DiMarzio Forum

DimarzioForum.Com => The Pickup Place => Topic started by: DarthPhineas on November 01, 2014, 01:04:28 PM

Title: HFH vs Super 2 vs 36th
Post by: DarthPhineas on November 01, 2014, 01:04:28 PM
Looking for a neck humbucker for a darky and boomy mahogany Epiphone Les Paul, tuned to standard E. 10-46 strings. I will be wiring it to a switch for split or parallel for clean tones, so I'm focusing on finding something that will handle high gain dirty tones and not get mushy or flub out, specially I'm the lows (think of G and A barre chords, for example).

I do have experience with the HFH, but sort of find it a little rigid and stiff sounding. I'm intrigued by the output of the Super 2, but am concerned about it sounding too saturated. I'm also intrigued by the open vibe of the 36th neck, but am concerned about how it will perform with high gain.



#1. Any opinions on those options?

And

#2. Am I overlooking another option?


Thanks
Title: Re: HFH vs Super 2 vs 36th
Post by: jazzfromhell on November 01, 2014, 02:09:52 PM
Yes, the Super 2 is pretty saturated. It does a great early Gilbert/RX shred tone but i dont like doing lower gain playing with it. The 36th handles gain like a champ. Listen to the latest Marco Sfogli album; that's a 36th (N) and a Norton (B).

I think either the 36th or a PAF Pro is the way to go. I'd choose PP.
Title: Re: HFH vs Super 2 vs 36th
Post by: DarthPhineas on November 01, 2014, 02:35:31 PM
I checked out that video demo of the 36th and the PAF Master and I'm liking now the Master compares. Too many options. lol!  I do have a Super 2 on order that will be here next week, but that is more for a super strat shred stick.

Thanks for suggesting the PP. I'm gonna look into it further.
Title: Re: HFH vs Super 2 vs 36th
Post by: DarthPhineas on November 02, 2014, 04:39:37 PM
Any thoughts about the EJ Custom Neck or Air Classic Neck?
Title: Re: HFH vs Super 2 vs 36th
Post by: buddroyce on November 02, 2014, 05:21:06 PM
I was just going to recommend the PAF Master neck pickup. It's got the qualities of the PAF36th but with more bite.
Title: Re: HFH vs Super 2 vs 36th
Post by: DarthPhineas on November 02, 2014, 06:27:31 PM

I was just going to recommend the PAF Master neck pickup. It's got the qualities of the PAF36th but with more bite.

That comparison video does make it sound more applicable than the 36th. Didn't you get a set for testing purposes?  If so, how do the lows hold up, especially under high gain on a short scale?
Title: Re: HFH vs Super 2 vs 36th
Post by: Kurt R Kish on November 03, 2014, 07:06:16 PM
I didn't think I'd find another DMZ neck pick up that I liked better than the 36th A.
But I did.
The PAF Master.
However, I think the 36th would suit you better.
Splitting and/or putting a PAF Master in parallel would be too bright/zingy.
The 36th def has more apparent mids and is a bit more powerful.

The reason I love the PAF Master is because I play the E and A wound strings a lot (especially below the 5th fret) and I can't handle any mud.

IMO, the PAF Master is what I hoped the HfH would be- which didn't
 quite work for me.
Title: Re: HFH vs Super 2 vs 36th
Post by: DarthPhineas on November 03, 2014, 08:57:28 PM
What you're describing about the PAF Master sounds spot on. Especially with regard to the E and A below the 5th. So that's good to hear.
Title: Re: HFH vs Super 2 vs 36th
Post by: DarthPhineas on November 05, 2014, 05:39:37 PM

Any thoughts about the EJ Custom Neck or Air Classic Neck?

Before I make any final choices on which direction to start, thought I'd come back to these options.  I am also curious is anyone has any experience with the D Activator neck, Bluesbucker, PAF Joe, and the Dominion neck.


Thanks!
Title: Re: HFH vs Super 2 vs 36th
Post by: DarthPhineas on November 18, 2014, 09:30:53 PM
Tried a Super 2 and while it had the push and drive, it was a little congested and had more in the lows than what I was hoping for.

I did call DiMarzio tech support and the fella there suggested the EJ neck.

The D Activator is still interesting.
Title: Re: HFH vs Super 2 vs 36th
Post by: darkbluemurder on November 19, 2014, 03:47:08 AM
I am also curious is anyone has any experience with the D Activator neck, Bluesbucker, PAF Joe, and the Dominion neck.

Have the Bluesbucker in the neck position of a Tele right now paired with a Chopper T in the bridge. Had it in a Les Paul and in another guitar before (always in the neck position). It is slightly less muddy in the lows than most full size humbuckers. The downside is that in some guitars it can get thin overall. In the Tele where I have it now it works well but I found that I mostly play the bridge position on that guitar.

