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Post subject: Sacrilegious pickup choices and questions. . .:0
Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 10:09 am
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Hey all.

I was reluctant to post on this topic until I saw one of Martian's responses in tyronne's thread about the Dimarzio Area Pickguard. . .somehow, I thought it might be a sacrilege on this forum to discuss putting anything other than a Fender pickup in a Fender guitar ! :oops: So here goes ! :D

I am currently putting together a strat project from the "ground up" - you can see the specifics here. . .

http://www.fender.com/community/forums/ ... hp?t=23657

After weeks of pondering and researching and subsequently listening to audio samples. . .and looking at specs. . .and watching youtube videos. . .and comparing features. . .and on and on and on. . . :? . . .I finally had to make a decision about what middle and neck pickups that I would like to use in this "project" before I was involuntarily committed to an insane asylum. :twisted: While opinions, videos and sound samples can be very helpful, the only way to truly know IMHO is to try them all - which, of course, is not very practical. And like I said in my thread, no matter what I put in there, it's going to end up sounding like me anyway ! :P

I was torn between the 57/62s, the CS Fat 50s, and the Dimarzio Area pickups. Finally the other night, I just decided to go with what I thought might be the best "noise free" of three. (I am looking for something that is versatile and well suited to handle country to metal and whatever in between). So I went with the Dimarzio Area 58 for the neck and the Area 61 for the middle. I then started considering the Area 67, but I felt a nervous breakdown coming on. . .too many choices !!! :shock: What ever happened to just vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ??? (And the occasional mint chocolate chip. . .). So my questions are. . .

1) For those of you who might have the Dimarzios, how do you like them ? Which one(s) do you have and where did you put them ?? Are they hum free as advertised ?? Tell me why you like/dislike them !

In regards to the SD JB Jr. in the bridge. . .(I just installed one in a buddy's strat and I think it sounds great for a mini humbucker !). . .

2) What's your feeling on splitting (or coil tapping, if that's the correct term) a mini humbucker in the bridge position ?? Are the coils to close together to really appreciate any tonal differences ??

I look forward to the input ! Thanks !

Tom


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Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 7:00 am
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Tom,

Well, you pretty much know my thoughts on those particular DiMarzios.

As to the coil tapping, it really serves no purpose with these type DiMarzios as they are not high output, 'overdriving' type pickups. So, in this context, shutting off one of the coils or even wiring any of the pickups' coils in parallel serves no constructive purpose. Such efforts will yield a weak, non-humbucking single coil or two weak, humbucking single coils, either of which having too much treble and nothing else.

A good rule of thumb to keep in mind is that any moderate output, stacked humbucker that was designed to work full strength with 250K pots is NOT a good candidate for coil tapping, splitting, etc.

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Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 11:25 am
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I have the Dimarzio Areas in my Strat. (58s in the neck and middle, and a 61 in the bridge.) I had the Areas in this guitar before, then swapped to the 57/62s, and now I'm back with the Areas.

I plan on putting together another fully loaded pickguard assembly with regular single coil pick-ups so that I can switch between regular and noiseless whenever I want. I find that the Areas are very quiet; the only noise I hear is from my amp and dirt pedals. But, they are also missing some "sparkle" and harmonic overtones when compared with the 57/62s. A great amp will make a difference... the Areas sound better through my friend's Dr. Z and Matchless Chieftain than they do through my Blues Junior!

Tone-wise, I prefer the 57/62s (or another decent pup). But, when I was in a band the single coil hum combined with distortion pedals was so annoying that I went to noiseless pick-ups. The hum of the 57/62s didn't bother me when playing at home at low volume. I figure that having a set of both pick-ups would be best for me. I want to get a nice set of regular single coils for home playing, and the Areas (and a nicer amp!) will come in handy if I should join another band.


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Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 11:08 pm
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Thanks for the replies, guys.

Martian . . .I'm not sure if I don't understand your reply. . .or if you didn't understand my question. . .

Aside from gathering opinions on the the Dimarzio Area pickups. . .I was asking whether splitting the JB Jr. in the bridge was worth doing. I wasn't planning on trying to split the Areas. That doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. I was just wondering whether splitting the JB Jr (to use it as a "single coil") had any benefit. I know Gary has an S1 switch in the volume control, so I thought that that was what was going on there.

Tom


Last edited by Tom1 on Sat Aug 08, 2009 11:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 11:15 pm
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Quote:
Tone-wise, I prefer the 57/62s (or another decent pup). But, when I was in a band the single coil hum combined with distortion pedals was so annoying that I went to noiseless pick-ups.


That's why I went with the Areas ! :D


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Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2009 6:22 am
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Tom1 wrote:
Thanks for the replies, guys.

Martian . . .I'm not sure if I don't understand your reply. . .or if you didn't understand my question. . .

Aside from gathering opinions on the the Dimarzio Area pickups. . .I was asking whether splitting the JB Jr. in the bridge was worth doing. I wasn't planning on trying to split the Areas. That doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. I was just wondering whether splitting the JB Jr (to use it as a "single coil") had any benefit. I know Gary has an S1 switch in the volume control, so I thought that that was what was going on there.

Tom


Tom,

Yes, I did think you meant splitting the Areas. And yes, I agree, splitting the Areas doesn't make a whole lot of sense but sometimes, such things work well for others.

