ESP: Special order - touchdown (4)

I was at Beez's last weekend, had a push-pull coil split switch installed in my ESP Special Order M-II so that the Duncan JB there could be reduced to a single coil for a wider tonal option. I'm currently liking the fact that there's no tone knob in this guitar so it churns out that very protrusive growl.

This is how the control cavity looks like- spacious & absolutely neat all round.
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My other ESPs:

• Eclipse II (satin finish)
• Horizon II
• Horizon III
• Phoenix II

JB/ Jazz: 35th Anniversary commemoration

There's nothing extra here in terms of tone, the 35th Anniversary JB/ Jazz set is still the same 'ol humbuckers which have satisfied many of our tonal needs (mine especially). However, I'm highlighting the fact that the anniversary version is devoid of that 'Seymour Duncan' label which many of us dislike; we prefer our pickups to be lable-free so they don't interfere with the instrument's cosmetics, yes?

The Anniversary package is a limited run offering (meaning: These won't be offered indefinitely) & the pair list for $199 @ Davis GMC. The zebra finish you see here is available as well as the traditional all black version.

Smooth operator

This is the same Duncan YJM pot you initially read here: CLICK It's now available @ Davis GMC.

If you need a little convincing as to how smooth this pot is, the manufacturer had packaged each pot in such a way that the shaft protrudes out of the casing for your testing pleasure.

Make sure you get the correct value pot for your guitar. Despite Malmsteen being a committed single coil user (which would dictate the provision of the 250K version exclusively... but no), the manufacturer also offers this pot for humbucking guitars so for people like me, I've gotten myself the 500K version as indicated there on the top side of the package.

At the (Pearly) gates

The latest guitar to feature Seymour Duncan pickups- my Ibanez S420. These are a pair of Pearly Gates. If you can't stand extra treble responses, chances are, you'd dislike the PG but it's one of those medium output performers I favour because of its added top end- my ears find this acceptable but I simply can't stand high output pickups in the same likeness.

N7

Here's another addition to Nuno's Washburn models; the N7. A new model with an additional string. No Bill Lawrence pickups this time, but a pair of Duncans:

• Neck: '59
• Bridge: Distortion

Ibanez RGD321: Duncanized

 

Seymour Duncans in my Ibanez RGD321:

• Neck: P-Rails
• Bridge: Dimebucker

 I have expressed my acceptance of the Ibanez VK humbuckers which were default units in this guitar (& my ex-RGD320) but in this fixed bridge setting, they sound deeper than I'd like them to be (especially with the detuned nature of the RGD & its extended scale length). I've messed around with EQ settings & pickup height but that excess growl was ever-present. So the VKs made way for the above pair which added more clarity to the mix while retaining the rich bottom end. Wiring is courtesy of Beez (as always).

Duncan talk: Screamin' Demon

The Screamin' Demon (SH-12) humbucker was originally a Duncan custom shop unit for George Lynch. The objective of its conception was to preserve the open voicing of the '59 model with more output to supplement distortion-driven applications & a deeper thumping tone when employed clean- Jeff Golub has the Lil' Screamin Demon in his '60s Fender. Contrary to the name implication, the SH-12 is not the meanest pickup in Planet Duncan, although the allusion to some treble end malevolence, is there. There is a slight scooped setting to be heard when in use, especially under intense distortion. I like the SH-12 for its clarity, some of us might find this a little excessive but it's something we can tame via EQ meddling (your amp's EQ section/ pedal EQ). The SH-12 sounds rather generous in the lower frequency range (better manifested in clean mode) but coupled with the augmented treble bits, the pickup simply sizzles. I didn't buy this pickup because of George Lynch (no offence sir, I am still a fan of your techniques & licks), I want a humbucker with some top-end sting without being devoid of bass entirely & the SH-12 does it for me.

Manufacturer's notes:

• Pickup's default EQ settings: Bass- 5/ Midrange-4/ Treble- 9
• Magnet type: Alnico V
• Output: High

My experience with this pickup:

• Guitars currently sporting the Screamin' Demon: Ibanez RG1550 (Trembucker version)/ RG471AH

This pickup used to be in the following guitars:

• Gibson LP BFG/ Ibanez RG560/ Ibanez SZ320

For those of us who wish to embed this pickup into our guitars with a dual action, locking whammy bridge unit (Floyd Rose or its derivatives), please reinforce some bottom end. For the rest of our guitars with fixed bridges, this is unnecessary.

Selling: Seymour Duncan Classic Stack + (Mid)

I was searching for some (misplaced) spares in the house recently when I came across this unused Seymour Duncan Classic Stack Plus pickup for the middle position. It's totally unused, it's yours for $80 if you are interested...

Seymour Duncan Classic Plus (middle position) in white:

• unused, screws & springs included
• box was unsealed to check contents
• asking price: $80
• confirmation via e-mail only: dark1349@hotmail.com
• self-collect (meeting venue will be disclosed upon confirmation)
• no reservations, no trades

Applause: Duncan's sealed pack

I recently bought Seymour Duncan's humbucker & would like to applaud the manufacturer for keeping the pickup height adjustment screws & springs in a sealed sachet. I've come across rusty units before & had to buy replacements so this is a thoughtful move by the manufacturer.

