blues specials for sundown

[jamminjim]

Bruce - what does your position #4 (middle + bridge) sound like?

 

[candid_x]

Bruce - what does your position #4 (middle + bridge) sound like?

Middle+bridge is actually position 2. I liked pos 2 with the stock p'ups. The blues specials sound more 3-D and crisp, to my ears. More lively. Neither set are like what Lionel's talking about with CS69 or big dippers. I'd love to have one set up that way too. The blues specials and the stock silo special p'ups are actually in a similar ball park, as far as the balance of low/mid/high. Both have a nice balance, both slide from very clean to overdrive smoothly. To my ears, the blues just jump out more.

Should mention that the base plate on the blues was way heavier than I remember it being on the vintage hots. It definitely fattens the bridge, and it's very usable by itself. I image it fattens position 2 quite a bit as well.

I have no plans of changing out the stock single coils in my HSS. I especially like position 2 on that guitar, which splits a DM (bridge) Breed with the stock middle. Kicks a$$. The higher gain bucker does mean that the volume balance with the other pickups is off, but the match in position 2 is perhaps my favorite position on that guitar, especially for hot or power country.

If I were to do a collection thing, I could see a half dozen Specials, each set up differently. Heck yeah.

 

[jamminjim]

Jamminjim says

Thanks Bruce - Here's why I asked about that position. I built a Silo Spec SSS guard with two stock EBMM Silo Spec DiMarzios in neck and middle and a Blue Velvet Bridge aftermarket DiMarzio in the bridge. I installed a Fralin bassplate on the Blue Velvet per Lindy's directions and it was pretty easy actually. Also used an Albert Lee Switch since I had no Silent Circuit. Wired it up like an Albert Lee. Now you're right about the bridge pickup getting fattened up, and I really like the bridge pickup with a bassplate. But pos 2 seems to be not quite right. It's extremely ice-picky although there is the quack. Seems to lack any mids whatsoever. I was wondering if this is normal for pos 2 on a bassplate equipped guard? Anyone have some thoughts on this?

heres a pic of the guard I built. Anyone notice anything amiss?

 

[candid_x]

Interesting, Jim. Clean job on the pg.

All I could think of is that perhaps the blue velvet doesn't have much of an edge to begin with, or not enough to cut through in position 2 (using the baseplate). I get significant quack with the blues in position 2.

Btw, the newer (don't know about the older) silo special assemblies also use a baseplate at the bridge, though it's not as heavy as the one on the fralins, and I don't think it's made of steel, like the fralins. Kind of a yellow tinted metal.

Baseplates are pretty controversial. Some swear by them, others at them, I've noticed.

 

[jamminjim]

Bruce - thanks for your info and thoughts on this subject. I'm thinking I'm going to take the BP off next string change and see how the Blue Velvet sounds without it. I'll probably have to find some additional wax if I want to reinstall it again though.

 

[whitestrat]

Lionel, thanks for the report on the Big D's. I've wondered how they are working out for you. Other than the neck being under 6k, the others' output seem quite average. Maybe Mayer plays in the neck position a lot?

I know he does. but the odd thing is, it's not just about the values. This set is very squishy under mild gain. VERY squishy. More squishy than the 69s or the 65s. They're the same winds mainly, being approx 5.8k at the neck? yet it's so different. Magnets? Dunno... Don't have anything that measures henris.

 

[whitestrat]

Middle+bridge is actually position 2. I liked pos 2 with the stock p'ups. The blues specials sound more 3-D and crisp, to my ears. More lively. Neither set are like what Lionel's talking about with CS69 or big dippers. I'd love to have one set up that way too. The blues specials and the stock silo special p'ups are actually in a similar ball park, as far as the balance of low/mid/high. Both have a nice balance, both slide from very clean to overdrive smoothly. To my ears, the blues just jump out more.

If I were to do a collection thing, I could see a half dozen Specials, each set up differently. Heck yeah.

Heh... I'm halfway there, and with an AL to provide that nice 3D tone with the ash body and the Tone Riders. Something like a fat 50s setup. heh...

I almost expected the Blues specials to sound a little like the 65s. Then again, I've always wondered what "blues" pickups makers base their winds on. What qualifies as "blues"?