No experience with any of the others.

Cheers Stephan
Title: Re: HFH vs Super 2 vs 36th
Post by: DarthPhineas on November 19, 2014, 08:13:12 AM
I did ask about that one with the guy at DiMarzio. He kept steering me toward the EJ neck, so I've not given it a lot more consideration. Thanks for the heads-up.
Title: Re: HFH vs Super 2 vs 36th
Post by: LPBII on November 19, 2014, 10:15:00 AM
I use the Bluesbucker as the neck pickup in my TZ loaded Charvel. Its a great neck pickup with a high output bridge humbucker. It has a lot more power and body than a traditional strat single coil but its much more clearer than most traditional neck humbuckers.
Title: Re: HFH vs Super 2 vs 36th
Post by: vincenz on December 02, 2019, 05:20:56 AM
I did ask about that one with the guy at DiMarzio. He kept steering me toward the EJ neck, so I've not given it a lot more consideration. Thanks for the heads-up.



What did you finally choose?
I am close to your case, I need a neck pickup with the less mud possible in the lows, however with sufficient growl in the mid to be able to play riffs (ala Josh Homme in Kyuss)  .

My current config is :
-Big but dark sounding Les Paul
-Bridge: 36th Paf
-Neck: Super 2, setted quite low under the strings, and with bass poles slighty shorten (does helps a lot to sharpen the lows)

That config actually works quite well, but I was wondering if I could go better with something else you where turning around:
-36th Paf
-Paf Master
-EJ custom
FYI I don't like the HFH, too thin and not enough mids.

BTW, I read your Super 2 review, as almost all the reviews on your blog ;-)  very cool and very useful
Title: Re: HFH vs Super 2 vs 36th
Post by: DarthPhineas on December 04, 2019, 01:21:00 PM
My solution was the Duncan Seth Lover.

A BKP Mule would also do the trick.
Title: Re: HFH vs Super 2 vs 36th
Post by: KH Guitar Freak on December 09, 2019, 04:22:28 AM
Love the 36th anniversary pickup in the neck. The HFH is like a louder strat single coil IMO
Title: Re: HFH vs Super 2 vs 36th
Post by: RayBarbeeMusic on January 11, 2020, 07:39:18 PM
Tried all the above and 50 others.  For uncovered, duncan full shred neck modded by removing the three poles under the low strings on the neck side coil is the king of bright and tight.  I put in non magnetic hex screws to make it look stock.  They come in zinc but a black sharpie takes care of that.   

For covered, I use fralin twangbuckers with short a5 poles to eliminate string pull, wound to 9k turns.  More than loud enough for a hot bridge partner, and will take the mud right out of a dark LP neck position.  Want traditional? Use a .0015uf tone cap and roll it back. 

Those are the best solutions I've found.  For dimarzio, super 2 with the poles removed from the neck side coil is decent.
Title: Re: HFH vs Super 2 vs 36th
Post by: Mew on January 11, 2020, 09:35:46 PM
Sry, but this 3 pickups have absolutely nothing in common. xD
It would be cool if like dilema was between PAF Master neck, 36th PAF neck and Virtual PAF neck.
I really don't see any similar point between this 3 pickups. xD
We have like classic hot PAF design, single coil strat in humbucker format, and shreddy neck. xD
I really don't see anything in common, sry. -.-
Title: Re: HFH vs Super 2 vs 36th
Post by: RayBarbeeMusic on January 18, 2020, 08:04:26 PM
HFH does not in any way sound like a single coil, if you have any experience with actual singles.  It is neither bright/peaky enough nor anywhere near tight enough.

I wish it DID, I'd use it.  It doesnt.

As noted, for the DiMarzio line, you can pull the poles out of one side of a Super 2.  Another option is remove the slugs from a Bluesbucker. 
Title: Re: HFH vs Super 2 vs 36th
Post by: buddroyce on January 27, 2020, 11:16:42 AM
HFH does not in any way sound like a single coil, if you have any experience with actual singles.  It is neither bright/peaky enough nor anywhere near tight enough.

I wish it DID, I'd use it.  It doesnt.

As noted, for the DiMarzio line, you can pull the poles out of one side of a Super 2.  Another option is remove the slugs from a Bluesbucker. 

Wondering if you happen to have any sound samples?
Title: Re: HFH vs Super 2 vs 36th
Post by: DarthPhineas on January 29, 2020, 11:25:06 AM
Sry, but this 3 pickups have absolutely nothing in common. xD


which 3 pickups?
Title: Re: HFH vs Super 2 vs 36th
Post by: RayBarbeeMusic on February 06, 2020, 10:48:32 AM
HFH does not in any way sound like a single coil, if you have any experience with actual singles.  It is neither bright/peaky enough nor anywhere near tight enough.

