So how's this for my first Custom order?

[Rex_Rocker]

Well, they recommended I look into the Exciter, but if I wanted to go through with it, they'd be willing to make it happen.

I guess I'll give it to the end of the week. I'm going to do some more research and/or see if I come across on a deal on a Painkiller or something else.

Anyways... I'm like 60% certain I'll end up ordering it, though. What do you think I should call it? I was thinking Glamdring or Orcrist since it's going to be a really sharp and cutting pickup. Any better ideas?​

 

[Clint 55]

Did they say they could give you more aggression in the upper mid and top of a Distortion?

 

[Mincer]

So the Exciter isn't quite right?

 

[Rex_Rocker]

So the Exciter isn't quite right?

I have no idea. I'm going to do some research. The desciption of the Exciter on the site isn't really descriptive of how it really sounds. The EQ chart they have going on seems to suggest it's bassier than the Distortion, which is not what I want, but that doesn't really say much.

But aesthetically, the Exciter doesn't have hex poles and a small black logo either.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Did they say they could give you more aggression in the upper mid and top of a Distortion?

Honestly, that doesn't seem like a hard thing to do if you know what you're doing like they probably are. They did mention that hex poles would tighten up and brighten up the Distortion on the email, though. So I guess my aesthetic request doesn't really conflict with my sonic requirements.

 

[ToneFiddler]

Yeah, I'm attached to it. I posted a thread about it in the guitar forum. Long story shorty: I got a Road Worn Strat that had a bad neck, so I replaced the neck and everything else that could be replaced on the guitar except for the body. I mean... I could get another body. Something like Ash to make sure it's BRIGHT. But a body is more expensive than a pickup, LOL.

Plus the neck plays great. It's a roasted Maple Flat Oval 12" fretboard neck with jumbo frets.

Ok, I see. Well i wouldn't have gone through all of that drouble to begin with. And a bolt on neck can be easily used on a body of your choice.
I got a very full and round sounding swamp ash body with my latest tele build.
I'd recommend hard ash, it's more likely it will turn out bright.

I basically want a Ceramic JB with some added rasp to the attack since the JB's attack is kinda round in itself.
...

That description reminds me of the Nazgul, but that's not enough output for you from what i followed...

In your case i again would strongly suggest to mess with series (and therefore highpass) caps (start with 10n) to get a roll off of the low frequencies. and will make everything up top more prominent. I bet 4.7nF will be very thin

 

[hamerfan]

I would first of all go cheap route. Cut the pole screws in the Distortion flush to the baseplate. Second order 6 allen screws to swap them.

 

[RanchManSandy]

yeah I'm getting big Nazgul vibes from what I've been reading. Or DP200 Steve Morse.

 

[Despair]

Have you considered the PATB-2b Parallel Axis Distortion bridge? It definitely has more upper mids than a stock distortion. A bit less rasp though, but with ridiculous harmonics. Even hotter than the standard Distortion.

Can be woolier, but the solution for that is EQ. It's far easier to remove unwanted bass to low mids with a Tube Screamer and/or EQ before the amp than it is to fix lacking frequencies.

If tight rhythms are important, and you don't want to have to mess with amp settings or pedals when switching guitars, then you are probably looking at some sort of TB-6 variant. Maybe you could get an overwound Distortion from the Custom Shop, to get more mid-focus, and do double allen screws to get the bite & tightness you want?

 

[Clint 55]

DDn/DDb hybrid with double thick A9 plus double thick ceramic spacers. Optional double screw with filisters or hexz or both.

 

[ToneFiddler]

....
The 500T didn't fit my Strat because of the long legs. I mean, it fit... it's just that I had to have it too close to the strings to the point where I thought it wasn't "functional" because of the long legs.
...

Get another one, modify the mounting legs or get a different baseplate?

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Damn... I'm listening to clips of the Nazgul, and the EQ seems right... but won't the output be lower than the Distortion? I mean, it's 13K vs 16K using the same magnet.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Get another one, modify the mounting legs or get a different baseplate?

I could, but I'd have to get another 500T, as the only 500T I have right now is on my Les Paul, and I love it there!

But at that point... I'm not even sure the 500T is going to work in this particular guitar. It would be as much of a gamble as getting a Nazgul. I mean, it works great on the Les Paul, but the Les Paul sounds radically different. Funny how my Les Paul has way more bite and agression than my Strat.

 

[ToneFiddler]

Damn... I'm listening to clips of the Nazgul, and the EQ seems right... but won't the output be lower than the Distortion? I mean, it's 13K vs 16K using the same magnet.

It could be even AWG43…
i have them both in boxes somewhere, but it will be just a small turn on the gain knob for me (no DIs), so won‘t help you much.
maybe a sh-6 Nazgûl hybrid?
turning it will make a difference, so you get 2 chances

 

[Rex_Rocker]

It could be even AWG43…
i have them both in boxes somewhere, but it will be just a small turn on the gain knob for me (no DIs), so won‘t help you much.
maybe a sh-6 Nazgûl hybrid?
turning it will make a difference, so you get 2 chances

Oh, yeah, if I had to bet, I'd bet on the Nazgul being 43 rather than 44.

 

[ToneFiddler]

if it's AWG43 the turn count will not be that different (13.6k worth of AWG43 vs 16.6k worth of AWG44 (wire tension not factored)).
If it has more (high)mids, it will also appear louder than you would figure, since this are the frequencies human ears are very sensitive to.

You could also try your SH-6n in the bridge. I tried it and it's a nice, tight, bright and cutting pickup with quite some mids (Formerly know as the Seymourizer (II) SH-7)
This might tell you something about the output of the nazgul, if they are both of the same wire thickness. But looking at the bobbin fullness could clear that up.
I could do that when i am home.

 

[Clint 55]

You gotta get hip to double thick A9 ya weenie. It's exactly what you're describing you want. If you want max power, then add ceramic spacers.

https://www.cermagmagnets.co.uk/alnico-bars-for-hb-double-width---62mm-x-65mm-x-125mm-39-p.asp

 

[ErikH]

After reading through all this and thinking it over. There could be a few things working against you. It seems like you are saturating your amp too much, which makes whatever you change on the guitar so small it doesn't matter. Smacking the front end of an amp that is already really saturated with gain by the preamp stage or pedals in front of it or both doesn't leave a lot of room for pickup changes to really show. If you feel you have the amp giving you what you need, then focus on a pickup that is not smacking the front so hard and let the amp do the work. This may mean going with something lower output, like medium. Still plenty of punch but also retains definition in high gain situations.

IMEHO, throw a DiMarzio Super Distortion in that Strat with a single 500K volume pot and call it done. Yes, it's classified as a high output pickup but it doesn't behave like one. The SuperD will interact with your amp on a good level and you can tweak the amp EQ for whatever adjustments you need, or an EQ pedal. The SuperD may be wound to 13K-ish but it has a double-thick ceramic that gives it that extra power. And it doesn't lose it's dynamics. It's a fantastic bridge pickup in a Strat. You will not make that Strat sound or feel like your Les Paul no matter what you do. That's just a fact.

 

[Masta' C]

I'm getting big Nazgul vibes from what I've been reading...

Yup, me too

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Yeahhh... ordered a Nazgul rather, LOL. I guess I'll leave the custom order for later.