46

The Pickup Place / Re: Evolution Neck with Alnico 4

« on: May 04, 2017, 05:09:28 AM »

Heya,

Interesting! So what exactly don't you like about A4 Evo? Too smooth? Too thin? I was saying in the other thread, that you should get A2 Evo neck, but if you find A4 too weak and smooth, and dislike it, you're probably gonna dislike A2, a smoother looser and even weaker magnet type.

It's an interesting find for sure. I never understood why Larry doesn't offer few of the models with different magnets, since some really do shine with them (SuperD with A5 is like what a Duncan C5 ever wanted to be, and with A2 it's instant Van Halen... Norton with ceramic is totally ultimate PAF on steroids tone, Paf Pro with ceramic in neck is more balanced and melodic Super 2 etc).

Are you going to swap in another magnet, or you'll going for a different pickup altogether?


Cheers,
Cory

No. Not thin. But too smooth and more to the vintage zone. Not bad sound at all. I just prefer bright sound with bite and attack. Yes. I remember your words about A2 and I red some articles and learned A2 may be too weak.
Now I think I found at last what I really need. Returned to a Virtual Solo using adapter ring for fitting single coil into a humbucker rout. Virtual Solo for neck and Evo 2 for bridge. Just need to adjust their height for balancing. And it gives me tons of clarity I need. And i think Virtual Solo tonally great matches with Evo 2. Do not know but they have some similarities in EQ.

And what about evo neck? Well... may be I will sell it.

Hi,

Well I'm glad you found out what works for you. I'm sad Evo didn't work out as you thought it would, though when you have the willpower and time, you could try it with A5 instead, before you sell it that is, it might be closer to what you were looking for, before commiting to the Virtual Solo.

Evo neck with stock ceramic, or A5 can be used in the bridge as well, specially with single coils in a HSS setup, with A5 it sounds similar to the Paf Pro.


Regardless what you decide about Evo neck, you found atleast one combination of pickups that work for that guitar.

Cheers,
Cory

47

The Pickup Place / Re: Evolution Neck with Alnico 4

« on: May 03, 2017, 06:56:23 PM »

Heya,

Interesting! So what exactly don't you like about A4 Evo? Too smooth? Too thin? I was saying in the other thread, that you should get A2 Evo neck, but if you find A4 too weak and smooth, and dislike it, you're probably gonna dislike A2, a smoother looser and even weaker magnet type.

It's an interesting find for sure. I never understood why Larry doesn't offer few of the models with different magnets, since some really do shine with them (SuperD with A5 is like what a Duncan C5 ever wanted to be, and with A2 it's instant Van Halen... Norton with ceramic is totally ultimate PAF on steroids tone, Paf Pro with ceramic in neck is more balanced and melodic Super 2 etc).

Are you going to swap in another magnet, or you'll going for a different pickup altogether?


Cheers,
Cory

48

The mini bar (off topic & misc) / Re: Paul Gilbert - Racer X - Technical Difficulties

« on: April 28, 2017, 08:49:26 AM »

Hi,

I doubt we're both wrong, guess it really is a Tone Zone.

Thank you for the help!

Cory

49

The mini bar (off topic & misc) / Re: Paul Gilbert - Racer X - Technical Difficulties

« on: April 27, 2017, 09:56:40 AM »

Hi,

May very well be.
Check the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn-wj4pRpIE
He gets very convincing sound as on the album... obvious on solo specifically which PG model is that?

Cory

50

The mini bar (off topic & misc) / Re: Paul Gilbert - Racer X - Technical Difficulties

« on: April 27, 2017, 04:05:13 AM »

Hi,

Thanks for help. Yeah that's alot of combinations. Do you know or can you guess which one he did specifically for the album? Or een better, for the self-titled instrumental song from the album?
 Sounds like a Tone Zone on the bridge to my ears... but with processing mixing and mastering, it's really hard to tell...

Regards,
Cory

51

The mini bar (off topic & misc) / Paul Gilbert - Racer X - Technical Difficulties

« on: April 26, 2017, 12:34:13 PM »

Hi guys,

Recently got into the talk with a local buddy, he spin his old album from Racer X, Technical Difficulties, and been wondering about tone on it.

I vaguely remember from the time, Paul used the weird basswood Ibanezes with cello hole stickers on them, and I remember he rocked a Laney amp back then, but the info on pickups is lost with me. I *do* remember they were DiMarzios - just not exactly sure on the model. I think they were Tone Zone and Paf Pro... but nowadays internet says SuperD+Paf Pro, 2 Paf Pros or even two Tone Zones or SuperD paired with a Tone Zone... endless possibilities.

Help me out remember, what was he using at that point, as far as guitar pickups go?


Cheers,
Cory

52

The Pickup Place / Re: Any Dimarzio close to the Alnico II pro bridge in tone?

« on: April 26, 2017, 05:02:35 AM »

Hi,

Air classics are as close as youre gonna get. I prefer them to A2P considerably, though I have had both sets in past.

