I did a thing........(Reflex)

[Samhain]

So, my Reflex is one of my favorite guitars I’ve ever had.
But!
The bridge pup lacked a little.....ooomph.
By itself, and most of my playing is on the bridge, it was a little too polite, too smooth.
I’m used to higher output pickups, and the Custom Dimarzio was just not cutting it.
Now, when in any of the split/parallel modes, the OG bridge shines.
But alone it was leaving me wanting more output.
So my dilemma was, can I find a high output pup that will still play well with the neck, split and parallel well, and still rip face?
I ended up trying a Duncan black winter, and it’s a total success.
Splits awesome, parallel has tons of tones, and it works with the rather hot custom dimarzio in the neck beautifully.
The only drawback is in split/parallel, the black winter doesn’t have quite as much highs as the custom Dimarzio, but it’s not an issue.
Still has mad mad mojo in all switching positions.
I just wanted to report that.
Put it out there for future Reflex owners who might be in the same boat as I was and unable to find much info on different pickups in the Reflex.
The Black Winter kills in the otherwise stock Reflex switching system.
Win!!!!!

Ps. I know this is sacrilegious here, as the reflexes pickups are revered, but I did it anyway.
Don’t hate me.

 

[beej]

It's all good. Many of us switch up pickups with regularity

Myself, I've kept the pickups in my 25th (Reflex), but I've rewired it in a more standard manner to get rid of the series/parallel switching it came with.

Anyhow- let's see a pic

 

[BUC]

The 25th Bridge pickup can be pretty bright. I really find that it responds well to the tone knob though. I've been playing this guitar pretty hard for 9 years now and I find that it really shines with LESS gain. Mine has such good natural sustain that I just don't need to drive it as hard.

I also found that the middle positions don't really sound THAT different when you apply even medium gain. To really bring out the different sounds you need to keep some of the clarity.

I have a HSH Reflex Gamechanger and that bridge pickup is completely different. Much more traditional, stronger fundemental more traditional tone.

I don't know if the generic reflex's had the same pickups as the 25th? anyone? I've seen reviews though and they have commented on the brightness of the bridge HB.

Great guitars.

 

[kimonostereo]

It's all good. Many of us switch up pickups with regularity

Myself, I've kept the pickups in my 25th (Reflex), but I've rewired it in a more standard manner to get rid of the series/parallel switching it came with.

Anyhow- let's see a pic

Can you describe the changes you made? I'm just curious as I just put the stock pickups back into my 25th.

 

[kimonostereo]

I don't know if the generic reflex's had the same pickups as the 25th? anyone? I've seen reviews though and they have commented on the brightness of the bridge HB.

I thought they all had the same pickups from the Axis, unless I'm misremembering…

 

[beej]

Can you describe the changes you made? I'm just curious as I just put the stock pickups back into my 25th.

Sure- on the lever I have:

Bridge / B&N (inside coils) / B&N (full) / Neck (split) / Neck (full)

And the toggle is now wired up to put the bridge in series / parallel. I also have a silent circuit set up for the neck split, to keep it quiet.

I find having both the inside & outside coils to be overkill- I only need one. And it's handy to use the other position to split the neck (which I find sounds better split, whereas the bridge sounds better in parallel).

 

[kimonostereo]

Thanks for sharing! That sounds cool! I'll need to see if I can figure out a diagram to try that configuration. Seems similar to the Suhr Pete Thorn. I do find the inside-outside coils to sometimes sound too similar/overkill as well.

 

[beej]

Yeah, the Suhr wiring is similar. I can probably dig up my wiring diagram when I'm back home next week.

 

[jones4tone]

I thought they all had the same pickups from the Axis, unless I'm misremembering…

HH models are Axis pickups. HSH models are not. That was per Billy at EBMM a couple years ago.

 

[kimonostereo]

HH models are Axis pickups. HSH models are not. That was per Billy at EBMM a couple years ago.

Thanks for that info! I wonder what pickups they are and why they made that change? Music Man seems to be into making the pickups on most of their newer models. Can't say I blame them. More control over the entire lineup.

 

[Lusitania]

It's okay buddy. It's common to customize your Reflex

But the fact that you did not throw off the pictures although you were asked about it
This is already a reason for hate xD