quarterpound set in strat with tap; a fast review and overall thoughts on SD pickups

[orpheo]

I have completed a strat I've been working on for a while now, by installing a trio of quarterpounds with tap. Some pointers:

* The three QP's can be tapped under one push pull pot (using a 4PDT push pull pot by MEC)
* There's a master volume
* The middle pot is the tonepot for the middle pickup
* The lower pot is the tonepot for bridge and neck.

The body is swamp ash with a walnut top, the neck is a cocobolo/pau ferro laminate with a brazilian rosewood board.

Tonally, the QP's have a lot of output, for sure. Lots of mids, fairly powerful low end and a soft top end. When tapped, the EQ flips: lots of high end, tight low end albeit fairly weak and a dip in the midrange.

Unfortunately, the tones are just boring. I really don't get it, to be honest. Sometimes Seymour Duncan makes a pickup that's absolutely top notch, stellar and just amazing. But the majority of the strat pickups for example, are boring flat duds. Just some pickups that I tried, not nearly complete ofcourse.

Amazing pickups:
Jerry Donahue tele
54 rhythm tele
jb antiquity
jazz antiquity
antiquity pafs
PATB series (1, 2, 3)
SH6N
Fullshred
Screaming Demon
Slash Alnico 2 Pro
California strat set
Alnico 2 pro strat set
59/custom hybrid
Sentient
Pegasus
Fullshred neck
59 neck
Jazz bridge

Boring duds:
invader
regular JB
regular Jazz
Custom
Custom Custom
59 bridge
Hot strat SSL3
STK-4 classic stack plus
Jimi Hendrix set
Malmsteen set

I am starting to really feel a bit disappointed. So many just give a fairly decent tone but they lack sparkle, chime, depth. I have spoken about the custom series at length already.

Am I just too picky and demanding or do others feel that my complaint has some merits? Maybe it's just that I have started to crave lower output pickups with a gazillion more topend than what the lower half could offer?

Take it away, shoot holes in my hypothesis; discuss!

 

[TVFV]

Re: quarterpound set in strat with tap; a fast review and overall thoughts on SD pick

It sounds like you got bored with the flagship models.

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[Mincer]

Re: quarterpound set in strat with tap; a fast review and overall thoughts on SD pick

Dunno...some of the ones on your boring list are some of my favorites. There are probably several pickups I don't like or would never choose, though. I think that is what happens when there is such a wide range of products available.

 

[Blille]

quarterpound set in strat with tap; a fast review and overall thoughts on SD pickups

I love a lot on both sides (still loving my first Jazz/JB set after 25 years) and would not buy others on both sides.

I think it's just a matter of personal preference. If you keep using (or hearing) the same pickup for a while you may get bored. But it may be refreshing or exactly what they need to someone else.

 

[jeremy]

Re: quarterpound set in strat with tap; a fast review and overall thoughts on SD pick

i like the qp in the bridge, i think its a great rock single coil. ive heard it match well with buckers too but i dont tend to mix and match much the last 10+ years. never really cared for it in the neck. some of your duds are pups that i enjoy a lot but use what works for you and ill use what works for me

 

[TVFV]

Re: quarterpound set in strat with tap; a fast review and overall thoughts on SD pick

i like the qp in the bridge, i think its a great rock single coil. ive heard it match well with buckers too but i dont tend to mix and match much the last 10+ years. never really cared for it in the neck. some of your duds are pups that i enjoy a lot but use what works for you and ill use what works for me

That thing is stupid loud in the neck.

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[orpheo]

Re: quarterpound set in strat with tap; a fast review and overall thoughts on SD pick

Let me get this out there: I don't mean to bash your favorite pickups! I'm just trying to figure out what's happening with my ears and tastes.

Do you think it's possible that I am slowly gravitating towards the pickups with less output and more treble, more openness and brightness? Judging by my list, it would appear so?

 

[jeremy]

Re: quarterpound set in strat with tap; a fast review and overall thoughts on SD pick

i know my tastes have changed some what over the years, i think its normal

 

[Clint 55]

Re: quarterpound set in strat with tap; a fast review and overall thoughts on SD pick

Yes, this exact same thing has happened to me. My first pickup was a Jazz neck and I thought it was the best thing in the world. Now I can't stand that super smooth sound for general playing. I thought vintage was bad because it was brittle. Then I realized I really like vintage hot because it has more openness and detail like you described and you just compensate with the amp. I'm only focusing on a few of my very favorite pickup sets. While other pickups sound bland to me. That's ok because I only need a few guitars, I don't need 20.

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: quarterpound set in strat with tap; a fast review and overall thoughts on SD pick

What volume pot are you using? With a 250K pot the QP sounds muffled and dull. With 500K pots they are much more lively but a bit hard and bright. Something like 375K would be ideal.

 

[orpheo]

Re: quarterpound set in strat with tap; a fast review and overall thoughts on SD pick

What volume pot are you using? With a 250K pot the QP sounds muffled and dull. With 500K pots they are much more lively but a bit hard and bright. Something like 375K would be ideal.

500k. I never use 250K because it muffles the highs too much. Even with super low output singlecoils. I use MEC pots, which are the best there is for a wide range of reasons. So the pots aren't the issue.

I swapped the QP's for a set of AxesRUs 60ies wind pickups and those tones work so much better with me than the QP's. I guess that settles it: I 'need' low to medium output with low inductance.