Which combo for a Cort G290?

[jimmy.77]

Hi there!! This is my first post, so HI again to everybody!
I have a Cort G290 (last model), with active HB-S-S EMG pu and for a lot of reasons (first of all, I'm tired of flat tones and abnormal feedback) it's time to change them ad get a set of new pickups. Well... now, the question is: which I've got to buy? Generally, I play blues and hard'n'heavy rock, so my choice was a TB59 or TB14 as bridge HB and APS-1 or SSL-6 as mid and neck singles.

Any suggestions? Thanks you all!

Jimmy.

 

[Despair]

Re: Which combo for a Cort G290?

You might also consider the PATB-1b or PATB-3 for the bridge slot. The PATB-3 (Blues Saraceno) is a lot like an overwound '59 (or a Brobucker), except without the extra windings dulling the high end.

PATB-1b (Original Parallel Axis) is similar to an overwound Custom 5, only with a bit more midrange and sweeter upper mids. Higher output as well, but like the PATB-3 it responds really well to volume & tone knob.

They're both really responsive in general. The different polepiece arrangement has a lot of advantages. Lower string pull, improved sustain, more articulate, enhanced harmonics and more even string balance. The PATB series are designed to beef up a strat with floating vibrato to sound like a fat Les Paul.

I have a PATB-1b in my Ibanez RG570 (bolt-on maple neck with rosewood fretboard, basswood body, old lic. Floyd bridge). In that, I can wander from it sounding closer to a Custom Custom to more like the Custom 5 by playing with the tone knob, with the volume at around 80-90%. It has a great crunch, I've never played another pickup that has this sort of crunch tone that is so smooth for leads.

Another thought: why the APS-1 (vintage stagger) rather than APS-2 (flat)? And have you considered the Five-Two for the middle?

Also, would you prefer hum-cancelling singles? The Stack Plus series are amazingly hard to tell from a standard single coil, aside from the lack of unwanted noise. If so, look at the STK-S6 Custom Stack Plus for the neck. There isn't an equivalent to the APS in a Stack Plus yet, unfortunately. But if you want a hotter but still vintage middle, check out the STK-S7 Vintage Hot Stack Plus.

You could also go with the hum-cancelling just in the neck, and split the hum-cancellers on 2+4 positions, so only the middle alone is noisy.

 

[Despair]

Re: Which combo for a Cort G290?

Appears that it is possible to do a Custom Shop order for a Stack Plus now. No idea how much that'd cost. Time to start saving up for a 5-2 Stack Plus...

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Which combo for a Cort G290?

Welcome to the forum.

If your stock EMG pickups use the Quick Connect wiring method, it would be simplicity itself to change to a superior set of active HSS pickups. I suggest the SD Live Wire Classic II humbucker and two Blackouts for Stratocaster.

 

[LatsMcGee]

Re: Which combo for a Cort G290?

Welcome to the forrum.

If your stock EMG pickups use the Quick Connect wiring method, it would be simplicity itself to change to a superior set of active HSS pickups. I suggest the SD Live Wire Classic II humbucker and two Blackouts for Stratocaster.

x2.

 

[jimmy.77]

Re: Which combo for a Cort G290?

Well, one of the reasons why I want to change my pickups is because actually I'd like to "make" a personal passive set that could be better fit my actual sound idea. I had (and I have) several guitars with active pickups (all EMG, 81, 85, 89, SA, and for a while the complete Gilmour strato sets) but now I want something of more versatile. In addition to this, the 89 mounted on my Cort (in my opinion) is terribly umbalanced if compared to the other two singles. No way to make a decent volume setup without going into feedback screaming (too many gain, even if splitted to single), and I hate to be continually forced to work on tone and volume knobs or pedals to mute the unwanted noise... especially during live session!
Theese are the mainly reasons why I decided to completely change way and try an high-level set of passive pickups.

About my choices, Despair had "intrigued" me with PATB humbuckers: I never heard one live, but I like the online example clips. I investigate a little bit more. Regard the two singles, probably Custom series pu's are the better way: I like their voice but I discarded all hum-canceling 'couse some time ago someone told me that sounds could be markedly different (in canceling configuration), but just yesterday a friend of mine assure me that this is not really true. Beside this, after reading this post replies I looked at wiring diagram and realize (unless I misunderstood) that hum-canceling or true sc functions could be wired to a push/pull pot or a switch to activate and deactivate, and this bring them on my choices bag.

