Pickup Choice for Maple Neck-Through

[LtKojak]

Re: Pickup Choice for Maple Neck-Through

I was simply considering the B/M/T of 7/4/8 spec, with the mids so low compared to bass and treble. I have no experience with this pickup. How would you say it compares to the Pearly Gates, the purpose being achieving more clarity and tighter bass? My guitar is a 24-fretter.

Many thanks for your suggestions and observations!

What kind of music do you play?

This bit of info you left out will certainly help to narrow down in which context the instrument's intended to be used; that'll allow us to take an educated guess and end empty speculation.

 

[tgv1975]

Re: Pickup Choice for Maple Neck-Through

What kind of music do you play?

No one wants to hear this (cover band alert!) when judging tone options, but: with my cover band I play stuff from Creedence Clearwater Revival, Gn'R, '80s ballads, to re-orchestrations for guitar (we're a keyboardless outfit) of tunes by, e.g., Depeche Mode, along with some pop tunes a la Duffy or jazzier stuff a la Amy Winehouse. As with all cover bands, a certain degree of tonal versatility is a must.

On my own, I mainly play (hard) rock, some jazz, some pop(-ish) stuff.

Never extreme metal, hardest stuff I'd play at the moment would probably be no harder than some Metallica/Iron Maiden ballad.

What I would ideally use on regular basis would be:

• crispy, yet fat cleans, with good split options (which I further beef-up with dedicated presets, but I still need something good to build upon); as defined as possible, especially in the bass. I'm probably a "single coil in the neck" type of fellow, if that says something about my kind of clean tones (think Queensryche cleans - btw, I think Michael Wilton uses the Custom Custom in the bridge), however I need an HB there for versatility, in this particular guitar.
• smooth, singing distortion, with some snarl, and bass definition is paramount. I don't need extreme tightness, but I need to know each particular note is well defined; I can't underline enough how important bass note definition (not necessarily conventional "tightness") is for me, with distortion.

This video, a CC in a Carvin, illustrates very well the kind of distorted bridge tone I'm after (it's of the "brownish" EVH side, I guess you could say):
http://youtu.be/4SwVNfR3fu4

In the video, to my ear, the tone is middy, but not honky (a big "yuk!" for me), the highs are smooth, and the bass notes are very clear and defined, very rich upper harmonics for the low notes (which gives the definition, I'd say). Indeed, not much "chugga-chugga" potential there, but I don't need more than that. Question is, will the CC work the same in my guitar?

The samples I recorded (https://soundcloud.com/sunamumaya/sets/seymour-duncan-jb-vs-custom-sh) illustrate my problems, I think, and in my daily experience, I find that, on the amp, I mostly have to reduce the Treble drastically (to 3-4), up the mids (to 6-7.5), and the bass (to 6-8.5, but I get boominess and woofiness, instead of "body" and definition), and many times I still have to turn down the guitar tone knob. Something is clearly off, IMO. Another complaint would be the very pronounced, sharp attack, for which reason I have great difficulties with compressors.

Please let me know if you need further information.

Thank you!

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Pickup Choice for Maple Neck-Through

Please let me know if you need further information.

I think I've got aplenty!

I did the Top-40 cover band thing for almost 20 years, so I think I qualify to give you somehow valid advice.

If I had to do it all over again with nowadays' gear, with a guitar like yours, I'd use the APH-1N/CC set, due to the fact you won't mag swap.

All the versatility and the sweetness you'll ever need. Just remember to set the height of both p'ups a tad higher that you would normally use. Gotta compensate somehow for the 24-fretter, you know?

HTH,

 

[tgv1975]

Re: Pickup Choice for Maple Neck-Through

Thanks!

How are the split tones on that combo, in your opinion?

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Pickup Choice for Maple Neck-Through

Thanks!

How are the split tones on that combo, in your opinion?

They're a little bit "stratty-quacky", a bit dark. They're "useable" if you don't have a strat.

In my case, I've modded all my nine two-hum guitars to coil split, just to find out that I've used the capability maybe twice since 2008.

When I need the "quack", I use a strat. Period.

I did it because in the past I couldn't be bothered carrying two cases or bags, but as I now have a two-guitar bag, I take to the gig or rehearsal the strat and either my 335 or 339, so no need for coil-split no more.

HTH,

 

[tgv1975]

Re: Pickup Choice for Maple Neck-Through

Thanks!

I use the splits/parallels live almost exclusively for cleans, and I make the best of the drop in volume by using it to get instantly from crunch to clean, without touching the guitar volume knob. For added fatness I sometimes engage a clean boost, so I really work them, that's why they're essential to me. Plus, I many times use "single" cleans (chording, mainly) and "fat" cleans/dirty (soloing, mainly) in the same song, which forces me to use the same guitar.

I kept on researching the combo you suggested, and I think it will suit me. I was just messing with the JB (which is practically flush with the pickup ring now) today, just doing some G major scale work in the third position with mild overdrive, and while on the bottom strings it just hit me: "stiff" bass! When I achieve note separation in the bass (usually by increasing the mids on the amp), I get this "stiff" tone, not dead, but, you know, sort of bland, unmusical. The notes don't "bloom" or "ring". Is "spongy" the opposite of this?! Then let me have sponginess, please!

One more question, if you please. Should I still consider the Pearly Gates neck as an alternative to the A2Pro? It has less bass and more mids, possibly better for my particular guitar? Just wondering.

Thanks again!

