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Topic: Msa Millennium * Pickups * |
Gary Steele
From:
Columbus, Ohio, USA
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Posted 13 Feb 2009 11:18 am |
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What pickup do you like the best in your MILLINNIUMS. I'v got a ToneAlighner and a GL 10-1 I'm not sure about these for this steel. They seem
Thanks in Advance.
Gary Steele |
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Steve Spitz
From:
New Orleans, LA, USA
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Posted 13 Feb 2009 2:28 pm Pickups
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| I like truetones in mine. I have a 10-1 and a TW(Tommy White?) from George Ls. The truetone has a singlecoil bite, where the GeorgeLs are cool, but a bit more mellow. I still keep them in my seat for recording, or a poorly grounded venue, as some old New Orleans joints sound buzzy. Got to love that modular pickup system. I would like to try some tone alligners at some point as well. |
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Darvin Willhoite
From:
Roxton, Tx. USA
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Posted 13 Feb 2009 3:55 pm
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I tend to use Truetones the most in mine, although, there is very little difference in the sound of the Tonealigner and the Truetone in my opinion. The Truetone seems to be a little clearer on the higher notes. I have a set of George L's TW's, and a set of Lawrence XR16's (I think that's the right model) and there's not enough difference in any of them that a little amp EQ wouldn't take care of. I have a Legend, a Millennium, and a Studio Pro, and I sound just like me when I play all of them. 
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Darvin Willhoite
MSA Millennium, Legend, and Studio Pro, Reese's restored Universal Direction guitar, a restored MSA Classic SS, several amps, new and old, and a Kemper Powerhead that I am really liking. Also a Zum D10, a Mullen RP, and a restored Rose S10, named the "Blue Bird". Also, I have acquired and restored the plexiglass D10 MSA Classic that was built as a demo in the early '70s. I also have a '74 lacquer P/P, with wood necks, and a showroom condition Sho-Bud Super Pro. |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 13 Feb 2009 5:47 pm
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| I got a Truetone for starters on my Milly S12U, because I liked that on my Zum. It's the best sounding single coil I have tried, but I haven't tried a Tonealigner. I got a BL 912 "sidewinder" humbucker in case I ever needed to kill the hum. But so far I haven't had to use it. It is okay, but doesn't have the sparkle and clarity of the Truetone. My Truetone is 18.5k. As I understand it, the 12-string pickup configuration causes that to sound like something wound a little lighter on a 10-sting, maybe 16.5k. At some point I'd like to try something wound substantially lighter, for a vintage tone. |
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Hook Moore
From:
South Charleston,West Virginia
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James Quackenbush
From:
Pomona, New York, USA
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Posted 14 Feb 2009 12:47 pm
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| On various steels where I needed to go with a Humbucking pickup , I would go with the Bill Lawrence pickups .....I found the 910/912 too dark, the 710/712 series too brite , but great sounding pickup on the right steel , and found the XR-16's to be right in the middle with plenty of Kahuna's !!....They can be played sweetly, or they can RIP with the best of them ...Jim |
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Gary Steele
From:
Columbus, Ohio, USA
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Posted 15 Feb 2009 8:42 pm Pickups For Millennium To Texas Show
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I would like to find someone that is top notch on setting steels up to look at my Millennium in Texas. Maybe whoever MSA is using now can look at it. I think mine needs a little tweeking. Can some of you Millennium players bring your pickups to the Texas show so i can try some others.
Thanks in advance. Darvin can you bring yours also. I have a brother- in- law thats a retired truck driver 75 years young that loves Texas and last year we ran all over Texas for a week or so and then caught the Steel Show on the way home. We are planning this again this year.
Gary Steele |
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James Quackenbush
From:
Pomona, New York, USA
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Posted 16 Feb 2009 4:24 am
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Gary,
I did the same thing ( ran around Texas ) with a couple of buddies about 25 yrs ago ....First stop before Texas was Marde Gras !!....( almost our last stop !! ) then on to Texas ...... I finally made it back home in NY to stay about 3 1/2 yrs later !!....  ....True story !!!..... Jim |
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Duane Dunard
From:
Troy, MO. U.S.A.
