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The Pickup Place / Re: Input

« on: March 18, 2024, 05:16:36 PM »

- Something bright that saturates a Bray-modded Marshall SLP

- Tone Zone and PAF Pro sound muddy and dull

There really isn’t much to go on here.

My initial thoughts based on the typical use case of that amp are a Duncan TB-4 JB in the bridge and a Duncan SH-12 Screamin’ Demon in the neck. You could go with the TB-12 but the SH-12 will be just a tad brighter. For additional saturation I would consider a good overdrive.

That out of the way I’ll take a stab at some DiMarzios. The Super Distortion in the bridge seems like an obvious choice, perhaps with a Super 2 in the neck. The Evolution set is another safe bet if you have the chops.

The HFH is bright but it is also very clean. If the PAF Pro doesn’t provide enough saturation then the HFH will not be a good choice.

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The Pickup Place / Re: DiMarzioForum Pickups FAQ

« on: March 10, 2024, 03:04:11 PM »

It’s a long thread which I haven’t read in its entirety, so apologies if this has been covered.

What does the U mean after the color code on the part number?

I’ve seen this on various Area single coils.
For example I have a pair of Area 58s. One says DP415W and the other DP415BKU. I have a VV54P that says DP408BK. There’s currently a VVHB2 on eBay with the number DP409AWU (aged white). Mine says DP409W. I also found an Area 61 with the number DP416WU.

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The Pickup Place / Re: Evolution Neck in an HSS?

« on: February 18, 2024, 10:42:30 PM »

I’ve tried it in few guitars now, but I just can’t get on with an Area 61 in the neck*. It’s just too sharp and bright and not all that fat. Maybe I need heavier strings than 10-46. I put an Injector neck in there and it’s a lot better. Position 4 with the VV54P still works pretty well.

Even still, I’m wanting to try a little fatter with an HB2. How well can this pickup clean up with a treble bleed, say in the 270pF range? Will I get any chime out of it? If not maybe position 4 with the 54P with both split might still be ok; or I can just rely on position 2 with the split JB.

(*) As an aside I’m ok with the 61 in the bridge with a dark to neutral guitar, though I definitely prefer the Virtual Vintage Blues.

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The Pickup Place / Re: Evolution Neck in an HSS?

« on: January 24, 2024, 01:40:11 PM »

Indeed. I mentioned that in another topic where I’m using a passive bass shelf with an A3-loaded Duncan 59N against a Screamin’ Demon. I don’t know whether the value of the cap is what is used in the Reverend circuit or the G&L circuit. I select it by ear. I do know that I’ve always found a 1M pot far too aggressive, even with the reverse taper. I prefer the linear taper and limit the range with a parallel resistor if necessary. The result will approach that of a reverse taper depending on how small the parallel resistor is relative to the value of the pot, though I prefer a more linear sweep.

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The Pickup Place / Re: Air Norton Bridge Position

« on: January 24, 2024, 03:00:56 AM »

The output is on par with that of a PAF. I tried one with an HFH in the neck but couldn’t gel with it. It was really lean and devoid of growl when compared to other pickups with similar output. I found it to be bright, but I think unbalanced is a more apt description. I only tried it in one guitar so take it with a grain of salt. If I were to give it another go it would be in an HSS configuration.

I’m looking forward to your review.

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The Pickup Place / Re: Evolution Neck in an HSS?

« on: January 23, 2024, 07:01:46 PM »

For those interested, I’ve made a few changes and am happy with the result.

Bridge: JB2
Middle: VV54P
Neck: Area 61

One 250k linear volume control with a 180pF bright cap.

One 250k linear “More” control.

The JB2 is loaded with 510k in series with 22nF

The selector is a standard 5-way with the second pole used only to split the JB to the screw coil in position 2. The single coils are not being split because I don’t care for the extra high end relative to the JB2. Splitting actually runs counter to the filtering I’m applying to warm up positions 2-5.

Positions 2-5 only see the 250k volume control, but each coil involved in these positions is loaded as such:

JB2 screw coil: 270k in parallel with the series combination of 200k and 470pF. The screw coil is split by taking the series connection of the two coils to hot (more on this later), and as such also sees the 510k/22n load across the entire humbucker.

