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
- Start date
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
banjoplayer
Well-known member
Don´t know the Tonerider Birmingham, description sounds good! I am very pleased by the Tonerider Rebel 90 (P90 in Humbucker size).
On my SUB1 I played a pickguard with Burns Tri Sonics in Brian May wiring for years.
Last year I made a pickguard with an Axis Humbucker in the bridge position and a Rebel 90 in the neck position. What a pair!
I loved it from the start and didn´t put the Tri Sonics back (so far.... but the day will come....
)
On my SUB1 I played a pickguard with Burns Tri Sonics in Brian May wiring for years.
Last year I made a pickguard with an Axis Humbucker in the bridge position and a Rebel 90 in the neck position. What a pair!
I loved it from the start and didn´t put the Tri Sonics back (so far.... but the day will come....
)
This is easy trade Nothing Cut nothing. Help yourself to a real silhouette a Steve Morse model or Petrucci model. Those guitars sound great and it is not an accident. You can listen for the sound on the records and see if that's the sounds you want first. On a couple of my silhouettes I have the EMG 89 located in the neck position so that I can have either the humbucker or a single coil. Of course you can't mix active and passive pickups together.
I once had a set of EMG single coils in a guitar and they sounded fantastic.
I once had a set of EMG single coils in a guitar and they sounded fantastic.
DrKev
Moderator
Hi @NorM !
I don't want 24 frets, I don't want a wider or flatter neck, and I don't like the dark high output pickups. Amd the thing is, I really like my Cutlass. I Even really like the stock bridge humbucker (which I think puts me in a minority here). The *only* thing I want to change is the neck pickup.
And I've had the guitar for 8 years. It has a small but deep ding on the top from the corner of my desk and few other dings in the usual places, so it's already not a high value resale guitar and any drop in potential value from cutting a humbucker rout is not a consideration. And the neck is beautiful, more birdseye than flame which is rare these days. I don't see any reason to get rid of it.
I'm almost ready to make a final decision and pull the various triggers, hopefully next week. Stay tuned. And thank you all. You're a great community and I appreciate every one of you.
K
I don't want 24 frets, I don't want a wider or flatter neck, and I don't like the dark high output pickups. Amd the thing is, I really like my Cutlass. I Even really like the stock bridge humbucker (which I think puts me in a minority here). The *only* thing I want to change is the neck pickup.
And I've had the guitar for 8 years. It has a small but deep ding on the top from the corner of my desk and few other dings in the usual places, so it's already not a high value resale guitar and any drop in potential value from cutting a humbucker rout is not a consideration. And the neck is beautiful, more birdseye than flame which is rare these days. I don't see any reason to get rid of it.
I'm almost ready to make a final decision and pull the various triggers, hopefully next week. Stay tuned. And thank you all. You're a great community and I appreciate every one of you.
K
DrKev
Moderator
And the answer is....
A Valentine neck humbucker!
We all know it sounds awesome, it's basically Music Man's version of a low wind PAF, 7.25kΩ, which puts it close in specification to the Pete Thorn's Suhr Thornbucker, Rabea's Bare Knuckle Silo, Bare Knuckle Stormy Monday, and a Lollar Imperial Low wind, all of which were high on my list but hard to find used and within budget. I'm confident this will be a great choice. And I keep the guitar all Music Man, which is nice!
I very nearly went for a StingRay neck humbucker, but I think the slightly lower output of the Valentine will suit me better. And I found the Valentine pickup at a price I can't refuse.
Now I have to decide - pickguard color! This is going on an ivory white Cutlass. Mint retains the stock look, but I can't help thinking gold would be cool as hell, and the brown tort would also look excellent.
Thoughts anyone?
A Valentine neck humbucker!
We all know it sounds awesome, it's basically Music Man's version of a low wind PAF, 7.25kΩ, which puts it close in specification to the Pete Thorn's Suhr Thornbucker, Rabea's Bare Knuckle Silo, Bare Knuckle Stormy Monday, and a Lollar Imperial Low wind, all of which were high on my list but hard to find used and within budget. I'm confident this will be a great choice. And I keep the guitar all Music Man, which is nice!
I very nearly went for a StingRay neck humbucker, but I think the slightly lower output of the Valentine will suit me better. And I found the Valentine pickup at a price I can't refuse.
Now I have to decide - pickguard color! This is going on an ivory white Cutlass. Mint retains the stock look, but I can't help thinking gold would be cool as hell, and the brown tort would also look excellent.
Thoughts anyone?
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Great choice!And the answer is....
A Valentine neck humbucker!
I also really liked that video of Jack from Peach Guitars playing that Goldie. Great sounding demo.
The neck pickup on the Valentine is so great for clean jazzy stuff. I gravitate mostly to single coil sounds but that neck humbucker is perfect IMO.
DrKev
Moderator
Here's Jack with a Valentine. Full neck humbucker starts the video, he coil splits it at the 30 second mark. The Cutlass bridge humbucker doesn't coil split (which is fine, I don't like coil split humbuckers in a bridge position) so I'll go 5-way with positions 1, 3, 5 as normal, position 2 bridge and coil split neck and position 4 neck coil split.
Very nice playing there by Jack also. I almost went with that color of Valentine when I was shopping for my first EBMM guitar-- but I saw an earlier video of Jack playing the BFR Pine Green Valentine and I had to go with that one. I can't find that original video anymore but here's another one he did where he's playing three BFRs including the one like mine. He was pretty good in his earlier videos, but he's becoming an even better player over time.
Oddly, my Trans Buttermilk Valentine is very loud compared to by BFR Valentine-- and really all of my other guitars. I got it out yesterday to play and the signal was just so loud going into my amp sims. It felt like it was on "boost" even when it wasn't (when I DID boost, holy crap was it loud). I don't know if the pickups happen to fall into the higher range of spec or the guitar is just more resonant (it's louder strummed acoustically too)-- or somehow the maple fretboard contributes to the bright high end.
