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Topic: Pickup Advice |
Michael Barone
From:
Downingtown, Pennsylvania
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Posted 12 Jul 2005 9:56 am |
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I have a Sho-Bud Pro-1 with a George-L E-66 pickup. The guitar has a nice full tone but, I am finding now that I desire a little brighter sound for my applications. The higher strings are weak. I end up picking them harder. The pickup is spaced evenly across, 1/8" from the strings.
After doing a search and reading lots of posts, I could not come to a conclusion regarding the best pickup for a Pro-1. Some rewind the original (that I don't have).
Is this typical of Sho-Buds? Can I get closer to what my ear wants, by replacing the pickup with a different one?
I would appreciate comments. |
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Bill Myers
From:
Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 12 Jul 2005 10:44 am
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Alot of the tone you are talking about in a sho bud came from the single coil pickups. The wallace true tones should give you that tone back.
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2003 Carter D10, 8x5 Black and 1998 Carter D10 9x5, rack mounted amp and cabinets
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Michael Barone
From:
Downingtown, Pennsylvania
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Posted 12 Jul 2005 11:57 am
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| Thanks Bill. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 12 Jul 2005 12:40 pm
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| Yep, you need a True-Tone or a new amp. |
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Ricky Davis
From:
Bertram, Texas USA
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Posted 12 Jul 2005 12:48 pm
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This is just my opinion> I think the George L pickups is completely the wrong pickup for a Sho-bud.
A original that is not microphonic or a true tone for the single coil; or a Bill Lawrence 710 or 910 narrow mount or a 705 if you can find one, would be my pick for a humbucking pickup.
Good luck.
Ricky |
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Bryan Knox
From:
Gardendale, Alabama...Ya'll come
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Posted 12 Jul 2005 12:54 pm
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Not to hijack a post, but while we are on the subject of pup advice...
Ricky (or others) what are the signs that a pup needs to be replaced or re-wound?
The original pup in my LDG sounds good to me, but are there ways to check that I am getting all I should be out of it? This thing is getting old and I was curious.
Great topic
Bryan
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Help prevent juvenile delinquency...teach children to STEEL
[This message was edited by Bryan Knox on 12 July 2005 at 01:55 PM.] |
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Mark Herrick
From:
Bakersfield, CA
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Posted 12 Jul 2005 1:15 pm
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| Quote: |
| The original pup in my LDG sounds good to me... |
If it sounds good, it is good...
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 12 Jul 2005 1:56 pm
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I have an LDG with a TruTone on it and it sounds GREAT!
Erv |
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Michael Barone
From:
Downingtown, Pennsylvania
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Posted 12 Jul 2005 3:32 pm
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Gentlemen, thank you for taking the time to respond.
Bryan, you got me thinking of something. At times I think I hear undesirable overtones, barely audible, but there. Is this microphonic? Strings are only a week old with 8 hours playing. It depends on the neck position where I'm picking.
Ricky, thanks again for comments. You were a big help to me last winter when I had a problem with a split.
I'm going with the True Tone.
Thanks again to everyone. I place a lot of value in your advice. Great forum.
Mike |
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Charles Dempsey
From:
Shongaloo, LA
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Posted 12 Jul 2005 6:22 pm
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Michael,
Take a look at your amp too. Particularly for the overtones.
I've got a Fender Deluxe that just spews bad harmonics with PSG. I don't know why, but these are not present with any of my other Fender amps.
The weak top string thing could be due to amp problems too. Try another amp. Really. If that doesn't work drop your pickup away from the strings on the bass side: Two quarters thickness on the bass side, one quarter on the treble side.
Charlie |
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Michael Barone
From:
Downingtown, Pennsylvania
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Posted 12 Jul 2005 8:17 pm
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Charlie, I'm playing through a Nashville 112, I got new 3 months ago. I tried slanting the pickup. It didn't help much, strings 5,6,7, were still strong. When I turn the treble or presence above 4, I don't like the overall sound. Pick-blocking noise gets louder. I think I'm beginning to understand the point made by players posting here, about not having the proper pickup for this guitar.
Thanks for your concern and comments.
Mike |
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Loren Morehouse
From:
Meadowlands, MN USA
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Posted 12 Jul 2005 10:20 pm
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Here's my two cents. Michael, if you're setting that thing at 1/8" under the strings you've got to get closer. Set it at a quarters thickness or 1/16". Maybe that'll bring some highs into the picture. That's an E-66 you're using and that's a brighter pickup anyway. If the strings wear on top of the pickup, so what. That's called breaking it in!! I've found that for a Sho~Bud, they have to be set close!!