VV54P: 270k in parallel with the series combination of 180k and 470pF.

Area 61: 270k in parallel with the series combination of 120k and 470pF. I’ve always found this pickup to be too strident in the neck position and finally figured out how to get it to sound like what I want.

On to the “More” control: this is a 250k pot connected in series between the output of the JB2 and the input of the 5-way switch with a 220pF bypass cap connected in parallel. The pot is wired so that the resistance decreases as the control turns clockwise. Because the pickup is split to hot, this control only affects position 1. With the control at 0, the output of the JB more or less matches the Area 61 in the midrange.

For those curious, the guitar is a Sterling SUB Silo3.

I appreciate all the suggestions. As you can see I’ve put them to good use. Thanks!

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The Pickup Place / Re: Evolution Neck in an HSS?

« on: January 15, 2024, 02:55:04 PM »

I currently have the JB2 up high but the screws are countersunk with the DiMarzio Area staggering. This is the coil I’m using with the middle single. The output of this coil just about matches the middle which is just slightly weaker than the VV54P in the neck. I’m using a standard switch with the standard splitting configuration on the second pole. The VV54P is being split in position 4. I haven’t listened to it split by itself this way but did it in good measure. The wire and terminal are available so why the hell not? Position 4 sounds good.

The controls are 500k (one volume with a Kinman treble bleed and one 22n master tone). The screw coil of the JB is shunted to ground with a 270k resistor in parallel with the series combination of 150k and 470p*. The same is done with the middle and neck pickups though the neck pickup is using 180k instead of 150k. I don’t like the brittleness through a crunchy amp that’s dialed to favor the JB. An Injector Neck or a VVHB2 are warmer and fatter, but I want the lower relative output I’m getting with the VV54P (thank you @greenlion ).

I’ m still interested in the HS-3 or YJM Fury which don’t appear to have the airy top end of a traditional single (or that of an Area). Please correct me if I’m wrong on this. I heard a comparison video between an HS-4 and an Injector neck and prefer the HS-4 for this project, despite the Injector having much more clarity.
https://youtu.be/N8jKiTgdcb0

I will still be removing the JB2 eventually once I land on a bridge pickup that I like**. I appreciate the FRED recommendation but it’s not my cup of tea. I love Satch though. Who doesn’t?

(*) 390p with a lower value series resistor would have been better optimized but I don’t have any on hand. Still, the difference would only be subtle. Also, the effects of this network hardwired to the screw coil of the JB are negligible when run as a series humbucker.

(**) Evolution neck in an HSS? C’mon, someone has tried this!

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The Pickup Place / Re: Evolution Neck in an HSS?

« on: January 13, 2024, 04:04:50 AM »

I think the Gravity Storm Neck will be too warm and thus provide too much contrast with single coils, so I changed the topic title to an Evolution Neck and would love some feedback on this.

I found the Area 58 too bright and switched it out for a VV 54Pro. It’s working better with the JB2, tonally. However, I think I’m still after the YJM/John Norum neck tone. The YJM Fury appears to have more output than the HS-3 but seems to have a very similar tone. Does anyone know how the output of the neck model of the YJM Fury compares to an Area 58 or VV 54Pro? Has anyone split to just the top coil of YJM Fury?

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The Pickup Place / Re: Gravity Storm Neck in an HSS?

« on: January 07, 2024, 05:02:19 AM »

I want to switch over to the singles to clean up so a difference in output is actually desired. I am concerned, however, that the HS-2 will be *too* underpowered.

Since I have them on hand I put an Area 58 in the neck, an OEM DiMarzio single that I pulled from the middle position of a Music Man HSH Silhouette to use in the middle, and put an A2 magnet in the JB. The output from each position is pretty much on the money: the mismatch between the singles and the JB2 is just about right, though the JB2 was lowered a hair below where I like it.

I would be surprised if the Gravity Storm Neck isn’t weaker than a JB2, so an Area 67 will likely work and then the Area 58 would go in the middle. If I’m steered away from the GS then I’ll probably go with yet another Screamin’ Demon, but where’s the fun in that?

