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The Pickup Place / Re: Dimarzio Virtual Hot PAF (DP214) Review
« Last post by buddroyce on January 06, 2024, 09:59:08 PM »I always loved the Virtual Hot PAF. Thanks for the review man!
Recent Posts
72
The Pickup Place / Re: Gravity Storm Neck in an HSS?
« Last post by greenlion on January 06, 2024, 08:05:07 PM »In my experience, almost any humbucker in the bridge is going to overpower pickups like the Area67 or Area58 in the neck/middle. Even humbuckers like the PAF Pro and Fred overpower them and sound unbalanced. I have had more luck with the Cruiser Bridge in the neck, or an Area 61, or a Virtual Vintage 54 Pro. I use the same resistor trick on the singles to let me use them with 500k pots.
73
The Pickup Place / Dimarzio Virtual Hot PAF (DP214) Review
« Last post by nienturi on January 06, 2024, 01:20:18 AM »So this is my tribute to my favourite Dimarzio; Virtual Hot PAF
https://www.tonejourney.com/post/dimarzio-virtual-hot-paf-dp214-review
Hope you like my review and hope dimarzio will bring Virtual series humbuckers back someday
https://www.tonejourney.com/post/dimarzio-virtual-hot-paf-dp214-review
Hope you like my review and hope dimarzio will bring Virtual series humbuckers back someday
74
The Pickup Place / Re: Gravity Storm Neck in an HSS?
« Last post by gregr on January 05, 2024, 06:36:12 PM »Thanks for the input.
The JB in this guitar sounds great, but it’s too hot and compressed for my tastes. I rocked a JB for many years but my playing has changed. These days I sing the praises of the Screamin’ Demon ad nauseam. I always feel compelled to say that the output of this pickup is a wee bit less than that of a Duncan 59. It is squarely in the vintage output camp, though it is quite aggressive. I also like the Duncan Custom 5 as well as the Custom Custom, all of which are devoid of honk, not that the JB bothers me, provided it is in the right guitar played through the right amp. It is honk that borders nasal that I cannot stand.
Anyway, I could easily put yet another Demon in it but for this guitar I want a hotter, more vocal sound with softened highs, but not too honky. I like that the GS is described as having single coil characteristics, since I’m mixing it with singles. As such I’m hoping I can get a decent response from the single coils without compromising how I dial the bridge pickup. This is why I’m gravitating (pun intended) towards the heavier low end response of the HS-2. The HS-4 might be better provided the top coil can deliver some top end sparkle.
I used the Air Norton in the bridge for a while and didn’t like it. It was overly bright and I didn’t care for the anemic low end and didn’t have enough midrange to pull it over the finish line. The warmth of the GS Neck is the reason I think it can work. Less highs will result in a fuller tone which I find necessary in the bridge position, unless the bass is too weak resulting in a pickup that is overly honky. I also use The Breed Neck in the bridge of another guitar and really like it. That pickup has more grunt than honk. It’s quite a bit hotter than the GS Neck, however. If the GS Neck behaves anything like the AN then it’s a non-starter.
The JB in this guitar sounds great, but it’s too hot and compressed for my tastes. I rocked a JB for many years but my playing has changed. These days I sing the praises of the Screamin’ Demon ad nauseam. I always feel compelled to say that the output of this pickup is a wee bit less than that of a Duncan 59. It is squarely in the vintage output camp, though it is quite aggressive. I also like the Duncan Custom 5 as well as the Custom Custom, all of which are devoid of honk, not that the JB bothers me, provided it is in the right guitar played through the right amp. It is honk that borders nasal that I cannot stand.
Anyway, I could easily put yet another Demon in it but for this guitar I want a hotter, more vocal sound with softened highs, but not too honky. I like that the GS is described as having single coil characteristics, since I’m mixing it with singles. As such I’m hoping I can get a decent response from the single coils without compromising how I dial the bridge pickup. This is why I’m gravitating (pun intended) towards the heavier low end response of the HS-2. The HS-4 might be better provided the top coil can deliver some top end sparkle.
I used the Air Norton in the bridge for a while and didn’t like it. It was overly bright and I didn’t care for the anemic low end and didn’t have enough midrange to pull it over the finish line. The warmth of the GS Neck is the reason I think it can work. Less highs will result in a fuller tone which I find necessary in the bridge position, unless the bass is too weak resulting in a pickup that is overly honky. I also use The Breed Neck in the bridge of another guitar and really like it. That pickup has more grunt than honk. It’s quite a bit hotter than the GS Neck, however. If the GS Neck behaves anything like the AN then it’s a non-starter.
75
The Pickup Place / Evolution Neck in an HSS?
