SH-6 Distortion in parallel mode?

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trifixion

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this might be a weird question, but has anyone ever used a bridge Distortion in parallel mode?

does this mode make it more suitable for clean tones?

also, does the Distortion (in series mode) have a good "grind" quality when using high-gain? I mean that grindy-but-clear distortion like Wolf Hoffmann always had.

thanks
 
Re: SH-6 Distortion in parallel mode?

trifixion said:
this might be a weird question, but has anyone ever used a bridge Distortion in parallel mode?

does this mode make it more suitable for clean tones?

also, does the Distortion (in series mode) have a good "grind" quality when using high-gain? I mean that grindy-but-clear distortion like Wolf Hoffmann always had.

thanks
Click to expand...

The Distortion or any paf style humbucker will have significantly less output in parallel than in series...but both will be humcancelling. When I want a clean, single coil type sound out of a humbucker I split it into a single coil. It's not humcancelling but it has a little more output and sounds better to me. Splitting or going to parallel is better for cleanish tones...not distorted tones. I don't know Wolf Hoffman's playing, but the Distortion is a high output pickup that is a JB with a ceramic magnet. It's an excellant hard rock pickup, especially for chugging, grinding overdriven and distorted tones. Lew
 
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Re: SH-6 Distortion in parallel mode?

I have found that some pickups sound good when run in parallel mode, but it will strictly depend on the pickup. If you listen to any of Paul Gilbert's older stuff, circa Racer X, he played a lot of distorted stuff using pickups wired in parallel (Super D's, I think, but don't quote me on that). I was disappointed, however, when trying to use parallel for cleans, which is completely opposite to what Lew just said above. I agree 100%, however, with Lew on the preference of splitting to single-coil vs. running in parallel, both for distorted and clean tones - it sounds more toneful to my ears, and it's louder, although not hum-cancelling.

My two cents'.

[edit] I have tried running the DM A.N. and D-Sonic pickups in parallel, and it just doesn't work too well for me. I have played an SH-6b in parallel and I thought it sounded good. It IS important to bear in mind that tone is subjective though, after all...good luck :)
 
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Re: SH-6 Distortion in parallel mode?

Some pickups do sound good in parallel.

I've never heard one that sounded better (to me) in parallel than in single.

Comparing single to parallel, single has more output or volume and just sounds "better".

"Better" as in more toneful and livlier...unless humcancelling is more important than tone. Then go parallel.
 
Re: SH-6 Distortion in parallel mode?

I actually prefer the parallel tone of the SH-6b to the split mode (however, I'm not big on splitting in the first place) ; in fact, in more moderate rock situations, I prefer it to the series mode as well. You do lose some of the "grindiness" in parallel, but also some of the "fizziness" that people carp about in that pickup.

Also, running the parallel SH-6 in notch position with a hot single in the middle sounds awesome, at least in my axe.
 
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