Clean Boost vs. Hot Pickups

lostpick · May 10th, 2008, 11:58 AM

I had a revelation the other day
where I reasoned it might be better
to get the fundamental pickup
tone and character you want first,
and not worry about output.
Then add a transparent boost if necessary.
A Seymour Duncan Pickup Booster can add
Humbucker charcater to a single coil if
you need to go there. Any counter arguments
to this concept. I am looking for a big, bold
tele sound with slight compression, lower twang,
an a clear, balanced, pleasing midrange.

TELE_BLUES · May 10th, 2008, 01:49 PM

It sometimes take a lifetime of pickup changes to figure this out.

KevinB · May 10th, 2008, 01:54 PM

+1.

I can always "dirty up clean", but "cleaning up dirty" is not so easy

Which is why I went with Lindy Fralin stock Tele pickups on my last assembly. There are lots of good (clean) pickups out there though.

morroben · May 10th, 2008, 01:56 PM

I think I agree with you, if I understand what you're saying correctly. I don't care for hot pickups, but I almost always have the first stage of my ZVex SuperDuper 2in1 going...that's my bottom level clean tone. This sounds better to my ears than a hotter pickup without the boost.

rhinocaster · May 10th, 2008, 02:00 PM

I'm not a hot pickup guy either.

Once the dirt is wound in, it's going to be there forever.

62_Inca_Esquire · May 10th, 2008, 02:05 PM

I'll take low/vintage output pickups any day. You could GIVE me a lifetime supply of "hot pickups", and I'd end up giving them all away.

surfoverb · May 10th, 2008, 02:10 PM

I'll take lower output over hot any day. Especially with a tele I think you lose twang the hotter you get.

surfoverb · May 10th, 2008, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinB

+1.

I can always "dirty up clean", but "cleaning up dirty" is not so easy

Which is why I went with Lindy Fralin stock Tele pickups on my last assembly. There are lots of good (clean) pickups out there though.

I went with the Fralin Stock for my Esquire and I could't be happier...A lot of people swear by the Blues Special but I didn't even want that 2-5% overwound...The stock are the twangiest, most inspiring pickup I've tried so far. I think the combo 6-7K +A5=

woodman · May 10th, 2008, 03:22 PM

i'm in the no-hot-pickups camp too. used 'em for years in the '80s, and when i rediscovered vintage tone, i felt like i shoulda had my head examined all those years.

beep.click · May 10th, 2008, 03:41 PM

lostpick, don't forget the amp. It's all about the combination of ALL the elements.

I have one amp that mellows out anything you put into it.

I have another amp that brings out the shrieking treble of anything you put into it.

From those basic starting places, there's gobs of fine-tuning, with amp knobs, guitar knobs, etc. Not to mention pedals.

THEN, just to mix it up even further, I'll sometimes run 2 amps together. An amazing sound, when you can dial in the two distinct sounds, then blend them together...

lostpick · May 10th, 2008, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beep.click

THEN, just to mix it up even further, I'll sometimes run 2 amps together. An amazing sound, when you can dial in the two distinct sounds, then blend them together...

this is my new modus operandi

2 smaller amps in stereo is just "thee bomb"

I am now thinking TWO AC15s in stereo instead of an AC30

this is how i jam in the studio now

beep.click · May 10th, 2008, 04:05 PM

Cool! If you have the gear -- try mixing a Vox and a Fender. I really like it when the 2 amps are way different.

lostpick · May 10th, 2008, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beep.click

Cool! If you have the gear -- try mixing a Vox and a Fender. I really like it when the 2 amps are way different.

I dying to try a DR and an AC15 together

KevinB · May 10th, 2008, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by surfoverb

I went with the Fralin Stock for my Esquire and I could't be happier...A lot of people swear by the Blues Special but I didn't even want that 2-5% overwound...The stock are the twangiest, most inspiring pickup I've tried so far. I think the combo 6-7K +A5=

I have one in an Esquire too and I'm very pleased with it.

shoretyus · May 10th, 2008, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lostpick

I dying to try a DR and an AC15 together

Ahhhh a DR and my Tele........ heaven. The DR has been down for a week..I get it back tonight for a gig...... thank gawd..... I'd be lost with out it. I have been using channel one on an extra line from my pedal board. Dial in a bit of punch and tube dirt rocks...

johnnylaw · May 10th, 2008, 10:47 PM

Strong output in no way compensates for weak input! Oh dear... back to the woodshed...

rhinocaster · May 10th, 2008, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnylaw

Strong output in no way compensates for weak input! Oh dear... back to the woodshed...

