Y2D with Suhr Pickups

[Roubster]

Hey guys, so I just installed a set of Suhr pickups in my Morse Y2D this past weekend. Let me just start off by saying that I really like the original pickups and the tone of the guitar. However the curiosity in me and something missing in the tone to MY ears made me want to try something different. I am comfortable doing this myself so no issues putting the originals back in.

Anyway, I installed a a DSH+ in bridge and DSV in the neck. These are supposed to be Suhr's "double screw hot" and "double screw vintage" which produce a smoother high end. They sound really fat and punchy. The guitar sounds really clear on high distortion, and the crunch is amazing. Soloing is effortless and very smooth just what I was looking for. The DSH+ is quite a high output pickup, but it cleans up really nice using the volume knob. They also split very nicely with a push/pull pot. The DSV in the neck is based off a PAF style pickup and it does not get muddy at all. It is very defined and warm and retains the clarity even on the low strings.

I jammed with my friends in a studio yesterday. I plugged the guitar into my mini pedal Board (BB Preamp->Suhr Riot->TC corona chorus->DD3 Delay) into a very clean running Dr. Z Maz 38. I was smiling the whole time with the tone coming from this combo. But honestly the guitar was the determining factor. I am totally loving the Y2D even more now. I am planning on getting another Y2D or regular Morse in the future with the floyd to keep this one company. It is the perfect guitar for me. Even my friend was absolutely blown away with the playability and tone from my little set up.

If anyone wants to try different pickups, I would highly recommend Suhr. They are a bit pricier, but well worth it.

[darchirnoj]

Nice!
Thanks for the report on those pickups.

[guitardan]

I tried a pair of Suhr SSV's in my old Carvin CT624.
Smooth, balanced and clear is what I recall.
I didn't keep them in there because the over all sound was brighter and I was hoping to warm it up with a bit more low mids. I think what really happened is that the SSV's allowed the true tone wood tone to pop through and the reality was that the Mahogany and Maple was just too bright for me.

Sold the pups, traded the guitar for a EBMM Luke, couldn't be happier.....
If I ever decide to swap out the EMG's i'd certainly consider another set of Suhr pups.

[FantasyMetal]

That's good to hear! Before I change the pickups in my Y2D, I'm going to try replacing the 250k pots with 500k pots to see if that brightens it up enough for me. Otherwise, I'm really leaning toward a Duncan JB-4 and SH-2 Jazz combo for it. I looked into the Suhr pickups but I'm just not sure if they are right for me. I've always gravitated to the Duncan's personally. Glad you like your new setup though!

P.S. I loved my Y2D so much I bought a regular Morse model and it's PHENOMENAL!

[threeminutesboy]

glad you like the result

do you have pictures?

[Tung]

Anyway, I installed a a DSH+ in bridge and DSV in the neck. These are supposed to be Suhr's "double screw hot" and "double screw vintage" which produce a smoother high end. They sound really fat and punchy. The guitar sounds really clear on high distortion, and the crunch is amazing. Soloing is effortless and very smooth just what I was looking for. The DSH+ is quite a high output pickup, but it cleans up really nice using the volume knob. They also split very nicely with a push/pull pot. The DSV in the neck is based off a PAF style pickup and it does not get muddy at all. It is very defined and warm and retains the clarity even on the low strings.

.

Thanks a lot for the detailed review on the DSH/DSV. Did you ever consider the Aldrich set? If the DSH is high output, the Aldrich supposed to be similar with even higher ouput? the DSH+ is the DSH with higer output, right?
Anyway, how do you like the Suhr neck pickup for soloing compared to the Morse stock?
Glad it works out for you so well. I'm trying to do research on the Suhr pickups because I'm pretty sure I'm going to get a set for my JP and Strat.

[LawDaddy]

I have a purple Super Distortion and a Lace Gold sensor in mine right now, along with the stock neck pup. It's wired with 500k Bourns pots. I also direct-mounted the pickups to the wood and removed the pickguard.

Before I bought the purple SuperD (which is a lighter purple, btw), I tried out a typical creme colored one in there that I had laying around the house. The 500k pots brightened the single coil pup up a little too much, so I put a white early '90s Lace Sensor Gold in that was also laying around (we all have parts drawers with old pickups, right?). So I had the stock dark purple neck pup, a white single coil, and a beige SuperD. Basically a FrankenMorse. My daughter thought it looked really cool.

[Roubster]

Yea the Suhr pickups definitely seem to transfer the tone of the wood through. I just love how articulate and clear they are. Even at the highest gain level I could achieve, I could hear every single note from any chord I played.

I'll get some pictures together when I get a chance. Definitely changes the look a bit. I really prefered the original purple pickups, but the black pickups with the double row of screws looks pretty cool. Makes it look a bit more LPish?

Tung, the Aldrich set is supposed to be the highest output pickups they make. I was considering getting those, but thought they may sound a little too piercing in the Y2D. Those were made for a LP that is intrinsically warm and fat sounding, so I thought the description of the D Suhrs was perfect. The double row screws are supposed to have a smoother and sweeter top end which is exactly what I wanted. The DSH+ has more output thatn the DSH..that is correct.

Now regarding the stock Neck pickup on the Morse, that's something that I totally loved and still do. That's why whenever I get a next Morse it will remain stock. But the DSV does have similar characteristics, being nice and warm yet cuts through. Again, these pickups are really clear which some people do not like for whatever reason. I got this set for its versatility and ability to handle anything from Blues, jazz, fusion, rock and metal. So far they fit the bill nicely. The heavy palm muting riffs were also a joy to play!

[LawDaddy]

I have some booteeqy pickups laying around in some Les Pauls that are no longer getting played. Curiosity is killing me now.

[Roubster]

Again, one thing I want to make clear is that I have NO issues with the original pickups and the way the Morse sounded at all. It's just something missing to my personal preference. The only reason I switched the pickups was because this is my only guitar at the moment, and want it to sound exactly how my ears like it. I had another guitar on order with Suhr pickups, but that fell through so that's what made me experiment a bit. After all, the Y2D remained in its original form when all my other guitars were sold off. Long live the Y2D!!!

[beej]

Nice- glad that worked out! Did you consider replacing the single as well?

[LawDaddy]

Nice- glad that worked out! Did you consider replacing the single as well?

The way the single coil is mounted right next to the bridge pup causes problems, as the Morse single coil is mounted on what is basically a rail. Normal single coils have a wider base, and won't fit without modification. Lace Sensors are mounted on a rail similar to the stock Morse pup, since that's what I had laying around, that's what I used. I had to trim the ears to round them off, but it fits fine.

[Tung]

Tung, the Aldrich set is supposed to be the highest output pickups they make. I was considering getting those, but thought they may sound a little too piercing in the Y2D. Those were made for a LP that is intrinsically warm and fat sounding, so I thought the description of the D Suhrs was perfect. The double row screws are supposed to have a smoother and sweeter top end which is exactly what I wanted. The DSH+ has more output thatn the DSH..that is correct.

Thanks again for all your input. You got me stoked about the Suhr pups. I played a guitar the other day with DSH and was really impressed. A lot of definition and clarity even at high gain. To me, that's like a great brown sound from the old Van Halen/Roth era.
You should post a clip of this new Y2D if possible.

[guitarp77]

Wow, glad it worked out for you!

A guitar should always please his master, so any changes are welcome, if they fit the master´s choice!