Duncans @ DGMC

Seymour Duncans are in at Davis GMC. If you are looking forward to try the Fury (Malmsteen) set, they are also available (& clearing fast).

Applause: Duncan's sealed package

I recently purchased a humbucker from the latest batch of Seymour Duncan pickups to be made available here (@ Davis GMC) & discovered that the manufacturer now seals the action adjustment screws & springs in a small, air-tight plastic sachet. Previously, they were placed loosely at the bottom of the product container, I ever encountered rusty merchandise so this is a great move by Seymour Duncan; they re-evaluated their production practices & gave us quality. Maybe that's why I'm a (big) fan.

Phat Horizon

Was at BEEZ's today to have the neck pickup of my new ESP Horizon FR-II installed. This is how things are in the pickups cavities- very neat & tidy, even the shielding paint had been applied evenly.

Ditto the controls cavity; everything prim & proper in there. I'm very happy that ESP made a point to have Orange Drop caps in the Horizons- it's a statement of quality. I don't see the point of naming my guitars after girls, I just have stickers pasted on them, strategically, of course.

The Horizon FR-II features a push-push coil split pickup switch.

The current pickups in there:

• Neck: Duncan Phat Cat
• Bridge: Duncan JB trembucker

 I have the JB-'59 combo in my ESP Phoenix II so the neck '59 here made way for the Phat Cat. It's now a single coil + humbucker pickup guitar, would it be any lesser than it's previous H-H feature? Definitely not, it's what I want to hear from this guitar & I got want I wanted; a brighter, less boomy tone in the neck pickup position.

Thanks BEEZ, for the splendid job, as always.

PS: Vanessa, if you are reading this, nice meeting you today.

ESP: Horizon FR-II

My latest ESP is the Horizon FR-II. Yes, it's another black guitar but I've chose this particular one because it clicks very well with me. The tone & playbility is outstanding. That's an ebony fretboard there.

The brand name & series are clearly stated at the headstock. This is my first ESP sporting this pointy version.

The dual cutaway is well-beveled as clearly seen here. Pickups:

• Neck: Seymour Duncan '59
• Bridge: JB Trembucker

 The top's curve with a levelled centre neck-through piece.

The upper fret access is a breeze with this block-free neck-body joint. Also, the rib-cage chamfer is one of the most generous I've come across; it's almost touching the rear cavity area.

I'm very happy with this guitar, it's worth every cent of the asking price namely because it has all the features I want from an ESP. If you intend to own an ESP this is the time to grab one as there will be a price revision come April, latest.

Malmsteen's POT

It's a great time for Malmsteen, he has a new set of signature pickups, Marshall amp & even his own, cutomized volume pot. Notice how Malmsteen has his pinky ready at the volume pot? That's because he utilizes it as second nature, muting & accentuating notes for a differentiated tone all the time. It'd be a clumsy affair should the pot in question not address this quick roll on-off...

... so Seymour Duncan customized a pot for him which in fact is a super lubricated unit, nothing extra. This product is manufactured by Bourns for Seymour Duncan but ladies & gentleman, even if you do not possess the YJM pots, there areothers out there which are equally easy to manipulate- I have a GOTOH unit in my Ibanez GRGR010 as proof. However, no harm trying this one, yes?

Duncan talk: Hot Rails SHR-1

Seymour Duncan's Hot Rails (SHR-1) is a humbucker, don't let anyone tell you different. Many of us would have gotten it confused with the single coil pickup by virtue of its size- it's compressed into a single coil dimension but it's still a functional humbucker.

The SHR-1 is best used in propelling distortion, in fact, it sounds exceptional in this light as opposed to its clean voicing (you should resort to the Cool Rails for a more attractive clean application). This pickup is touted to be bass excessive but in fact, it has more midrange to offer. As such, the SHR-1 is equally lethal in a massive-bodied instruments as well as the lighter counterparts- the reason I love them in my Fender H1 Strat & Squier Duo-Sonic; the latter guitar being lighter. If you are in the mood to decamp your Telecaster into intense distortion territory, the SHTR-1B would be a superb consideration as well. A little precaution of you wish to have it in the neck position, be mindful of its (lower) midrange response; it might turn your tone a little too boomy for general liking.

Manufacturer's notes:

• Pickup's default EQ settings: Bass-5/ Midrange-7/ Treble-4
• Magnet type: Ceramic
• Output: High

My experiences with this pickup:

• Current resident guitars: Fender Highway 1 Strat (bridge)/ Fender American Standard Tele (Bridge)/ Squier Duo-Sonic (bridge)

If there are dweebs out there telling you it's a bass-excessive pickup- it is AND it is not; depending on the guitar it is resident in. It indeed manifests a strong lower midrange responses which sounds very low to many of us but in a bright sounding instrument, it gives you that marked sponginess that would ensure some clarity in the mix.

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PS: It's only the second day of the new year but that sinking feeling of having to start work soon just spoils the weekend. To many of us, January is the dreaded Monday; a reminder that it's a long way to go until the next serving of genuine happy hours.