THAT is good!

klasher · May 10th, 2008, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lostpick

this is my new modus operandi

2 smaller amps in stereo is just "thee bomb"

I am now thinking TWO AC15s in stereo instead of an AC30

this is how i jam in the studio now

Two amps in stereo really is the best way to go, it's just such a pain in the ass hauling all that crap around. I've read that on Little Steven's first solo record, he used two twins in stereo with his strat in the studio, and the thing sounded huge.

May 10th, 2008, 11:58 AM	#1 (permalink)
lostpick Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Staten Island, NYC Posts: 1,009	Clean Boost vs. Hot Pickups I had a revelation the other day where I reasoned it might be better to get the fundamental pickup tone and character you want first, and not worry about output. Then add a transparent boost if necessary. A Seymour Duncan Pickup Booster can add Humbucker charcater to a single coil if you need to go there. Any counter arguments to this concept. I am looking for a big, bold tele sound with slight compression, lower twang, an a clear, balanced, pleasing midrange.

May 10th, 2008, 02:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
rhinocaster Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Oregon Age: 44 Posts: 1,368	I'm not a hot pickup guy either. Once the dirt is wound in, it's going to be there forever. __________________ Just because I "Don't" get it doesn't mean I "Won't" get it!

May 10th, 2008, 02:10 PM	#7 (permalink)
surfoverb Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,889	I'll take lower output over hot any day. Especially with a tele I think you lose twang the hotter you get. __________________ "You released the ****** fury!"*

May 10th, 2008, 03:22 PM	#9 (permalink)
woodman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mint Hill, NC Age: 62 Posts: 5,961	i'm in the no-hot-pickups camp too. used 'em for years in the '80s, and when i rediscovered vintage tone, i felt like i shoulda had my head examined all those years. __________________ Truth is stranger than fact ... www.myspace.com/woodymitchellmusic BAND PAGES: www.myspace.com/stragglerswing (Stragglers - Western Swing) www.myspace.com/loafersgloryband (Loafers Glory - '70s country-rock)

May 10th, 2008, 03:41 PM	#10 (permalink)
beep.click Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: California Age: 49 Posts: 1,966	lostpick, don't forget the amp. It's all about the combination of ALL the elements. I have one amp that mellows out anything you put into it. I have another amp that brings out the shrieking treble of anything you put into it. From those basic starting places, there's gobs of fine-tuning, with amp knobs, guitar knobs, etc. Not to mention pedals. THEN, just to mix it up even further, I'll sometimes run 2 amps together. An amazing sound, when you can dial in the two distinct sounds, then blend them together... __________________ "It looked like a giant green gum drop to me."

May 10th, 2008, 01:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
TELE_BLUES Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: ROCKCHESTER,NEW YORK Posts: 463 35 Photos	It sometimes take a lifetime of pickup changes to figure this out.

May 10th, 2008, 01:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
KevinB Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 697 4 Photos	+1. I can always "dirty up clean", but "cleaning up dirty" is not so easy Which is why I went with Lindy Fralin stock Tele pickups on my last assembly. There are lots of good (clean) pickups out there though.

May 10th, 2008, 01:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
morroben Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: california Age: 32 Posts: 1,865 18 Photos	I think I agree with you, if I understand what you're saying correctly. I don't care for hot pickups, but I almost always have the first stage of my ZVex SuperDuper 2in1 going...that's my bottom level clean tone. This sounds better to my ears than a hotter pickup without the boost.

May 10th, 2008, 02:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
62_Inca_Esquire Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 872	I'll take low/vintage output pickups any day. You could GIVE me a lifetime supply of "hot pickups", and I'd end up giving them all away.

May 10th, 2008, 04:05 PM	#12 (permalink)
beep.click Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: California Age: 49 Posts: 1,966	Cool! If you have the gear -- try mixing a Vox and a Fender. I really like it when the 2 amps are way different. __________________ "It looked like a giant green gum drop to me."

May 10th, 2008, 10:47 PM	#16 (permalink)
johnnylaw Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New England Age: 51 Posts: 282	Strong output in no way compensates for weak input! Oh dear... back to the woodshed... __________________ Its not how long you make it, its how you make it long.