Air classic also nails that Slash tone, too, on the right amp.

HTH,
Cory

53

The Pickup Place / Re: Bluesbucker in HSS Stratocaster?

« on: April 22, 2017, 03:46:29 AM »

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on your purchase! I love HSS strats, theyre so versatile.

I never tested Bluesbucker at all, but one thing to keep in mind is your HSS uses 250 kohm vload, unlike your lester, this will definitely roll down some treble and air outta pickup.
So it wont sound the same. Whether it will sound good or not in different wood and load, is another thing. Ill let someone more experienced with this particular pickup fill in.

I can understand why you dont like the Atomic, its essentially a Duncan JB but with slightly different wind, less character and not as huge midspike. Lots of people dont like that pickup. Specifically if they want something more traditional sounding.

Regards,
Cory

54

The Pickup Place / Re: Partscaster Mason Style

« on: April 21, 2017, 12:04:49 PM »

Hi Cory,

The body is swamp ash from Warmoth, color alpine white. The neck is a one piece roasted maple neck from Kollitz (bought from George Forester Guitars). The bridge is a Callaham with the compensated saddles.

Cheers Stephan

Hi DBM,

So it's all high quality stuff from top to bottom. That guitar must be a treat to play!

Cheers,
Cory

55

The Pickup Place / Re: Air Norton S vs Regular Air Norton

« on: April 20, 2017, 12:16:45 PM »

It's going to sound similar, a bit less air and a bit peakier mids and brighter highs. No S version of the humbucker sounds completely the same as it's full-size brother, but some are closer then others.

ANs is definitely not going to have a boomy bass, though.

HTH,
Cory

56

The Pickup Place / Re: Partscaster Mason Style

« on: April 20, 2017, 11:03:50 AM »

Hi DBM,

What's the guitar body made out from?
I like how versatile you made the electronics. Guitar probably sounds really really good by your description.

Cory

57

The Pickup Place / Re: HSS configuration. what works best for you?

« on: April 20, 2017, 10:42:50 AM »

Evo 2+Texas Special x2

But as far as DiMarzio goes, Evo 2+Satch Tracks
Both of the sets have the quack, but are still warm and thick sounding (not single-coilish thin). Irony is Tex Specs are true singlecoils, though they don't have tons of hum, unlike some other singlecoils. Satch Tracks are of course, quiet as the shadow. Evo 2 is just a staple as far as good sound goes... be it low gain or high gain. Split, it sounds surprisingly good for a humbucker, and is passable compared to even the Tex Specs.

Though I generally like my Ritchie Sambora's Paf Pro on the bridge (coupled with the Tex Specs), I still prefer the Evo2, and that's what I swapped it into. That Paf Pro is going in another Lester.

Cory

58

The Pickup Place / Re: "GIFMEN" pickups?

« on: April 19, 2017, 12:23:39 PM »

Come on people, I can't find anything concrete on the internet... there has to be *some* info that one of you know! I just really wanna know if they're considered good... I bought the new pots and 5 way switch and I'll be rewiring the guitar in one of upcoming days, when I get more free time. I'm not sure do I wanna keep them there, or do I wanna install DMZ or something else?

Cheers

59

The Pickup Place / Re: Does anyone use a bridge pickup in the neck position?

« on: April 19, 2017, 02:00:08 AM »

Hi,

Used to use JBs in both positions and at the moment have a lester with two SuperDs.

I personally found some to work excellent in neck position for leads of any kind... as long as you back them away enough from the strings. Theyre usually also too dark to sounds good at clean.

FRED is a bit overwound paf pro so shouldnt really be an issue whatsoever.

HTH,
Cory

60

The Pickup Place / "GIFMEN" pickups?

« on: April 18, 2017, 04:31:53 PM »

Hi peeps!

The neverending quest about pickups continues!
I've got a used MIM HSS strat... the wiring is giving me headache... there's a weird switch and the previous owner installed a pickup after the neck single, but also a single - very weird indeed, and only the neck pickup works. I can't untangle it yet... will probably have to rewire the whole damn thing.

But I didn't open the topic to complain, instead, one of the pickups (well, two but the second doesn't have the logo, looks the same though) on it, which I expected to be run-of-the-mill Fender mex standard pickups... has very big stamped GIFMEN on it. I want to ask what kind of pickup it is... who manufactures it?

What's obvious from the pic (attachment) of mine is.. it's a ceramic bar magnet. The ohm reading for that one with the logo read 5.60 kohm... the middle, that looks the same without the logo, rates 5.50 kohm instead. However, since the guitar wiring is so screwed up, I have no clue how those sound at all - as only the last singlecoil on the pick works. That one reads 5.72 and it's quite warm with good middle tones (it's what appears to be a early lace sensor, patent applied sticker version).

So anyone have any experience or any info whatsoever about GIFMEN pickups?


Cory