Anyone try this with a Duotone?

[kanegon]

Anyone try toaster pups with a Duotone? Never liked the Duncan P90s and a set of Minitron Liverpools wouldn't be a huge investment. Maybe some Gretsch rockabilly mojo lurking in the Duotone semi acoustic DNA. Or hold out for TV Jones....

Here's the fakeup with GFS pups:

[django49]

Worth a try. I did an upgrade to a Phat Kat (neck) and Rio BBQ (bridge). I like the combo.

I would love to hear your tone review.

[tomteriffic]

I'd bet the piezo with some neck pickup rolled in would be a great tone.

[kanegon]

Well, can't just stop there, since they'll have 4 conductor wires.

1. wasn't there a BCR mod that simply mixes the piezo and magnetic pups, eliminating the selector? that would open up the mini-toggle for coil tap/series/parallel duties. can I just connect the wires and balance via the volume knobs?

2. a single DPDT in place of the acoustic-electric selector could do the tap/series/parallel thing TOGETHER, but I'd need another switch to tap them separately... I think. Could I use the same switch to tap just one or the other?

3. or just give in and replace the pots with push pulls to tap the pickups independently.

Any suugestions would be appreciated, haven't a clue about wiring, though going nuts lately rewiring previously mangled projects. Especially if there're any schematics, just don't know if any Hamers were offered with push pull/mini switching options (besides the Duotone).

Slowly getting stoked...

[kanegon]

Connect the dots.

[sirskelt]

I'd bet the piezo with some neck pickup rolled in would be a great tone.

+1

[veatch]

Regarding the extra tap switch - I'm trying to remember if a push pull would fit given the eq board. Maybe on the vol pot?

[kanegon]

Regarding the extra tap switch - I'm trying to remember if a push pull would fit given the eq board. Maybe on the vol pot?

Ugh, hadn't thought about that. I'm leaning towards just tapping each of the pickups at a time with a switch in place of the current piezo-magnetic selector. My Martin EM18 has a 3 way mini toggle that does that; tapped neck, all humucker, tapped bridge. Just need to figure out the BCR mod. Guess, I'll drop him a note!

[Brooks]

Worth a try. I did an upgrade to a Phat Kat (neck) and Rio BBQ (bridge). I like the combo.

me too, fantastic combo in a duotone (and prolly most guitars).

[kanegon]

I hear ya about better buckers, but think I'm more intrigued with something that'll enhance the guitar's semi acoustic quality. I go through long spells of not playing the mag pups, just using the piezo. Part of the syndrome are the overwound SD P90s. At 12 and 15K PLUS, they're firmly in JB territory, pretty much burying the guitar's natural acoustics. Such an amazing guitar with the spruce top, bone saddle and piezo. That's why I'm asking if anyone's tried Gretschy - 'tron type pups with the Duotone. Don't expect it'll sound like Thinline or Gretsch, but the possibilities are intriguing.

[burningyen]

I liked the Retrotron Liverpools I had in my old Reverend Gil Parris. They sounded like a cross between Filtertrons and a PAF-type HB.

[kanegon]

I liked the Retrotron Liverpools I had in my old Reverend Gil Parris. They sounded like a cross between Filtertrons and a PAF-type HB.

I appreciate your opinion! Silly that I'm afraid I won't be content unless -somehow- I spend more money on TVJones. Doesn't help that I overlooked the GFS sale last week and now they're back up to $35!

[hamerhead]

Hold out. GFS is sure to have a Black Friday-type sale before Christmas.

I have full-size Liverpools in an Echotone. They sound great.

[kanegon]

Hold out. GFS is sure to have a Black Friday-type sale before Christmas.

I have full-size Liverpools in an Echotone. They sound great.

But would you install those GFS in your USA Hamer? There are countless threads on why that should/shouldn't matter and I'm torn. Something about a (formerly) $$$$ guitar with $35 pickups.

Also, I already have a TVJ Powertron bridge soapbar, so shouldn't I just get the neck version? To my ears, the Powertron is probably more PAF than Gretsch, and I'm not sure the Liverpool would be any jangler. I also think the faux bone saddle in makes the Duo a little less crisp than a metal bridge, so there's another consideration.

[hamerhead]

I like the GFS stuff. I'd put them in anything, mostly because I don't listen to who says what. Corksniffers should stick to sniffing. They are much better than the price would suggest.

And you're making me want to try those Liverpools in MY Duotone. I think the minis would be great in yours (never tried a Powertron).

[burningyen]

The Liverpools I had were only mildly jangly. If you want full-on jangle I'd probably go with the Nashvilles.

[kanegon]

The Liverpools I had were only mildly jangly. If you want full-on jangle I'd probably go with the Nashvilles.

That's good to know. Not sure what I meant by jangle, I don't really play any rockabilly, country or surf. Lots of twang though... Thinking Alnico might have more interesting breakup. Thanks for your suggestion!

[kanegon]

Well, I chickened out, I wasn't blown away with the Supertron and I like lotsa bass. I got a deal on stock Gibson P90s, which instantly cured the Duncan mud. I ripped the same pups out of my Special and replaced them with Lollars, only to realize that I prefer Gibsons. As far as I can tell! these sound almost identical to me 68 SG Jr. At 8.1k, same for neck and bridge, they're totally old school. Maybe not as jangly, but gobs of great tone all around. Why did Hamer stuff those overwound SDs in the Duo? Let me guess, the humbuckers version probably came stock with JBs in the bridge!