Crimsontider Posted October 18, 2012 Posted October 18, 2012 Is the Dimarzio HS-2 a preferred pickup in trying to obtain the bluesy stratocaster neck sound? I am about to install and was wanting opinions if anyone wishes to opine, or even a sound clip would be good. It will be matched with a TH-4 JBSince I have just changed out one of the stock pups on a 95 import Californian, I have the newly installed and great sounding TH-4 JB coupled with the stock DD HB-103N. When I set the guitar for both pups it sounds like a tin can with little volume. The wiring is sound imo. Can pickups be incompatible? So maybe the HS-2 which is paired with the TH-4-JB normally might fix this problem?Anyway comments on the Dimarzio HS-2 appreciated. Clips if you have any songs using one.I would love to have a stratish blues sound in the neck as close as I can, It's heavy Mahogany which not a good starting point.
Andrew Posted October 18, 2012 Posted October 18, 2012 HS-2 is hot, sounds like a FS-1 but smoother (and without the hum). Next question - what does an Fs-1 sound like? Like a massively overwound strat pickup.It sounds like you have the pickups wired out of phase - try reversing the leads on one of them.
Crimsontider Posted October 18, 2012 Author Posted October 18, 2012 HS-2 is hot, sounds like a FS-1 but smoother (and without the hum). Next question - what does an Fs-1 sound like? Like a massively overwound strat pickup. It sounds like you have the pickups wired out of phase - try reversing the leads on one of them. The H2 sounds promising and what I had hoped, just have to wait and see if my guitar can obtain stratish sounds, it's very good for metal though. I know that The Malmsteen uses the H3 which is probably similar, and I like his neck tone, which he uses a lot. Wonder what Stevie Ray uses, probably stock. No pickup could make him sound bad When I install it tomorrow if it is still out of Phase I will do a reverse, which sounds like the correct solution. It reminds me of reversed wired speakers, just a little more extreme. Thanks for the informative info on both counts.
zenmindbeginner Posted October 18, 2012 Posted October 18, 2012 Okay... are we talking about the same guitar? You wanna replace a humbucker with a stacked single coil? Is there a pickguard involved?Your Duncan Designed and Your Seymour Duncan are out of phase... you can flip the hot and grounds or flip the magnet in one of the pickups. If your Duncan Designed pickup is just hot with a braided shield or ground lead, you will have to flip the JB's hot and ground wires since it is 4 conductor.The DiMarzio HS series is sort of old technology... The Virtual Vintage series, Injector and Area models are all improvements on the stacked humbucker design. The VV, Injector and Area models sound much more like single coils than any of the HS pickups. I'm personally a big fan of the Area '67 and '61 for authentic strat tone from a humbucking single. The VV Heavy Blues 2 is an excellent choice as well. The Area '67 has the most chime and glass, but is the thinnest sounding in the low end. The Area '61 trades some of that chime and glass for a fuller low end but both are very similar. The VVHB2 goes even further for more low end fullness but also adds a a bit more of an aggressive midrange to the Area '61. The Injector Neck model is like an Area '67 on some good clean steroids and the Injector Bridge is like an Area '61 ona similar batch of really good roids.I went through a bunch of different Dimarzio stacked single coils in my Centaura but settled on the Area '61 in the neck/ Injector Neck in the middle (cranked all of the way down in the direct mounted cavity without any springs or tubing) with a 35th Anniversary JB in the bridge (LOVE it, but am planning on replacing it with a WCR Murkat Special).
Crimsontider Posted October 19, 2012 Author Posted October 19, 2012 I have one guitar with a humbucker and a single coil, a cali.I am changing the stock pickups and am half way through. I have only replaced the Humbucker but still have the single coil to go.After just changing the humbucker I noticed it sounded great but not with the single coil, it's out of phase I now knowBut since I still have to replace the single coil this week, I should wait and see if the problem is fixed since both pickups came out of a Diablo, they are a pair.If I still have problems, I now have the solution. Thanks for info, especially on the HS-2.
Crimsontider Posted October 19, 2012 Author Posted October 19, 2012 After listening more, the humbucker is out of phase. The DD neck pickup is louder and the JB is a little on the thin and nasally side. I will switch the green and black wires tomorrow sometime. The JB sounds really bad on the clean channel too, no personality at all so something is up. Okay... are we talking about the same guitar? You wanna replace a humbucker with a stacked single coil? Is there a pickguard involved?Your Duncan Designed and Your Seymour Duncan are out of phase... you can flip the hot and grounds or flip the magnet in one of the pickups. If your Duncan Designed pickup is just hot with a braided shield or ground lead, you will have to flip the JB's hot and ground wires since it is 4 conductor.The DiMarzio HS series is sort of old technology... The Virtual Vintage series, Injector and Area models are all improvements on the stacked humbucker design. The VV, Injector and Area models sound much more like single coils than any of the HS pickups. I'm personally a big fan of the Area '67 and '61 for authentic strat tone from a humbucking single. The VV Heavy Blues 2 is an excellent choice as well. The Area '67 has the most chime and glass, but is the thinnest sounding in the low end. The Area '61 trades some of that chime and glass for a fuller low end but both are very similar. The VVHB2 goes even further for more low end fullness but also adds a a bit more of an aggressive midrange to the Area '61. The Injector Neck model is like an Area '67 on some good clean steroids and the Injector Bridge is like an Area '61 ona similar batch of really good roids.I went through a bunch of different Dimarzio stacked single coils in my Centaura but settled on the Area '61 in the neck/ Injector Neck in the middle (cranked all of the way down in the direct mounted cavity without any springs or tubing) with a 35th Anniversary JB in the bridge (LOVE it, but am planning on replacing it with a WCR Murkat Special).
KH Guitar Freak Posted October 19, 2012 Posted October 19, 2012 Well, it's only out of phase when you toggle both pickups on. AFAIK, just reverse the wires on one of the pickups, and it should work in phase again...Anywho, is there a particular reason you want to go with a HS-2? I use a HS-2, but in the middle position. It's single coil in natural with the high end rolled off a bit...
Crimsontider Posted October 19, 2012 Author Posted October 19, 2012 Well, it's only out of phase when you toggle both pickups on. AFAIK, just reverse the wires on one of the pickups, and it should work in phase again... Anywho, is there a particular reason you want to go with a HS-2? I use a HS-2, but in the middle position. It's single coil in natural with the high end rolled off a bit... As I tell my computer customers who put down there computer knowledge that it's just not their area of expertise, well guitar wiring is not mine Is it the green and black wires I need to switch? The pickups are used but lucky for me are basically the sound that I would choose. I received the pickups as a gift from a set that were previously the stock pups out of a 90's Diablo, so am assuming they are a good match. The Dimarzio was a mystery but after checking out some video's, it is in the range that I would want as the neck pup. The HS-2 is replacing a dreadfully flat sounding DD HB-103N, so it will be a big improvement. If I had purchased 2 new pickups, I would have gone with a more modern version along the HS-2 these, and would stay with the JB for the bridge. I do know that many of my favorite guitarist use JB's. For a gift, these pups give me the sound I would choose, I am very fortunate. I have a 1st generation import when the cali's were made of Mahogany instead of the later Maple. It is heavy and has a slightly restrained but pleasant personality, I believe these pickups will turn it into a good mid level guitar. The licensed by Floyd Rose is the biggest drawback imo, but I have it set now to where it stays in perfect tune even with hard use. Thanks for the information. This is a great forum. I would nearly stick with Hamer just for the forum alone, but the guitars are the best no doubt. Edit: Fixed problem, I switched the black and green and it is now in phase. The middle toggle sounds balanced and the humbucker is again louder than the single. Lesson learned on symptoms - Guitar will lack sustain and clearness of notes, harmonics. It will also have a nasily quality and the volume control will not step up and down with normal consistency. I still though the JB sounded better even out of phase, now it sounds fantastic.
KH Guitar Freak Posted October 19, 2012 Posted October 19, 2012 Well, it's only out of phase when you toggle both pickups on. AFAIK, just reverse the wires on one of the pickups, and it should work in phase again... Anywho, is there a particular reason you want to go with a HS-2? I use a HS-2, but in the middle position. It's single coil in natural with the high end rolled off a bit... As I tell my computer customers who put down there computer knowledge that it's just not their area of expertise, well guitar wiring is not mine Is it the green and black wires I need to switch? The pickups are used but lucky for me are basically the sound that I would choose. I received the pickups as a gift from a set that were previously the stock pups out of a 90's Diablo, so am assuming they are a good match. The Dimarzio was a mystery but after checking out some video's, it is in the range that I would want as the neck pup. The HS-2 is replacing a dreadfully flat sounding DD HB-103N, so it will be a big improvement. If I had purchased 2 new pickups, I would have gone with a more modern version along the HS-2 these, and would stay with the JB for the bridge. I do know that many of my favorite guitarist use JB's. For a gift, these pups give me the sound I would choose, I am very fortunate. I have a 1st generation import when the cali's were made of Mahogany instead of the later Maple. It is heavy and has a slightly restrained but pleasant personality, I believe these pickups will turn it into a good mid level guitar. The licensed by Floyd Rose is the biggest drawback imo, but I have it set now to where it stays in perfect tune even with hard use. Thanks for the information. This is a great forum. I would nearly stick with Hamer just for the forum alone, but the guitars are the best no doubt. Edit: Fixed problem, I switched the black and green and it is now in phase. The middle toggle sounds balanced and the humbucker is again louder than the single. Lesson learned on symptoms - Guitar will lack sustain and clearness of notes, harmonics. It will also have a nasily quality and the volume control will not step up and down with normal consistency. I still though the JB sounded better even out of phase, now it sounds fantastic. Straight from Dimarzio's FAQ... For normal series-humbucking wiring, solder the black and white wires to each other and insulate that connection with tape. The red wire is the hot output and the green and bare wires go to ground, usually by soldering them to the back of a pot. If the pickup sounds "out-of-phase" when played with other pickups, use the green as hot and connect the red and bare to ground. Hope that helps. Good to know that you are happy with the HS-2s. It's stock on my Diablo II USA btw. It's a good pickup if you aren't into the extra high end that is usually present in most single coils. Coil splitting gives you more highs too if you ever needed it...
