PATB-1 set or PATB-3 plus SHPG-1n for alder / maple Super Strat?

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MultiCaster

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Hello, could someone take the time to explain the characteristics of these sets and possibly compare the bridge models to the Custom Custom? PATB-1 set or PATB-3 plus SHPG-1n for alder / maple HH Strat playing rock / blues / modern country. Thank you.
 
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Re: PATB-1 set or PATB-3 plus SHPG-1n for alder / maple Super Strat?

MultiCaster said:
Hello, could someone take the time to explain the characteristics of these sets and possibly compare the bridge models to the Custom Custom? PATB-1 set or PATB-3 plus SHPG-1n for alder / maple HH Strat playing rock / blues / modern country. Thank you.
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PATB-3 is a parallel axis take on an A5 PAF. Great for clean to moderate gain, and still very good for higher gain. Very strong for edge of breakup tones.

PATB-1b is somewhere between the Custom Custom and Custom 5 in tone and feel. High end doesn't get as harsh as the C5. Roll off the tone knob a bit and it gets very close to the CC, but a bit tighter low end. Cleans and edge of breakup are very good [particularly for a high output pickup], but it's great with medium to high gain.

Low gain is a bit of a tossup, depends on the exact tone you are going for, but for the most familiar tones the PATB-3 has an edge [though the PATB-1b has some strengths for punchy AC/DCish low gain tones].

The Parallel Axis pickups are surprisingly bright for their output level, but it's a smooth sort of high end, no harsh spikes or odd ugly frequencies.

Out of those choices, I'd probably go for the PATB-3/SHPG-1n combo, for blues to country, but a lot depends on how much time you spend on what gain level, and how much you need a classic PAF tone.

If you like a hotter bridge pickup, you may prefer the PATB-1b. It is a lot like a punchier Custom Custom with broader frequency response. Very sculptable tone, amazing for medium to high gain.

The PATB-1n tends to wow a lot of people, it's sort of a '59 with the troublesome low end more under control, with some of the snap and sparkle of a Jazz neck thrown in. People who don't like either of those pickups often still like the PATB-1n, so don't be thrown by that comparison.

I have a PATB-1b in an Ibanez RG570 [basswood body with maple neck & rosewood fretboard]. I discovered the stock pickups didn't work for me, but the JB I tried was a terrible match for the guitar. Inflexible, only sounded OK with controls maxed. Volume & tone controls are vastly more useful with the Parallel Axis.

Hopefully that's a start on answering your questions...
 
Re: PATB-1 set or PATB-3 plus SHPG-1n for alder / maple Super Strat?

I'd second the call for a PATB1n with whichever bridge you go for

Despair has much experience with these pickups, and I have both the 3 and 1 bridge too. The 1 will be more versatile, as you can roll the vol down to 7 or 8 for similar to PATB3 tones.

The brighter cleans will help to jazz up the alder, which can be lackluster with generic humbuckers.
 
Re: PATB-1 set or PATB-3 plus SHPG-1n for alder / maple Super Strat?

Thanks, I will likely try the PATB 1 set. I like to roll the volume down to clean up and use amps that work with that. I like extra power in the bridge and a juicy tone with growling mids, but non muddy tone. I should be installing a CC and PG1n soon but look forward to trying the Parallel Axis set.

I'm happy to hear the PATB pickups work well compared to pickups I'm familiar with, because I have not found many full size humbuckers in the SD line that were satisfying, other than he C5 (in a Les Paul), PG1n an A2 Pro neck. I've not owned a CC but have heard it many times, so I'm pretty sure it will work out.

I wasn't really happy with the JB or Custom and you start running out of bridge pickup options quickly after that, for certain styles. If I don't get what I want from these two sets, I guess I'll do some magnet swapping.
 
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Re: PATB-1 set or PATB-3 plus SHPG-1n for alder / maple Super Strat?

I'd have to say that my experience with the PATB-1 bridge pups that I have is that the are quite similar to the JB...which nake sense when you look at the tone chart. I do have the PATB-1n paired with one of the bridge models and that is a killer set.
 
Re: PATB-1 set or PATB-3 plus SHPG-1n for alder / maple Super Strat?

darthphineas said:
I'd have to say that my experience with the PATB-1 bridge pups that I have is that the are quite similar to the JB...which nake sense when you look at the tone chart. I do have the PATB-1n paired with one of the bridge models and that is a killer set.
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Which bridge model do you have it paired with? Any sound clips? Thanks
 
Re: PATB-1 set or PATB-3 plus SHPG-1n for alder / maple Super Strat?

Vow!

Despair, your description of the PATB-3 is spot on man! I completely agree!

Very cool!

MultiCaster, I love the PATB-3 59N (a4) set I have in my HSH hardtail strat. In fact, here are some clips:

This one is done with my ODS kinda D-clone... Check out the soundcloud page for more info...



The following is the same amp (and PATB-3) but this time using Mesa V-Twin as a preamp:



The following is with my Blues Jr. which you may know better...

(PATB-3 - medium gain... make sure to wait till 1:15)



(59N with alnico 4 mag)



And with digital stuff for hardrock kinda things (almost all of them are PATB-3 and this 59N)

http://soundcloud.com/dr-barlo-r/sets/dr-barlo-in-rock/

B
 
Re: PATB-1 set or PATB-3 plus SHPG-1n for alder / maple Super Strat?

Thanks for the clips. I could probably use more mid grunt from the bridge but with my rig it might be enough. That neck pickup just glides and doesn't get tubby at all. I like it.
 
Re: PATB-1 set or PATB-3 plus SHPG-1n for alder / maple Super Strat?

Cool.

That a4 in the 59 is exactly what's sorta shaving the tubbiness of that bucker. With the stock a5 I think the lows maybe a bit too much you know, especially in the neck. While SG's can benefit from this, still...

B
 
Re: PATB-1 set or PATB-3 plus SHPG-1n for alder / maple Super Strat?

MultiCaster said:
Which bridge model do you have it paired with? Any sound clips? Thanks
Click to expand...

I have the PATB-1n paired with one of the bridge models and that is a killer set.

sorry. don't do/trust sound clips. I find them to not be truly representative of how it will sound unless the listener is using the same rig.
 
Re: PATB-1 set or PATB-3 plus SHPG-1n for alder / maple Super Strat?

darthphineas said:
I have the PATB-1n paired with one of the bridge models and that is a killer set.

sorry. don't do/trust sound clips. I find them to not be truly representative of how it will sound unless the listener is using the same rig.
Click to expand...

I wholeheartedly agree.
 
Re: PATB-1 set or PATB-3 plus SHPG-1n for alder / maple Super Strat?

MultiCaster said:
Thanks for the clips. I could probably use more mid grunt from the bridge but with my rig it might be enough. That neck pickup just glides and doesn't get tubby at all. I like it.
Click to expand...

I agree, that is why I stated this earlier. Clips can give a general idea of things
 
Re: PATB-1 set or PATB-3 plus SHPG-1n for alder / maple Super Strat?

No problem, I'm just very detail oriented. Thanks for the reply.
 
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