High vs lesser output pups with high gain amps?

[IntenseJim]

I see a lot Rig-Talkers with high gain amps showing a preference for hot pickups.

Every time I try a high output pickup with my Soldano SLO it sounds stiff. Power chords and double stops are fun but for single note soloing it sounds less sweet, vocal or singing compared to the feel and tones when I use low or medium output pickups. It's almost as if the highout pickup and the preamp are fighting each other.

 

[gbsmusic]

I see a lot Rig-Talkers with high gain amps showing a preference for hot pickups.

Every time I try a high output pickup with my Soldano SLO it sounds stiff. Power chords and double stops are fun but for single note soloing it sounds less sweet, vocal or singing compared to the feel and tones when I use low or medium output pickups. It's almost as if the highout pickup and the preamp are fighting each other.

I agree with you 100%! I use to love hot pups but now I like them more in the PAF territory. Crystal clear and you hear the guitar itself rather then a noisy set of hot pups.

 

[glpg80]

medium output in the neck, low output in the center, hot in the bridge.

5 way switch.

problem solved

 

[Ventura]

Agreed. Standard output, or even lower output (vintage style) pups sound best with my high gainers.

Peter Diezel remarked about this some time ago; said it was better for his amps to work hard with the signal they received than to be pummeled with the signal. Owning several high gainers, I agree, low to medium output pups sound best with high gain amps.

Peace,
V.

PS - I'm still not keen, 2 years later, on EMG actives...

 

[FourT6and2]

I see a lot Rig-Talkers with high gain amps showing a preference for hot pickups.

Every time I try a high output pickup with my Soldano SLO it sounds stiff. Power chords and double stops are fun but for single note soloing it sounds less sweet, vocal or singing compared to the feel and tones when I use low or medium output pickups. It's almost as if the highout pickup and the preamp are fighting each other.

And..? What?

That's what high-output pickups do. Don't like it? Use pickups with a lower output. It's not rocket science. The highest output pickup I've used and liked has been the JB. And I still use it to this day. Although, a good set of "normal" output pickups, like 8-9.5K would be sweet. I'd LOVE a set of ThroBaks. But I'm not shelling out $500 for a pickup.

 

[IntenseJim]

And..? What?

And yer mom.

Seriously, my question arises from the fact that I don't like the lead tones I get with high out pickups with my high gain amp but many here seem to profess a preference for them and this is 'high gain' crowd unlike other forums. I know it's a matter of taste but I was just wondering.

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

imagine a lot of it boils down to what pickups the builder used while voicing the amp.


as mention Peter Diezel likes low output, and that's the only amp i've ever even cared for low outputs with.

Mesa used Anderson H3's to voice the Rectifiers, and maybe more amps.


shouled e-mail Mike and see what he used.

 

[romanianreaper]

The Suhr Aldrich is a hot pickup but still kicks ass because it has a vintage tone.

 

[thegame]

High output pup into a high gain amp (with the gain lowered) is a markedly different tone than a lower output pup into the same high gain amp (with its gain set high).

Both valid tones with different character. I prefer lower output pups into high gain amps as the more vintage pups have much better string separation detail than high output pups and you can shape the sound more precisely at the amp IMO. With high output passives, they have an inherent dirtiness that cannot be dialed out.

 

[some dude]

I use PAFs, P90s and EMGs into a Dual Recto or Mark V. The tonal results are all good, however some suite one style of music much better than another.

 

[Ventura]

And..? What?

And yer mom.

Seriously, my question arises from the fact that I don't like the lead tones I get with high out pickups with my high gain amp but many here seem to profess a preference for them and this is 'high gain' crowd unlike other forums. I know it's a matter of taste but I was just wondering.

I think it has to do with natural market evolution. We've had vintage style pups with modest outputs for years....decades, really. In the last number of years, pup manufacturers had no where to go but up. As with everything else that's new and exciting, higher output pups are newer and exciting. But as with SO many cycles and trends, things always come full circle - and that's what we're seeing yet again now, with PAF style pups from various manufacturers; professing 'vintage' tones; 'authentic vintage build' quality; 'vintage' ingredients, etc, etc, etc. I mean, think about it, the market drives the preferences, not the other way around. Had there never been active EMGs till, say, this weekend, the world of guitars would be rocked by next Monday - EVERYONE jumpin' on board - they're CRAZY, they're SO POWERFUL, oodles of reviews... It's just trends. And many people - not everyone - but many people don't know what they truly like, they need to be told what they like. Enter advertising, whooooweeee!!!

So, the reason high output pups are so rad and pumped as are high gain amps and high gain stomps and high this and high that is because there was no other place to go. Now it's going backwards - tonewoods, plexi style this and vintage style that. Shit man, I'm just realizing what it really is I like, and part of me is so "commercially enhanced" I'm having a hard time admitting it to myself. "Could it be this simple?? Do I have to get rid of all my other guitars and amps now that I know what I truly love??" In some ways, I don't have to do anything, but what's the sense in keeping shit around if it's not serving me a purpose??

Just sayin',
V.

 

[FourT6and2]

And..? What?

And yer mom.

Seriously, my question arises from the fact that I don't like the lead tones I get with high out pickups with my high gain amp but many here seem to profess a preference for them and this is 'high gain' crowd unlike other forums. I know it's a matter of taste but I was just wondering.

What were you wondering? You haven't actually asked a question yet. You just stated that you don't like the way high-output pickups sound.

So... what's your question?

 

[Digital Jams]

I am done with hot pups, SD Distortion is as hot as I will go.

Hot pups were made because there was a lack of gain, that is not the case anymore. You lose articulation, dynamics, guitar volume control, etc.

 

[Ventura]

And..? What?

And yer mom.

Seriously, my question arises from the fact that I don't like the lead tones I get with high out pickups with my high gain amp but many here seem to profess a preference for them and this is 'high gain' crowd unlike other forums. I know it's a matter of taste but I was just wondering.

What were you wondering? You haven't actually asked a question yet. You just stated that you don't like the way high-output pickups sound.

So... what's your question?

True, his syntax is incorrect:
the question (?) is [this] statement (!).

Could just be his style...

But I think the question he`s trying to articulate is if everyone digs high output pups with high gain heads, or if this is just an en masse misconception or perception. And the question, per se, arises from his inability to see the benefits thereof.

Just my guess
V.

 

[Nico]

My favorite pickup overall is a PAF type pickup so yeah I like them better with high gainers. The exception being the Suhr Aldrich which is really high output but doesn't sound that modern, quite the contrary

I think medium output are a great too, because you get pretty much the best of both worlds. I like the overwound type PAF pickups a lot

 

[joepete77]

Back in the old days, players had to use high output pickups in order to get the older amps to distort to their liking, these days with amps like diezel , soldano, etc, the amps have so much gain on their own that they could make an acoustic sound hot so you can use lower output pickups and get the clarity along with the distortion. With older Marshalls and fenders like my plexi I still prefer a hot pickup as they are stock and non master vol that need the hot pickup to get it to break up earlier.

 

[IntenseJim]

Thanks!

What I meant am surprised to see many folks with nuclear amps like Diezel, Bogner, modded Marshalls, etc with high gain pups from BareKnuckle, Dimarzio, etc. Just a random thought and query.

 

[FourT6and2]

And..? What?

And yer mom.

Seriously, my question arises from the fact that I don't like the lead tones I get with high out pickups with my high gain amp but many here seem to profess a preference for them and this is 'high gain' crowd unlike other forums. I know it's a matter of taste but I was just wondering.

What were you wondering? You haven't actually asked a question yet. You just stated that you don't like the way high-output pickups sound.

So... what's your question?

True, his syntax is incorrect:
the question (?) is [this] statement (!).

Could just be his style...

But I think the question he`s trying to articulate is if everyone digs high output pups with high gain heads, or if this is just an en masse misconception or perception. And the question, per se, arises from his inability to see the benefits thereof.

Just my guess
V.

Yeah, that's what I thought. But couldn't be too sure. It's an Anchorman moment. "I'm Ron Burgundy?" "I don't like high-output pickups????"

 

[Ventura]

Thanks!

What I meant am surprised to see many folks with nuclear amps like Diezel, Bogner, modded Marshalls, etc with high gain pups from BareKnuckle, Dimarzio, etc. Just a random thought and query.

Nuclear... I like that term

BKP make some uber sweet, low ouput true-to-vintage-form pups too. Just sayin'...

V.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

Ive gone back and forth and prefer the grunt afforded by slammin the input tube hard.

Don't forget you can entirely change the characteristics Of the amp for better or for worse by driving v1 into early saturation.

I've tried lower gain pickups for more clarity but i prefer the grunt high outputs add and just dial the gain back a little bit for clarity.

It's all presonal preference.