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Pickup Choice for Maple Neck-Through

One more question, if you please. Should I still consider the Pearly Gates neck as an alternative to the A2Pro?

I haven't personally done any A/B comparison of those two p'ups. I think both will work just as well.

For the record, this is an old picture of my Mayones Maestro prototype:



At that time it had an A4 '59n / A8 Custom.

Today it has an A3 PATB1n / UOA5 PATB3. A much better tonal fit. That 11-ply core makes it ring like a bell, and the articulation and sharp pick attack of the former set gave me ear fatigue after a while.

So, the stock set I've reccomended is the one that goes closer is to mine. But if you were to accept to mag swap, then suddenly your horizon will expand, being able to taylor the sound as will.

HTH,

 

[tgv1975]

Re: Pickup Choice for Maple Neck-Through

Thank you!

I cannot go into mag swapping due to the covers and my reluctance to take them off/put back on, but definitely something to try in the future. I'm a big fan of uncovered pickups, but with this Schecter I need to stay with covers, otherwise its looks really are compromised.

 

[tgv1975]

Re: Pickup Choice for Maple Neck-Through

Yet another question

Will the CC/A2P set be, by any chance, SIGNIFICANTLY weaker than the JB/Jazz, or simply different in timber? I don't want to "thin" the tone, just to de-mud it.

Thanks!

 

[vinta9e]

Re: Pickup Choice for Maple Neck-Through

The CC won't be as hot as the JB, but I guess that's a good thing in your case. It is not a thin sounding pickup, by any means.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Pickup Choice for Maple Neck-Through

Will the CC/A2P set be, by any chance, SIGNIFICANTLY weaker than the JB/Jazz, or simply different in timber?

The JB/Jazz are A5 p'ups; not good for what you're planning to do.

You don't need output, you need tone.

HTH,

 

[tgv1975]

Re: Pickup Choice for Maple Neck-Through

You don't need output, you need tone.
HTH,

The JB/Jazz is what I'm trying to move away from I am just worried the CC/A2B may be too weak by comparison. I'd definitely like something tamer than the JB, but not too tame, and something clearer than the Jazz, but not thinner. Am I moving in the right direction?

I'm asking a lot of questions because where I live I can only order these from abroad, shipping is costly, and the return policy that SD has is practically inapplicable due to long transit times, costs, etc.. I am, of course, researching it on the web, but direct opinion from people who played these p'ups, and understand my problem, is invaluable.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Pickup Choice for Maple Neck-Through

For the record, this is an old picture of my Mayones Maestro prototype:

Needs a… Oh, wait -- never mind.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Pickup Choice for Maple Neck-Through

Needs a… Oh, wait -- never mind.

Are off your meds again...? :scratchch

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Pickup Choice for Maple Neck-Through

The JB/Jazz is what I'm trying to move away from I am just worried the CC/A2B may be too weak by comparison. I'd definitely like something tamer than the JB, but not too tame, and something clearer than the Jazz, but not thinner. Am I moving in the right direction?

Nothing to worry about. As I said: you need TONE, not output, as you've got plenty already.

I'm asking a lot of questions because where I live I can only order these from abroad, shipping is costly, and the return policy that SD has is practically inapplicable due to long transit times, costs, etc.. I am, of course, researching it on the web, but direct opinion from people who played these p'ups, and understand my problem, is invaluable.

Where are you from?

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Pickup Choice for Maple Neck-Through

Are off your meds again...? :scratchch

Since you brought it up, no. My supplies of prescription venlafaxine hydrochloride and lithium carbonate have been steady for about the past year. Now, is there a particular issue you had with the lame joke that I made?

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Pickup Choice for Maple Neck-Through

Now, is there a particular issue you had with the lame joke that I made?

Well, a lame joke merits to be answered with another lame joke, right?

That's what I did... just to keep it lame, you know?

Lameness is what you need in a rainy sunday afternoon, isn't it? :dunno:

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Pickup Choice for Maple Neck-Through

Sorry; it's not raining here, so the best I could manage was medical detail.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Pickup Choice for Maple Neck-Through

In my case, I've modded all my nine two-hum guitars to coil split, just to find out that I've used the capability maybe twice since 2008.

Have you tried spin-a-splits? Much more versatile than coil cut. Especially good for neck HB's that are a bit warm or thick-sounding.

 

[tgv1975]

Re: Pickup Choice for Maple Neck-Through

After a lot more reading and youtube-ing I have decided to go with the PGn and CCb, and ordered them.

Using your very pertinent advice, and also my ear, I have made this decision because I think these will probably best complement/tame the natural tone of my guitar. The Alnico 2 may reduce that maple sharp attack and stiffness, and the voicing of the pickups, richer in mids according to the specs than the Jazz/JB, should fill the hole in the natural scooped tone of the guitar (boomy, muddy bass, shrill highs).

An untold part of the story: I tried on a set of Tonerider Alnico 4 Classics (AC4), which is a set voiced for Les Pauls, so they have little bass, almost no mids, and sparkly highs. Well, they sounded really thin in the Schecter (go figure), but I managed really sweet tones with them, and clean distorted bass notes (finally!), with the amp set with the treble as low as 2.5, bass as high as 8.5, mids as high as 7.5 - basically achieving the same kind of tone as with the Jazz/JB, but way softer, sweeter, and thinner (that was the bad part, actually). This experiment further confirms the natural tendency of this Schecter - scooped.

Well, I guess I'll know for sure when the pickups arrive.

I'll let you know.

Thanks again!