« Last post by gregr on January 05, 2024, 02:50:05 AM »I’ve been wanting to do an HSS for a while now. It’s been a long time since I last did one.
I’m looking for a humbucker with a bit more output than a PAF and single coils to clean up. I also want the neck pickup to get me in the ballpark of John Norum/Yngwie Malmsteen using a mid gain amp with a TS-style OD or a high gain amp.
At the moment I’m looking at the Gravity Storm Neck in the bridge. There’s a JB in the guitar now and I forgot just how fun they are to play. I’ll probably run it with an A2 for a while just to get my jollies. Ultimately I’d like something a bit lower in output with less midrange emphasis and without the strange low end that the JB has. I don’t quite know how to describe it. I’m thinking the Gravity Storm Neck will provide enough contrast with some authority, but still get along with the singles, tonally speaking. Again, I want to go from a fair amount of crunch to edge of breakup by switching over to the singles and clean up even more using the volume control. I’d like the single coils not to sound overly thin and brittle. I do plan on using 500k volume and tone controls and loading down the singles with a 270k resistor, give or take.
In the neck I’m looking at either an Area 67 or an HS-2, which, despite the low output seems to have a bit of grunt. I’m under the impression that a pair of HS-2s without the dummy coils will excel at the middle + neck position over a pair of Areas. I’m also thinking that I could use an HS-2 without the dummy coil in the neck for clean and edge of breakup and then enable the dummy coil for high gain, where the drop in output won’t really matter(?). I know the HB2 works well with humbuckers, but I’m looking for something that has some brightness and something relatively even through the mids. The 54P may even be a bit too much. In general I prefer the 67 over the 58 because of the higher resonant frequency. The 58 in the neck seems to be better suited for blues, which I don’t play. I prefer the 61 over the 58 in the neck if I want that kind of sound, but that’s neither here nor there.
I never hold out much hope for the bridge + middle position when using a humbucker, but if anyone has any insight let me know. I would likely use an Area 58 in the middle if I were to choose an Area.
I know the reduced string pull is a highlight of the Areas, but honestly, players have been using A5 pickups for well over 50 years. I realize the HS series are very low in output, but will this really be a problem?
Any insight/suggestions/alternative ideas are welcome. Maybe the Gravity Storm is the last thing I want, I don’t know.
EDIT: I changed the topic title from a Gravity Storm to an Evolution. I’ve convinced myself that I need something brighter.
I’m looking for a humbucker with a bit more output than a PAF and single coils to clean up. I also want the neck pickup to get me in the ballpark of John Norum/Yngwie Malmsteen using a mid gain amp with a TS-style OD or a high gain amp.
At the moment I’m looking at the Gravity Storm Neck in the bridge. There’s a JB in the guitar now and I forgot just how fun they are to play. I’ll probably run it with an A2 for a while just to get my jollies. Ultimately I’d like something a bit lower in output with less midrange emphasis and without the strange low end that the JB has. I don’t quite know how to describe it. I’m thinking the Gravity Storm Neck will provide enough contrast with some authority, but still get along with the singles, tonally speaking. Again, I want to go from a fair amount of crunch to edge of breakup by switching over to the singles and clean up even more using the volume control. I’d like the single coils not to sound overly thin and brittle. I do plan on using 500k volume and tone controls and loading down the singles with a 270k resistor, give or take.
In the neck I’m looking at either an Area 67 or an HS-2, which, despite the low output seems to have a bit of grunt. I’m under the impression that a pair of HS-2s without the dummy coils will excel at the middle + neck position over a pair of Areas. I’m also thinking that I could use an HS-2 without the dummy coil in the neck for clean and edge of breakup and then enable the dummy coil for high gain, where the drop in output won’t really matter(?). I know the HB2 works well with humbuckers, but I’m looking for something that has some brightness and something relatively even through the mids. The 54P may even be a bit too much. In general I prefer the 67 over the 58 because of the higher resonant frequency. The 58 in the neck seems to be better suited for blues, which I don’t play. I prefer the 61 over the 58 in the neck if I want that kind of sound, but that’s neither here nor there.
I never hold out much hope for the bridge + middle position when using a humbucker, but if anyone has any insight let me know. I would likely use an Area 58 in the middle if I were to choose an Area.
I know the reduced string pull is a highlight of the Areas, but honestly, players have been using A5 pickups for well over 50 years. I realize the HS series are very low in output, but will this really be a problem?
Any insight/suggestions/alternative ideas are welcome. Maybe the Gravity Storm is the last thing I want, I don’t know.
EDIT: I changed the topic title from a Gravity Storm to an Evolution. I’ve convinced myself that I need something brighter.
