Question Anyone tried a Crunchlab in Silo?

[e.mate]

Anyone tried a Crunchlab in a Silo?

Okay, to make it quite clear from the start - I love my Silo

If I would make any changes to that guitar, I would like to add a little more punch and bite to the bridge....and I figure, the Crunchlab would do that. I'd leave the wiring setup as is.

So brothers, anyone who did it already, or is also thinkin about doing it to the Silo?

 

[RocketRalf]

I'm interested in hearing the results too. I think the Crunch Lab might be a little dark with 250k pots though, but it certainly won't lack crunch

 

[e.mate]

aahh, okay. I thought, the Crunchlab would be much more balanced than any other bridge PU, JP has ever used before. But okay, maybe the design is really pointed at use with 500k pots.

Maybe I'd better rethink, what to do with the Silo's bridge PU....I don't want to completely change to tonal integrity of the Silo concept, just wanted more "bite" in the bridge position. Anyone has any recommendations?

 

[B2D]

I'm about to try a DSonic in a Silo Special in a few weeks... shall I report back?

 

[e.mate]

I'm about to try a DSonic in a Silo Special in a few weeks... shall I report back?

Yes please, definitely....I'd like to know everything about the dark side of the force....errrrhh, I mean, the dark side of the tone

Await your report, brother

 

[Andrew Whitmore]

Time for Whitmore to show off his DiMarzio knowledge

Maybe I'd better rethink, what to do with the Silo's bridge PU....I don't want to completely change to tonal integrity of the Silo concept, just wanted more "bite" in the bridge position. Anyone has any recommendations?

If you're looking down the DiMarzio route then i have a few recommendations for you if you are dead set on staying with your 250k pots.

The PAF Pro is a great option if you're looking for a humbucker that will sync up with the single coils in volume and tonal integrity. Vai used to use these pickups almost exclusively. Great pickup. So versatile. Call up a few of your guitarist mates, chances are SOMEONE has this pickup in their guitar that you could try

The Fred is also a good option as it is one of DiMarzio's most singing pickups. As a bit background, this pickup is essentially a PAF Pro with the midrange boosted a decent amount. Steve Blucher, designer of the majority of DiMarzio's pickups, came to the conclusion that a balanced pickups with a mid spike bring out the strongest harmonic response. The Fred is the best pickup in the world for harmonics. Hands down. This one finds the nodes where you didn't think they audibly existed. And it has the sparkle and clarity of a brilliant single coil. Very pleasing pickup for solos and great on the clean channel

The NORTON! (NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE "AIR NORTON")
This pickup will restore your faith in after-market pickups. Read all those great things I said about the Fred and then imagine that pickup crossed with a Tone Zone. It's the Fred turned up past 11. Its punchy, bright, has a wonderful midrange growl to it. Harmonics out the wazoo, enough punch to wake up your amp, and best of all it handles dirt SO well! Crank the volume, step on an OD pedal and then hit that root A chord and well... E V H!!! This thing does early Eddy so well that you'll be convinced your playing the Frankenstrat. Bright, snarling, biting, full and growling. A wonderful, WONDERFUL pickup! If i ever bought a SBMM Axis 40, I would chuck one of these bad boys in the bridge! As for YOUR problem, it will balance really well with the single coils if you like to flick to the bridge and get instant chunk and bite, while still not sounding like a jarring leap like most high output pickups would be (This pickup is medium output).


If you're after more advice please check out DimarzioForum.Com - great bunch of players who a really open minded.

 

[dwells]

Tried a D-sonic in my silo and it wasn't to nice so I dropped a Seymour Duncan sh-11 in it sounds great and nice amount of crunch

 

[esherman93]

I put a crunchlab in my Silo soon after I bought it- really good outcome. It gives a lot more "balls" to the guitar, and it definitely adds to the versatility of the guitar. I'd recommend it

 

[Tung]

One thing about the Crunch Lab, it has better bite in the mids, but it's also warm, I usually don't like to do fast runs on the bridge pickup, but with the Crunch Lab I can if I feel like it. I just upgrade my JP50 with the cL and Liquid Fire, totally took it to another level.

 

[e.mate]

I put a crunchlab in my Silo soon after I bought it- really good outcome. It gives a lot more "balls" to the guitar, and it definitely adds to the versatility of the guitar. I'd recommend it

That's what I hoped for...did you exchange the volume poti to 500k, or did you leave it as is?
What about the split sound with the middle SC? Any problems with the volume balance?

 

[B2D]

Yes please, definitely....I'd like to know everything about the dark side of the force....errrrhh, I mean, the dark side of the tone

Await your report, brother

Cool... will do. It'll be a few weeks though. The new pickguard from Chandler has to get here first.

 

[e.mate]

If you're looking down the DiMarzio route then i have a few recommendations for you if you are dead set on staying with your 250k pots.

The PAF Pro is a great option ...
The Fred is also a good option ...
The NORTON! (NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE "AIR NORTON")...

If you're after more advice please check out DimarzioForum.Com - great bunch of players who a really open minded.

Yo Andrew, that's hell of a recommodation

Actually I was thinking abot the PAF Pro already, especially as I know that these were used as stock PUs fpr Silos for quite some time.....BUT, I learned that they are not really that different in character from the Virtual PAFs which are stock for Silos these days (and no longer existing in product range of DiMarzio).

The FRED is definitely a singing PU and extremely well voiced....just not my cup of tea (yet ).

