Parallel Axis Stack (PATB) , Neck Position

Jeff_H

Jeff_H

Dean Hardtail Fanologist
I am really on a roll lately getting all these little guitar projects done, since my back is out and I've been home.

I got around to installing the Parallel Axis (PATB) Stack in the neck of my Alvarez Dana Scoop....it was everthing I had hoped for. It had the same sweetness and smoothness as the Original PATB, clarity, string defination warmth, really really good. Suprisingly even riffing chords in the neck position wasn't muddy. Rolling the tone all the way down gave it a very vocal, vowel like sound. Tone knob around 5 was a very close match to the Cliffs Of Dover sound....that kind of smooth, silky feel.

I am so very impressed with the PATB series of pickups, like I haven't been impressed by gear in a really, really long time. I can't believe I've waited so long to try these, and I can't believe they don't get more mention around here. They are definately on the modern side of the sound spectrum, but they do a very decent job at sounding vintage...they're not obviously out of place when trying to cop these tones. But they absolutely shine under gain, the clarity and articulation is amazing.

The guitar this pickup is in has a somewhat unusual neck pickup route, and the fit was very, very tight, because the corners of the PATB stack are square, and not rounded off like a strat. It needed a little shove to get it straight, because I had to force it a bit into the slot...and the screwdriver slipped into the coils, and I think it cut some of the windings...because the thing went deader than a doornail. I just needed to get it a little closer to the strings to balance and it would have been perfect...now I can't get any sound out of it.....ARGH.

So, I'm going to have to send it in to get repaired. Major bummer, because I was really looking forward to playing this more tonight. It will probably take 3-4 weeks to send it to SD, get it repaired and get it back. Oh well.

At any rate, this is a fabulous, fabulous pickup. An Original PATB in the bridge and two of these singles in a H/S/S would be a wicked, wicked combination for all types of rock, blues, metal...man.

Do yourself a favor and try these. Most underated pickups SD makes by far, IMHO.
 
Re: Parallel Axis Stack (PATB) , Neck Position

Thanks so much for the review.

How hot was it? Do you think a pair of them would work with a PATB-3?

Also, do you think a trio would work well in a strat for a fatter, hotter, noiseless set?
 
Re: Parallel Axis Stack (PATB) , Neck Position

The thing is, it has plenty of output, but it doesn't sound hot like so many "hot" pickups do, that's what's so great about it...and the Original PATB. I think a pair would work very well with the PATB-3, it would be an awsome set. When I first got mine installed, it was a pretty good distance away from the strings, and it didn't sound thin at all...just a difference in volume when I switched to pos 1-4. So I feel you can back them down a pretty good bit to get them to balance in volume with any bridge humbucker.

A trio would be cool, I'm just not sure about the bridge position...I don't think they make a bridge pos Stack, but I honestly haven't looked. I suppose you could just compensate by setting the bridge really close to the strings, and backing off the middle and neck to get the volume to balance.

At some point, I'll be getting a Jackson. I had thought I wanted a dual humbucker model, but I like these pickups so much I think I want a H/S/S model. Honestly, I have never really liked H/S/S guitars that much, because it was always a problem to get the singles to really sound good with the humbucker for me...it always seemed like a compromise....until now.

Again, I'm just so impressed with the way they sound. Fantastic pickups, for almost any style of music.
 
Re: Parallel Axis Stack (PATB) , Neck Position

I have a Parallel Axis Stack in the middle position of my HSH Jackson and it's GREAT. Good to hear it's also working wonders for your axe.

I also have a PATB-2 Distortion in the bridge position. Someday I hope to be able to try out every pickup in the parallel axis series in my guitar. It's gonna be hard to track down a used PATB-1 Neck model though.
 
Re: Parallel Axis Stack (PATB) , Neck Position

Thanks for the info, Jeff.

I think I'll be getting a pair to go into my HM Strat (I've already got a Blues in it). There's no bridge model stack, but I was plannig on just raising the bridge one a whole lot. ;)

Hames, how do you like the notch tones with your PA stack in the mid?

Thanks a lot for your help, gents.
 
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Re: Parallel Axis Stack (PATB) , Neck Position

Benjy_26 said:
Hames, how do you like the notch tones with your PA stack in the mid?
Click to expand...

The notch positions are cool because the single coil vibe isn't overpowered by the high output of the humbuckers. Even when used in unison with the massively strong magnet of the PATB-2, the Parallel Axis Stack doesn't get "lost". No drastic loss in punch or volume. It makes hum/single notch positions much more useable when you compare it to the weakness of the stock pickups most manufacturers put their HSH and HSS guitars. It also gives the SH-2 Jazz in the neck position a damn big run for it's money in terms of power and cut.

