Seymourized My Morse

[PugNinjas]

Hey Now,

I've been absent around here for some time so I figured it was time for me to check in with my fellow Knuckleheads and show you the mods that I have done to my Morse.

I love the comfort and playability of the guitar but just never bonded with the bridge humbucker. Some people love it but to my ear it was just not bright enough for me. So, after researching the web, listening to way too many sound clips, and reading so many theories about different pickups (man, some of these so-called internet experts can get pretty bullheaded about their opinions) I trusted my ears and made my decision.

I put a Seymour Duncan Screamin' Demon humbucker in the bridge and switched the two Morse single coils for two Seymour Duncan Duckbuckers.

The Demon is a great pickup, and following the advice of some helpful Duncan forumites, I kept the stock 250k pots. I think the name throws people off because it is pretty ridiculous. I am really happy with the results. Since I already did one switch I went for it and installed two Duckbuckers as well.

These are incredible. I wanted a very clear single coil sound with adjustable pole pieces (especially for the sc right next to the bridge hb) The ability to fine tune this to my ear was the selling point. I took some time last night for a test drive and after making some height adjustments, I think I have dialed in exactly what I was after.

The pearloid buttons were just a little afterthought and I think they compliment the pearloid pickguard perfectly.

 

[telemike]

NIce! Now put a Duncan Jazz in the neck for some clear articulate neck tones.

I had a duckbucker years ago and liked it a lot.

 

[fbecir]

Your white Morse is really sweet !
The pearloid buttons is a nice touch.

Congrats !

 

[browndog]

What a gorgeous SM you have. I love the white, pretty rare.

 

[Spudmurphy]

That looks really nice - tell me, what is that red stripe/carpet on the side of the road?

 

[banjoplayer]

beautiful Morse.
Always wondered how much of the characteristic Morse sound is the PUPs and how much is the wood. But I´m happy with it so I won´t change PUPs

 

[PugNinjas]

That looks really nice - tell me, what is that red stripe/carpet on the side of the road?

Sir Spud,

There is a fire hydrant about 5 feet from where I took the picture, the red stripe is the painted curb to keep people from parking in a fire zone. It's Vegas though, so that is more of a suggestion than and actual law

 

[Colin]

looks great Rich, that's my fav. any chance of selling me the old pickups?

 

[beej]

Nice Rich! The Morse is such a great guitar for modding. The possibilities are endless.

 

[Colin]

Nice Rich! The Morse is such a great guitar for modding. The possibilities are endless.

imagine the game changer on this guitar?

 

[balance]

That looks sweet! Sound clips please.

I've thought about doing the same type thing to a Morse, but using Dimarzio PAF 36th's for Neck and Bridge and Area '67 and '58 for the single-coils.

 

[guitfiddle]

Nice! How come the bridge duckbucker is upside down? I have a duck in the bridge position on a str@t, and it works great. Real nice alternative to SCs.

 

[LawDaddy]

That looks sweet! Sound clips please.

I've thought about doing the same type thing to a Morse, but using Dimarzio PAF 36th's for Neck and Bridge and Area '67 and '58 for the single-coils.

I just put a set of the 36th's in a Les Paul. I am absolutely blown away by them, especially in the neck position. I'm considering trying them in an Axis SS.

 

[balance]

Nice! How come the bridge duckbucker is upside down? I have a duck in the bridge position on a str@t, and it works great. Real nice alternative to SCs.

It's upside down so that it will fit next to the HB due to the curved base plate on single-coils. See this thread for a pic:

http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-guitars/42178-inside-my-morse.html

I just put a set of the 36th's in a Les Paul. I am absolutely blown away by them, especially in the neck position. I'm considering trying them in an Axis SS.

The 36th reviews I've read have all been positive, so it seems like a good choice.

Sorry for the hijack Pug!

 

[guitfiddle]

It's upside down so that it will fit next to the HB due to the curved base plate on single-coils.

I see. Thanks! It looks like the ducks fit in there without any modification of the pickguard (scratchplate); is that correct? I had to carve out the opening on my str@t to get the duck to fit (just a little bit on the 4 corners).

 

[PugNinjas]

I've thought about doing the same type thing to a Morse, but using Dimarzio PAF 36th's for Neck and Bridge and Area '67 and '58 for the single-coils.

One of the Morse die-hards (John Czajkowski) installed those anniversary PAFs and the results we incredible. I don't know if he is still using them but a quick search of his posts will provide some great sound clips of not only the pickups but his incredible playing as well.

Nice! How come the bridge duckbucker is upside down? I have a duck in the bridge position on a str@t, and it works great. Real nice alternative to SCs.

It's upside down so that it will fit next to the HB due to the curved base plate on single-coils. See this thread for a pic:
http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-guitars/42178-inside-my-morse.html
Sorry for the hijack Pug!

No need for apologies, that is the exact info I would have told him. To tell you the truth, I totally forgot about that when I ordered the pickups but after the installation, I am totally pleased with the results. Another knucklehead, DWF1004 checked it out today and really liked the sound.

I see. Thanks! It looks like the ducks fit in there without any modification of the pickguard (scratchplate); is that correct? I had to carve out the opening on my str@t to get the duck to fit (just a little bit on the 4 corners).

Surprisingly, no mods were needed for the installation of any of the Duncan pickups I chose, the Demon fit without any work and the Duckbuckers are actually smaller in overall length than the pre-routed slots for the stock Morse singles.

If I can give one piece of advice to anyone, it would be to trust your ears, there is so much information out there that you can get overwhelmed with the choices and opinions, so trust what you like and go for it !!!

 

[lumberjack]

Pug, that is one hot lookin' Morse. It doesn't matter what guitar it is, I love black hardware on a white guitar.

 

[tornandfrayed]

Beautiful morse you have there!

 

[PugNinjas]

looks great Rich, that's my fav. any chance of selling me the old pickups?

Thanks Colin I can't sell the the pickups because my 6 yr old already claimed them for his guitar so......

 

[banjoplayer]

I love black hardware on a white guitar.

like Ritchie Blackmore