76
The Pickup Place / Re: Revisiting the Super D
« Last post by kookaburra on January 04, 2024, 05:18:36 PM »I’m about to reinstall a Super D in a Hamer Special FM. I pulled the Super D for a PAFish pickup in the bridge, but I’m reversing course!
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The Pickup Place / Re: My Dimarzio Al DiMeola Neck (DP201) Review
« Last post by nienturi on December 28, 2023, 07:21:53 AM »That's amazing! Thanks for sharing man!
ADM neck is long lost jewel. I hope people may rediscover it
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Everything you wanted to know about .... / Re: Mo'Joe
« Last post by HeyNorton! on December 27, 2023, 07:34:45 PM »Again, late to the party by what, 17 years? Lol.
Again, all the others before me nailed it.
What can I say that hasn't already been?
It's high end and harmonics are very controllable by pickup height. I was very lukewarm about it until I lowered it down a bit and set to adjusting the tilt and pole heights. Set properly, this is one HELL of a versatile hot rodded paf type. I can play anything with this setup.
It not dactivator tight, but it's not loose either. It's right at the point where I can control that texture with my hands.
I wonder how a 250k vol pot would do? Or a 500k with a 250k tone?
I really like this and it's combo mate, the paf joe.
They work really well together. It appears that Satch likes the same things in a pickup as I do. Cool!
Again, all the others before me nailed it.
What can I say that hasn't already been?
It's high end and harmonics are very controllable by pickup height. I was very lukewarm about it until I lowered it down a bit and set to adjusting the tilt and pole heights. Set properly, this is one HELL of a versatile hot rodded paf type. I can play anything with this setup.
It not dactivator tight, but it's not loose either. It's right at the point where I can control that texture with my hands.
I wonder how a 250k vol pot would do? Or a 500k with a 250k tone?
I really like this and it's combo mate, the paf joe.
They work really well together. It appears that Satch likes the same things in a pickup as I do. Cool!
79
Everything you wanted to know about .... / Re: PAF Joe
« Last post by HeyNorton! on December 27, 2023, 07:21:56 PM »Okaaaayyyyy, I'm a bit late to the game on this one.
What a freaking neck pickup!
I'll mirror what has been said previously.
1. The attack is somewhat dull.
2. It is a bright pickup
3. It is super sensitive to touch and gain.
4. I've noticed that it has a touch of strat single coil to it.
If you take all of the above points, it works really well for a neck pickup.
The dulled attack offsets and balances the brightness of it.
It works really well with the mo'joe btw. They are both kinda the same bright, so adjusting eq, tone, gain and guitar volume for one means the other will sound good too.
This is a blues to hard rock pickup without a doubt.
Clean to mid gain, it bright.
With heavy gain, it becomes clear and very smooth/liquidy in that air norton kinda way.
It's not as height sensitive as the mo'joe. That one is interesting.
What a freaking neck pickup!
I'll mirror what has been said previously.
1. The attack is somewhat dull.
2. It is a bright pickup
3. It is super sensitive to touch and gain.
4. I've noticed that it has a touch of strat single coil to it.
If you take all of the above points, it works really well for a neck pickup.
The dulled attack offsets and balances the brightness of it.
It works really well with the mo'joe btw. They are both kinda the same bright, so adjusting eq, tone, gain and guitar volume for one means the other will sound good too.
This is a blues to hard rock pickup without a doubt.
Clean to mid gain, it bright.
With heavy gain, it becomes clear and very smooth/liquidy in that air norton kinda way.
It's not as height sensitive as the mo'joe. That one is interesting.
80
The Pickup Place / Man, I love dimarzios!
« Last post by HeyNorton! on December 27, 2023, 07:10:46 PM »Name another manufacturer that makes such a vast variety of pickups.
Duncan has a ton of vintage stuff, but are limited in the mid and high gain areas.
Nobody else comes close.
Dimarzio has 67 different humbuckers!
All my best sounding guitars are loaded with them.
I run a 36th set, a set of breeds, a set of transitions, and a mo'joe/ paf joe combo.
There is no dead weight there at all.
I just got the last 2 recently and man, are they all killer!
Between harmonic design, lace pickups, and dimarzio, I can always find something that'll work for me, though it's all dimarzio when it comes to humbuckers.
Duncan has a ton of vintage stuff, but are limited in the mid and high gain areas.
Nobody else comes close.
Dimarzio has 67 different humbuckers!
All my best sounding guitars are loaded with them.
I run a 36th set, a set of breeds, a set of transitions, and a mo'joe/ paf joe combo.
There is no dead weight there at all.
I just got the last 2 recently and man, are they all killer!
Between harmonic design, lace pickups, and dimarzio, I can always find something that'll work for me, though it's all dimarzio when it comes to humbuckers.