Much better than the Vintage Rails I used to have in the middle. I found it really hard to get that charismatic twangy and jangley vibe from a mini humbucker.
 
Re: Parallel Axis Stack (PATB) , Neck Position

Jeff_H: You recommended a lil 59 in the middle and PATB stack in the neck for my Jackson DK2, would you change that recommendation for a PATB stack in both positions now? You really got me thinking about the PATB stack, in place of the CR/lil 59 in neck/middle positions. By the way, I've pretty much decided on the PATB-3 blues instead of the original for the bridge. I've been listening to the clips, and I just seem to like the blues better than the original. Sorry to hear about the screwdriver "accident", that sucks.

Edit: Just want to clear this up, we are talking about the PA-STK1n?
 
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Re: Parallel Axis Stack (PATB) , Neck Position

Yup, we're talking about the PA-STK1n.

As for whether to put it in both neck and middle, man. If it were my guitar, I would, but that's just me and my preference. It sounded like you wanted a little versatility, and that would be the only reason to put the Lil' 59, or another mini-hb or stack pickup there. I know that both PATB stacks would sound great, but if it will give you the diversity of sound, only you can answer that. The nice thing is, whether you decide on the Lil 59' or the PATB stack for the other position, that you can always sell it if you think you want to change, and recover at least most of your $$. Either one of those pups will sell very well on the forum trading post.

As for the Blues TB, I think that's a great choice..slighty more vintage. That was originally the one I wanted to try in my guitar, since I usually prefer a more vintage pickup in general, but the Original just happened to come up for sale, and I decided to give it a shot. If I had been forced to buy one new, I probably would have chosen the Blues as well.

Good luck, and let me know what you decide. Either way, it will sound AWSOME.
 
Re: Parallel Axis Stack (PATB) , Neck Position

Thanks for a review of that bro. I've got a project that has an HxS setup and I've been thinking about going w/ an Axis bucker and Axis stacked single.
 
Re: Parallel Axis Stack (PATB) , Neck Position

Jeff_H said:
Yup, we're talking about the PA-STK1n.

As for whether to put it in both neck and middle, man. If it were my guitar, I would, but that's just me and my preference. It sounded like you wanted a little versatility, and that would be the only reason to put the Lil' 59, or another mini-hb or stack pickup there. I know that both PATB stacks would sound great, but if it will give you the diversity of sound, only you can answer that. The nice thing is, whether you decide on the Lil 59' or the PATB stack for the other position, that you can always sell it if you think you want to change, and recover at least most of your $$. Either one of those pups will sell very well on the forum trading post.

As for the Blues TB, I think that's a great choice..slighty more vintage. That was originally the one I wanted to try in my guitar, since I usually prefer a more vintage pickup in general, but the Original just happened to come up for sale, and I decided to give it a shot. If I had been forced to buy one new, I probably would have chosen the Blues as well.

Good luck, and let me know what you decide. Either way, it will sound AWSOME.
Click to expand...

I'm going to go for a PATB blues, lil 59 in the middle and PA stack in the neck. In any case if I want to change something out in the future, I can always swap any of those into my cheap strat copy that has 3x generic singles in it from the factory. I've had an itch to swap out some parts on it anyway and do a few little upgrades like better pups, but I don't plan to invest any money in it directly.
 
Re: Parallel Axis Stack (PATB) , Neck Position

This is the "downside" of this forum. Every thread makes you want to try something new. :)

I bet that a PATB-3 and a PA-STK1 Parallel Axis stack would be killer in one of those Squier '51's.
 
Re: Parallel Axis Stack (PATB) , Neck Position

I had them together, Neck and Middle,with a PATB Distortion bridge. Let me say they were fantastic together. There's a cut that you get from a ceramic magnet that you can't get from Alnico. The problem is, you lose most of your sweetness with ceramic singles. But these PATB Stacks are as juicy as anything out there. Somehow they ride the fence right in between cutting and aggressive, and sweet and buttery. I think a lot of it has to do with those poles putting a little bit of a "push/pull" around the string when it's vibrating. I love that pole design.

Jeff's right, you guys really need to try these if you haven't. Personally I feel the 90's "shred is dead" movement put a damper on these little babies, and there's room for a big resurgence right now. They really were a cool design.

As for a "bridge" model stack, there seems to be plenty of room for more winds, so I assume the Custom Shop could wind you a thicker one.
 
Re: Parallel Axis Stack (PATB) , Neck Position

Great review Jeff! If anyone is looking to get rid of 1 or 2 of them, please PM me.

:dance:
 
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