The Norton I know (to quote Yoda *ggg*), and yes, I am aware of the EVH touch to it, which is cool...but not my intention. Also, for big balls I'd rather take the AirZone....yes, I know, some of you now go but I like that MF

The point is, that I am aiming at adding some "progressive" touch to the versatility of the Silo, without shifting it completely out of balance. I know that many of our knucklehead brothers here have tried the D-Sonic in a Silo (Dwells being one of them), and what they experienced was that it "drained" everything else on the Silo, as it is just too much for its overall PU concept/setup. As the description of the Crunch Lab reads much different, I thought I'd give it a try and wanted to know about the experience you guys made...if any.

Thank you all so far anyway, all the knowledge and experience on this forum is absolutely stunning

So, if anybody has anything to add to the idea of a Crunch Lab in a Silo....go ahead, any experience is appreciated.

 

[Andrew Whitmore]

The point is, that I am aiming at adding some "progressive" touch to the versatility of the Silo, without shifting it completely out of balance. I know that many of our knucklehead brothers here have tried the D-Sonic in a Silo (Dwells being one of them), and what they experienced was that it "drained" everything else on the Silo, as it is just too much for its overall PU concept/setup. As the description of the Crunch Lab reads much different, I thought I'd give it a try and wanted to know about the experience you guys made...if any.

Ah ok, have some more recommendations for you then!

Breed Neck in bridge position. Its thick, fat, punchy, drives your amp just a slight and it is very controllable.

Liquifire in the bridge. Sounds odd I know but bear with me! Its got some nice sizzle, but is also REALLY fat in the bridge and has some great harmonic content.

Finally, the AT-1. This is the Andy Timmons signature pickup. Its very similar to the Air Zone, but is lower in the output section, is also tighter in the bass and has more sparkle in the top end. On the Drive channel it really is a tasty, tasty pickup with 250k pots. Just wonderful really. This pickup is a work of art!

 

[e.mate]

Ah ok, have some more recommendations for you then!

Breed Neck in bridge position. Its thick, fat, punchy, drives your amp just a slight and it is very controllable.

Liquifire in the bridge. Sounds odd I know but bear with me! Its got some nice sizzle, but is also REALLY fat in the bridge and has some great harmonic content.

Finally, the AT-1. This is the Andy Timmons signature pickup. Its very similar to the Air Zone, but is lower in the output section, is also tighter in the bass and has more sparkle in the top end. On the Drive channel it really is a tasty, tasty pickup with 250k pots. Just wonderful really. This pickup is a work of art!

Now, that's what I call mind reading...or you simply know what the hell you're talking about

I actually was already thinking about all three of these. I love the sound of Andy Timmons (and besides, he's an absolutely cool character also), but I think, this is not what I'm up to in the end.

Different with the LiquiFire and Breed Neck. First I was wondering, why the hell are they available in an F-Spaced version, as they are supposed to be neck PUs (yes, one can still be naive with 41 )...but I found out through the web. There's quite some stories about the LiquiFire in the bridge position of strat-type axes, and it seems that many players are actually very happy with it, as the tonal approach is modern and transparent with good harmonics, with output being moderate but thick at the bottom end. It appears to me, that you are confirming this....maybe I'd give this little brother a try

 

[Andrew Whitmore]

Now, that's what I call mind reading...or you simply know what the hell you're talking about

Or maybe it's that great minds just think alike!

Different with the LiquiFire and Breed Neck. First I was wondering, why the hell are they available in an F-Spaced version, as they are supposed to be neck PUs (yes, one can still be naive with 41 )...but I found out through the web. There's quite some stories about the LiquiFire in the bridge position of strat-type axes, and it seems that many players are actually very happy with it, as the tonal approach is modern and transparent with good harmonics, with output being moderate but thick at the bottom end. It appears to me, that you are confirming this....maybe I'd give this little brother a try

Yeah, I say if you've got some extra cash kicking around, get too it and give it a go. The worst thing that can happen is that you get that ballsy, open, controllable punch that you were looking for

 

[BobMac]

Anyone change to 500k pots on their Silo. I just have this feeling that I am holding back the humbuckers a bit

 

[Andrew Whitmore]

Anyone change to 500k pots on their Silo. I just have this feeling that I am holding back the humbuckers a bit

First and foremost, the number of Ohms in your pots is nothing more than a tone choice. Generally the higher the K value the brilliant the tone is, especially for humbuckers. This is why 500k pots are a bit too much for most Strat and Tele players, Icepick central. Some people, a good friend of mine, prefers the PAF Pro with 250k pots cos he says it makes the tone darker and more "mysterious"

General rule of thumb, if you have 3 pickups and two are 'humbucker' sounding pickups 300k - 500k pots are a good choice.

if you have 3 pickups and only one is humbucker sounding, you can go either way depending on what vibe you're going for - aggressive or vintage.

3 pickups and no humbucker is bright central lol.

 

[RocketRalf]

Interesting read. I'm thinking of a pickup swap also, but might go for a new pick guard assembly to keep the stock tones intact.

 

[LawDaddy]

<snip>

If you're after more advice please check out DimarzioForum.Com - great bunch of players who a really open minded.

I wasn't aware of that site, thanks for the link. Your rec of the regular Norton is interesting, I'll have to check that out. I just put a set of the 36th's in a LP of mine and have been really impressed. Those have restored my faith in aftermarket pups, as you say

To the OP: I don't know how the 36ths compare to the PAF Pro, but they have an almost single-coil clarity to them, and would handle a 250k pot just fine. It's a fantastic bridge pup, with a surprising amount of output.

 

[Pablo]

If you want virtually the same tones with just a bit more bite, you really ought to try simply changing the potentiometers to either 500k or 1M - at any rate it's a very simple and inexpensive mod to try...