FourT6and2
Well-known member
After 5 weeks of waiting I received my Afwayu today. Got everything ready to install it. Took out the Duncan JB and went to throw the Afwayu in only to find that it doesn't fit. The pickup cover is slightly larger than the pickup cavity. WTF?
So, I had to spend an hour or two trying to get the pickup cover off. That was a bitch. The wax kept melting and I had to wait a while between each go to let the wax harden again. I'd melt the solder and try to place a razor blade in the joint to keep the solder from forming a connection again. It took a while but I finally did it.
Got it in, played for while and my first impression is... meh.
Sound alright. More bass-heavy than my JB, slightly more lower-mids, slightly less treble. It's not harsh like the JB, which is nice. But it also lacks character, unlike the JB. And it doesn't clean up as well. It's sort of fizzy. It definitely has a thicker sound to it, but it can seems to be a bit muddy.
For cleans, I like it more than the JB actually. It's a bit mellow and moody. But once you throw some gain at it, it becomes a little... I don't know. It's meaty, definitely but it just doesn't have any flavor. It's sort of flat sounding. Hard to describe.
I'll wait until I play with my buddy (drummer) and crank the amp loud to hear the real difference. Right now I've been playing at about cranked stereo volume (VH4's master at 9:00).
But so far, I think I like the JB more (even at these volumes). I'll probably wind up going back to the JB and switch up the wiring from 50's style to Modern style. The reason I bought the Afwayu was because since the addition of new pots, the guitar has been a bit brighter (went from 300k to 500k, but they have a better sweep than stock). And I wanted to try something new. I heard the Afwayu was like the JB, just more balls and less harsh. I can see how that description applies, but it also lacks in the "character" department. And it just doesn't clean up very well.
I may just throw the stock pots back in and switch back to the JB with 50's wiring. Don't know yet.
Anybody else use the Afwayu? Care to share your thoughts?
So, I had to spend an hour or two trying to get the pickup cover off. That was a bitch. The wax kept melting and I had to wait a while between each go to let the wax harden again. I'd melt the solder and try to place a razor blade in the joint to keep the solder from forming a connection again. It took a while but I finally did it.
Got it in, played for while and my first impression is... meh.
Sound alright. More bass-heavy than my JB, slightly more lower-mids, slightly less treble. It's not harsh like the JB, which is nice. But it also lacks character, unlike the JB. And it doesn't clean up as well. It's sort of fizzy. It definitely has a thicker sound to it, but it can seems to be a bit muddy.
For cleans, I like it more than the JB actually. It's a bit mellow and moody. But once you throw some gain at it, it becomes a little... I don't know. It's meaty, definitely but it just doesn't have any flavor. It's sort of flat sounding. Hard to describe.
I'll wait until I play with my buddy (drummer) and crank the amp loud to hear the real difference. Right now I've been playing at about cranked stereo volume (VH4's master at 9:00).
But so far, I think I like the JB more (even at these volumes). I'll probably wind up going back to the JB and switch up the wiring from 50's style to Modern style. The reason I bought the Afwayu was because since the addition of new pots, the guitar has been a bit brighter (went from 300k to 500k, but they have a better sweep than stock). And I wanted to try something new. I heard the Afwayu was like the JB, just more balls and less harsh. I can see how that description applies, but it also lacks in the "character" department. And it just doesn't clean up very well.
I may just throw the stock pots back in and switch back to the JB with 50's wiring. Don't know yet.
Anybody else use the Afwayu? Care to share your thoughts?
