OP
Pickup Shopping:
- Thread starter Inspector #20
- Start date
OP
I want to publicly express how much I appreciate your kindness and most generous offer of the JB. Truly, I'm not deserving of such generosity.
With respect to the Planet Tone pickups, after exchanging over 20 emails with Jose about this project, I felt the least I could do was make a purchase from him, even in the face of @smitty_p 's most generous offer.
I also won't accept gear if I know that I'm not likely to use it, because I feel like that would disenfranchise those who might have an immediate need for it.
Last edited:
It’s all good, Robert!
My offer is absolutely sincere, but I certainly don’t expect you to do anything if you’re not certain it’s what you want.
It’s really all been just a lot of good-natured fun!
(I still think you should tell Jose just to see what he says!)
OP
You are one Kool Kat, my friend.
jtcnj
Ambassador of the Crossroad
I was seriously considering inquiring about this but the 2 guitars I have with higher output bridge pickups are happy right now.
(An LP jr type with a Super Distortion and a Jackson Dinky with a Duncan Custom).
I'm still hot and cold on the Burstbucker Pros in an all mahogany Gibson Studio and considering something "better" than the low budget PAF types I have in others.
I think most of my issues stem from trying to squeeze Malcom Super Bass or Angus Young Super Lead tones out of the amps I have, lol.
OP
OP
Yeah, I think amplifiers have more of an effect on tone than the pickups.
OP
Interesting settings!!!!
Hi!
Really depends on your taste but we like
the Neck about 1/2" and bridge 1/4" to start
Calibrate the volume to your favorite pickup and its sweet spot. You can find the sweet spot for your pickup by moving it down past its normal height and slowly raising it towards the strings.
Best to ya!
Jose @ Planet Tone
Show quoted text
Hi!
Really depends on your taste but we like
the Neck about 1/2" and bridge 1/4" to start
Calibrate the volume to your favorite pickup and its sweet spot. You can find the sweet spot for your pickup by moving it down past its normal height and slowly raising it towards the strings. Best to ya!
Jose @ Planet Tone
Show quoted text
OP
switch to a Tele esquire and slap a Cavalier FAT LION in it
I was playing a Jim Root telecaster at the academy on Saturday.
DirtySteve
Ambassador of Hold My Beer
Interesting settings!!!!
Hi!
Really depends on your taste but we like
the Neck about 1/2" and bridge 1/4" to start
Best to ya!
Jose @ Planet Tone
Show quoted text
Wow, that seems far away. My pickups usually end up being 1/8" of just a tad more, neck and bridge. I've always heard start at 1/8" and tweak from there.
OP
I use to run them 4/64" from the strings!!!!! But, not long ago, I had a very amazing experience.
A few months ago, I was invited to tag along and do some guitar tech work for a very big artist before a show at The Forum. I am very quiet when I need to be and I really watched and contributed when I was asked. What I learned was ALL of this guy's guitars had the pickups barely level with the trim rings and I took that and applied it to my own guitars. When I did, my guitars became very multi-dimensional and I have not looked back since...
Yeah, I’ve read similar stuff about the benefit of actually lowering pickups.
In fact, you may have read some of the same stuff. You can find several posts about it on a music forum that you may have heard about. The forum is called, “The Tone Rooms.”
Here’s a link to that forum. Lots of good stuff there!
OP
Yeah, I’ve read similar stuff about the benefit of actually lowering pickups.
In fact, you may have read some of the same stuff. You can find several posts about it on a music forum that you may have heard about. The forum is called, “The Tone Rooms.”
Here’s a link to that forum. Lots of good stuff there!
It's rare that I will do something just from reading about it, so for me, I had to see these guitars and actually play through the rigs during servicing and tech soundcheck before I was sold on the idea.
I admit the clarity of my tone is better, but I've really had to seriously up my output to make up for the output drop....Once the drummer starts pounding the skins, you need serious volume to get up out of the hole. I would venture to say that wit some rigs, there may not be enough 'oomph' to get on the level with the drums.. The origin 50 - with master volume on 8 - fed by a TS-9 with the level maxxed out, seems to have plenty of sauce.
Absolutely! Good words.
I’ve run some of my pickups on the low side for quite some time because I like the sound better, depending on the pickup. I started doing it some years ago with my Strat to help quell some of the Strat spikiness.
Honestly, I can’t remember if I read that in yet another location or if I had the idea on my own. Often, if I run across an idea I’ve read that is easily reversible and only requires a couple of spins of a screwdriver and a listening test, I’ll give it a shot. I do remember posting on TTR about it, but I can’t remember the source of the idea.
But, you are correct; your rig has to be able to make up for the reduced output. I use a TC Electronic Spark clean boost pedal to make up for lost output if my amp can’t do it on its own.
Do you happen to know what kind of pickups the guitarist was using?
OP
Afterburner - 43awg 13.2k Alnico V
Special 59 - 42awg 7.8k Alnico II
OP
They were all vintage Gibson's, so likely a mix of PAF and T-Tops???
OP
These pickups (Afterburner & Special 59) are super quiet!!!! I'm just floored at how the individual notes of an arpeggiated chord just jump out of the guitar. I have both current set at 8/64" fretted at the 22nd fret, so free height is about 12/64", which is just under .200" (.187") or 4.7mm and this setting strikes a balance between clarity and punch. Many different heights were tried.
I know that there isn't a lot of variation in pickup making - its really just winds and magnets and lots of people are making pickups, but these really do have a clear and chimey tone played clean and the retain clarity and a tight, focused low end when overdriven that I haven't enjoyed with pickups from other makers.
I know that there isn't a lot of variation in pickup making - its really just winds and magnets and lots of people are making pickups, but these really do have a clear and chimey tone played clean and the retain clarity and a tight, focused low end when overdriven that I haven't enjoyed with pickups from other makers.
Last edited: