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Post by Grand Toad on Nov 12, 2015 3:49:29 GMT
My luthier friend, Pete, hates the Strat trem system. He talked me into flooring the one on a 79 Strat I had. "You want the guitar to stay in tune, don't you?"
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Post by Mindfrigg on Nov 12, 2015 3:55:57 GMT
I think I derailed Cat's thread. <lol> i just sort of showed up and started posting at the most recent thread someone had posted on. As I said..still don't have the hang if this place. So...to get back to his premise...yes I agree. Most stock pickups are perfectly fine. Even the much maligned Epi pickups. I don't think I've ever swapped out pups on an Epi. Just dialed in my amp/efx. I do a lot of different Strat configurations because they're cheap and readily modifiable. Plus the longer scale with familiar humbuckers sound somewhat different than a Gibson scale. I have also swapped out Pickups on two Gibson Customs..tone chasing. Both were early '70s and had at least one original removed anyway.
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Post by Maxwell on Nov 12, 2015 4:50:39 GMT
Derailer..... Off the tracks.....
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Post by Catfish on Nov 12, 2015 6:48:09 GMT
The conversation goes where it goes, no worries.
I like the 6-screw Synchro the best, but there ARE tricks to setting them up that make it possible to dive-bomb and stay in tune after. There's a video on Youtube that explains part of it, but not all. 3 in 1 oil is needed, and hardened screws, and...yeah, it's fussy compared to a Floyd.
But the feel of it is perfect, to me. So the extra effort is well worth it.
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Post by Grand Toad on Nov 12, 2015 7:24:21 GMT
The conversation goes where it goes, no worries. I like the 6-screw Synchro the best, but there ARE tricks to setting them up that make it possible to dive-bomb and stay in tune after. There's a video on Youtube that explains part of it, but not all. 3 in 1 oil is needed, and hardened screws, and...yeah, it's fussy compared to a Floyd. But the feel of it is perfect, to me. So the extra effort is well worth it. I don't like the two screw Syncro. Partly an aesthetic issue for me. And, yes if it's perfect for you, it's perfect.
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Post by Maxwell on Nov 12, 2015 14:09:56 GMT
While I've never liked driving a whammy, I respect those that make it work. Beck purely gives me chill bumps....
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Post by Grand Toad on Nov 12, 2015 16:08:54 GMT
Jeff Beck would sound great on a Teisco.
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Post by Colchar on Nov 12, 2015 16:48:54 GMT
I picked up a used Sheraton yesterday. I kind of expected that I might have to change the pickups, pots, etc. because I've never really liked too many Epi pickups. Late last night I brought the thing home, cleaned it up a bit, put new strings on it and noodled a wee bit. It sounded good unplugged so I grabbed my Mustang and set it to the '65 Deluxe Reverb sim. When I started playing I was really surprised by how good the guitar sounded, I mean really surprised. It doesn't look like the pickups, pots, or anything else will need to be replaced unless something fails (I think Epi is known for having switches that fail). But barring something breaking, the guitar is going to stay stock.
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Post by Mindfrigg on Nov 12, 2015 17:16:35 GMT
The only problem I've encountered with Samicks consistently is the selector switches. Not always, but fairly often. Otherwise the gripes are mostly corksniffery imo.
I've said before, one of my favorite guitars is a '99 Springfield EHB 500 (Dot clone) made in the same Samick factory as the Epis. Despite it hot alnicos and poly finish. <lol>
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Post by yettoblaster on Nov 12, 2015 17:49:20 GMT
I picked up a used Sheraton yesterday. I kind of expected that I might have to change the pickups, pots, etc. because I've never really liked too many Epi pickups... ...I was really surprised by how good the guitar sounded, I mean really surprised. It doesn't look like the pickups, pots, or anything else will need to be replaced unless something fails. Good deal. Yeah Seymour Duncan's influence has been felt worldwide, even if the pickups don't say "Duncan Designed" on them. Manufacturers have paid attention. The Japanese imports originally were all about cost-cutting. But I think the import brands have finally figured out that you can still be competitive even if a few more turns of wire are on there. The real savings is in the labor.
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Post by Bill h on Nov 13, 2015 16:52:25 GMT
I only messed with pu's just once. That was when I got my first strat which happens to be the one I have posted in the fender thread. The single coil pu's combined with the light ash body made it sound so thin I just couldn't stand it. I had to replace them. If your wondering what I dropped in there take a look in the fender thread.
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roberteaux
Burnt Rock Star
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Post by roberteaux on Dec 12, 2015 10:23:09 GMT
I've never messed with pickups at all.