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The Pickup Place / Re: Gravity Storm Neck in an HSS?

« 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.

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The Pickup Place / Evolution Neck in an HSS?

« 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.

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The Pickup Place / Re: PG-13 Middle in Bridge

« on: December 14, 2023, 12:49:44 PM »

I generally find well-produced YouTube videos quite helpful. Even some in-the-room recordings with a cell phone can be good since they can give you an idea about the midrange and top-end. However, demos of a pickup in a mix are vitally important to me, and as such some videos haven’t been very helpful, so it’s been a mixed bag.

The specs on the DP240 looked pretty good so I tried one. I thought I had it sounding pretty good, but after only one rehearsal I pulled it. More on this later.

Apparently Paul Gilbert lowers the pickup in order to clear the way for picking. So in order to boost its output to make up for it, the pickup uses neodymium. With this in mind I don’t think demos will translate well into the bridge position with the pickup higher. My guess is that it might sound sharp in some situations. This can certainly be a good thing as I’m betting it will cut really well. Of course I could be completely off the mark and will defer on the matter.

This leads me back to my anecdotal experience with the DP240. I found the clarity and top end woefully lacking. I found it to be murky in general. I like hearing my pick attack, and as a lead player in a hard rock band I need a neck pickup to be able to cut through. The DP240 could deliver neither, though I only use a mid-gain amp which I boost with an overdrive for solos. The guitar I had it in isn’t particularly dark, though it is full-bodied. I was using it against an Area Hot T which may go to the pairing argument.

It could simply be that minibuckers don’t work for me in general, I don’t know. I will say that the DP241 worked well in the neck with a Chopper T. Perhaps this is because the pickup has enough midrange to push through and may do well with high gain amplifiers. It certainly delivers a nice full clean tone as well as an excellent pushed clean tone. It also splits well, especially if you add in some of the second coil with a partial split in order to help fill the tone out.

Anyhow, I replaced the DP240 with an EJ Custom Neck and haven’t looked back. This might be totally irrelevant but I thought I’d share.

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The Pickup Place / Re: neck humbucker (or BB) to complement PAF type bridge HB

« on: November 27, 2023, 10:17:28 PM »

You can use a standard sized spacer in an f-sized pickup and vice-versa. However the keeper bar is a different story, unless this is the part where the file in the previous post comes into play(?).

That said, if the slugs are tapered then they will need to be replaced.

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Everything you wanted to know about .... / Re: DImarzio Area Magnet Swap

« on: November 27, 2023, 07:33:20 PM »

DCR is far from the be-all-end-all but the spec of the Solo is pretty close to that of the Injector Bridge which uses A2 slugs. I’m assuming the same gauge(s) and a similar ratios. It may also be that the Injector has more metal within the coils (by way of the Virtual Vintage tech) in order to boost its output, but this is entirely speculation on my part.

Seeing that you’ll likely damage the coil(s) by removing the slugs, a custom order would be your best bet. I’d get in touch with DiMarzio.

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The Pickup Place / Re: neck humbucker (or BB) to complement PAF type bridge HB

« on: November 19, 2023, 12:06:40 PM »

A3 magnets allow you to keep the pickup close to the strings without generating as much bass as an A2. To my ears the quality in the top end is more like an A5 which I believe has a higher Q factor than that of an A2.

I’m contrasting the A3 with the A2 because the A2 is commonly attributed to enhancing the flute-like tone of the neck position. Between the two I prefer the A3 because I can increase the gain in order to get more saturation and retain clarity without the added flub on the low strings. In terms of quack I think it largely depends on treble response which also favors the A3. The treble response also allows the A3 to clean up really well. You still get the flutey character of the neck position, but whether it is flutey enough is subjective.

I’ve also tailored my tone control to keep from gobbling up everything but the bass when it’s rolled all the way back. The top end is softened but still retains note definition but the main cap is still 22nF so there still is some a drop in midrange as opposed to using something like 1nF. This works really well for warm jazz tones; not so much for the woman tone, however.

Regarding the frequency of the resonant peak, please correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t it just depend on the coil?