CE24 pickups

[gush]

I purchased my CE24 knowing I wouldn't like the HFS but thinking a simple pickup swap would fix that. Well after several different bridge pickups it has become obvious that I may want a set of 5909s. I really do like the VB neck but it seems to overpower whatever bridge pickup I install and I can't back the VB down any more wiithout dropping it off of screw.

I would love to try the M pickup but I'm afraid to spend 200 to find out I may not like it and not sure I would dig the covered pickup on this guitar. I will be looking for a set of used 5909s if anybody has a set they want to unload.

 

[John Beef]

I have a set of 59/09s, round bobbin black open coils, but I'm looking for the right guitar to put them in. We're sort of exact opposites there. I know there's a round bobbin 59/09 treble for sale over on VR that might work well with the VB in it already, maybe?

If you didn't like the HFS, what makes you think you might like a M pickup? I would say they're probably along the same lines.

IMHO in order to match up with a 8.5K neck pickup you're going to need to go "hot vintage", like a 59/09, or maybe Suhr SSV+, Duncan 78 or BroBucker, Grosh 302 or Blown 59, Lollar High Wind, 10K Fralin, etc etc etc. Maybe even a Duncan Custom/59 Hybrid.

 

[Deleted member 2284]

I also didn't like my HFS pickups. But the choice of amp makes a MASSIVE difference, I've found. Maybe unsurprising, but some of the characteristics that I did not like about them all but disappear with some amps.

Of course, changing the pickups are likely to be quite a bit cheaper than changing the amp

What kind of music do you play?

 

[gush]

I have a set of 59/09s, round bobbin black open coils, but I'm looking for the right guitar to put them in. We're sort of exact opposites there. I know there's a round bobbin 59/09 treble for sale over on VR that might work well with the VB in it already, maybe?

If you didn't like the HFS, what makes you think you might like a M pickup? I would say they're probably along the same lines.

IMHO in order to match up with a 8.5K neck pickup you're going to need to go "hot vintage", like a 59/09, or maybe Suhr SSV+, Duncan 78 or BroBucker, Grosh 302 or Blown 59, Lollar High Wind, 10K Fralin, etc etc etc. Maybe even a Duncan Custom/59 Hybrid.

Oh brother! More pickups to consider! What's a forum brother to do????

I haven't heard anybody compare the M pickup to the HFS yet. I realize that considering the M pickup may sound wrong but the dragon 1s are hot too but I like those. In fact I love dragon 1 pickups and would buy a set of those if they were to show up for sale.

The thing that turns me off with the HFS is the harsh attack when I strike a note. I think it's more about feel if that makes any sense. The mojo don't flow when I'm using the HFS. It could be all in my head too.

 

[wardog]

ok, so I did just what the op wants to do with a vb and bridge 59/09 and the vb is very bassy. I honestly think the hfs works better with the vb. I wired a se 24 custom up core style to get the 5 sounds with the 5 way blade. In the 2-4 positions, the vb was a little to strong for the 59/09. I got a hfs to go with the vb now, but no longer have the se. I also have the 59/09 and will get a neck pickup one day to use them in a project. Oh, and i have the squab in zebra vb/hfs so cool looking.

 

[_pete_]

If you play in a band at a good volume, you may think twice about the HFS. While it may not sound like what you want when playing alone, it really comes to life at volume and sits in a band mix very well.

 

[gush]

If you play in a band at a good volume, you may think twice about the HFS. While it may not sound like what you want when playing alone, it really comes to life at volume and sits in a band mix very well.

I did gig with it twice and it still didn't do it for me. Folks on this forum must think I'm crazy. I know a lot of people that get good tones out of the HFS but it is uninspiring for me and maybe with a different amp I would like it.

 

[gush]

I also didn't like my HFS pickups. But the choice of amp makes a MASSIVE difference, I've found. Maybe unsurprising, but some of the characteristics that I did not like about them all but disappear with some amps.

Of course, changing the pickups are likely to be quite a bit cheaper than changing the amp

What kind of music do you play?

I'm going to say that you are right about that. I would be willing to bet that playing through a different amp wouild change my opinion. The other guitars I have sound good through 5150 so I will keep amp. Mine is first gen peavey 5150 so when you think about what van halen guitars were like during that period it makes sense that the HFS would perform poorly through my amp.

My old band was classic and modern rock but the band I have just joined plays all of that with some pop and funk mixed in.

 

[Deleted member 2284]

I can TOTALLY relate to what you say about the harsh attack - that is exactly what my biggest beef with that pickup is/was.

I tried experimenting with dialing down both volume and tone, and that seemed to help a bunch, if I recall correctly. Also had the treble bleed snipped at one point. But of course it may be more of a band-aid in your situation.

 

[blaren]

A Duncan Custom Custom or Custom5 will keep-up to that VB.

 

[John Beef]

A Duncan Custom Custom or Custom5 will keep-up to that VB.

These are very similar to a HFS, only with alnico 2 and 5 magnets. The HFS might have a few more turns of wire, but it's within maybe 10%. I had a HFS for a while and swapped in a Unoriented Alnico 5 magnet and it was pretty good. This was in my baritone, where the HFS's stock ceramic magnet made it a metal monster, the UOA5 magnet brought back some of the more rock tones I was looking for. Anyway, it's a thought, rather than spend $75 on a new pickup, you could spend $3-5 on some magnets and see if that floats the ol' boat.