As to splitting JB, it might work for you premising the other two pickups in the guitar were 'traditional' output single coils. By throwing the switch (or whatever) on the JB, you would match the decreased output of the other two.

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Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 7:18 am
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I'll probably just leave it as is. My guess is that splitting the JB Jr. will result in a pretty shrill tone as it seems to be a little on the "trebly" side to being with. . .

Tom


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Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:28 am
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Tom1 wrote:
I'll probably just leave it as is. My guess is that splitting the JB Jr. will result in a pretty shrill tone as it seems to be a little on the "trebly" side to being with. . .

Tom


I wholeheartedly agree.

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Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 6:04 pm
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Martian wrote:
Tom1 wrote:
I'll probably just leave it as is. My guess is that splitting the JB Jr. will result in a pretty shrill tone as it seems to be a little on the "trebly" side to being with. . .

Tom


I wholeheartedly agree.


Any opinion on moving the middle tone control to the JB Jr. initially. . .or should I wait and see what it sounds like first ??

Tom


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Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 7:05 pm
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Tom1 wrote:
Martian wrote:
Tom1 wrote:
I'll probably just leave it as is. My guess is that splitting the JB Jr. will result in a pretty shrill tone as it seems to be a little on the "trebly" side to being with. . .

Tom


I wholeheartedly agree.


Any opinion on moving the middle tone control to the JB Jr. initially. . .or should I wait and see what it sounds like first ??

Tom


Why wait? A suggestion: Instead of moving it from the middle, ADD it to the bridge. If you look at the right side of the toggle, you'll see one and only one unused terminal. Put a jumper wire from that terminal to the one directly below it. The tone control will then work for the middle AND bridge pickups.

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Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 7:38 pm
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Martian wrote:
Tom1 wrote:
Martian wrote:
Tom1 wrote:
I'll probably just leave it as is. My guess is that splitting the JB Jr. will result in a pretty shrill tone as it seems to be a little on the "trebly" side to being with. . .

Tom


I wholeheartedly agree.


Any opinion on moving the middle tone control to the JB Jr. initially. . .or should I wait and see what it sounds like first ??

Tom


Why wait? A suggestion: Instead of moving it from the middle, ADD it to the bridge. If you look at the right side of the toggle, you'll see one and only one unused terminal. Put a jumper wire from that terminal to the one directly below it. The tone control will then work for the middle AND bridge pickups.


Thanks, Martian. You answered my next question before I got the chance to ask it !!

So, in the 2nd position, the "middle" tone will roll off the bridge and the middle pickups equally and simultaneously ? I would assume that setup might be a fairly common mod, but are there any problems associated with that ? (ie, you might not want to decrease the treble response from the middle or bridge pickup when using them in combo with one another - position 2). I guess I'm asking because I don't know what the JB Jr. as well as the Area 61 sound like individually and "together" yet. :?

Tom


Last edited by Tom1 on Thu Aug 13, 2009 4:13 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 10:39 pm
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I've never used the Area 58 but I've used the Area 61. Great sounding pickup. I currently have Area 67's in the neck and middle positions with a Virtual Vintage 54 Pro in the bridge.

I'm totally happy with the sound. The 54 Pro gives me a tone which is a little thicker than a typical single-coil which I like. And there is no noise whatsoever. The Area 67's are the closest thing to a noiseless single-coil sound that Dimarzio offers. Great pickups.


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Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 7:32 am
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Tom1 wrote:
Thanks, Martian. You answered my next question before I got the chance to ask it !!

So, in the 2nd position, the "middle" tone will roll off the bridge and the middle pickups equally and simultaneously ? I would assume that setup might be a fairly common mod, but are there any problems associated with that ? (ie, you might not want to decrease the treble response from the middle or bridge pickup when using them in combo with one another - position 2). I guess I'm asking because I don't know what the JB Jr. as well as the Area 61 sound like individually and "together" yet. :?

Tom


You're welcome.

Yes for the 2nd position and it is in fact, a super-common mod. As to any associated problems, I can't see how there would be. When having either or both pickups on, if that tone pot has to be adjusted again for what you perceive to be a better sound, so be it, that's precisely why you have it and surely, you will find a happy medium.

With this mod too, at least you have the option for having control over all the pickups tonality whereas the other way (stock), in many cases, I would think this could be more of a problem where the amp would have to be set a certain way to accommodate the unregulated (no tone controlled) pickup which in turn, may not be equitable for the other two pickups.

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Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 4:47 am
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On my Strat (58s in neck and middle, 61 bridge) I have the lower tone control connected to the bridge pick-up, and the upper tone control for the neck and middle pick-ups. I had it wired this way because the 61 can be pretty bright, so I normally keep the tone turned down just a bit. I don't turn down the tone as often on the neck and middle as I do with the bridge, so this works out nice for me.

I used to have it so that the bridge and neck pick-ups had their own tone control, and the middle pick-up had none. But, I found that sometimes I needed that tone control for the middle.


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Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 8:44 pm
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Thanks to all who contributed to this thread !

I posted some pics (and a link to more) in my original thread . . .

http://www.fender.com/community/forums/ ... hp?t=23657

Peace !

Tom


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