overdrive it's almost like I'm playing a middle pickup instead of a bridge pickup. It's fantastic for lead playing, but it's not quite what I want for rhythm. The mismatched coils also make it quite noisy with high gain.
I can definitely live with the noise floor and make the sound work for me. Especially because I haven't done any magnet swaps yet, and I'm still dialing in the rest of the rig to match the pickup. I do really like some of the sounds I'm getting. However, the uncontrolled squealing is a huge problem for me. I don't want to be fighting that every single band practice and gig.
I did buy this pickup new, so I could do a 21 day exchange or reach out to customer service if the wax potting is defective on this one. Thoughts?
beaubrummels
Well-known member
If it were me, I might just return/exchange within the 21-day. Bummer because it takes time for shipping the exchange.
FWIW there are things you can do without returning it that might solve it, like putting 2-sided tape on the slug bobbin under the cover, or a little bit of wax on the slug bobbin and melting it into the cover with a hair dryer (not too hot, but enough to keep the cover/pickup from oscillating under high gain. I honestly haven't had to do these myself, I've just read repeatedly on here and other forums how guys have done that and it solved their problem.
FWIW there are things you can do without returning it that might solve it, like putting 2-sided tape on the slug bobbin under the cover, or a little bit of wax on the slug bobbin and melting it into the cover with a hair dryer (not too hot, but enough to keep the cover/pickup from oscillating under high gain. I honestly haven't had to do these myself, I've just read repeatedly on here and other forums how guys have done that and it solved their problem.
ToolmasterOfBrainerd
New member
Lots of gain. Light compressor, then an overdrive, and into a high gain amp. My playstyle is weird. I don't use a pick, so I need a lot of gain to get heavy palm mutes while playing with fingernails. I keep the gain as low as I can for the sound I'm going for, but it's still a lot of gain and compression. And when the volume of the amp goes up, I bring the gain down too. Less gain is needed with high volumes.
Under the same conditions, I don't have any problems with a PRS 85/15, a Seymour Duncan JB, or a Pegasus that I have in other guitars. And I didn't notice any problems with the regular Custom either. Just the Hybrid.
ToolmasterOfBrainerd
New member
This one is uncovered, unfortunately. I think I'll try the 21 day exchange. Bummer because after playing a bit more and swapping between guitars, I actually really like how this pickup sounds. All I've played in the last month is this guitar... I forgot what the others sound like! The grass really isn't greener; this is an awesome pickup for this guitar and my sound. But between the noise floor and the microphonics, I think I need to try something else.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
I'm gonna go wayyyyyyyyyy outside the box here. Go back to whatever pickup of the first three you like the best and try a really good parametric EQ.
This almost sounds like it is a structural issue with the guitar. Like an acoustic that just has resonant frequency that feeds back. And a really narrow notch filter (AKA super tight parametric EQ) would be my solution.
You seem to have more than enough pickups that almost do it for you.
Look into an Empress Para EQ Deluxe, or something along those lines. I suspect Revival has something like that as well.
This almost sounds like it is a structural issue with the guitar. Like an acoustic that just has resonant frequency that feeds back. And a really narrow notch filter (AKA super tight parametric EQ) would be my solution.
You seem to have more than enough pickups that almost do it for you.
Look into an Empress Para EQ Deluxe, or something along those lines. I suspect Revival has something like that as well.
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ToolmasterOfBrainerd
New member
I actually have a Wampler Equator in the mail, but I'm planning on putting it in the effects loop. If it doesn't work there the way I'm hoping, I could move it to the front of the amp.
Last night after band practice I pulled the 59/custom hybrid out and put a Custom 5 back in. The uncontrolled squeals are a little too much. I'm playing in a different room now, with some sound treatment, compared to the last time I tried the custom 5. I'm hoping all the bad junk I was hearing was from the room. I'm about to go practice for a bit and find out.
The EQuator is a great-sounding pedal but I don't find the Q on the narrow knob to be narrow enough for surgical feedback removal. Maybe it'll work for you? That pedal shines as a tone-shaping boost and there have been some instances where I preferred it to OD for guitar lead tones. My guitar amp has a graphic built in, so I've only ever used it up front, never tried in the loop. It also has a front-row seat in my bass setup.
ToolmasterOfBrainerd
New member
Update: Custom 5 is back in the guitar, and it sounds pretty good. I don't love it, but I like it. This is a special guitar, even if it's not the best guitar, so I'm willing to search until I find a pickup I love. At least the noise issues are significantly improved.
59 custom hybrid is going back in the mail today to be exchanged for a Perpetual Burn. I don't know if the perpetual burn is the answer, but at least now I'll satiate my curiosity about it.
I don't know my Dimarzio pickups very well, but based on their description, the PAF Pro sounds like a great option. Thanks for the suggestion! I will very likely try this at some point.
I also played a Sterling by Music Man Luke guitar recently and I really liked the Transition pickups in it. They sounded nice through a 5150. That's another one I'm going to keep my eye on.
59 custom hybrid is going back in the mail today to be exchanged for a Perpetual Burn. I don't know if the perpetual burn is the answer, but at least now I'll satiate my curiosity about it.
I don't know my Dimarzio pickups very well, but based on their description, the PAF Pro sounds like a great option. Thanks for the suggestion! I will very likely try this at some point.
I also played a Sterling by Music Man Luke guitar recently and I really liked the Transition pickups in it. They sounded nice through a 5150. That's another one I'm going to keep my eye on.
ToolmasterOfBrainerd
New member
Last update: I used the 21 day exchange to get a Jason Becker Perpetual Burn. This one will definitely be in the guitar for awhile. Rich lead tone, good palm mutes, low noise. I'm happy!
Thanks all for the help!
Thanks all for the help!
ErikH
Well-known member
The PB is a good choice. It can get really thick with the bass side up too high so play with the pickup height to get the balance you like with your rig. I love the PB too and have it in a HSS Strat with 2 STK-4 Classic Stack Plus singles. It's a great setup for anything.
ToolmasterOfBrainerd
New member
I noticed that. I put it up close to the strings and it didn't sound tight anymore! I'd rather have it sound good when lower anyway, so this works well for me.
This guitar is also a HSS strat with a classic stack in the neck, but I have a hot rails in the middle. The middle hot rails on its own is a great sound for high gain lead playing. And splitting both the hot rails and the classic stack, I get nice strat position 4 sounds too.
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