New classic stacks vs. old classic stacks
- Thread starter tritheory
- Start date
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: New classic stacks vs. old classic stacks
The new ones sound even more like a vintage 62 style Strat pickup. More sparkle, more shimmer, a livlier and more 3 dimensional tone with more depth. Lew
The new ones sound even more like a vintage 62 style Strat pickup. More sparkle, more shimmer, a livlier and more 3 dimensional tone with more depth. Lew
frankfalbo
In Fluence Y'all
Re: New classic stacks vs. old classic stacks
I seriously can't think of any application where the old ones would be preferred over the new ones. I believe they've been usurped. The old ones were great, too. I have two of them as middles, and I won't bother replacing them with the new ones. You'll probably leave them in the Tyler too. But sometimes a genuine improvement is made, and it trumps the old design. If I had the choice I'd take the new ones every time from here on out.
The same is true for the newer Dimarzio stacks. The HS-2 & 3 are dead IMO and the Virtual Vintage killed them. Tons of guys have made good records with the old ones, and I have some of them (various IBZUSA's) but given the choice I'd take the V.V. models.
But I'd take the Duncans over the Dimarzios, too. The Duncan CS+ is definitely the new king of the hill.
I seriously can't think of any application where the old ones would be preferred over the new ones. I believe they've been usurped. The old ones were great, too. I have two of them as middles, and I won't bother replacing them with the new ones. You'll probably leave them in the Tyler too. But sometimes a genuine improvement is made, and it trumps the old design. If I had the choice I'd take the new ones every time from here on out.
The same is true for the newer Dimarzio stacks. The HS-2 & 3 are dead IMO and the Virtual Vintage killed them. Tons of guys have made good records with the old ones, and I have some of them (various IBZUSA's) but given the choice I'd take the V.V. models.
But I'd take the Duncans over the Dimarzios, too. The Duncan CS+ is definitely the new king of the hill.
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: New classic stacks vs. old classic stacks
That's what I hear too. The new ones are a little brighter and more open.
When Duncan sent me my first set of the prototypes of the new version to critique, I asked Evan to raise the polepieces a little and give the pickups a little more snap and treble.
The next version had those changes and when I compared them to the pickups in my '63 Strat I felt Duncan had come up with the only noiseless Strat pickup that was good enough for me. I then played them from June of 2005 and throughout the year. Didn't play any of my other Strats except when I wanted to refresh my ears and compare the Stacks again.
They're the best noiseless Strat pickups on the market.
Lew
davedvdy said:
That's what I hear too. The new ones are a little brighter and more open.
When Duncan sent me my first set of the prototypes of the new version to critique, I asked Evan to raise the polepieces a little and give the pickups a little more snap and treble.
The next version had those changes and when I compared them to the pickups in my '63 Strat I felt Duncan had come up with the only noiseless Strat pickup that was good enough for me. I then played them from June of 2005 and throughout the year. Didn't play any of my other Strats except when I wanted to refresh my ears and compare the Stacks again.
They're the best noiseless Strat pickups on the market.
Lew
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: New classic stacks vs. old classic stacks
I think they're within about 5% of the tone of my old pickups and that might be as close as it's possible to get.
The Stacks are a little thicker sounding...but just a little. I hear the mids as being a little less 3 dimensional in the Stacks, but only upon a direct comparism with the real deal.
However, according to Evan, if you split the Stacks you'll get the top coil only and that top coil only will sound just like a vintage Strat pickup.
Lew
davedvdy said:
I think they're within about 5% of the tone of my old pickups and that might be as close as it's possible to get.
The Stacks are a little thicker sounding...but just a little. I hear the mids as being a little less 3 dimensional in the Stacks, but only upon a direct comparism with the real deal.
However, according to Evan, if you split the Stacks you'll get the top coil only and that top coil only will sound just like a vintage Strat pickup.
Lew
Re: New classic stacks vs. old classic stacks
The store in my area had a neck and middle classic stack plus in stock, so I took my Tyler down there to have them installed and give them a try. I am looking forward to hearing the difference. I always felt that the old stacks in conjunction with the demeter preamp in my tyler did not have the sparkle and snap I like...
Steve
The store in my area had a neck and middle classic stack plus in stock, so I took my Tyler down there to have them installed and give them a try. I am looking forward to hearing the difference. I always felt that the old stacks in conjunction with the demeter preamp in my tyler did not have the sparkle and snap I like...
Steve
davedvdy
New member
Re: New classic stacks vs. old classic stacks
Quite a few people have said this about the Dimarzio Virtual Vintage pickups as well (the other noiseless PU Tyler uses), which I personally think are better than the old Stack, as well as countless other noiseless designs.
As soon as I took the Virtual Vintages out of my Strat and put in the Suhr V60LP's (the usual regular single coil Tyler uses), I noticed that all the single coil characteristics came back...and of course with it came the 60 cycle hum...lol!
It looks like Lew's input on these pluses really helped them become a great pickup. I just read that a couple of people in this forum liked them more than the Kinmans...they must be great!
I just looked at mine, that I'm having installed Monday. Looks like the only very small downside is that the covers are non-removable (or at least that I can see).
tritheory said:
Quite a few people have said this about the Dimarzio Virtual Vintage pickups as well (the other noiseless PU Tyler uses), which I personally think are better than the old Stack, as well as countless other noiseless designs.
As soon as I took the Virtual Vintages out of my Strat and put in the Suhr V60LP's (the usual regular single coil Tyler uses), I noticed that all the single coil characteristics came back...and of course with it came the 60 cycle hum...lol!
It looks like Lew's input on these pluses really helped them become a great pickup. I just read that a couple of people in this forum liked them more than the Kinmans...they must be great!
I just looked at mine, that I'm having installed Monday. Looks like the only very small downside is that the covers are non-removable (or at least that I can see).
Robert S.
Super Moderator
Re: New classic stacks vs. old classic stacks
The new Stack Plus pickups really are killer sounding if you like vintage Strat pickup tone without the hum.
That being said I still like the older Classic and Hot Stacks for Strat. I find them particularily useful when used between humbuckers with 500k pots where traditional Strat pickups might be too bright.
I have a Hot stack in between a JB and a lil59 in my Frankenstrat with 500K pots and the tone from that guitar is very nice across all five positions. I have done simular things with the Classic Stacks with equally good results.
There's something for everybody, gotta love that!
The new Stack Plus pickups really are killer sounding if you like vintage Strat pickup tone without the hum.
That being said I still like the older Classic and Hot Stacks for Strat. I find them particularily useful when used between humbuckers with 500k pots where traditional Strat pickups might be too bright.
I have a Hot stack in between a JB and a lil59 in my Frankenstrat with 500K pots and the tone from that guitar is very nice across all five positions. I have done simular things with the Classic Stacks with equally good results.
There's something for everybody, gotta love that!
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: New classic stacks vs. old classic stacks
I've been meaning to try that. Yeah go for it. The middle Stack Plus is RW/RP so that when you split it and the neck pickup and combine them you'll still have humcancelling. Pretty Cool!
Lew
tritheory said:
I've been meaning to try that. Yeah go for it. The middle Stack Plus is RW/RP so that when you split it and the neck pickup and combine them you'll still have humcancelling. Pretty Cool!
Lew
Similar threads
