Need some recommendations... HSS guitar content.

[B2D]

I've currently got my Music Man in an HSS setup with Duncans and I'm facing an issue with this guitar I've encountered before.

It's my Music Man Silhouette Special (see avatar) and I've got an STKS7 in the neck, a STKS4 in the middle, and a Brobucker in the bridge.

I'd been using DiMarzios in this guitar for a while and switched it to Duncans for the specific project/band I'm in right now. Problem is, this guitar is on the bright side as the body doesn't have a whole lot of mass compared to a Strat or a Tele, and I preferred DiMarzios because they helped fill out the sound of the overall guitar. I liked the clarity and slightly more vintage flavor of Duncans and most of the good clips I heard seemed to be what i wanted.

However, now that it's set up and running, the guitar has gone back to being on the bright side which is not what I want. Duncans just don't seem to like this guitar, at least not what I've tried.

I need the clarity and definition of the Duncans, but I need the power, full-body punch, and drive/natural compression that DiMarzios have.

What do I need? Do I need to look at a different set of Duncans? Go back to Dimarzios? Something else entirely, like BKPs?

I also think I'd like to move into blade-style pickups (or SC-sized buckers, if you prefer that term) for the neck and mid slots. I dial in my sound around the bridge pickup and when I switch over to a neck single I lose too much punch and drive.

For reference, here's the band I'm playing with at the moment if you need a context for the tones: https://soundcloud.com/sterlingband

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Need some recommendations... HSS guitar content.

I've had good luck with a Zhangbucker Crushbucker in a HSS ash strat. Put that same pickup in a maple bodied melody maker as well.

At 10.2 w/ an a2 magnet, it provided amazing clarity with plenty of "drive and punch". The top end still retained a lovely shimmer and worked well with the guitars natural tone (both very bright and snappy). I would definitely hit him up and see what he can wind for you.

Are you using a modern wiring setup? 500k all around? The only other thing I can think of is maybe switching magnets around with the brobucker.

Edit: Great tunes btw.

 

[B2D]

Re: Need some recommendations... HSS guitar content.

I've had good luck with a Zhangbucker Crushbucker in a HSS ash strat. Put that same pickup in a maple bodied melody maker as well.

At 10.2 w/ an a2 magnet, it provided amazing clarity with plenty of "drive and punch". The top end still retained a lovely shimmer and worked well with the guitars natural tone (both very bright and snappy). I would definitely hit him up and see what he can wind for you.

Are you using a modern wiring setup? 500k all around? The only other thing I can think of is maybe switching magnets around with the brobucker.

Edit: Great tunes btw.

I've never had anyone recommend Zhang's pickups directly. I'll check it out.

Currently I'm using a 5-way switch with 250ks all around.

And thanks for the compliment on the music!

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: Need some recommendations... HSS guitar content.

250k? Yikes. Well, I have some spare magnets (aged a2, a4, UOa5, a8) laying around if you want to try that before investing cash into a new pickup. I'm in the L.A. area, you should get them pretty quick.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[B2D]

Re: Need some recommendations... HSS guitar content.

If it wasn't a BroBucker I'd probably say sure, but I don't wanna screw it up and kill the resale value X( I'll keep it in mind tho.

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: Need some recommendations... HSS guitar content.

Gotcha. No problem.

I found a more in depth review of a crushbucker. I sold mine about 2 years ago, so I can't remember every detail. Different specs, but like I said, ask Zhang and he won't steer you wrong. I believe the guitar in question is a LP, so take things with a grain of salt.

A few long weeks ago, I placed an order for a Zhangliquin Crushbucker. It's 10.3k with a UOA5 polished magnet and the widebucker poles. Instead of the usual 3/16" sized slugs, they are 7/32" I think. I think they are supposed to widen the magnetic field in a way that broadens the tone and fattens it up. (I hope I explained that correctly) And the bobbins are maybe 1/4" taller than usual humbucker bobbins. Maybe to spread the wire out more and keep it closer to the poles?


...I think it sits nicely in between say...the 59 and the C5. It's meaty. VERY meaty. It's got sweet highs, never piercing nor brittle. It has solid, fat lows but not much slop, just a little extra love around the edges. The mids have a lot of muscle and clarity. They don't cut through a mix as much as they push through, and hard.

At first, I thought it was too fat of a pickup to have good harmoincs, but I finally realized that the harmonics are thick and broad, but will really jump out at you after I changed my technique a bit. It's really responsive for a heavy wind, too. Cleans up decent with lighter picking and really barks and snarls when you dig in.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Need some recommendations... HSS guitar content.

My Silhouette Special is my favorite guitar, ever. I use it with a Custom Custom and Alnico II Pro with a 5 way switch. If it was HSS, I'd use Classic Stacks in the neck & middle. The CC sounds awesome in this guitar.

 

[B2D]

Re: Need some recommendations... HSS guitar content.

My Silhouette Special is my favorite guitar, ever. I use it with a Custom Custom and Alnico II Pro with a 5 way switch. If it was HSS, I'd use Classic Stacks in the neck & middle. The CC sounds awesome in this guitar.

I actually did audition a CC in my EBMM a while back. ou can read about it here: https://forum.seymourduncan.com/sho...-Custom-Custom-review&highlight=custom+custom

In short, cool pickup but I'm gonna need something bigger and fatter sounding if I'm to stick with it.