Tumblinman
New member
Hi
I just bought a really nice Dearmond Starfire IV (think 335) and while I really like the guitar I'm having trouble warming up to the stock USA Dearmond Gold Tones. Somehow they are a little too trebly and spiky and at the same time I find the wound strings aren't defined enough. I have tried messing with polepieces and the overall height of the pickup without success - so now I'm contemplating suitable replacement pickups.
I would like a set of covered humbuckers that's more clear on the wound strings and, at the same time, being less shrill on the plain ones. I like smoothness with bite!
When playing arpeggios with a semi-dirty tone the wound strings kinda get lost and turn to mush, so I was thinking maybe a set of 59's would give me more *pop* from the thicker strings, But then I also feel, from owning 59's in other guitars, that the highs are quite prominent in those pickups and that it could be too bright. The guitar itself is really jangly and leans towards the bright side - having a trapiece tailpiece could be one reason for that, maybe.
A couple of Seth would be fun, since I have always wanted to try those and have heard good things about them being used in semi-hollow guitars. But maybe they also lack a certain clarity, being that AlNiCo 2 are supposed to have a somewhat spoongier feel? What about PGs? Too brittle?
Prefered genres are blues & jazz. I don't mind pickups suitable for heavier styles also, but I tend to play with just a touch of breakup.
Any insights would be truly appreciated!
/ Tumblinman
I just bought a really nice Dearmond Starfire IV (think 335) and while I really like the guitar I'm having trouble warming up to the stock USA Dearmond Gold Tones. Somehow they are a little too trebly and spiky and at the same time I find the wound strings aren't defined enough. I have tried messing with polepieces and the overall height of the pickup without success - so now I'm contemplating suitable replacement pickups.
I would like a set of covered humbuckers that's more clear on the wound strings and, at the same time, being less shrill on the plain ones. I like smoothness with bite!
When playing arpeggios with a semi-dirty tone the wound strings kinda get lost and turn to mush, so I was thinking maybe a set of 59's would give me more *pop* from the thicker strings, But then I also feel, from owning 59's in other guitars, that the highs are quite prominent in those pickups and that it could be too bright. The guitar itself is really jangly and leans towards the bright side - having a trapiece tailpiece could be one reason for that, maybe.
A couple of Seth would be fun, since I have always wanted to try those and have heard good things about them being used in semi-hollow guitars. But maybe they also lack a certain clarity, being that AlNiCo 2 are supposed to have a somewhat spoongier feel? What about PGs? Too brittle?
Prefered genres are blues & jazz. I don't mind pickups suitable for heavier styles also, but I tend to play with just a touch of breakup.
Any insights would be truly appreciated!
/ Tumblinman
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