Another pickup advice thread...

[jsp]

Try the 250k pot first since it's a cheap and easy fix. If you're still not happy, try a Dimarzio Breed.

 

[xzyryabx]

I found an old Air Norton that I had lying around...but it was never in an alder guitar so no idea how it'll sound....will give it a try anyways!!
And we're talking about volume pots right re the 250K?
Won't that also darken up my neck pickup (HotRails) tone?

 

[jsp]

If they share the volume, then, yes.

 

[xzyryabx]

If they share the volume, then, yes.

hmm...the neck is pretty dark as is.....maybe the pickup change is a better option for me then

 

[jsp]

Breed...

 

[moltisanti]

Suhr Aldrich, basically a JB but with smoother highs

 

[DrugDM]

Suhr Aldrich, basically a JB but with smoother highs

I was going to suggest these and are not that much more expensive than Seymour Duncans...

 

[Lord Toneking]

Suhr SSH+ or SSV+

 

[FourT6and2]

If your pickups share a single volume pot, then yes... a 250k pot will darken both pickups. Tricky situation there.

 

[Anonymous]

invader 500k pots

ftw!

 

[electrophonic.tonic]

Here is a quick one I did with a Norton and alder Strat.
It's just my camera phone at bedroom volume but I think it really captures the tone of the Norton.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VX4dhVw6Eno

 

[shgshg]

Another vote for the 250k pot.

 

[rockgeek]

try the 250k pot

 

[xzyryabx]

So I have been listening to clips and looking at specs all night and my brain is about to explode!!
I have decided to try the 250K pot change as a first step before trying any new pups, since I'm generally happy with the JB.

The pups are wired up according to this
http://cdn.seymourduncan.com/pdfs/suppo ... 3w_2pp.pdf
I'm still confused as to which pot to change to 250? the volume, the tone, both?
What will be the effects on the neck pup?

 

[jmgman69]

How does it sound with the volume pot slightly rolled off?

 

[rupe]

Duncan Custom Custom is what you're looking for. Dimarzio Tone Zone would be another great option, but it's a bit hotter and doesn't clean up as nicely when you roll back your volume knob.

 

[xzyryabx]

How does it sound with the volume pot slightly rolled off?

sounds darker, a bit closer to what i want, but more muffled and I still need to roll the presence off on my amp compared to my other guitars.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Try the JB with a 300k pot.. i think a lot of the So-cal alder strats/maple neck were shipping with that and i thought it was fantastic in the guitar I had. Mind you the lack of a tone knob made the pup slightly brighter so a 250-300k pot probably is the sweet spot in that configuration.

The SD distortion is fatter than the duncan version. It has smoother highs, is hot, fat but tight. It's a great pup for a brighter guitar and you don't flub on the low end.

Custom custom SH-11 - not a fan of this pup at all. Love the smooth highs but the bottom end is loose as all hell. Even in a brighter guitar, I just didn't have the tightness in the riffs.

Maybe try the Dimarzio AT-1? Supposed to be tight but a little less sharp on the ears like the JB is. Some have compared it to a JB with a 250 k pot so maybe that is the solution for you if you have a shared vol pot (which most of us do in strat type guitars)

If the tonezone is too big sounding and artificial, you might like the air zone. It is probably what the custom custom wants to be.. tight in the low end.

 

[metalmaniac93]

Although some are boutique, here are my recommendations.

MCP Garuda or MCP Afwayu
BKP Holy Diver
Tone Zone
Suhr Aldrich

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

This might help too.. sounds like the Aldrich is a bit cleaner (not necessarily tighter but less hair), and a tad smoother in the highs. I'd like to try this or the AT-1 at some point.