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Post by ourclarioncall on Apr 1, 2020 17:26:08 GMT -5
A bit of fun ....
1. You have only 1 single coil pickup and a Strat. You have to choose where to place it. Will you choose the traditional neck middle or bridge positions or take a risk and try it somewhere in between?
2. You have two coils in parallel. Where will you place them? Tradition or risk ?
3. This time it’s two coils in series. Will you opt for the cliché bridge humbucker or spread the coils out far and wide from each other? Or something else?
4. Finally , you have to choose between one single coil, 2 coils in parallel or 2 coils in series . Take your pick
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Post by thetragichero on Apr 1, 2020 17:40:10 GMT -5
when i moved to Florida the only pickup in the squier strat that worked was the middle pickup so i got used to liking the middle pickup sound
single humbucker in the bridge is nice
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Post by ourclarioncall on Apr 1, 2020 17:47:07 GMT -5
when i moved to Florida the only pickup in the squier strat that worked was the middle pickup so i got used to liking the middle pickup sound single humbucker in the bridge is nice The middle pup is a strong , balanced consistent sound. But it’s a bit like plain crisps . You guys call them chips don’t you 🙂 What about question 2 and 4 ? |
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Post by thetragichero on Apr 1, 2020 19:23:00 GMT -5
tele or jazzmaster
definitely would choose a single coil over two coils in series or parallel. you can always eq out the extremes of treble or bass but it's hard to add it back in
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Post by newey on Apr 1, 2020 19:43:10 GMT -5
One of the reasons to have 2 pickups in the first place is for varying the tones available, and the traditional N and Br positions will most emphasize the difference. There's probably a reason, after all, why there is a "tradition". So, in the event I decided to do something other than the tradition, I would want to do some experimentation first, to see if the "risk" is in fact worthwhile. I'd want some sort of test mule where the position of the pickups could be varied . . . wait a minute, seems I saw something sort of like that . . .  Yes.  And, yes.  Well, I'm a single coil guy for the most part, but why should I be so limited? Isn't the "All of the Above" answer the reason we're here in the first place? |
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Post by ourclarioncall on Apr 1, 2020 20:14:28 GMT -5
1.I’m going to break tradition . I dont really like the sound of any of the traditional positions.
The neck pickup I used to like but now seems too bassy. Middle is too plain. Bridge is horrible to my ears (clean and uncompressed )
So it would either be right in the middle of neck and middle (Niddle) or between middle and bridge (Midge)
Niddle has less bass which is good and some of the strength/balance of the middle pickup, but not the plainness of the middle , it’s something fresh to the ears.
The bridge pup really needs to move closer to the middle to fatten up and mellow out the harsh skeletal sound, but without losing the trebly bite. So there must be a sweet spot between bridge and “midge”
Since I’m more of a lead player I think il go with “midge”
2.My main rhythm sound has always been neck and bridge in parallel. I’ve never been a fan of single coils on their own but like the mellower scooped sound of parallel.
Again, I would like a sound that’s not so dark. But I don’t like the neck and bridge in parallel sound. Don’t like it on a Tele or a strat. Either the neck has to move to “Niddle “ (combined with bridge) and it will be a better Tele sound or bridge has to move to “midge” (combined with neck)
Having said that , 2 coils right next to each (like a humbucker) gives a nice fat sound . Definitely better than bridge alone , but il take a risk and try something different, il go for
Bridge and “Midge” in parallel and hope I get something interesting
3.You can’t beat a bridge humbucker. It’s great and it works. But I like change , mystery and risk so il go for something different
I like the BM style bridge and middle in series but want a sharper sound so il go for
Bridge and “Midge” again but in series
4.Il play it safe with Bridge and Midge in parallel
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Post by sumgai on Apr 1, 2020 22:24:35 GMT -5
..... Bridge is horrible to my ears (clean and uncompressed) Hold it right there, bunky!  I've been meaning to address this issue for awhile now, and its time has now arrived. Let me go out on a limb here, and pre-suppose that you know the meaning of the word "dynamics", yes? Then why in Gawd's name do you (or anyone else for that matter) want to reduce or eliminate one of the mainstay features that pickup makers strive for? In fact, they even charge extra solely because their pickups allegedly have more dynamic range than any other brand's pups. If you truly want the same volume level at all times, then learn to hit the string with the same force, every time. But I guess that since it is your axe, then you are certainly authorized to install the cheapest pickups you can find, and then you should be happy as a clam that you have no dynamic range to speak of. That'll save you the cost of both expensive pickups and compressor devices. Saving money is always a good thing.  Anyone been here long enough to remember when I called out greekdude for wanting a note to sustain for 3 - 5 seconds, when in fact he was a shredder of the first order? To my ears, I would've needed to slow down his video clips about 80% in order to discern the individual plucks, he was so fast. Way too fast for a note to even start sustaining, let alone time for it to be compressed by an external device. (But in all fairness, he did play eloquently, with style...... and need I say, sometimes with dynamics. ) Now if you need to make a note drone on for 2, 3, or 4 measures, then by all means, enhance your signal with electronic help, that's cool. sumgai |
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Post by reTrEaD on Apr 2, 2020 8:36:08 GMT -5
1. You have only 1 single coil pickup and a Strat. You have to choose where to place it. Will you choose the traditional neck middle or bridge positions or take a risk and try it somewhere in between? If I had a guitar with only one pickup, it probably wouldn't look like a Strat.  Or  But okay ... so if I have a Strat forced upon me, do I have a choice of what kind of single-coil pickup? P-90: Bridge or just a bit North of the traditional Bridge position. Strat SC: Neck would be okay but I think Middle would be better. If I intended to do ANY playing above the 15th fret, definitely the Middle. Neck gets VERY brittle sounding when playing near the end of the fretboard. For me, that's a slam-dunk. Typical Middle + Bridge. That's my money-tone. Why is that cliché? It's a pretty darned good sound. I'd probably do just that, only bring the pair a bit North of the traditional Bridge position. Or maybe I'd use the Typical (Strat) Middle and Bridge positions for the coils so they're in the right position when I cheat. (see #4 below) I'd pick 2 coils in parallel (Middle + Bridge) then secretly cheat and use a pair of push-pulls or S-1s to get all four possibilities. Try to stop me, *****!
