DETROITER or Fender EVH Frankenstein Humbucker??

  • Thread starter Thread starter reverymike
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reverymike

reverymike

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I'm torn between a Motor City Detroiter and a Fender EVH Frankenstein Humbucker for my Fender Custom Shop '62 strat. Both pickups sound like they'd be killer. I've been intrigued with the Alnico 2 magnet of the EVH, but the Detroiter sounds like it'd be a great 'feeling' pickup to play with a great hard rock sound.

Here's the guitar. . .it currently has a Rio Grande BBQ in it. It's an Ash body, maple neck, and dark rosewood board.

62stratbucker.jpg
 
Man, that indeed would be a tough choice. Both are of hot-PAF nature....

Since you've narrowed it down to only two, why not buy/try both and sell the one you don't dig quite as much? One of them is bound to make you very happy. If you end up going for the Detroiter make sure you play with the height of the pickup to the strings... MCPs are quite sensitive to this and once you find the sweet spot it'll be KILLER.
 
What don't you like about the BBQ? Dibs if you sell it :thumbsup:

I tried the EVH Franky in a Charvel Pro-Mod and it sounded great...definitely not low/vintage output like I've heard it described before. Very open and big sounding and pushes the front end of the amp more than a typical PAF style. I liked it a lot and wouldn't hesitate to use one in anything except for an already bright sounding guitar. It was somewhat reminiscent of a Duncan Custom 5 but a bit broader sounding IMO. I never tried a Detroiter so I can't comment on it.
 
The BBQ is okay, but I feel like a change. It's a little flubby in low end.
 
I can only say that the EVH is a great sounding pickup. I love them in my guitar.
 
I haven't played the EVH but I do have a set of Detroiters and they are excellent. It would sound great in that guitar.
 
I have a MCP Detroiter in my Strat right now actually. I had the body and pickguard altered to accept it. I also have Detroiters in one of my LPs. I personally love that pickup. If you are going for a PAF style pickup that has a very raw open sound, then it's for you. That being said, if you are using this for a Super Strat type guitar and are trying to nail EVHs tone, I'd say this pickup isn't what you are looking for. It's a very raw rock pickup, but isn't going to get you where you want to be in terms of high gain focused tone with focused attack. If I were you, I'd give Wade a call, tell him the tones you are looking for, and let him tell you what offering he would suggest. He's really good about setting people up with exactly what they need. If you are just going for a really good PAF style pickup that does rock well, then the Detroiter is definitely what you are looking for.
 
I don't need it to nail EVH. But, I do need it to sound fat and killer in a high gain application. Who's tone would you say is similar to a Detrioter? Cantrell? DeMartini? Vai? When I think of a souped up PAF, EVH is one of the guys I think of. . .but not the only one. How do you think it'd sound with a Bogner Ecstasy?
 
WCR Darkburst is so nice sounding and right up your alley!
 
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