DrKev
Moderator
@NickNihil you are god amongst men, thank you so much for your samples. And I just refound your old video comparing the St V Goldie, St V (OG), and HH AL. So helpful.
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- Thread starter DrKev
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TWIST
I decided to move pickups around so I could use my Stingray in projects that I’ve been using the ALHH in (the clean Nailbomb neck tone being essential). I put the Nailbomb neck in the Stingray and NOPE! Does not like that guitar. Dull and hollow. In the AL it’s basically a slightly brighter, clearer version of the AL stock neck pickup-so much life annd presence. Incredible in that guitar. Stingray neck destroys it in the Stringray.
Mind you, I do like the stock ALHH neck. After all I was specifically looking for a pickup that was basically that but a little cooler and clearer. I have the stock in the AL again and it sounds great.
Also, popped a Dimarzio Fortitude in the Stingray bridge and THAT punched it up.
I decided to move pickups around so I could use my Stingray in projects that I’ve been using the ALHH in (the clean Nailbomb neck tone being essential). I put the Nailbomb neck in the Stingray and NOPE! Does not like that guitar. Dull and hollow. In the AL it’s basically a slightly brighter, clearer version of the AL stock neck pickup-so much life annd presence. Incredible in that guitar. Stingray neck destroys it in the Stringray.
Mind you, I do like the stock ALHH neck. After all I was specifically looking for a pickup that was basically that but a little cooler and clearer. I have the stock in the AL again and it sounds great.
Also, popped a Dimarzio Fortitude in the Stingray bridge and THAT punched it up.
DrKev
Moderator
I'm really decided on the full size humbucker. Just trying to figure out what from a stupidly long list. Gonna look deeper into the StingRay neck pickup.
Anyone tried the Tone Rider Birmingham neck?
Anyone tried the Tone Rider Birmingham neck?
One thing I learned going into that humbucker rabbit hole -- unfortunately you will have to learn yourself. People do describe humbucker very differently and on a top of it is guitar dependent and tone dependent. Also, a lot of backup differences (if we talk about similar wind and output) is very subtle, so very hard to express. My recommendation will be try something used to not spend a lot and see for yourself.
I never tried tone riders, but looks like people like them. At the same time there is very often "for their price" in the description. Not sure how to interpret it.
I never tried tone riders, but looks like people like them. At the same time there is very often "for their price" in the description. Not sure how to interpret it.
Are you talking neck or bridge? RY bridge are ridiculously good in a weight guitar and a rosewood neck ones are those guitars. The neck is more fluid type of a pickup not exactly PAFy, but good as well. RY set is the most refined and expensive sounding set of BKP, imo
fbecir
Well-known member
I don't want to spoil all the fun (and like you all, I love the smell of hot solder early in the morning) but sometimes a good EQ pedal and a good compressor can do the trick ...
DrKev
Moderator
They're not just "good for the price", they are just "good". The quality and attention to detail in the construction is great, quality nickel silver base plates and covers, wood spacers, and they are closer to "vintage correct" construction than many higher priced brands. They sound as good as anything on the market. If the cork smells good, I don't care what name is on the bottle.
Tonerider AlNiCo IV Classics, Analysis and Review | GuitarNutz 2
http://www.tonerider.com/alnico-iv I had bought a set of Seymour Duncan Jazz pickups a couple years back, which
guitarnuts2.proboards.com
Not spoiling the fun at all! But no, no EQ can make a neck single coil sound like a humbucker. The phase boosts and cancellations from two coils just can't be replicated, especially noticeable on single notes on the wound strings. That's what I realized I'm missing and why I've decided on a full size humbucker.
Kinda harsh no? Just was trying to share my thoughts and info I've seen to answer your question, but it looks like you know the answer without it. Just for the record have all correct parts does not guarantee that pickups will sound good. There are tons of winders here that use all those correct parts you mentioned and I would not keep their pickup for a long time.
DrKev
Moderator
Oh man I apologize! Wasn't intended as harsh at all!
And beauty is of course in the ear of the beholder. I've heard Gibson, Suhr, PRS, Duncans, and DiMarzios humbuckers I wouldn't keep either, but that's not to say there is anything wrong with them. In my clients guitars I've never met a Tonerider pickup that sounded in any way "bad" or inferior to anything else I've ever heard. The Birmingham neck pickup I don't know and I'm intrigued because it's a low wind (7.2 kΩ) and should be in a similar low-wind ballpark to the Suhr Thornbucker neck and the MM Valentine neck.
Thank you for clarifying!
What I learned with pickups: it is pretty straightforward to make an ok sounding pickup, but to make a great one a winder need to have an ear. So many small tweaks that you just can not “model” and need to try and select best sounding solutions.
For example WCR pickups use modern wire, simplest plastic bobbins, polisher magnets and all parts are superglued together — not a good old traditional way. But they sound fantastic
What I learned with pickups: it is pretty straightforward to make an ok sounding pickup, but to make a great one a winder need to have an ear. So many small tweaks that you just can not “model” and need to try and select best sounding solutions.
For example WCR pickups use modern wire, simplest plastic bobbins, polisher magnets and all parts are superglued together — not a good old traditional way. But they sound fantastic
