(Original) Steve Morse Model Pickup Question

[EnglishRancher]

I'm new to the forum, and have a couple of questions about my EBMM Steve Morse signature guitar.

Ideally, I'd like to replace the neck pickup. Don't get me wrong; I love my guitar. However, I prefer more articulation in a neck pickup... and the stock model isn't distinct enough for my tastes. It's also louder than I'd like. Yes, I have experimented with adjusting the heights of all four pickups so I'll have a good balance. I still want a different sound from the neck pickup.

Mostly, I use the neck pickup (either alone or with the slanted Strat pickup) for playing clean fingerstyle stuff. But I also use it for smoother distorted sounds, such as the one Morse gets about 45 seconds into "The Road Home" (from High Tension Wires). I know that's doubled with a synth or keyboard, but it'll give you a frame of reference. Morse uses a similar sound in the same song at about 1:50; it's the tone of the guitar playing the low-register part.

Here are my questions:

1) I'll have a luthier install this, but will I need a pickup with 2-conductor or 4-conductor wiring?
2) Anyone replaced their Morse model's neck pickup? If so, what'd you use?
3) I'm considering either a Seymour Duncan "Phat Cat" (basically, a humbucker-sized P-90) or a DiMarzio EJ Custom. Any comments on either pickup? I haven't heard either one in person, nor have I played an instrument with either pickup.

Thanks in advance for your help!
Spencer

 

[tommyindelaware]

one of my bandmates uses a dimarzio air classic in the neck of his morse. i think you would like that. it's really clear. i haven't heard the eric johnson pickup yet. bet i sounds excellent.........
i've used a fralin humbucker in the neck of one of mine.......it's fat w/ more definition........but not as fat as the stock morse. but i like the stock one better.....cause when i use only the 2 humbuckers....and pick directly on the location of the harmonic over top the neck pickup......it's got good definition.....and a very unique tone.....kinda dicky betts thing i love......
i also keep my pickups lower than most people think is normal. helps clarity ALOT......
my amp has LOTS of gain available......so i get it there.......

I'm new to the forum, and have a couple of questions about my EBMM Steve Morse signature guitar.

Ideally, I'd like to replace the neck pickup. Don't get me wrong; I love my guitar. However, I prefer more articulation in a neck pickup... and the stock model isn't distinct enough for my tastes. It's also louder than I'd like. Yes, I have experimented with adjusting the heights of all four pickups so I'll have a good balance. I still want a different sound from the neck pickup.

Mostly, I use the neck pickup (either alone or with the slanted Strat pickup) for playing clean fingerstyle stuff. But I also use it for smoother distorted sounds, such as the one Morse gets about 45 seconds into "The Road Home" (from High Tension Wires). I know that's doubled with a synth or keyboard, but it'll give you a frame of reference. Morse uses a similar sound in the same song at about 1:50; it's the tone of the guitar playing the low-register part.

Here are my questions:

1) I'll have a luthier install this, but will I need a pickup with 2-conductor or 4-conductor wiring?
2) Anyone replaced their Morse model's neck pickup? If so, what'd you use?
3) I'm considering either a Seymour Duncan "Phat Cat" (basically, a humbucker-sized P-90) or a DiMarzio EJ Custom. Any comments on either pickup? I haven't heard either one in person, nor have I played an instrument with either pickup.

Thanks in advance for your help!
Spencer

 

[beej]

> 1) I'll have a luthier install this, but will I need a pickup with
> 2-conductor or 4-conductor wiring?

Depends if you want to split it. If not, 2 leads is fine.

I've got an extra switch wired into my Morse that sets both humbuckers to be in series/split coils/parallel. In this case I need all 4 wires. Works great btw- in parallel or split mode both humbuckers sound great, and the neck pickup is really clear.

 

[kbaim]

Tommyindelaware is our resident Morse expert. Perhaps the best source of Morse info/opinion available...

With apologies to Norm .

Neck pickup clarity on the Morse seems to be one of the most mentioned things about the guitar in the Harmony Central reviews. Check over there to see what a few others have switched to.

And good to have you aboard. HTW is and will always be one of my faves.

 

[kbaim]

Another thing you may wanna try (or may not) is to go to a slightly thinner pick gauge for sharper clarity.


I use .60 for all my guitars, except my Albert Lee. Then I go heavier to .73. As the Albert is already the sharpest/clearest sounding of all my guitars.

The difference in sound can be gigantic.

Of course, this won't help any for fingerpicking so nevermind.

 

[NorM]

With apologies to Norm .

I don't even know you man.

 

[kbaim]

 

[EnglishRancher]

Thanks for everyone's help! I'll head over to Harmony Central so I can check out some reviews. I think what I'm missing in the neck pickup is not only clarity, but what some people refer to as "bloom." If I make any changes to the instrument, I'll be sure to post the results.

Regards,
Spencer