11

The Pickup Place / Re: Reply Help me choose next pickup HSH set.

« Last post by nienturi on March 27, 2025, 02:09:06 AM »

So so true, and thank you for your fine suggestions.

I will try to feel the guitar in my hands for quite some adequate period and then re-assess !

For my custom guitars, at first i always go with pickups very generic like Jazz/JB or PAF Pro/S.Distortion etc. They are relatively easier to find as used and to be sold. So i put them on the fresh guitar that i'm not very sure about its final tone. When it is complated, i can decide better with the pickups i do know like "there is mud on the neck, i need to go from paf pro to humbucker from hell".

12

The Pickup Place / Re: Reply Help me choose next pickup HSH set.

« Last post by greekdude on March 26, 2025, 03:36:23 PM »

How do you plan on using the middle pickup? If you use it by itself is it in stark contrast with either of the humbuckers, or would you like it to work in harmony with the humbuckers?

Thanks! just some quack in positions 2 and 4 , with the HBs in either split or parallel, i'd expect equal output with the HB in parallel or split mode! But also in live performances I use the middle as a quick and predictable volume cut.

13

The Pickup Place / Re: Reply Help me choose next pickup HSH set.

« Last post by gregr on March 26, 2025, 03:04:34 PM »

How do you plan on using the middle pickup? If you use it by itself is it in stark contrast with either of the humbuckers, or would you like it to work in harmony with the humbuckers?

14

The Pickup Place / Re: Reply Help me choose next pickup HSH set.

« Last post by greekdude on March 26, 2025, 11:05:08 AM »

So so true, and thank you for your fine suggestions.

I will try to feel the guitar in my hands for quite some adequate period and then re-assess !

Dimarzio rules, so I'd prefer Dimarzio !

15

The Pickup Place / Re: Reply Help me choose next pickup HSH set.

« Last post by nienturi on March 26, 2025, 09:52:53 AM »

My standard HSH superstrat with versatility formula is as follows: Neck: A clear PAF with A2 or A4 magnets.  Middle: A 6.5K A5 single-coil. Bridge: A hot PAF-style pickup

If choosing from DiMarzio: Neck: PAF Pro, Middle: True Velvet,  Bridge: Would consider Fortitude, Norton, Super Distortion, Air Zone or Tone Zone

That said, the guitar's own tone plays a major role in my choices. If it's too warm or overly bright, I'd adjust my selections to compensate for the tone.

16

The Pickup Place / Reply Help me choose next pickup HSH set.

« Last post by greekdude on March 26, 2025, 07:40:33 AM »

Dear friends,
I got this new strat (partscaster), asian mahogany body, all maple scalloped neck, floyd rose trem (schaller).  At first this will be equipped by an old pair of ancient Seymour Duncan Livewires , the normal on the neck, the metal on the bridge, those are the ones with the 100k pots. So, I am looking for a nice HSH set that will replace the livewires, which are temporary. I already got :
1) A kramer 210, with original Seymour Duncan livewires (the regular ones, non-metal) , again with 100k pots
2) Ibanez ARZ800 with EMG81/60
3) Ibanez UV70p with Dimarzio Blazes
4) Aria Strat with Dimarzio Fast Track 2, Fast Track 1, The chopper, I have series/parallel push pull on both neck / bridge, + an "add bridge" switch which can produce a nice Telecaster tone (bridge + neck), especially on parallel mode.
5) Carvin DC135 with Dimarzio Super Distortion, original middle, Air Norton S , again neck and bridge have series/parallel push/pull
6) a partscaster with EMG 85/S/81 (85 in the bridge)

So this new one 7) will also be a partscaster , all maple scalloped neck, double locking, with some other goodies, such as nice heel access.

I would like to have standard strat tones + plus all the classic shred. I am not sure what to put in there. I don't want active again, not practical with a standard strat. What would you guys recommend ? any brand ? Just a nice balanced yet powerful HSH set.

17

The Pickup Place / Re: Dimarzio Transition Bridge Review

« Last post by darkbluemurder on March 20, 2025, 04:21:52 AM »

My understanding of "dynamic" matches yours

18

The Pickup Place / Re: Dimarzio Transition Bridge Review

« Last post by nienturi on March 19, 2025, 05:24:34 AM »

Hi. This is my review on Transition Bridge that covers tonal specs, comparisons with Al DiMeola Bridge& Norton, and why they deserve more credit. Hope you like it;

https://www.tonejourney.com/post/dimarzio-transition-dp255-review

Thanks for sharing your in-depth impressions with us. I've been considering trying out a Transition set since their original release; and your review reassured me of what I've long suspected, given the specs (it doubly helps that the ADM/202 happens to be my main preference to compare it to).

Thank you so very much for your kind words.

Very nice review, thanks for sharing. I can only comment on the bridge pickup, and I agree to the "balanced" verdict. As regards "dynamic" - my impression is that many people seem to confuse "dynamic" with "punchy". I would rather describe the bridge pickup as punchy.
Cheers Stephan

Thanks, my friend. It's hard not to agree with your observation about the confusion between "dynamic" and "punchy." I’ve been reading some very interesting comments lately, and just as you pointed out, certain terms often get mixed up.

When I talk about "dynamic," I approach it from the perspective of phrasing, meaning touch sensitivity and response to the volume pot.

To sum it up with two extreme examples: the Seymour Duncan Livewire might have been the most unresponsive pickup I've ever played. In fact, that's exactly why I don’t like active pickups — strong pick attack, light picking, or thumb technique — it makes no difference; the sound coming from the amp is always the same. Flat... And from my point of view, the volume pot is pretty much useless with such pickups. Especially under high-gain, it’s more like an on/off switch.

But for example, the Norton, which I recently reviewed, is a relatively dynamic pickup, even though it’s not underwound or low powered like Air Classic.

19

The Pickup Place / Re: Dimarzio Transition Bridge Review

« Last post by darkbluemurder on March 19, 2025, 05:11:37 AM »

Very nice review, thanks for sharing. I can only comment on the bridge pickup, and I agree to the "balanced" verdict. As regards "dynamic" - my impression is that many people seem to confuse "dynamic" with "punchy". I would rather describe the bridge pickup as punchy.

Cheers Stephan

20

The Pickup Place / Re: Dimarzio Transition Bridge Review

« Last post by mmmguitar on March 19, 2025, 02:59:02 AM »

Hi. This is my review on Transition Bridge that covers tonal specs, comparisons with Al DiMeola Bridge& Norton, and why they deserve more credit. Hope you like it;

https://www.tonejourney.com/post/dimarzio-transition-dp255-review

Thanks for sharing your in-depth impressions with us. I've been considering trying out a Transition set since their original release; and your review reassured me of what I've long suspected, given the specs (it doubly helps that the ADM/202 happens to be my main preference to compare it to).