steves special?

fullfistrock21

fullfistrock21

New member
Ive been thinking about getting a steves special for one of my guitars. The only person I know who used this pickup is john petrucci, so I would like to know how other users like it and if its good for other styles of rock besides prog/metal/shred. and how does it sound without so many effects?
 
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Re: steves special?

i had one in an Ibanez once and it was alright, not great. To me anyway it just kind of lacked character. A little too scooped for my taste and didn't seem like there was enough "meat" to it. A little clinical.
 
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I had one in a basswood Jem, and it was ok. I didn't feel strongly about it either way. I compare all my pups to the '59/Custom hybrid I love.
 
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I have one in my strat. Has a Petrucci vibe. Really clear chords under a lot of gain - that's why I got it, and also to ballsify the strat and make it more modern sounding. I don't use a lot of effects with it - its just a good, solid pickup for hard rock and metal, especially if you want even response for chords and tensions. It does have a slight clinical vibe as in it kind of reminds me of actives - making the guitar more responsive and even, but losing a little bit of dynamics. Just a little though - I like it sometimes.

I use it clean too, but lower the volume knob slightly. It doesn't lose treble as you roll the volume down, and on full its way ballsy, so I roll down a little while on the clean channel and its more touch-sensitive. On the dirty channel, I roll down a little for super-saturated, and crank it for super-super-saturated. It loves the OD!

It's supposed to be a good candidate for a series/parellel switch.
 
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cool guys thanx a lot, it sounds pretty cool. I have always wondered about the 59/hybrid too maybe I'll just trade a pickup for one of those also. I do enjoy super clear pickups though, which is why i have blackouts in one of my guitars.
 
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The Steve's Special feels very weak due to the complete lack of mids. It feels like it has no power. I must say, however, that's it's the cleanest high-gain pickup I've tried. It doesn't spill nowhere and keeps on track no matter what you do with the signal afterward.
 
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I've heard some say they like Dimarzio's predecessor to the Steve's Special - the Mega Drive - better. If the Steve doesn't do it for you, you might try hunting down one of those.

I have a guitar with a Dimarzio H3 (stock pickup from a 90's Yamaha Pacifica), which Dimarzio informed me is real close to a Steve's Special. The H3 is amazing! It's very clear, very hi-fi. It lacks the high end shimmer of a '59 though. The low end is amazingly tight. The midrange is scooped and clean sounding, yet when playing through my distorted channel, this pickup still sounds really crunchy, with an aggresive midrange snarl. It's far from being bland or lacking personality. It has a real unique voice.

If the Steve's Special is a successor to this, and good enough for Dimarzio to include in their production line, I'd certainly check it out if you're thinking of going for a pickup with a more hi-fi, flat frequency sound.
 
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I was looking for a clean even sounding pickup for my Kramer mutt....and bought a Steve's Special for it.....it has become my no1 guitar now...that thing just delivers for my use!
 
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It sure is hi-fi sounding.

To me, it sounded completely sterile, and lacking in charachter.

Especially in a JP Music Man axe, with a piezo, which has SO much wood routed out of it, it's barely a guitar anymore.

I dunno... for prog/Dream Theater stuff. Great. for other stuff, eh, I could think of 20 pickups that could do better.
 
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RockStarNick said:
It sure is hi-fi sounding.

To me, it sounded completely sterile, and lacking in charachter.

Especially in a JP Music Man axe, with a piezo, which has SO much wood routed out of it, it's barely a guitar anymore.

I dunno... for prog/Dream Theater stuff. Great. for other stuff, eh, I could think of 20 pickups that could do better.
Click to expand...

+1

Didn't care for it in a neck thru Charvel 5a...no character
 
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Are these the humbuckers in the Music Man Steve Morse sig guitar? They suck.

What I want to know is what the heavy single coil in the bridge-middle position is.
 
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No, these are not the humbuckers in the Steve Morse MM guitar. The Steve's Special is a pickup designed by Steve Blucher. It's a kick ass pickup that stays clear even with a lot of distortion.
 
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Marshall_Abuser said:
The Steve's Special feels very weak due to the complete lack of mids. It feels like it has no power. I must say, however, that's it's the cleanest high-gain pickup I've tried. It doesn't spill nowhere and keeps on track no matter what you do with the signal afterward.
Click to expand...

I agree completely.
Overall, not a pickup I liked.

-Austin
 
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I had a Megadrive that I took out of a pawn shop Charvel. IMO, it wasn't scooped at all, it had a very 80's Steve Stevens/ Skid Row tone to it. It's a great pickup, and the descriptions of the Steve's Special do not seem to describe the Megadrive
 
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I've been tossing the idea around of putting an Alnico 8 magnet in mine, to see if that gives it a little more character and vibe. I like the high output and mismatched coils, but methinks the ceramic may be holding it back.

Rid your clip sounds wicked with the second distortion setting. Ooh, and the third one. And effects. I guess I like it all, minus the first distortion setting... not quite open enough for my tastes. Great sounds otherwise!!
 
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I have had a Dimarzio Megadrive in three guitars now and I am not very impressed! That pickup is just way too compressed. I have tried everything and I can't get it to a point where I can live with the attack or lack thereof.

The Megadrive is kind of EQ'd like a passive EMG81. Kerry King used to use them on some of his Jacksons, you can see it in the videos. It is a lead players pickup and I don't think it sounds that good for rhythm. I have tried it both ways and not liked either very much. With the blade coil near the bridge it is bright and cutting, with the blade coil near the neck it is fat and farty.
 
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My standard public service announcement any time the Steve's Special is mentioned is to make sure you try it in both orientations. The coils are so different that it sounds pretty different if you flip it 180 degrees.

I had one for awhile and sold it. I also have had Megadrives in the past. The Steves Special is kind of like 1 PAF Pro coil and 1 Tone Zone coil, whereas the Megadrive is like 1 PAF Pro coil and 1 X2N. Although they're similar concepts, they do sound pretty different.

The Steve's Special is a pickup I think every "pickup enthusiast" should try. It's unique enough that you might find that you really like it. And if you do, quite honestly the Steve's Special is the only place to get that sound.
 
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Frank, interesting tip. I wouldnt have thought to do that. Also, this shows alot of class for you to post this.. Ive always loved the Duncan site for the "no bashing" stand.. For this reason, I dont go to other pickup maker's forums..

I had a Steves special once and it failed to impress. I played one in a jem the other day at guitar center and it was ok. Again, didnt really wow me, but I could definately see that Id like to give one a good whirl in my "environment". one of my guitars and amps..
 
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