I wish it DID, I'd use it.  It doesnt.

As noted, for the DiMarzio line, you can pull the poles out of one side of a Super 2.  Another option is remove the slugs from a Bluesbucker. 

Wondering if you happen to have any sound samples?

Best way to hear it is do it and play through your rig.  Takes 5 minutes and can be reversed in 5 minutes.
Title: Re: HFH vs Super 2 vs 36th
Post by: angry boy jester on May 06, 2020, 03:36:45 PM
Hope I can help here
I have 3 set neck guitars with different Dimarzio HB combos. And since I don't like muddy neck humbuckers I use the EJ custom , Bluesbucker and HFH.

The EJ custom is n the neck slot of my SG paired with the EVO2 . Both great and unique pickups. Didn't face any output balance problem. The EJ custom neck has a really open and sweet clean sound and the more you distort it the more it likes it. I didn't expect that. In medium gain (blues/alt) it has a gretschy character like you would play a cabronita Tele , and on more distorted settings it goes violin like sustain. Awesome pickup but not the standard neck humbucker sound

Bluesbucker neck. Hello pleasure! I got this one in the neck of my Les Paul paired with the air Norton in the bridge. Air Norton was just gone out of the guitar yesterday (will replace it with the PAF Pro) the Bluesbucker stays. As for the output of the Bluesbucker it's shocking how loud that thing is. Says like 220mv and the air Norton 280mv but I had to lower the BB quite down and raise up the Air Norton to balance well. Good combo but there was something in the high mids of the air Norton that I didn't like much. As for the Bluesbucker is fat, really fat but not muddy at all. It has a nice snap too! Will definitely pair well even with high output pickups.

HFH is the other neck pickup I have in my Hamer Vector with the Air Zone in the bridge. I have set up this guitar as a tribute to my huge teenage love Judas priest . I can understand what you don't like..to be honest I mostly prefer to use it clean so it might go soon in another guitar . And compared with the other two I would first propose you the EJ Custom and then the Bluesbucker. Both great but different . EJ custom more gretschy sounding , crystal clean sound not fat but definitely not thin, likes distortion more than you can imagine.
Bluesbucker is fat, fast attack (snappy) probably due to the ceramic magnet but not muddy. When my luthier put it on the first time was like "what the hell why I never tried that in the past " ...and he has tried dosen of pickups .
That's from my experience
The only hb I haven't tried yet but I will soon is the oaf master neck. But from the sound examples I have checked is a good ol PAF style pickup. It reminded me of the early black crows type of LP sound. Will try it soon. Different from the Dp103 which I didn't like at all in the neck of my SG (muddy) but I love in the bridge position of a Junior.

Cheers
Title: Re: HFH vs Super 2 vs 36th
Post by: darkbluemurder on May 07, 2020, 02:57:09 AM
Bluesbucker neck. Hello pleasure! I got this one in the neck of my Les Paul paired with the air Norton in the bridge. Air Norton was just gone out of the guitar yesterday (will replace it with the PAF Pro) the Bluesbucker stays. As for the output of the Bluesbucker it's shocking how loud that thing is. Says like 220mv and the air Norton 280mv but I had to lower the BB quite down and raise up the Air Norton to balance well. Good combo but there was something in the high mids of the air Norton that I didn't like much. As for the Bluesbucker is fat, really fat but not muddy at all. It has a nice snap too! Will definitely pair well even with high output pickups.

I had the Air Norton bridge/Bluesbucker neck combo in a Les Paul once and had the exact same impressions. Now it sits in a very bright guitar together with a Super Distortion, and this is a great combo for that particular guitar which has always given me headaches with any other combination I tried in it before.
Title: Re: HFH vs Super 2 vs 36th
Post by: DarthPhineas on June 18, 2020, 06:00:36 AM
to revisit the OP from SIX YEARS AGO:

Looking for a neck humbucker for a darky and boomy mahogany Epiphone Les Paul, tuned to standard E. 10-46 strings. I will be wiring it to a switch for split or parallel for clean tones, so I'm focusing on finding something that will handle high gain dirty tones and not get mushy or flub out, specially I'm the lows (think of G and A barre chords, for example).

I do have experience with the HFH, but sort of find it a little rigid and stiff sounding. I'm intrigued by the output of the Super 2, but am concerned about it sounding too saturated. I'm also intrigued by the open vibe of the 36th neck, but am concerned about how it will perform with high gain.



#1. Any opinions on those options?

And

#2. Am I overlooking another option?


Thanks



the result was #2, which was going with the Duncan "Seth Lover' in the neck.

the thread can go back to the nether regions.