I admire and respect Ricky's advice in every sense but I've been using a George L 10-1 for my Pro I for years. I've tried the E-66 which I really didn't care for, and a True Tone, and I still went back to my 10-1 George L. I have a 10-1 even in my Emmons and it sounds awesome!! At one time I had a Mullen pickup in my Bud for a project and it sounded great!! My point is, it's in the cabinet of the guitar. Whatever pickup you decide to use, will sound different?? Yes!! But will it really sound bad?? The answer is no!! If you have the right guitar!! Loren.
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John Bechtel
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
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Posted 12 Jul 2005 11:35 pm
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I replaced the E-66 in my Derby with a 10–1 and it is a real improvement. The 10–1 is designed to emulate the Sho-Bud sound and is still Humbucking, according to advice directly from Geo. Lewis. Ron Elliot and others have also gone from E-66 to 10–1. They are a good all~round P/U as well as the Lawrence L-710 & L–910. I also hear good reports about Tru~Tone P/U's, although I have no experience with them.
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“Big John” Bechtel
’04 SD–10 Black Derby w/3 & 5 & Pad
’49-’50 Fender T–8 Custom
’65 Re-Issue Fender Twin–Reverb Custom™ 15” Eminence
web site |
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Michael Barone
From:
Downingtown, Pennsylvania
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Posted 13 Jul 2005 6:35 am
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Now, we have some different takes on this.
Loren, John, thanks for your comments. I got a little more volume raising the pickup to 1/16". The second string seems to jump out. I will try some different amp settings with this.
I should add that I'm not an experienced player, I'm still developing compensation techniques, and have not played other guitars. There is just something about sound that tells me I want to experiment and change it. I've decided to try the True Tone next, then take it from there.
Thanks again,
Mike |
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Ricky Davis
From:
Bertram, Texas USA
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Posted 13 Jul 2005 1:17 pm
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I'm sorry when I said "George L" when what I should of said is George L E-66". The 10-1 is a fine pickup...>but he said he has a E-66 on there; and that's the one I don't care for in a Sho-bud.
Ricky |
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Loren Morehouse
From:
Meadowlands, MN USA
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Posted 13 Jul 2005 2:55 pm
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| I agree with you Ricky!! I really didn't care for the E-66 in mine. You da man!! Loren. |
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Herb Steiner
From:
Spicewood TX 78669
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Posted 13 Jul 2005 3:36 pm
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The 10-1 is the "Jimmy Day" model George L pickup. Jimmy defined the Sho-Bud sound, IMHO. Ergo, a 10-1 would be good for a 'Bud... hopefully.
I still favor the old single coil Sho~Bud pickup. But that's just me.
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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association
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Michael Barone
From:
Downingtown, Pennsylvania
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Posted 13 Jul 2005 4:09 pm
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Thanks again Ricky.
Thanks Herb.
Very informative posts by everyone, great learning experience here.
Mike |
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Larry Jamieson
From:
Walton, NY USA
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Posted 13 Jul 2005 6:33 pm
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Hello Michael,
Since you said you are not an experienced player, check the angle of attack on each finger as you pick the strings. If you tend to turn your right hand a bit, your picks may not line up at a right angle as you pick the upper strings, causing a difference in sound.
If you get up into New York, stop in at my shop, in Walton, NY, about an hour east of Binghamton. Good Luck, Larry Jamieson |
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Michael Barone
From:
Downingtown, Pennsylvania
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Posted 13 Jul 2005 7:27 pm
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Hey, thanks Larry.
I believe that I'm consistent with the pick attack angle. I'm always trying different neck positions, though. If you wish, you can here some of my playing, see the topic in Pedal Steel: My New Lever - RHL. Intonation is off a little, but I did my best.
Thanks for your concern.
Mike |
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John Bechtel
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
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Posted 13 Jul 2005 8:37 pm
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I'm pretty fussy, when it comes to P/U height and I like things very uniform. [(2)-Quarters for Bar~Magnet Geo.L.’s] and (3/16” for Pole~Magnet Lawrence L–710's and maybe L–910’s also!?) I would personally recommend Geo. L. 10–1 for a Sho-Bud replacement P/U.
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“Big John” Bechtel
’04 SD–10 Black Derby w/3 & 5 & Pad
’49-’50 Fender T–8 Custom
’65 Re-Issue Fender Twin–Reverb Custom™ 15” Eminence
web site[This message was edited by John Bechtel on 14 July 2005 at 04:51 PM.] [This message was edited by John Bechtel on 16 July 2005 at 12:18 PM.] [This message was edited by John Bechtel on 16 July 2005 at 12:21 PM.] |
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