SSH: Single coils to go with a Full Shred

[Sirion]

I have another thread in the guitars section on a 1988–89 HSS Kramer Pacer Deluxe 1 I just restored, with a Screamin' Demon that really doesn't do it for me. I am considering putting a Full Shred in, and I was wondering which single coils (regardless of construction method) would provide the smoothest transition from the Full Shred? The guitar has Alnico II Pro single coils in it at the moment, as did most Kramers with single coils from this era. While I could live with the gap in volume, I am not really interested in preserving vintage strat tones in this: I rather want something that can transfer some of the Full Shred's qualities to the other positions. Any suggestions what might do the job?

I should add: the guitar only has a 500k volume pot, no tone knobs.

 

[Ascension]

Perpetual Burn would work well, as would a Hybrid for solid split tones with the bridge and middle. The Perpet would have the better output Ballance.

 

[Mincer]

You can look at the Classic Stacks. Thing is, outside of vintage-style single coils, anything more powerful would not be as bright as the Full Shred. So, if you want to tonal qualities of the Full Shred, go with Classic Stacks if you like a Stratty sound, and maybe the Cool Rails if you want it more humbucker-y.

 

[Sirion]

You can look at the Classic Stacks. Thing is, outside of vintage-style single coils, anything more powerful would not be as bright as the Full Shred. So, if you want to tonal qualities of the Full Shred, go with Classic Stacks if you like a Stratty sound, and maybe the Cool Rails if you want it more humbucker-y.

Thank you, you divined the matter immediately. Truth be told, I should probably give both a try, although I suspect I'd end up with the Cool Rails. The only drawback is that they would make the coil split switch for the humbucker rather pointless, but hey, it's not like I would be using that much anyway.

 

[hamerfan]

May ask why did the Screaming Demon did not do it for you and what you hope from the FS?

I recently sold my FS. In fact its are more extreme Custom5 to me. Less Bass, less mids and more highs than the C5. Clean was the FS just awfull brite with no beef. It might be the ticket with dull guitar with too much lows at the same time. The FS needs a lot of pedal work and tweaking of knobs to get a full sound IMO.

 

[Sirion]

May ask why did the Screaming Demon did not do it for you and what you hope from the FS?

I recently sold my FS. In fact its are more extreme Custom5 to me. Less Bass, less mids and more highs than the C5. Clean was the FS just awfull brite with no beef. It might be the ticket with dull guitar with too much lows at the same time. The FS needs a lot of pedal work and tweaking of knobs to get a full sound IMO.

Of course. Although I love George Lynch, I found the Screaming Demon to be too bassy and a bit underpowered. In general, I tend to prefer a tone that is low on bass, that cuts through by the high mids and low highs, so I am not sure a "full sound", depending on how one defines it, is what I am looking for. I have a FS in another guitar, and I love the way it cuts through in some amps. It has a peak in the high mids or low highs that I love in some amps. It doesn't work that well in Marshalls I have tried it in, but I love it in the Soldano and the ADA MP-1.

 

[hamerfan]

I see. Your description of the demon is spot on. I had 2 of them over the years.
Point is that I bought a pickup from our forumite Orpheo, which is a hybrid of an Fs and JB. Since I own a guitar which has slide-in pickup slots, I was able to compare the FS and the Hybrid. The Hybrid a tad more bottom and sounded fuller under gain. So the FS had to go.

 

[Juanhanglo]

Add bass at the amp, and the full shred set is amazing. Its all about eq. The added bass balances the bridge, and does good thing to the neck.

FTR, ive had a set of full shreds (i have all long slotted poles in both, but have tried every combo. I like them all slotted) for over a decade.

Not the best choice for a hardtail basswood rg. Very bright here

Sounded great in my mahogany rg520qs. The added fatness helped. I discovered the bass trick here. Probably would have done the trick in the rg921.

Sound even better in their new home, an eclipse ec256. I dont think theyre leaving here.

to match a FS, id probably look into the cool rails , as ive heard it is the closest production one to the jazz/fsn.

From dimarzio, id check out the satch track.
they pair it with the mo'joe, which is also a brighter mid output job. Its bright enough as is, but I like it with a treble bleed and the volume down a bit.

for true single coils, id look for steel pole singles.
perhaps higher output stacked humbuckers? Not sure what's out there that'd match.