So, at the moment, I'm in for a PATB-1 and a couple of Custom Stack Plus STK-S6. At the same time I have to understand how wired them at the best and what kind of pots I'll have to get!

J.

 

[Despair]

Re: Which combo for a Cort G290?

Kinman's and Seymour Duncan's latest stack designs are very difficult to distinguish from a traditional single coil, aside from the lack of hum. Split, the differences are mostly a little extra shielding changing the noise spectrum.

The old fashioned stacks had a symmetrical lower coil that robbed a lot of high frequencies and affected dynamics. Even split they sounded different from a conventional single coil.

I'm terrible with wiring diagrams, but I'd probably aim for something like Bridge series, bridge split + middle split (so they hum-cancel), middle, middle + neck (both split or both not, whichever appeals), and neck. May need a super/mega switch.

As far as pots, the PATB-1b seems to be fairly forgiving. I'd pick based on what's recommended for the singles.

Oh, one setup note on the PATB-1b. If it seems to have negligible mids, all bass and high end, try lowering the pickup until it smoothes out. Usually pickups gain mids as they near the strings, I found with my guitar the mids dropped out if it was too close and it sounded like a parody of the complaints about the Custom 5 in a body that's shy on mids. Was an amusing sound for crunchy rhythms, but not very flexible. Dropped it a little and suddenly it was amazing for leads and incredibly flexible.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Which combo for a Cort G290?

I agree about actives, just don't like the tones, and I don't want anything battery-operated in a guitar (dead battery on stage, corroded battery, etc). There's no advantage over passives.

I'd put an A8 mag in the SH-14 (C5) and make it a C8. That PU works great for a lot of genres; I use it for blues & classic rock (like Zeppelin and Cream).

 

[Despair]

Re: Which combo for a Cort G290?

I've heard good sounding actives, and pickup balance can be a pain whether passive or active. I've mixed feelings on the batteries, I'd prefer phantom power and no acid leak risks... Anyways, the PATB-1b and a pair of Custom Stack Pluses should balance without fuss.

That it should be a TB-14, if you decide to follow blueman335's advice. I'm not so sure it'd balance as readily with the singles, though.

The Custom 8 is a great pickup as well, if my amp had more headroom I'd try an A8 in my PATB-1b, given it's similarities to the Custom line. Someday...

For blues, hard rock and metal the PATB-1b is amazing. Sings or screams on demand, incredibly responsive to pick articulation. Ridiculously dynamic for a hot A5 pickup. And I haven't played another pickup that goes from a tight crunch to smooth leads without touching any controls. Usually there's more (unwanted) bite on the leads, or the crunch isn't as tight or bright. Attack the strings differently and the leads sharpen up, though, it just does what I want.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Which combo for a Cort G290?

To the best of my recollection, the single coil pickups on the Cort G290 are mounted directly into the body wood. There is no space in the cavities to allow for the section of the lower fibreboard plate where the output cables leave the majority of Stratocaster pickups. This fact will restrict your choice of single coil or single coil-sized replacement pickups.

 

[jimmy.77]

Re: Which combo for a Cort G290?

Well... seems I've got some difficulties to find STK-S6 here (in Italy). Probably I'll have to settle for a pair of STK-S4...

J.

 

[Despair]

Re: Which combo for a Cort G290?

You might see if you can get the STK-S7 Hot Vintage Stack Plus, which is closer in tone to the Classic, but a bit warmer and higher output so should balance better with a humbucker.

Given your complaints about balance with the EMG singles, I'd be surprised if you were happy with a humbucker combined with singles with vintage output levels.

 

[jimmy.77]

Re: Which combo for a Cort G290?

You might see if you can get the STK-S7 Hot Vintage Stack Plus, which is closer in tone to the Classic, but a bit warmer and higher output so should balance better with a humbucker.

Given your complaints about balance with the EMG singles, I'd be surprised if you were happy with a humbucker combined with singles with vintage output levels.

