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Topic: MSA Supersustain question |
Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Posted 28 Jul 2006 3:19 am |
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Is a Supersustain a humbucker?
The one in question has two rows of poles.
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Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Posted 28 Jul 2006 3:07 pm
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| Anyone? anyone? |
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Jim Eaton
From:
Santa Susana, Ca
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Posted 28 Jul 2006 3:19 pm
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I pretty sure they are "humbuckers".
JE:-)> |
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Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
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Posted 28 Jul 2006 4:42 pm
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I had a '78 maple/lacquer MSA with Supersustain pickup and I always assumed it was humbucker because of the double-row of polepieces.
I can't remember who told me now, but somewhere I was told that although it appears to be a humbucker, it is not. I can't say for sure about that info except that at the time I believed it to be from a reliable source.... I'm sure Donny or Reece will pop in and tell you for sure. |
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Reece Anderson
From:
Keller Texas USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 29 Jul 2006 4:51 am
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| Charlie....that which you are describing is likely a humbucking pickup. To be sure I would need to see a picture, also knowing the serial number of your guitar would be helpful. |
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Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Posted 29 Jul 2006 5:31 am
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Thank you Jim, Jim, and Reece.
I will try to get the serial number from Jim Palenscar. The guitar is a lacquer '76, converted from an D12 to an SD.
I will bump this again when I get a number. |
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Bill Llewellyn
From:
San Jose, CA
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Posted 29 Jul 2006 7:01 am
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The dual pole piece SuperSustain in my '73 MSA U12 is a humbucker. It even has a switch to allow you to alternate between standard and humbucking. I usually use the standard setting (it's a meatier sound, to me), but if I'm in an electrically noisy environment, switching to humbucking mode definately drops the interference a lot.
------------------
Bill, steelin' since '99 | Steel page | MSA U12 | My music | Steelers' birthdays | Over 50?
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Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
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Posted 29 Jul 2006 10:09 pm
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I wasn't aware the Supersustain was used in any MSA's in '73, and I've never seen one in any MSA that had a switch for humbucking/other. Sounds like either someone replaced your pickup with a Supersustain and added the switch, or you have something pretty rare.
BTW if the Supersustain is a humbucker, then humbucking mode would be the standard, and your switch to something else would be the extra or other mode, either the two coils in parallel, or most likely one of the coils alone.
You can find out by putting your switch in non-humbucking mode and then tap lightly on each row of polepieces with something like a small screwdriver. If both rows are equal in volume when you tap, then both coils are active, if one row is substantially louder then most likely that's the coil that's active when you're in non-humbucking mode. Of course in humbucking mode both rows should produce equal volume.[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 29 July 2006 at 11:52 PM.] |
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Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Posted 30 Jul 2006 3:08 am
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I do not have the guitar--yet.
Jim says it is not the original pickup, but it is a Supersustain.
Thank you all for your informative replies. |
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Adrienne Clasky
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 30 Jul 2006 5:29 pm
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| Charlie, that is really exciting! I've heard great things about those Supersustains. Supposed to have great tone. Keep us posted! |
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Ric Epperle
From:
Sheridan, Wyoming USA . Like no other place on Earth... R.I.P.
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Posted 30 Jul 2006 10:21 pm
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| I have Supersustains on my 1980 MSA Vintage XL D12 and the tone is outstanding... |
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Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
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Posted 30 Jul 2006 10:30 pm
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| Don't forget the later version was called the SuperSustain II and is different than the earlier SuperSustain... |
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Ric Epperle
From:
Sheridan, Wyoming USA . Like no other place on Earth... R.I.P.
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Posted 30 Jul 2006 11:21 pm
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| This is true.. I have the Supersustain II on my guitar. |
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Jim Eaton
From:
Santa Susana, Ca
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Posted 31 Jul 2006 5:23 pm
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Jeff Newman was playing a green S-12 MSA with the SS when I attended his 1 week class at the old valley art's guitar store in North Hollywood CA in the 70's and that was just about some of the best tone I'd ever heard. I know, Jeff would make any guitar sound good, but he also knew how to let you hear "it's" voice too and that MSA with the SS pickup's had one sweet voice for sure!
JE:-)> |
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