Pickups don't make a difference

Re: Pickups don't make a difference

Funkfingers said:
View attachment 49170

Add your own joke.
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:) - that's true :)
thicker fingers :) hmm :) - must consider that :D
HAHAAHA
I like soviets tubes - they can withstand really high loaded conditions :)

Back to the subject...
We are here to help mostly - trolling is funny but let's help this guy.
If he has good amp - good speakers... hmmmm....
- maybe the guitar is a problem!!
What the guitar You are playing?

Like everyone here I will say that the sound impression of pickups is a complex problem.
 
Re: Pickups don't make a difference

thunderkyss said:
I guess I'm alone on this. Especially considering the board I'm on.

But it's been my experience, that pick-up choice really doesn't make a difference if you're going from one kind to a "comparable" type.

Say a PAF to another PAF design.

The only time I heard a difference was when I replaced my SH-1/59 with Seth Lovers & the only "real" difference was that the SLs were more microphonic. Over several years, I've tried several PAF type pickups in two different Les Pauls (a '98 Standard & '10 Classic) & I've yet to find one that truly stands out. Either they're all really good at mimic'ing a true PAF (I've never played the real thing) or.... They're all consistently off.

Now... there's a difference with modified PAFs, or going to something drastically different like Custom Custom... but just from my experience with PAF clones I'm thinking the difference between two "like kind" High output pickups is probably pretty subtle. Like going from a Custom to a JB.

What do you think?
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Comparing pretty typical PAF pickups, the only difference being A2 or A5, also depends on the guitar. A5 is more scooped but whether those frequencies matter depends on the guitar.

In the specific case of the 59 it is also the case that it reacts very different to harder play. If you test playing the same way that doesn't pop up.
 
Re: Pickups don't make a difference

Nacho8807 said:
I can see where the OP is coming from. Not that I share his sentiments, but I have several guitar-playing friends who could care less what pickups are in their guitar. Its all the same to them.
When I swapped my Burstbuckers for Duncan Distortions they called me dumb for spending money to sound the same. I don't need to tell you how drastic that change would be to most everybody here.
The differences are there, however subtle or distinct. Some of us care enough to pick it apart and analyze it, and others don't. That's all.
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In my defense, I stated "like-kind" not that all pick-ups are the same. I'd imagine there's more than a subtle difference between a Burstbucker & Distortion.
 
Re: Pickups don't make a difference

My grandfather probably couldn't have detected much difference between pickups. But then again, he wasn't a musician and was hard of hearing in his old age. So at least he had an excuse. :15:
 
Re: Pickups don't make a difference

I appreciate everyone's help, especially those of you who understood the question.

I found this video (at the bottom of the page) that pretty much answers my question.

 
Re: Pickups don't make a difference

thunderkyss said:
In my defense, I stated "like-kind" not that all pick-ups are the same. I'd imagine there's more than a subtle difference between a Burstbucker & Distortion.
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Well that's the problem with a lot of the advice given on guitar forums from guys who haven't actually experienced much but have only read about it: it's all imagined.
 
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Re: Pickups don't make a difference

Showing the diference between bridge pickups on a distortion mode... Hmm... This cuts a lot. Will be really good hear the same on clean.this kind of comparison is a bit narrowed. But at least we hear some diference between invader and jb.
 
Re: Pickups don't make a difference

KnifeR said:
Showing the diference between bridge pickups on a distortion mode... Hmm... This cuts a lot. Will be really good hear the same on clean.this kind of comparison is a bit narrowed. But at least we hear some diference between invader and jb.
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That's one of my issues with most online gear demos: whether it's pedals, amps or pickups, if the guy doing the demo cranks up the distortion to the point where everything sounds like a big buzzing Bumble Bee it makes me wonder if that's the only way the guy can play. The heck with that.

 
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Re: Pickups don't make a difference

To the OP,


Do you FEEL any difference between pickups at all??

Because that's HUGE.

I'm just wondering. I'm not gonna attack you bro. Do your thing.
 
Re: Pickups don't make a difference

Lucy Diamond said:
To the OP,


Do you FEEL any difference between pickups at all??

Because that's HUGE.

I'm just wondering. I'm not gonna attack you bro. Do your thing.
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I don't know. It takes me quite a while to swap pickups out, by the time I get the new set loaded up... I don't know if I can compare how they feel. Right now I've got Seth Lovers in my '98 Standard & Antiquities in my '10 Classic. But the guitars are so different; neck, weight, frets, nuts..... that what difference I feel, the pickups would be the last thing I would attribute it to.
 
Re: Pickups don't make a difference

All pickups don't sound the same.

(The guy in the right lane is my friend, who has a high-performance shop in Green Cove Springs.)



Artie

P.S. The guy on the left, (white roof), is his employee. Note the Nitrous purge at 20-sec.
 
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Re: Pickups don't make a difference

So, Artie. You are into drag. ;)
 
Re: Pickups don't make a difference

Dang! I walked right into that one. :banghead:

Edit: By the way, that same friend took me for a little drive in some "special" Pontiac G8. Says it's actually a Holden, from down under. Familiar with this beast, Funk?
 
Re: Pickups don't make a difference

Massive differences here, even with so much gain on top that all natural tone is smothered. If you have a more dynamic tone then you'll hear almost the same differences between winds and magnets.
 
Re: Pickups don't make a difference

My Fender Jaguar has had these pickups installed in the bridge at some time:

-Gibson Dirty Fingers
-SD Invader
-Dimarzio Super Distortion
-SD P-Rails
-OBL XL500

those are all different pickups... and the "hot" ceramic ones all sounded very different.
 
Re: Pickups don't make a difference

Lewguitar said:
Well that's the problem with a lot of the advice given on guitar forums from guys who haven't actually experienced much but have only read about it: it's all imagined.
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Like all the **** musicians I know locally talk about how Fenders with Wide Range reissues are **** because the pickups don't compare.

What? You've heard them or owned a 70s telecaster deluxe? a starcaster?

They just go along with the most popular opinion on the web.
 
Re: Pickups don't make a difference

astrozombie said:
My Fender Jaguar has had these pickups installed in the bridge at some time:

-Gibson Dirty Fingers
-SD Invader
-Dimarzio Super Distortion
-SD P-Rails
-OBL XL500

those are all different pickups... and the "hot" ceramic ones all sounded very different.
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Is your XL500 ceramic or A5? It wasn't a B&B, right?
 
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