(5)
Who is this person who's dictating what I can and can't have? Do I know where he lives? Toilet paper being such a scarce item these days, I might not TP his trees. But I would have no problem investing in a couple dozen boxes of Corn Flakes to dump on his front lawn.  |
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Post by asmith on Apr 3, 2020 14:57:03 GMT -5
I'll play along, and even by the implied rules. Glossary: "Bass End" = Underneath the low E / 6th string, "Bright End" = Underneath the high E / 1st string. 1. You have only 1 single coil pickup and a Strat.The Bass End is where the regular angled bridge pickup's Bass End usually is. Instead of angling the Bright End towards the bridge, mirror the pickup's usual angle so that it angles away from the bridge, the Bright End closer to the regular middle pickup's position. I always liked the bridge pickup's low-end snap, but I prefer a more middle-pickup howl on the high end. 2. You have two coils in parallel. Where will you place them? Tradition or risk ?The bridge pickup is exactly as described in my answer to (1). The neck pickup's Bass End is where the regular neck pickup's Bass End is. The neck pickup is angled like the regular bridge pickup is, so that the Bright End angles back towards the Bridge. Thus the pickups are further apart on the Bass Ends, and closer together on the Bright Ends. I like the Telecaster jangle on the wound low strings. On the high strings, it sounds a bit too rounded and bell-like. If I wanted a lap-steel, I'd break out of this game's constraints . Instead, for the high strings, I'll take what I imagine to amount to the velvet tone of the neck and bridge pickups in parallel, but with a little more wail. 3. This time it’s two coils in series.This one's hard. I think I'd keep the reverse-angled bridge pickup as in the above answers, and then also have a reverse-angled neck pickup. The neck pickup's Bright End would be where answer (2)'s neck pickup's Bright End is, so its Bass End would be closer to the usual middle pickup position. I like crunchy low notes on series configurations, and I like the sound of the neck and middle in series and imagine I would like it a bit brighter, too. 4. Finally , you have to choose between one single coil, 2 coils in parallel or 2 coils in series .I think I'd take the two coils parallel. It seems like an easier overall tone to mould with effects and an amplifier. That was fun. |
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Post by newey on Apr 3, 2020 17:46:43 GMT -5
Ace(Asmith)- After all this time, you pop in and don't say "Hi!"? Where the heck are you, how the heck are you, and all that? |
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Post by asmith on Apr 5, 2020 8:09:33 GMT -5
Hey Newey! Good to chat with you again. I'm locked down in Denmark right now, where I moved back from Australia at the end of 2018. Given the circumstances, I'm well; working from home. How are you?
EDIT: Honestly this was a bit off the cuff from me; I needed a break from something and needed to take a break from all the things I usually do to take a break... and it struck me, I hadn't been in the nuthouse for a long time.
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Post by newey on Apr 5, 2020 18:04:06 GMT -5
Glad to hear from you!
We're all good here, just hunkering down and working from home. Please drop by more often!
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Post by asmith on Apr 6, 2020 3:30:07 GMT -5
Please drop by more often! I would like to! I don't have an amplifier or access to a public practice space (which obviously won't change for a while), so I'm not really playing electric guitar; at least not with any electricity. But I'll try to stick around. |
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Post by newey on Apr 6, 2020 5:52:44 GMT -5
Sounds like a good reason to have a headphone amp . . .
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Post by sumgai on Apr 6, 2020 11:49:13 GMT -5
Please drop by more often! I would like to! I don't have an amplifier or access to a public practice space (which obviously won't change for a while), so I'm not really playing electric guitar; at least not with any electricity. But I'll try to stick around. Hello, Ace, long time no hear from. But that's all in the past, so no harm, no foul. I'm not so much concerned that you don't have an amp, I already personally know that you can hold your own with any of the big boys, just fine.  But what we all miss (well, us long timers) is your logical mind. You've certainly set the bar much higher than almost any other contributor ever to grace our doorway, I don't think there's anybody here that can argue with that. Come on, man, don't be a stranger.  sumgai |
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Post by asmith on Apr 6, 2020 14:41:35 GMT -5
Aw shucks, sumgai. I've missed you. Thanks for the kind words. I'll keep myself about as much as I can. Lockdown will help.
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Post by newey on Apr 6, 2020 20:24:09 GMT -5
For the record, and for the benefit of our newer members, asmith is the only one in the nutzhouse who has actually played both the guitars I posted pix of above. They sounded much better in his hands than in mine.
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Post by asmith on Apr 8, 2020 5:58:30 GMT -5
They sounded much better in his hands than in mine. Art is subjective, newey! You built the beauts. |
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But what we all miss (well, us long timers) is your logical mind. You've certainly set the bar much higher than almost any other contributor ever to grace our doorway, I don't think there's anybody here that can argue with that.