ubertwerp
New member
Dudes.
Here is the saga of my journey to find the "perfect pickup".
I hope this helps some of you trying to find your way.
(The statements below are my opinions/findings only-your mileage may vary)
1)Amps,Amp settings, EQ ,Instrument cable and quality of guitar construction,pickup height (in that order) can have more to do with the way you sound than the pickup itself does
2)David Gilmour,Eddie Van Halen and Michael Schenker are going to sound like David Gilmour,Eddie Van Halen and Michael Schenker -even if they play through other people's rigs or acoustic guitars-however the inverse is NOT necessarily true-playing a Wolfgang through a 5150 does NOT make you EVH..
Check out this clip of David Gilmour playing a Gibson and you be the judge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QD1-j5ZWOmw
Having said the above about pickups...
3)The main differences in pickups are single coil versus dual coil
and high output versus low output pickup height,and clarity versus muddiness -all the rest-ie manufacturer,windings,age,ceramic ,alnico etc. tend to be less important than the coil configuration , output,pickup height and clarity
4)Low/Medium output pickups have the best sustain ,harmonics and quality of sound if playing through a boosted/processed signal
5)Active pickups do NOT = better sustain,harmonics or quality of sound (Yes I tried the EMG 81 and the air norton/duncan distortion were both much better in the bridge IMO)
6)Monster Cables Rule -Period....
-this alone can make a major difference in the sound quality transferred from the guitar especially if using no name brands
7)and most important -Obsession with gear and tweaking in sounds gives us weaker players the rationalization not to practice and put forth the effort to learn our instruments
Play more -worry about gear less-
So what did I finally end up with after trying stock Ibanez,Stock Gibson,Fender,Air Norton(bridge ,neck,parallel)
Tone Zone(bridge,neck parallel),PAF Pro,Duncan Distortion,Steve's Special Norton,EMG 81 and Duncan JB?
drumroll...
The Dimarzio Virtual PAF -hands down the cleanest,clearest most articulate pickup I have ever played -It can also rip and has outstanding sustain and harmonics on dirty channels with the right setup(ie boosted signal).(I play Ibanez RG through Line 6 Gear and play hard rock,blues ,classical and some metal )
I have also gone back to my one volume knob and one pickup configuration.
I am tired of trying to use my pickup to make my sound-I have found peace
with the single Dimarzio Virtual PAF and and am done searching for "something better"
.Henceforth I will be focussing on my amp,EQ and my playing and enjoying the music I can make.
Unless something revolutionary comes out -I am done gear-hopping.
Peace to all and have Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Ubertwerp Out.....
Here is the saga of my journey to find the "perfect pickup".
I hope this helps some of you trying to find your way.
(The statements below are my opinions/findings only-your mileage may vary)
1)Amps,Amp settings, EQ ,Instrument cable and quality of guitar construction,pickup height (in that order) can have more to do with the way you sound than the pickup itself does
2)David Gilmour,Eddie Van Halen and Michael Schenker are going to sound like David Gilmour,Eddie Van Halen and Michael Schenker -even if they play through other people's rigs or acoustic guitars-however the inverse is NOT necessarily true-playing a Wolfgang through a 5150 does NOT make you EVH..
Check out this clip of David Gilmour playing a Gibson and you be the judge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QD1-j5ZWOmw
Having said the above about pickups...
3)The main differences in pickups are single coil versus dual coil
and high output versus low output pickup height,and clarity versus muddiness -all the rest-ie manufacturer,windings,age,ceramic ,alnico etc. tend to be less important than the coil configuration , output,pickup height and clarity
4)Low/Medium output pickups have the best sustain ,harmonics and quality of sound if playing through a boosted/processed signal
5)Active pickups do NOT = better sustain,harmonics or quality of sound (Yes I tried the EMG 81 and the air norton/duncan distortion were both much better in the bridge IMO)
6)Monster Cables Rule -Period....
-this alone can make a major difference in the sound quality transferred from the guitar especially if using no name brands
7)and most important -Obsession with gear and tweaking in sounds gives us weaker players the rationalization not to practice and put forth the effort to learn our instruments
Play more -worry about gear less-
So what did I finally end up with after trying stock Ibanez,Stock Gibson,Fender,Air Norton(bridge ,neck,parallel)
Tone Zone(bridge,neck parallel),PAF Pro,Duncan Distortion,Steve's Special Norton,EMG 81 and Duncan JB?
drumroll...
The Dimarzio Virtual PAF -hands down the cleanest,clearest most articulate pickup I have ever played -It can also rip and has outstanding sustain and harmonics on dirty channels with the right setup(ie boosted signal).(I play Ibanez RG through Line 6 Gear and play hard rock,blues ,classical and some metal )
I have also gone back to my one volume knob and one pickup configuration.
I am tired of trying to use my pickup to make my sound-I have found peace
with the single Dimarzio Virtual PAF and and am done searching for "something better"
.Henceforth I will be focussing on my amp,EQ and my playing and enjoying the music I can make.
Unless something revolutionary comes out -I am done gear-hopping.
Peace to all and have Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Ubertwerp Out.....
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