Getting caught up in the hype

[Docster]

Amen to that brother!

I am finding the case to be the same with amps

This needs an explanation as we have all seen your "amp den" - it's boutique from floor to ceiling

 

[metalmaniac93]

Amen to that brother!

I am finding the case to be the same with amps

This needs an explanation as we have all seen your "amp den" - it's boutique from floor to ceiling

I know!!! He needs to stand by this and sell all of his boutique amps!!

 

[TrueTone500]

Good info here...if accurate.

http://www.guitarpartsvintage.com/20090 ... ker-specs/

 

[Steinmetzify]

This past year I went to a pretty expensive pickup search. After watching YouTube demos and reading gushing reviews, I handed over a lot of hard earned money to some of the various boutique pickup makers. In the end, I wound up frustrated and unsatisfied. I've been a Seymour Duncan user for years. How could these boutique pickups not only not sound as good as my old Duncans, but in some cases sound worse. While I practice at my house all the time, I'm primarily a live band player. What I found with most of these boutique pickups is that while they sound great at home by myself, in a band setting they lacked the ability to cut through the mix. I found myself fighting to be heard in the mix. After each unsuccessful attempt, I would load my Custom or JB back in to the guitars and be right back in the mix.

So my lesson from 2013... Just because it's twice as expensive doesn't make it any better than the industry standards. There is a reason that Seymour Duncan and DiMarzio hold the lion's share of the pickup market. Their products just work. Some of you guys may have had great luck with WCR, Fralin or Suhr pickups. I'm glad that they have worked for you. For me... Some times a beer is just as good as champaign.

I hear you. This place and forums in general are horrendous for GAS. I've spent more on gear in the last two years than in the 5 before it, mostly due to forums.

I've sold everything except 3 guitars and mostly play on apps on my iPad anymore. There's no point; I live in an apartment, don't play out, jam with friends occasionally but they all have 3-10 amps each anyway.

I still dig this place for the wealth of musical knowledge, but I have to stay out of the Classifieds from now on.

 

[kasperjensen]

I actually spend my time on forums like an alcoholic goes to bars to just assure himself that he doesn't need it.

Hell, I just spent 1 hour on Thomann, and saw a lot of things i could buy, but didn't. And i feel good.

You make a very good point in your OP. We do become extremely obsessive over ridiculous things, when we should focus on the artistic side of things. Thats how i feel anyway.
But then, i have a cheek talking about it. I have more gear than i know what to do with.

 

[jkdsteve]

This past year I went to a pretty expensive pickup search. After watching YouTube demos and reading gushing reviews, I handed over a lot of hard earned money to some of the various boutique pickup makers. In the end, I wound up frustrated and unsatisfied. I've been a Seymour Duncan user for years. How could these boutique pickups not only not sound as good as my old Duncans, but in some cases sound worse. While I practice at my house all the time, I'm primarily a live band player. What I found with most of these boutique pickups is that while they sound great at home by myself, in a band setting they lacked the ability to cut through the mix. I found myself fighting to be heard in the mix. After each unsuccessful attempt, I would load my Custom or JB back in to the guitars and be right back in the mix.

So my lesson from 2013... Just because it's twice as expensive doesn't make it any better than the industry standards. There is a reason that Seymour Duncan and DiMarzio hold the lion's share of the pickup market. Their products just work. Some of you guys may have had great luck with WCR, Fralin or Suhr pickups. I'm glad that they have worked for you. For me... Some times a beer is just as good as champaign.

I love the look the of LP in your Avatar...post some pics

 

[Sierra Voodoo]

quote]Yep, it's realy the only boutique thing I have left. I'm a huge SD fan. I tried several production pickups in my flying V before I put the Aldrich in. Turns out it was the perfect match. I tried the JB, Duncan Distortion, Super distortion, 500T, 498T. None sounded very good in it. But that's the exception. I usually use a JB, 59er combo.

I also have been a heavy JB user. I've had them in all my HSS strats, past and present, and one of the Agile LP's. The Agile that now has the Aldrich has a DiMarzio 36th PAF in the neck. My other Agile has a '59/Custom Hybrid in the bridge and a '59 in the neck. Interestingly enough I like the 500T in my V but would love to try the Aldrich in there as well. Sounds like we are on the same page!

How do you like the 59/custom hybrid? I think that's my next one to check out...

I like it quite a bit. I don't find it to be too warm/dark while at the same time not being overly bright either......sort of right in the middle tonally. It retains a nice PAF feel while at the same time being aggressive enough for higher gain/metal applications as well. It can provide punch when needed. In addition, even when played though my amps with the gain cranked it cleans up very nicely. You really get the best of both worlds which is what I believe was the intent.

 

[Anonymous]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcXkVU6Aohg#t=44

best part of this post (though there was some great info in it).....

what a kick ass tune Kasper!

 

[kasperjensen]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcXkVU6Aohg#t=44

best part of this post (though there was some great info in it).....

what a kick ass tune Kasper!

Thanks a bunch, Mr Yeti

 

[aeroic]

I'll tell you, I have to agree with you in a lot of ways. I did the same the past few years with speakers and pickups. The pickups I have grown to love are both Suhr pickups (SSV, SSV+, SSH+, Aldrich, V60LP) and Fralins (Tele Blues Specials, Strat Blues Specials, and RS Guitar works Fralin made pickups True 60's, Pyschabilly Blues, and PAF's). The Suhr and Fralin pickups are by far the best pickups I've played. On speakers for me, I went through tons and tons and tons of different speakers only to end up with a 4x12/2x12 with V30s, a 4x12/2x12 with Creambacks, and a 1x12 with a Gold. I'm done speaker / pickup swapping as well. If it's not a Suhr or Fralin...or a lot of good Seymour Duncans...I don't care.

 

[sg guy]

<---alcoholic who goes to bars to be with other alcoholics--------(makes me feel better that there are worse alcoholics than me)-----

it's hard not too buy into the hype,...I too learned the hard way with a Herbert,...and I love compressed amps!, maybe the amp just hated me, it ...solved my" buying site unseen" days,..

I actually spend my time on forums like an alcoholic goes to bars to just assure himself that he doesn't need it.

Hell, I just spent 1 hour on Thomann, and saw a lot of things i could buy, but didn't. And i feel good.

You make a very good point in your OP. We do become extremely obsessive over ridiculous things, when we should focus on the artistic side of things. Thats how i feel anyway.
But then, i have a cheek talking about it. I have more gear than i know what to do with.

 

[steve_k]

What the "boutique" pick up companies did was to get SD and Dimarzio off their collective asses and build some different pick up designs. 10-20 years ago, you had a few tonewoods and a few guitar designs and a few pick ups available. Fast forward, many new body styles, exotic woods, digital audio, etc. This drove the "boutique" market and the need for something different.

So, I am not sure what hype it is you are talking about. It was more about demand. Sure, pay up a few bucks for one guy in a back room winding pick ups one at a time to make a living as compared to a sweat shop turning out a hundred sets a day. Quite frankly, I don't want all my shit to sound the same. There is a way around that now.

BK must not have got your memo about the hype. Took me 4 weeks to get the last 3 sets I bought. Seems they are busy enough without one or two of you.