...yes, I suppose you're right! I'm looking for STK-S7, but just now I received a mail from SD official reseller in Italy and I could order also STK-6.
And what about if I take a PATB-1 neck and put it to bridge position? Theorically, neck model should be have a lower gain than bridge, but I really don't know how this behaviour reflect into real things. Also for STK-6 I find only "bridge" models, no middle or neck...

Sorry for my questions-storming: wirings schemas, tone charts and demo sound clips are all formidable aid... but nothing is like a real experience

J.

 

[Despair]

Re: Which combo for a Cort G290?

The PATB-1n is a lot brighter than the bridge. It's 7.4K of AWG42 wire, if I remember right. Some people like low output neck humbuckers along with low output single coils. But... this is a Parallel Axis design, which means it's brighter than usual for a 7.4K humbucker, that might get awful bright.

The PATB-1n is somewhere between the '59 neck and the Jazz neck for tone. More sparkle and tighter than the '59, but a more complex a tone than the Jazz.

The PATB-1b is a completely different beast, a hot bridge humbucker more like an overwound Custom 5, though there are significant differences.

If you want a lower output bridge humbucker in the Parallel Axis line, I'd look at the PATB-3.

All STK-6 models are the same, no difference regardless of position. Rockers often use them in the middle and neck without complaints. If you want a bit lower output in the middle for more quack in notch (2+4) positions, I'd go for the STK-S7 for the middle, STK-S6 for the neck.

 

[jimmy.77]

Re: Which combo for a Cort G290?

[...]
If you want a lower output bridge humbucker in the Parallel Axis line, I'd look at the PATB-3
[...]

well, I like Custom 5 sound, so I'm going for PATB-1b. About STK-S6 I suppose what you're answering me... but in this last days an universe is opened in front of me... and I start to fell a little bit dazed!!! Damn... I really never realize that exist so many variables to consider to find a right pickup...
Thanks again.

I think soon as possible (probably tomorrow, if I can) I'll place the order for PATB-1b and a pair of STK-S6.

J.

 

[Despair]

Re: Which combo for a Cort G290?

PATB-1b bridge and neck STK-S6 make the most sense to me from what you've said.

But depending on what you want out of the middle & notch positions, you might consider the STK-S7 for the middle, to get quackier notch positions. Most people want brightness more than power out of the middle. If you want middle & neck equal, tend to use the middle by itself a lot or want the middle screwed in all the way so you don't hit it when you flail away Townsend style, hotter does make more sense.

 

[jimmy.77]

Re: Which combo for a Cort G290?

well, for the "idea" of sound I want to have, I think PATB-1/S6/S6 is the right configuration.
Now I have to face with pots and wiring diagrams...

J.

 

[Despair]

Re: Which combo for a Cort G290?

That's a bit trickier, depends a bit on the guitar and how bright you like things. A fair number of superstrats (particularly Yamaha) used to use a pair of 330K pots in HSS configs, to try to compromise between what the singles and humbuckers typically want.

Some people mix a 250K volume with a 500K tone, another compromise option.

Those are fairly balanced pickups in a fairly balanced guitar (if the woods behave typically, which of course is not guaranteed). I'd probably try 330Ks to start.

 

[jimmy.77]

Re: Which combo for a Cort G290?

That's a bit trickier, depends a bit on the guitar and how bright you like things. A fair number of superstrats (particularly Yamaha) used to use a pair of 330K pots in HSS configs, to try to compromise between what the singles and humbuckers typically want.
Some people mix a 250K volume with a 500K tone, another compromise option.
Those are fairly balanced pickups in a fairly balanced guitar (if the woods behave typically, which of course is not guaranteed). I'd probably try 330Ks to start.

Ok. Could I (suppose yes) take a 500K pot and put in parallel with a 970K resistor to get the wanted 330K? (I hope that result is correct: about 15 years are gone from last time I've seen an R1 || R2 circuit. I'm a little rusty...)
And is better logaritmic or linear? If I remember well, Gibson use log pot for tone (major response) and linear for volume, and this make sense for me.

J.

 

[jimmy.77]

Re: Which combo for a Cort G290?

Hi again!
Well, finally I've got they! If I'll find pots, in this week end I hope to mount pickups into my guitar.
Thank you all for the precious informations and support... for now!

See ya!!!

J.