Pick up swap - replace 1st gen Superdistortions

[vinnie1971]

Re: Pick up swap - replace 1st gen Superdistortions

A2 in neck and bridge is favourite. I was expecting dark and muddy based on other opinions and quiet surprised. It's bright, airy soft bass, rounded trebles and pronounced upper mids. Probably no good for metal but I don't play metal, more blues classic rock 70s style, so it sounds right for my playing.
A5 neck and A2 bridge sounded almost identical to my Flying V with the Gibson Kramer - 98T and 90R ( just the 4 is missing) so I went for A2 in neck and bridge.
Clean it's sounds great- very articulate with character, and under moderate gain, quite honky with nice harmonics. Much better to my ear.

So this will keep me happy and playing this guitar until funds allow for PGs ( but I like this a lot now so that might not happen! )


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[Mincer]

Re: Pick up swap - replace 1st gen Superdistortions

I agree that the Pearlies will sound great. So would an Alnico II Pro set, for a warmer sound.

 

[vinnie1971]

Pick up swap - replace 1st gen Superdistortions

I also like the A5s - it's a mid 1970s guitar and they give that 1970s vibe too. But I have guitars that have those tones already in other guitars. I do like the warm bright upper mids these A2s are giving.


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[vinnie1971]

Re: Pick up swap - replace 1st gen Superdistortions

Hi all

The results of my magnet swapping -getting some nice tones.

Personally I prefer the tone of the ALNICO 2 in both neck and bridge positions but together, I am torn between both ALNICO 2, or neck ALNICO 5 and bridge ALNICO 2. The latter gives nice balance with punchy upper mids coming through from the bridge to deal with the mushy scooped mids and woolly bass in the neck making it sound more balanced. But I prefer A2 in the neck on its own...

The ALNICO magnets bring the DCR down to 7.9K which means output is in PAF territory, and contrary to what I have been told by others, they still sound bright.

Anyways a little sample so can hear how these 1st generation Superdistortions sound using ALNICO magnets

I really do like these new tones :

Bridge:
https://youtu.be/GW7_Dpu9EAU

Neck:
https://youtu.be/zifVC2eg10k

Both pickups:
https://youtu.be/r-JPBErEJhQ



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[vinnie1971]

Pick up swap - replace 1st gen Superdistortions

Update:
I have removed the pickups and have gone for AHP1 ALNICO II pro (zebra) set. The guitar is very bright with its straight through maple neck, string through from behind, hard tail bridge, brass nut and saddles, I decided warmer, plus opportunity knocked and these came up used for the price of a single new one [emoji4]

Not wired in yet as I have not decided whether to have coil split to outer coils or have slugs on bridge and screw on neck active.

Not sure if I prefer the look over the original brown pickups but I am sure it will grow on me

The missing pot is being replaced with a push pull for phase reversal in the bridge - got to have the Greeny - Moore sound !

I wanted a trembucker because the strings are 52mm over the bridge pickup but it won't fit the rout is very tight so this set is just right. Can't wait to hear them.

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[Mincer]

Re: Pick up swap - replace 1st gen Superdistortions

I actually really like that look. I think those pickups will be a good choice, for what seems like a really bright guitar. I can't wait to hear the review!

 

[vinnie1971]

Re: Pick up swap - replace 1st gen Superdistortions

I actually really like that look. I think those pickups will be a good choice, for what seems like a really bright guitar. I can't wait to hear the review!

Bright doesn't begin to describe it! The old pickups made strat bridge single coil sound muddy!


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[vinnie1971]

Pick up swap - replace 1st gen Superdistortions

I got the wiring done and I am very pleased. Finally there is bass response in this guitar [emoji4]
It's still bright, but it's a warm brightness a not shrill ice pick as it was and there is now a warmth and girth of tone not previously there.

The EQ still gives nice pronounced upper mids which is what I wanted.

The neck was a bit woolly to my tastes but easily cured by raising the screw poles half a turn and then following the radius of the strings (but leaving the G low)

I decided on hum cancelling coil splits so the cream coils are the active coils when split. Coils are split via a 4.7k resistor to maintain some fatness to the tone.

I am very pleased, the tone is better than I anticipated. Just what I wanted for blues, classic rock and versatility ( clean, low to moderate gain)

I will have to do some recordings ....

All fitted up looks nice

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[Mincer]

Re: Pick up swap - replace 1st gen Superdistortions

Wow, very nice! I am happy you got your bass back!

 

[vinnie1971]

Re: Pick up swap - replace 1st gen Superdistortions

Wow, very nice! I am happy you got your bass back!

Thank you - I just need some time to enjoy playing it now....


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[greekdude]

Re: Pick up swap - replace 1st gen Superdistortions

Kind of late to the party, have you thought of wiring the SuperDs in parallel? I don't think the zebra/white rings combination suits your guitar.

 

[vinnie1971]

Re: Pick up swap - replace 1st gen Superdistortions

Kind of late to the party, have you thought of wiring the SuperDs in parallel? I don't think the zebra/white rings combination suits your guitar.

It occurred to me but they are single core with outer braid as the ground, so it would be quite fiddly. Plus these on my guitar are somewhat shrill - the tone of the ALNICO 2 pro 1s are just the ticket. A perfect match for the guitar and my playing style.

The rings and zebras are a darker cream in the flesh - it's a blue hue from my spot lights that make them look pale.




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