It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 2:13 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 12 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Finally, I Got The VNs To Sound Great (Or 2/3s At Least)!
Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 8:19 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 24, 2007 7:33 am
Posts: 8461
Location: Mars, the angry red planet.
This set came OEM in one of my Strats with a 250K for volume and two 500K tone pots. (No tone pot for the bridge.) Of course, the bridge pickup without the tone control was a bit too abrasive whereas the other two pickups with the 500K tone pots sounded way too, I guess the word is, "transparent". I change the pot configuration to a master volume, master tone, both at 250K and made the lower tone pot a no-load blender. Yes, CTS. The results:

The neck pickup now sounds like a dead quiet, Custom Shop 69; the middle pickup now sounds like a dead quiet, Custom Shop 54.

So far, so good, right?

The bridge pickup, although it wasn't as abrasive, was now exhibiting a rather bland, anemic clank. At this point, I realized that it simply had to go. Truth be told, I didn't have very high hopes for it any way.

Not expecting any 'big wow', I replaced it on blind faith with a DiMarzio Virtual Vintage '54 Pro. (This was the only other stack I had lying around at the moment.) The hype on this one is that it is modeled on a "woodier" sounding, early '61 Strat pickup and of course, is humbucking. This translated to me, it would be somewhere in the realm, output and tonality wise of a either a Fat 50s or Texas Special. I was definitely concerned that it would be out of character with the other two as they are of the, "crisp, clear, bell-like" ilk.

Well, I was stunned at how tonally, the DiMarzio fit right in with the other two. It is just a hair more powerful than the other two and it really sings! It doesn't have the 'woody' aspects at all, unless the ever so slightly fuller mids and bass are what they mean. Regardless, this one to my ear too, has the, "crisp, clear, bell-like" response of the other two. The closest I can compare it to is a 57/62 'on steroids', so to speak. All pickup combinations blend beautifully as well.

I'm a most happy camper now as I have another uniquely nice sounding Strat.

Thanks for reading. I just wanted to give you all something a bit more interesting than the usual maple vs. rosewood, alder vs. ash, switched from 8s to 15s and my action is all messed up, etc, etc.

_________________
You dig?


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject:
Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 4:08 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Fri Sep 14, 2007 4:37 pm
Posts: 4750
Location: My Piece Of Red Dirt
Sounds like you done did good! Ahhhhh positive accomplishment. Good post Martian, your pickup knowledge always amazes me. Mike

_________________
The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 4:37 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 24, 2007 7:33 am
Posts: 8461
Location: Mars, the angry red planet.
cherokee747 wrote:
Sounds like you done did good! Ahhhhh positive accomplishment. Good post Martian, your pickup knowledge always amazes me. Mike


Thanks so much, Mike!

_________________
You dig?


Top
Profile
Post subject: capacitors
Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 4:02 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Jul 27, 2008 12:35 pm
Posts: 6
i"m installing 69 custom shops in my 08 standard strat. i want to use one no load tone pot.i have read that a .01 cap. on the volume will prevent treble bleed. is this nesessary? i use the neck pup most. any other suggestions ?


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 4:09 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jun 30, 2008 10:47 am
Posts: 15336
Location: In a galaxy far far away
Quote:
Post subject: Finally, I Got The VNs To Sound Great (Or 2/3s At Least)!


Like meatloaf said 2 outta 3 aint bad.

_________________
No no and no


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: capacitors
Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 5:02 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 24, 2007 7:33 am
Posts: 8461
Location: Mars, the angry red planet.
samiam2646 wrote:
i"m installing 69 custom shops in my 08 standard strat. i want to use one no load tone pot.i have read that a .01 cap. on the volume will prevent treble bleed. is this nesessary? i use the neck pup most. any other suggestions ?


Actually, treble "bleed" is a misnomer. Rather, that cap retains the treble so that it doesn't "bleed" off to ground when you reduce the volume.

If you are using a no-load tone pot coupled by the fact that 69s are trebly to begin with, you might want to try the circuit without it first.

I've never had any use for those treble caps and don't like the pot dynamic of any one which has ever had one wired to it. There are always "bald spots" in the pot rotation and with these caps (even if you add the 'optional' resistor), as the volume is decreased, the treble ramps up and changes the tone of the pickup in the opposite direction. Meaning, it gets more trebly as the volume is decreased.

_________________
You dig?


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 5:12 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2008 10:08 am
Posts: 9034
Location: Louisiana
Congrats on your pickups Martian and on your 1000th post!! 8) :wink:
upcoming!


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 5:19 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 24, 2007 7:33 am
Posts: 8461
Location: Mars, the angry red planet.
fhopkins wrote:
Congrats on your pickups Martian and on your 1000th post!! 8) :wink:
upcoming!


Thank you!

I hadn't even noticed I had the 1K milestone coming. As a matter of fact, it didn't even hit me until I began typing this, that this is it!!

_________________
You dig?


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 2:23 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Jul 27, 2008 12:35 pm
Posts: 6
thanks martian. would the stock pots and 5-way switch work or do i need an upgrade?


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 5:12 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 24, 2007 7:33 am
Posts: 8461
Location: Mars, the angry red planet.
samiam2646 wrote:
thanks martian. would the stock pots and 5-way switch work or do i need an upgrade?


You're quite welcome. You do NOT need any upgrades and are good to go!

_________________
You dig?


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 5:05 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2009 3:06 pm
Posts: 3545
Location: Brooklyn N.Y
Good for you Martian.I really enjoy reading what you have to say as you know your way around the inside of that pickguard.KEEP ON ROCKIN


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 5:16 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 24, 2007 7:33 am
Posts: 8461
Location: Mars, the angry red planet.
straycat113 wrote:
Good for you Martian.I really enjoy reading what you have to say as you know your way around the inside of that pickguard.KEEP ON ROCKIN


Thank you!

_________________
You dig?


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 12 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: