Let's talk Motor City Pickups...

[firejack]

Wade recently recommended the T-Wreck bridge for my Burny Les Paul guitar.
I have a policy of always going with Wade's first recommendation as he has hit the bullseye with his first recommendation every time I've seeked his advice.
The one time I went with something other than his first recommendation, the results weren't quite as magical.

I know nothing about the T-Wreck bridge model other than it's a 7.8k wind and somewhat based on the Gibson T-Top bridge (of which I have no experience).
So does anybody use or have used the T-Wreck bridge in their guitars?
Were you happy with it? How would you describe the sound?
As a point of reference I already have 2nd Deg Black Belt, Detroiter, Hot Head and Afwayu bridge models, so comparisons with any of those would be appreciated.
I also have a Dragon Suit bridge on order so we'll see how that one turns out later. Love Wade's work!

 

[bbaug14]

He suggested that to me as well and I personally didn't like it. Flubby bass and a bit muddy. It came out immediately. I have a Detroiters in another LP and love it.

 

[metalmaniac93]

Wades pickup's rock!!

I have a shitload of Wade's pickups that I have hoarded over the years and tried a bunch too, but never tried the T-Wreck bridge. I have the T-Wreck neck in my Heritage 150CM with a 2nd Degree bridge and it is an awesome combo!! Actually Wade's favorite combo in one of his LPs. I have the T-Wrecks on order for my Edward LP Custom copy. Here is what Wade says about the 2nd Degree and the T-wreck.

Ohm difference between the 2nd degree and T Wrecks- Bridge is at 7.9k on the T, Not as 3dish on the top end compared to the 2nd degrees. Less bass, more mids and highs on the T Wrecks..

 

[fearhk213]

I had the exact opposite experience as the poster above and found the T-Wreck to be both tighter in the lows and have more overall clarity than the Detroiter, but they're pretty different sounding pickups so one could easily work in one guitar while the other doesn't. They both happened to work amazingly well in my guitar, so here's my $.02:

The T-Wreck has a flatter eq than the Detroiter, so it doesn't have that mid bump or high end roll-off. This made the Detroiter a bit chunkier/thicker and a little smoother in the upper registers. Whereas the T-Wreck has more string-to-string separation and is just a bit wider with a more extended, chimey top end.

As far as output goes, the Detroiter has a little more output. It's not night and day, but you'll need to turn the gain up on your amp to get the T-Wreck to match it. They feel pretty different under your pick as well. The Detroiter feels a little juicier, while the T-Wreck is a little firmer under your pick.

They are both very sensitive to height adjustment, but the T-Wreck even more so. I honestly haven't heard a pickup that changes in character so much based on the height, but it's easy to setup because you hear the changes.

Either way they both rip. I prefer the T-Wreck because of its tightness and how it sounds with big gained out chords.

 

[fearhk213]

Wades pickup's rock!!

I have a shitload of Wade's pickups that I have hoarded over the years and tried a bunch too, but never tried the T-Wreck bridge. I have the T-Wreck neck in my Heritage 150CM with a 2nd Degree bridge and it is an awesome combo!! Actually Wade's favorite combo in one of his LPs. I have the T-Wrecks on order for my Edward LP Custom copy. Here is what Wade says about the 2nd Degree and the T-wreck.

Ohm difference between the 2nd degree and T Wrecks- Bridge is at 7.9k on the T, Not as 3dish on the top end compared to the 2nd degrees. Less bass, more mids and highs on the T Wrecks..

One of these days I need to try a 2nd degree bridge. I had the neck with a Detroiter bridge and it was pretty sweet.

 

[metalmaniac93]

Wades pickup's rock!!

I have a shitload of Wade's pickups that I have hoarded over the years and tried a bunch too, but never tried the T-Wreck bridge. I have the T-Wreck neck in my Heritage 150CM with a 2nd Degree bridge and it is an awesome combo!! Actually Wade's favorite combo in one of his LPs. I have the T-Wrecks on order for my Edward LP Custom copy. Here is what Wade says about the 2nd Degree and the T-wreck.

Ohm difference between the 2nd degree and T Wrecks- Bridge is at 7.9k on the T, Not as 3dish on the top end compared to the 2nd degrees. Less bass, more mids and highs on the T Wrecks..

One of these days I need to try a 2nd degree bridge. I had the neck with a Detroiter bridge and it was pretty sweet.

The 2nd Degree is a great pickup. The Detroiter is kick ass too as I have both the bridge and neck pickups.

 

[4406cuda]

Wades pickup's rock!!

I have a shitload of Wade's pickups that I have hoarded over the years and tried a bunch too, but never tried the T-Wreck bridge. I have the T-Wreck neck in my Heritage 150CM with a 2nd Degree bridge and it is an awesome combo!! Actually Wade's favorite combo in one of his LPs. I have the T-Wrecks on order for my Edward LP Custom copy. Here is what Wade says about the 2nd Degree and the T-wreck.

Ohm difference between the 2nd degree and T Wrecks- Bridge is at 7.9k on the T, Not as 3dish on the top end compared to the 2nd degrees. Less bass, more mids and highs on the T Wrecks..

One of these days I need to try a 2nd degree bridge. I had the neck with a Detroiter bridge and it was pretty sweet.

The 2nd Degree is a great pickup. The Detroiter is kick ass too as I have both the bridge and neck pickups.

I believe Cantrall is using a Second Degree in his Les Paul.

 

[mdc1mdc11]

Wades pickup's rock!!

I have a shitload of Wade's pickups that I have hoarded over the years and tried a bunch too, but never tried the T-Wreck bridge. I have the T-Wreck neck in my Heritage 150CM with a 2nd Degree bridge and it is an awesome combo!! Actually Wade's favorite combo in one of his LPs. I have the T-Wrecks on order for my Edward LP Custom copy. Here is what Wade says about the 2nd Degree and the T-wreck.

Ohm difference between the 2nd degree and T Wrecks- Bridge is at 7.9k on the T, Not as 3dish on the top end compared to the 2nd degrees. Less bass, more mids and highs on the T Wrecks..

One of these days I need to try a 2nd degree bridge. I had the neck with a Detroiter bridge and it was pretty sweet.

The 2nd Degree is a great pickup. The Detroiter is kick ass too as I have both the bridge and neck pickups.

What music range do the 2nd degree and Detroiter cover? Looking to check them out in the future, currently using a few of the WCR pickups (American Steel set) and Darkburst (love this pickup). Receiving some new guitars soon, aged strats and want to experiment with some of these pickups with that Duncan pickguard system.

 

[halebox]

I use wcr godwood in one Paul and afwayu in other. I tried 2nd degree and detroiter and chose afwayu over both. I like the higher motor city winds myself. The others sounded very good too

 

[JiMB]

I'm installing a 2nd degree BB in my R8 today.

 

[metalmaniac93]

Wades pickup's rock!!

I have a shitload of Wade's pickups that I have hoarded over the years and tried a bunch too, but never tried the T-Wreck bridge. I have the T-Wreck neck in my Heritage 150CM with a 2nd Degree bridge and it is an awesome combo!! Actually Wade's favorite combo in one of his LPs. I have the T-Wrecks on order for my Edward LP Custom copy. Here is what Wade says about the 2nd Degree and the T-wreck.

Ohm difference between the 2nd degree and T Wrecks- Bridge is at 7.9k on the T, Not as 3dish on the top end compared to the 2nd degrees. Less bass, more mids and highs on the T Wrecks..

One of these days I need to try a 2nd degree bridge. I had the neck with a Detroiter bridge and it was pretty sweet.

The 2nd Degree is a great pickup. The Detroiter is kick ass too as I have both the bridge and neck pickups.

What music range do the 2nd degree and Detroiter cover? Looking to check them out in the future, currently using a few of the WCR pickups (American Steel set) and Darkburst (love this pickup). Receiving some new guitars soon, aged strats and want to experiment with some of these pickups with that Duncan pickguard system.

The 2nd Degrees are more for rock type tones up to VH, but can be used for heavier stuff like AIC since Jerry uses or used them in one of his LP. The Detroiter while not a high output pickup can do everything from rock to thrash...if I do not gel with the T-wreck bridge in my Edwards, I am going to throw in the Detroiter I have!!

 

[Mr. Willy]

What's up with Motor City's website? It sucks horribly, IMHO. I get frustrated every time I go to it. I keep expecting it to have been changed or updated, but it's been the same forever. It's really frustrating when no specs are given. There no clips either. Instead of any solid information you get generic descriptions like this:

Everything you love about the Old School Motor City Black Belt - but just a little more of it! If the Black Belt is a V6, think of the 2nd Degree Black Belt as a V8.
Traditionally, overwould vintage pickups turned into garbled mush. Not the 2nd Degree Black Belt. It's got more mids and push than its Old School cousin, but stays clear as freshly polished chrome. A carefully calibrated neck pickup dishes out warm solos that also have great bite.
Graduate to the next rank, young grasshopper. Put another notch in your belt -you've earned it.

I mean, what are you supposed to do with that? What's the magnet? What's the DC Resistance? He really needs to update his site.

 

[metalmaniac93]

What's up with Motor City's website? It sucks horribly, IMHO. I get frustrated every time I go to it. I keep expecting it to have been changed or updated, but it's been the same forever. It's really frustrating when no specs are given. There no clips either. Instead of any solid information you get generic descriptions like this:

Everything you love about the Old School Motor City Black Belt - but just a little more of it! If the Black Belt is a V6, think of the 2nd Degree Black Belt as a V8.
Traditionally, overwould vintage pickups turned into garbled mush. Not the 2nd Degree Black Belt. It's got more mids and push than its Old School cousin, but stays clear as freshly polished chrome. A carefully calibrated neck pickup dishes out warm solos that also have great bite.
Graduate to the next rank, young grasshopper. Put another notch in your belt -you've earned it.

I mean, what are you supposed to do with that? What's the magnet? What's the DC Resistance? He really needs to update his site.

I agree that Wade's website needs updating, but his pickups kick ass. I always get a response from him even if may take a week at times and he does explain his pickups and generally gives good pickup recommendations!! Most of his pickups are A5 magnets. My gripe is that he discontinued the Angel Dust and Garuda!!

 

[metalmaniac93]

What's up with Motor City's website? It sucks horribly, IMHO. I get frustrated every time I go to it. I keep expecting it to have been changed or updated, but it's been the same forever. It's really frustrating when no specs are given. There no clips either. Instead of any solid information you get generic descriptions like this:

Everything you love about the Old School Motor City Black Belt - but just a little more of it! If the Black Belt is a V6, think of the 2nd Degree Black Belt as a V8.
Traditionally, overwould vintage pickups turned into garbled mush. Not the 2nd Degree Black Belt. It's got more mids and push than its Old School cousin, but stays clear as freshly polished chrome. A carefully calibrated neck pickup dishes out warm solos that also have great bite.
Graduate to the next rank, young grasshopper. Put another notch in your belt -you've earned it.

I mean, what are you supposed to do with that? What's the magnet? What's the DC Resistance? He really needs to update his site.

I agree that Wade's website needs updating, but his pickups kick ass. I always get a response from him even if may take a week at times and he does explain his pickups and generally gives good pickup recommendations!! Most of his pickups are A5 magnets. My gripe is that he discontinued the Angel Dust and Garuda!!

Well I just ordered an underwound Afwayu bridge (~15Kish) from Wade and no issues. He recommended this one or the Hot Head and I went with the UW Afwayu.

 

[JiMB]

Just had a 2nd Degree BB put in my R8, sounds great. It replaced an overwound paf type with A2 mag. I think the 2nd Degree has A5, more edge and attack to the note, diggin' it!

 

[metalmaniac93]

Just had a 2nd Degree BB put in my R8, sounds great. It replaced an overwound paf type with A2 mag. I think the 2nd Degree has A5, more edge and attack to the note, diggin' it!

Yeah I have the 2nd Degree bridge in my Heritage 150CM... Definitely a great pickup!!.. Yes it is an A5!

 

[JiMB]

Just had a 2nd Degree BB put in my R8, sounds great. It replaced an overwound paf type with A2 mag. I think the 2nd Degree has A5, more edge and attack to the note, diggin' it!

Yeah I have the 2nd Degree bridge in my Heritage 150CM... Definitely a great pickup!!.. Yes it is an A5!

Thanks, that's what I thought.
I'll get a clip up.