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theavondon wrote:Also, sidebar, the "mechanism" for the grabber's pickup is like, laughably simple.

At first I was like "it doesn't even look like it can move." & then I laughed.

Okay, so here's a study of mine to put some of this debate into practice.

I've got this Duo Sonic (it was PumpkinPieces, then Bronzetalon's). Anyways, it came to me with really worn in brass saddles, and a new set of regular strings.
Swapped the 3 wound strings for cobalts. Instantly a little more clarity and clank and jangle added to an already bright and clear guitar.
Swapped out the brass saddles for aluminum ones. I'd wanted to try a different type of metal other than chrome (which my telemaster has) and brass (which were on it already)

Played it before I took the strings off and replaced the saddles and then after.

The new saddles made the sustain increase SIGNIFICANTLY, the harmonics RICHER, and the attack a little faster. I can now effortlessly hit harmonics, sustain those harmonics to loop, etc. A significant improvement over the old, tired brass saddles. It actually took me a good 10 minutes to get the old saddles out because there was so much corrosion and build up around the strings and screws!

Damn. Those are nice. To bad you didn't record something before and after....
So in your opinion, to get the tone you desire would you rather invest your cash in a bridge upgrade or spend more on the neck and/or body material?

What do people think about caps? Can anyone hear a difference in paper vs. ceramic? Vintage vs modern?

The old saddles were fucking beat. They worked, but they were just sad looking and corroded etc,

This guitar honestly makes me question most things I like about 'aluminum necks'

Aside from not needing to really set up aluminum necks all the time, the Duo really gets close to the 'chime', brightness, and piano like tones that I've noticed in a lot of aluminum instruments.

I think I might put an aluminum nut in the Duo Sonic and see how THAT changes things as well

The Dirge-o-Sonic is hot.

DIRGEOSONIC

I DIG. I TOTALLY DIG.

lapsteel wrote:What do people think about caps? Can anyone hear a difference in paper vs. ceramic? Vintage vs modern?

i believe that different types of caps alter the tone, but not so much as the capacitor value. cheap ceramic caps are bad for tone, i think, especially the little crappy rectangular green or brown ones that are used in import guitars like Epiphones. i like silver-mica caps in humbucker guitars, which i think give a little more clarity particularly in the trebles; they're huge, though, and would barely fit in the control cavity on my SG. i like small disc caps in Fender guitars, which are closer to the original post-bumblebee era caps. i've never used PIO or bumblebee/Sprague vintage caps or the modern reproductions, but i've been tempted. especially by the PIO caps that Angela Instruments sells.

also, wax-potted pickups should be destroyed. they ruin the overtones, clarity, and character of pickups.

dubkitty wrote:also, wax-potted pickups should be destroyed. they ruin the overtones, clarity, and character of pickups.

Really? that's a new one for me... must give thought

Yes...I de-potted the pickups in my Kawai and they sound awesome again.

I gotta admit I put a aerovox cap on my tone pot and some sprague on my treble bleed..... But I gotta admit I am unsure the extra dollars was more mojo than anything. I use my tone often and I like just knowing my circuit has some interesting caps.... I can' t really hear a significant difference in ceramic and paper with the same values.... but at this point I might be a little deaf. Still don' t understand how bumble bees can be so pricey....

Mojo

lapsteel wrote:I gotta admit I put a aerovox cap on my tone pot and some sprague on my treble bleed..... But I gotta admit I am unsure the extra dollars was more mojo than anything. I use my tone often and I like just knowing my circuit has some interesting caps.... I can' t really hear a significant difference in ceramic and paper with the same values.... but at this point I might be a little deaf. Still don' t understand how bumble bees can be so pricey....

Out of my three RICs two have stock caps one has Orange drops.. There is a difference but... not sure if it is big enough to matter... All three basses actually sound really different from each other..

Mudfuzz wrote:

dubkitty wrote:also, wax-potted pickups should be destroyed. they ruin the overtones, clarity, and character of pickups.

Really? that's a new one for me... must give thought

Funny, someone was just telling me this a couple days ago! I'd never given it much thought.

About the same time I was realizing that my wax potted pickups weren't as lively or interesting sounding as my non-potted pickups. Hmmm...

Tom Dalton wrote:

Mudfuzz wrote:

dubkitty wrote:also, wax-potted pickups should be destroyed. they ruin the overtones, clarity, and character of pickups.

Really? that's a new one for me... must give thought

Funny, someone was just telling me this a couple days ago! I'd never given it much thought.

About the same time I was realizing that my wax potted pickups weren't as lively or interesting sounding as my non-potted pickups. Hmmm...

I dunno. I like single coil un potted tones, and if they are slightly microphonic at certain levels, I am okay with that. Like Mudfuzz, I feel it gives character. However if you are blasting a high gain amp a little wax in the coil may be something you are interested in... different strokes for different folks.

As far as overtones go.... I play mostly baritone light strings on my laps, however I have found that the lighter .09 .10 and even .11 have better overtones....anyone else get that vibe?