NateFalcon
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It IS nice to have a tool made for the job...
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Maybe look into the emgs the schecter has? I would really advise that you look at all possible options. I am currently dealing with the same dilema with my Jackson Soloist. I am trying to find a set (Active or Passive) that fits my criteria.
Fuck I even bought a soldering kit to begin doing this stuff.
I plan as practice taking apart my squier and assembling back together (electronics wise). Any tips since I am sure you have experience soldering guitar pickups and stuff?
Cold solder joints caused me endless problems when I was getting started. Tone issues, mystery buzz, etc...
It's pretty frustrating with top pickguard guitars to restring and button everything up only to have to take it all apart again. Then again, semi hollows are annoying too... fishing around for wires inside a 335 is not for the easily discouraged
The best advice I can give is not to cut your pickup leads too short, and only solder with as much heat as you need for as little time as you need it. Soldering is kind of an art.
Cold solder joints caused me endless problems when I was getting started. Tone issues, mystery buzz, etc...
It's pretty frustrating with top pickguard guitars to restring and button everything up only to have to take it all apart again. Then again, semi hollows are annoying too... fishing around for wires inside a 335 is not for the easily discouraged
The best advice I can give is not to cut your pickup leads too short, and only solder with as much heat as you need for as little time as you need it. Soldering is kind of an art.
Is there any other external resources that can be helpful for me? I am more of a visual learner and do-er instead of just reading something.
I've got a Fender Strat that isn't getting much play, so I've basically been using it as a test guitar for pickups.
Problem is, it has a lot of things that make it very different from the guitars that the pickups would end up in - pickguard mount, vintage tremolo bridge, classic rounded neck radius, nickel frets, etc.
So I'm just not sure I'm ever getting a fair idea of what modern higher gain pickups would sound like. Does anybody use a Strat or similar guitar for modern tones? I guess it probably shouldn't be done, but can it be done?
Guitars dont need to be black and pointy to play "metal"
... there's a lot more "rattle" from the pickguard mount and trem springs. Definitely adds a zing to some pickups, a tiny bit of metallic echo.
I'm pretty much a strat-only guy, and what I always do to help with high gain is to take a cut-in-half cleaning sponge and wrap it zigzag above and below the springs, like a "W". I've sometimes put a thinner slice of sponge underneath the springs as well if needed. The main idea is that it needs to be very tight and snug, just to the point where it doesn't physically bend the springs out and cause tuning instability. But if muted well enough, you should be able to run your fingernail along the spring and not hear any "spring reverb", then you're good.
Another good idea is to put a piece of tape (very little is needed) on the threads of the tremolo arm before screwing it in, that should eliminate any rattle from the arm.
Slide some clear plastic tubing inside the springs to kill the rattle works for me & for the sloppy trem arm do yourself a favour & replace with Callaham especially if its a MIM Strat. https://www.callahamguitars.com/strat_trem_amstandardupkit_catalog.htm
Good tip on the tubing!
Got a Callaham V/N on another guitar. It's outstanding.
You can play metal with Strat, for e.g look for Iron Maiden. If you want stronge rpickups get Quarter Pound for Strat
He is talking about modern metal. I do not think Quarter Pound pickups will do the job. He should be looking into fishmans BKP, not single coil pickups that have oversized pole pieces. Maybe for maiden it will cut it, for the modern stuff I would be impressed if that could be pulled off.