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Posted 16 Feb 2009 6:28 am
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| Gary, I found that the pick-up's distance from the strings always needed to be adjusted properly before you decide which pick-up is best for you. take a few minutes and start with two quarters, then adjust from there to your satisfaction. You simply don't slap in a pick-up and hear it's maximum output. I prefer the Tonealigners, but the Truetones sound great too. |
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James Quackenbush
From:
Pomona, New York, USA
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Posted 16 Feb 2009 7:34 am
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| Excellent advise Duane .....These Humbuckers that are being sold today are VERY sensitive to the height that they are set at .....They can go from usable to UNusable in a couple of turns of the adjustment screw !!.....Jim |
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Gary Steele
From:
Columbus, Ohio, USA
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Posted 16 Feb 2009 9:28 am Millennium Pickups
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My G. L. 10- 1 seems to sound a lot better far away about the distance of two Quarter rather then being close at about one quarter. Do you guys like the 10-1 farther like this? I'm not crazy about a real bright tone. I like a little sparkle but nor piercing highs.
Thanks, Gary Steele.
Last edited by Gary Steele on 16 Feb 2009 9:31 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Gary Steele
From:
Columbus, Ohio, USA
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Posted 16 Feb 2009 9:28 am Millennium Pickups
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| double posted. |
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James Quackenbush
From:
Pomona, New York, USA
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Posted 16 Feb 2009 10:42 am
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Gary,
There is really no right or wrong to this .....It's either " I like it " or "I don't like it " .....I will tell you this though ....What sounds incredible when your sitting and playing alone , with a nice full tone, may not cut it when you're playing out , especially if there are a lot of people around ....When you have a crowd of people or a tightly packed room , you really need more treble to cut through ....When you are sitting next to the amp at home , there is nothing that you have to cut thru so you can set it up exactly the way you want with plenty of bass ....Remember too that when you are gigging, you are playing MUCH louder than you would at home and too much bass will turn to MUD on the bandstand ......Adjust to taste , but you might have to re-adjust when gigging ......Jim |
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Gary Steele
From:
Columbus, Ohio, USA
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Posted 16 Feb 2009 11:03 am Pickup
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Thanks James, I understand all this. I was just more curious as to what pickups everyone seems to like the best with these carbon fiber bodies. I'v only tried the 2. I dont have too much trouble getting good tone at home, ECT.
Thanks alot for the response.
Gary Steele |
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Ron Randall
From:
Dallas, Texas, USA
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Posted 16 Feb 2009 7:28 pm
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Gary
I play a SU12 Milly 3. All of the pickups are good.( I think I have one of each) My all around preference is the Tone Aligner. Second choice is True Tone.
The differences are very subtle, and a tweak of the amp changes the tone anyway.
R2 |
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Morton Kellas
From:
Chazy, NY, USA 1
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Posted 19 Feb 2009 5:27 am
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| I prefer the Tonealigner at 18.5, It just sounds really full on my Studio Pro. I also have a True Tone at 18.5 which is my second choice. I do have to say that making a choice between the two is very difficult because they both have their advantages and disadvantages. Like always, you are best to try them if possible and get what is pleasing to your own ears. Good luck |
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John Lang
From:
Las Vegas, Nevada
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Posted 21 Mar 2009 7:08 am
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I had Jim Palenscar set up a Tonealigner on a Millennium base and bring it to the TSGA show for me last week. He also pre-set the pole piece heights, and when I mounted it in the guitar the height seemed about the same as the stock GL-10-1.
Played the guitar live last night with the Tonealigner for the first time. Big difference. I play with some really loud bands, and I could tell that the steel was cutting through the stage mix noticeably better.
The out of the box GL seems to be a bit mellower, and just fine until the volume gets up there. The Tonealigner through the FSK seems to deliver a lot more control; bass and treble response was much more dramatic.
Thanks to Jim Palenscar for the setup and delivery, and thanks to Bob Hoffnar for a great product.
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www.johnlangmusic.com
https://www.facebook.com/john.lang.1694 |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 22 Mar 2009 8:56 am
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Jim Palenscar should have a couple 12st Tonealigners in stock and I have a one ready to go and another one I'm getting ready to wind this week. I do custom windings if anybody wants that also. Thanks for the compliments fellas. If you are ever not satisfied in any way with my pickups I will do whatever I can to take care of it.
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Bob |
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