Crimsontider Posted October 19, 2012 Author Posted October 19, 2012 Double Post..........How 'bout them Yankees?
Crimsontider Posted October 20, 2012 Author Posted October 20, 2012 For normal series-humbucking wiring, solder the black and white wires to each other and insulate that connection with tape. The red wire is the hot output and the green and bare wires go to ground, usually by soldering them to the back of a pot. If the pickup sounds "out-of-phase" when played with other pickups, use the green as hot and connect the red and bare to groundHope that helps. Good to know that you are happy with the HS-2s. It's stock on my Diablo II USA btw. It's a good pickup if you aren't into the extra high end that is usually present in most single coils. Coil splitting gives you more highs too if you ever needed it...Just to make sure.* Removed the HB-103 and cut the rubber insulated wires about 5 inches from the pickup. The TH-4 JB had been removed the same way, so I connected the wires (temp tape) to their corresponding colors, both pups had the same # and color of wires.* It ended up being out of phase. The single was louder than the humbucker(which sounded thin) as well as the middle toggle producing out of phase sounds* Went back in and switched the black and the green wires. I have never explored where they go but assume it matches the Seymour Duncan schematic since the pups were stock.Everything sounds good to me. The JB is louder than the single when played by themselves and the middle toggle produces a nice balanced sound. A good improvement over the Duncan Design imo.Should I explore the black and white wires? Or just leave it alone?
KH Guitar Freak Posted October 20, 2012 Posted October 20, 2012 For normal series-humbucking wiring, solder the black and white wires to each other and insulate that connection with tape. The red wire is the hot output and the green and bare wires go to ground, usually by soldering them to the back of a pot. If the pickup sounds "out-of-phase" when played with other pickups, use the green as hot and connect the red and bare to groundHope that helps. Good to know that you are happy with the HS-2s. It's stock on my Diablo II USA btw. It's a good pickup if you aren't into the extra high end that is usually present in most single coils. Coil splitting gives you more highs too if you ever needed it...Just to make sure.* Removed the HB-103 and cut the rubber insulated wires about 5 inches from the pickup. The TH-4 JB had been removed the same way, so I connected the wires (temp tape) to their corresponding colors, both pups had the same # and color of wires.* It ended up being out of phase. The single was louder than the humbucker(which sounded thin) as well as the middle toggle producing out of phase sounds* Went back in and switched the black and the green wires. I have never explored where they go but assume it matches the Seymour Duncan schematic since the pups were stock.Everything sounds good to me. The JB is louder than the single when played by themselves and the middle toggle produces a nice balanced sound. A good improvement over the Duncan Design imo.Should I explore the black and white wires? Or just leave it alone?Just reread what you've said... *facepalm*My bad. You were referring to the out of phase sound with the JB bridge alone. The hot wire on SDs AFAIK is the black wire, not red like on Dimarzios. However, the rest is the same idea. Basically just swap between black and red between Seymour Duncans and Dimarzios...Black and white wires on the Dimarzios (similar concept to Seymour Duncan) allows you other wiring combinations such as coil splitting and series/parallel wiring. I wouldn't bother messing around with those, unless you have the right pot(s) and blade switch to accomodate for other wiring options...
Crimsontider Posted October 22, 2012 Author Posted October 22, 2012 Just reread what you've said... *facepalm*My bad. You were referring to the out of phase sound with the JB bridge alone. The hot wire on SDs AFAIK is the black wire, not red like on Dimarzios. However, the rest is the same idea. Basically just swap between black and red between Seymour Duncans and Dimarzios...Black and white wires on the Dimarzios (similar concept to Seymour Duncan) allows you other wiring combinations such as coil splitting and series/parallel wiring. I wouldn't bother messing around with those, unless you have the right pot(s) and blade switch to accomodate for other wiring options...I will just leave alone, thanks for the education. One of these days I am going to explorer the wiring ends and make sure are routed correctly.The difference in sound quality for my taste is outstanding. The early Korean guitars were not compromised much in the wood. I have not seen many of the import Californians made with good quality mahogany like mine...they changed after only a couple of years to Maple on just about all the imports from Korea. These first imports had nice three piece necks and the only compromising imo is some of the hardware, so this guitar was worthy of new pickups.The JB, while not as aggressive as the SH-6 scaled down DD HB-103, has much more dynamic range, smoothness and sparkle. No comparison on the Dimarzio. It has personality which the HB-103N sorely lacked and can produce lightly distorted blues tones well enough to pull off signature stratocaster songs like Voodoo Chile. I have found the middle position very appealing for heavy blues rock and the JB is perfect for metal.But none of this is new to you as a Diablo owner.I have never particularly liked the Strat body style mixed with heavy mahogany, but it does make for a versatile guitar. You can emulate a wider variety of guitars from the strat to the SG with a little EQ tweaking. I have always been in the Strat camp.
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