Never too old for a first impression

[misterwhizzy]

I've been playing guitar poorly for a long time now--my recent foray into attempting to double track made that abundantly clear--but I think I've just now entered the world of low-output pickups. I'm not positive it's a place I'll stay, but a few observations. Maybe you share them, maybe not.

I just put a new SH-1B into my Les Paul after having had God knows how many different pickups in that spot. Distortion, Crazy 8, about every Duncan Custom variant known to the forum, Super Distortion, Blackouts, Screamin' Demon, along with magnet-swapped variants of many of those. The first thing I noticed was that the immediacy of the pick attack was pulled way back, which resulted in what I would describe as a wider sound. More growl, less punch. Since I'm trying to head towards more of a hard rock than a metal tone, this is a welcome change.

As far as EQ goes, I think I need to spend some time adjusting pole pieces and pickup height to give any type of educated opinion, but I like that I have a new tonal area to explore.

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Never too old for a first impression

I don't know if reduced attack is more associated with low output or just the '59 - the Jazz is pretty equivalent to the '59 in output, but has a decent amount more attack to my ears. For me the '59 is sort of a more bouncy pickup, but there are other vintage output pickups that offer a more immediate attack.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Never too old for a first impression

Glad you're liking what you're hearing. I love how lower output pickups respond. The latest set I have coming, from James at Re-Wind are his Low Output set. They fall in the mid 7's. I can't wait to get them.

Back to your guitars.... if you can't find the right EQ for that 59', you should try an A4 in it. Sounds wonderful. Also, you should try out a Seth Lover set while you're playing around in lower output land. They were magical in every guitar I put them in; both Les Paul and Hardtail. I love how you can hit a note an hold it, and listen to the note bloom. The one thing I didn't like about higher output pups, like the C5 in a LP, other than the mid scoop, was just how immediate the attack was, as you noted. Its like I'd hit a note and it was out of the amp before I was ready. I have the same thing with my PATB-1, very immediate note attack.

I think you can play almost any type of music with a vintage output pickup.... except the most aggressive forms of metal. I've tried all of the vintage output pickups SD makes with the exception of WLH and SNS (well. I didn't try the SNS long enough to form a true opinion) . The only one I didn't really care for was the Jazz. I think you would like most of the vintage output stuff.

If you want to borrow something low output instead of buying, just message me. I've got some spares that I could let you drive for a while. I don't have one of everything, but I do have a few.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Never too old for a first impression

I did curiously just buy an old vintage Custom, to see if it sounded any differently than the more modern Custom that I didn't care for. This one a d an even older JB are the hottest pickups I have. Oh duh, I have the PATB-1, but I so rarely play it now. I want to trade it for a PATB-3.

Are there any other vintage pickups you have or are looking to try?

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Never too old for a first impression

After playing tonight for a good while, I think it may be due for a magnet swap. I've got an A4 on hand that I had in the 59 neck for quite a while until I decided on a roughcast A3 instead. But the A5 stock is really, really close to what I want to hear, perhaps even more so than the A2 Demon just because I don't hear thinness on the D and G strings by themselves anymore.

The only really vintage output pickups I've tried for the bridge were a Jazz which I tried as A2 Pro also, and it just didn't work in this guitar at all. I wasn't expecting it to be nearly as bright as it was, and I didn't like it at all. But hold that offer for me, Jeff, because at some point, I'm going to have to try the Seth just based on your sales job.

 

[Diego]

Re: Never too old for a first impression

That's why I like the Screamin' Demon as a "best of both worlds" pickup. It punches just a bit hotter than a regular PAF pickup, and has so much dynamic range. I absolutely love it. But it can also chugga chugga it's way if you gun it.

Chords in particular ring out clearer and more even with gain, while normally turning to mush with JBs and Invaders. I really like my lower output pickups for almost everything I do, excepting the occasional oldschool Metallica tune where I'll bust out my Invader loaded guitar.

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Never too old for a first impression

^Such solid low end, even though people only talk about the highs.