I always just played the guitar at the store where I bought it, fiddled with the amp and controls, and if I liked it enough, I bought it.
One time about a year ago, I told the folks in the MH thread that it had occurred to me to maybe change out the pups in my ES 339. I was just thinking of it as some sort of experiment, to do just for the hell of it.
I was surprised when pretty much everybody told me not to mess with those pups without some really, really good reason. I thought that doing that kind of thing was some kind of mandatory behavior or whatever. But the folks were so consistent in their expression that it would be dopey for me to mess with those pups if I wasn't genuinely unhappy with them-- which, I wasn't.
So I didn't do nothin' of the sort, and just continued practicing. I figure that was all for the best.
Interesting to see so many of the same comments being delivered in this thread.
As for whammies: I don't know much about them, and at this point I don't even use one even though I've got two guitars-- a Stratocaster and a PRS-- that are set up for use with a whammy. But right now, I don't play anything at all that actually calls for one.
--Rob
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Post by Mindfrigg on Dec 13, 2015 3:27:27 GMT
For one thing swapping out pickups in a semi-solid is a pure bitch. Hollowbodies too if it's an f-hole type.
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Post by laowai on Dec 27, 2015 6:02:47 GMT
I'd say that, for some, swapping pickups out and in, trying out different things is part of the hobby of owning and playing guitars.
For most, stock is best if not adequate.
Me? I change pickups about as often as Edro changes undies.
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Post by Grand Toad on Dec 27, 2015 6:15:59 GMT
I'd say that, for some, swapping pickups out and in, trying out different things is part of the hobby of owning and playing guitars. For most, stock is best if not adequate. Me? I change pickups about as often as Edro changes undies. Never?
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Post by Maxwell on Dec 27, 2015 19:39:31 GMT
I'd say that, for some, swapping pickups out and in, trying out different things is part of the hobby of owning and playing guitars. For most, stock is best if not adequate. Me? I change pickups about as often as Edro changes undies. I'd say that, for some, swapping pickups out and in, trying out different things is part of the hobby of owning and playing guitars. For most, stock is best if not adequate. Me? I change pickups about as often as Edro changes undies. Never? I'll have you both know it's almost February....
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Post by Colchar on Dec 28, 2015 23:22:36 GMT
I'd say that, for some, swapping pickups out and in, trying out different things is part of the hobby of owning and playing guitars. For most, stock is best if not adequate. Me? I change pickups about as often as Edro changes undies. I'll have you both know it's almost February.... Which will be yet another month during which you don't change your gitch.
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Post by Mindfrigg on Dec 29, 2015 17:13:04 GMT
It's not as bad as all that. What he's not telling you is he goes commando exclusively. Saves a lot of time and money that way...what with the bib denims and such you can hardly tell. Plus...well....size matters.
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Post by Maxwell on Dec 29, 2015 20:12:53 GMT
It's not as bad as all that. What he's not telling you is he goes commando exclusively. Saves a lot of time and money that way...what with the bib denims and such you can hardly tell. Plus...well....size matters.
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Post by melvindale on Dec 30, 2015 20:07:19 GMT
I'd say that, for some, swapping pickups out and in, trying out different things is part of the hobby of owning and playing guitars. For most, stock is best if not adequate. Me? I change pickups about as often as Edro changes undies. I'll have you both know it's almost February....
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Post by Marshall 'n' Moonshine on Jan 24, 2016 21:14:57 GMT
The stock SSS in my Strat are to die for. The BB Pro's in my 08 Std, not so much. I gutted it and loaded it with MSSC harness and ECP RD59 Hybrids and it's a whole new instrument. I just couldn't dial out the harshness of the BBP's without losing my high-end. I probably should have swapped one at a time, but I wanted 50's wiring and low-output pups and that's all the fuck there was to it. I don't regret it a bit; the thing is a lifelong friend now. Feels like it's got a soul of its own.
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Post by Colchar on Jan 30, 2016 3:02:20 GMT
The stock SSS in my Strat are to die for. The BB Pro's in my 08 Std, not so much. I gutted it and loaded it with MSSC harness and ECP RD59 Hybrids and it's a whole new instrument. I just couldn't dial out the harshness of the BBP's without losing my high-end. I probably should have swapped one at a time, but I wanted 50's wiring and low-output pups and that's all the fuck there was to it. I don't regret it a bit; the thing is a lifelong friend now. Feels like it's got a soul of its own. I had the same experience with Burstbucker Pros in my LP. Just did not like them so replaced them with a set of Burstbucker 1&2s, and also had the pots changed and '50s wiring done at the same time.
