Coyote's Build

[Coyote]

Funny, the upper-mid spike you describe sounds more like a JB than a Custom, but glad it worked out for you.

Well, going from one guitar (/w Distortion) to the other (/w Custom), that upper midrange (and the "signature" spike) is still there. Difference being the lower frequency range, to my ears anyway. (and the magnets, and the bobbin wire gauge, etc. But I'm not looking at the specs here, dammit! )

And yeah, I like it. It has a touch of that "Fair Warning" vibe... And who doesn't like DD's?

If you decide you wanna go nuts later, maybe I could send you one of my spare A8 magnets. I swapped the ceramic out of the Custom in my No 1 Charvel mutt and never looked back. It's everything the Custom is with a better split lead voicing IMO. I'm still digging the '59/Custom Hybrid in the Bomber for the most part, and the JB in Excalibur is reeeeally growing on me, but the Custom 8 is most likely staying in No 1.

I'll keep that in mind.

[jhale667]

Check it out, I've been busy too!

[Coyote]

Check it out, I've been busy too!

That's a whole lotta knobs for a Strat... And where's the pickup selector? Or the Floyd?! (j/k )

[jhale667]

No pickup selector - blend control instead.



Needs paint.

[Coyote]

How 'bout staining it?

[jhale667]

Kinda considering that too, but the woodgrain isn't all that impressive, so I'm concerned it might still look "blah" with a transparent stain on it...

[Diamondjimi]

No pickup selector - blend control instead.



Needs paint.

Just checkin out the lower cutaway. Good thing you have dem long spider fingers, bro

[jhale667]

Just checkin out the lower cutaway. Good thing you have dem long spider fingers, bro

Yeah, they'll come in handy...lol. Thing is, I wanted a square fretboard end at the top like a Charvel. It's a $15 upcharge on their 21 or 22 fret versions, standard on a 24. Figured "why not?". Not really using it that much yet, but CAN reach the top...waaaay easy for hammering, though!

[Coyote]

In other happenings...

I might go Nuno on both guitars. That is, add a D-tuna, even if I have to chisel out a space for it. Jury's still out on it.

[jhale667]

In other happenings...

I might go Nuno on both guitars. That is, add a D-tuna, even if I have to chisel out a space for it. Jury's still out on it.

I say go for it, but if you do it you might want to invest in some Trem-stoppers to go with the D-tunas, as they tend to not get along with floating bridges all that well.

[Coyote]

I say go for it, but if you do it you might want to invest in some Trem-stoppers to go with the D-tunas, as they tend to not get along with floating bridges all that well.

I've put in stabilizers on both after they were built. So I guess that's covered...

[jhale667]

You're good to go then!

[Coyote]

Dammit, I swapped the bridge pickup again... I found myself playing "The Wife" (/w a Duncan Custom) more and more, so I started looking for something slightly similar.

After some research, I went with a Bare Knuckle Pickups "Holy Diver". Handwound, scatterwound IIRC, made in the UK.
The description for this p'up being, "A celebration of the original '80s hot-rodded humbuckers with a progressive, modern tone and wide dynamic range".
Which is true, since it sounds like a lot of my favorite tones and beyond. And I'm quite happy with it.

Nice crunchy sound (dat open mid-range), cleans up nicely, not too boomy and it can hang with pretty much any genre I've thrown at it thusfar.
And it gels with the neck pickup. Sits well in the mix too. Huzzah!

Now, when I play "The Wife", it sounds like there's a "knot" in the mids.



(First take, powered by a couple of Heinekens.)


Just one thing (sort of) bothers me: It's unforgivingly clear.
But that's not a problem, just a challenge to tighten up my playing...

[Nitro Express]

I hardly use the bridge pickup on my Spector. I will dial it in just to ad some bite or some highs. For me I have just found one good pickup in the middle position with good EQ is the way to go. I like low impedance pickups for bass.