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Post by Marshall 'n' Moonshine on Feb 2, 2016 3:56:02 GMT
What I need to learn to do is to swap out one thing at a time. I just get impatient. I bought a LP because Page. I picked a nice one (08 Std) because I make enough money. I do my research later. I'd never heard of 50's wiring before I bought my LP. I buy stuff, and LATER, I hear "you gotta change this or that" and it sometimes ends up being true. It's a little frustrating. There's a lot of stuff that I wish I knew earlier. I guess that's everything.
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Post by sixstring on Feb 23, 2016 2:53:34 GMT
well i have the luxury of a few LPs with totally stock electrics in them and i can squeeze a sound i like from them. i also have an R8 that i modded and put in Timbuckers and an RS kit with new pots and caps. made all the difference in the world. it is so easy to dial in a classic tone like Taylor/Richards, Clapton, et al. i don't claim i play that well, but i have had friends and fans remark that the tone i was getting was exceptionally good.
i also had a tobaccoburst R9 that i wasn't using much. i know, WTF? right. but it's true. anyway, i traded it for a limited ES355 that is heavenly too. but the guy i traded it to, upgraded with some Throbaks and RS pots and caps. damn if it didn't just open up that guitar. anyway, as fate would have it, the guy decided to unload it a while later and i bought it back. still looks as good as ever, but it sounds like a whole different instrument.
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Post by Bill h on Feb 25, 2016 16:36:07 GMT
Only once in my life did I ever replace the pu's on a stock guitar. It was on my 2000 USA strat. The light ash body combined with the stock single coils were just to thin. I dropped in 3 SD Jr mini humbuckers. You would think that would have killed the fender tone but it didn't, it worked out beautiful.
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JeffBlue
Burnt Rock Star
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Post by JeffBlue on Mar 3, 2016 3:37:41 GMT
As badly as I play, anything helps. So I always change my pickups out unless the guitars already have Seymour Duncans.
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Post by Maxwell on Mar 4, 2016 5:08:07 GMT
I'm not one to swap pups as I buy a specific guitar because of the way that particular guitar sounds.
That being said Jeff, it is hard to beat Seymours for damn sure... Great pups...
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Post by Colchar on Mar 5, 2016 2:51:56 GMT
I'm not one to swap pups as I buy a specific guitar because of the way that particular guitar sounds. That being said Jeff, it is hard to beat Seymours for damn sure... Great pups... Funnily enough, I didn't like the set of Duncans that I had in a guitar (an Epi Korina Explorer). I think Gibson's stock pickups are fine, well certain ones anyway. Personally, I don't like the Burstbucker Pros. If I buy a Les Paul next month as planned (a Gold Top if I can find the right Gold Top Traditional, an Ebony Traditional if I can't) I will leave the stock pickups in it ('57 Classics if I remember correctly). If I end up with an Ebony one I will remain on the lookout for a nice Gold Top Traditional to buy eventually. When I find one I will likely swap its pickups to Burstbucker 1&2s just to have a bit of a difference between it and the Ebony LP. Regardless of pickups, both guitars will have to be switched over to '50s style wiring. But I have to find the right guitar, of either colour, before I get into any of that.
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Post by Grand Toad on Mar 5, 2016 5:28:26 GMT
I really like Rewind Pickups. I got mine when the cost was cheap. $120.00 for a custom wound set. Now the same set is $300.00. They're great sounding pickups, exactly what I asked for. I did not get along with the Burstbuckers. They just didn't suit my needs.
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johnnyn
Burnt Rock Star
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Post by johnnyn on Mar 5, 2016 6:48:45 GMT
I really like Rewind Pickups. I got mine when the cost was cheap. $120.00 for a custom wound set. Now the same set is $300.00. They're great sounding pickups, exactly what I asked for. I did not get along with the Burstbuckers. They just didn't suit my needs. Rewind have a great reputation and James appears to be a real nice guy to deal with. However boutique pickups from the US become rather expensive on this side of the pond due to import tax, and the current exhange rate doesn't make it any better. Luckily we have some great winders over here - particular the UK based ones have a great reputation. Bare Knuckle is probably the best known, have great service and swift shipping. But others like The Creamery, Mojo Pikcups, OX4, and Shed Pickups are great too, but have a waiting time. Actually I'm waiting for a pair of Mojo Pickups at the moment - to replace my Burstbucker #2 and #3
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