Atom pickup suggestions?

[GaryMcT]

I'm looking for something for the bridge position that is a bit more vintage LP sounding than the H2 with more highs, but hopefully with more bottom added to compensate for the low body mass. The M1- pickup in the neck sounds really full. . I'd like to find a pickup such that when I switch from the M1- neck position to the bridge humbucker, it still sounds as full. I had a Fralin 9K humbucker (PAF copy) in there for a while, which I liked for what it did to the highs, but it lost some lows compared to the H2.

Seems to me that the HO2A (if that exists) might be a good one to try. Any suggestions?

Edit: I noticed that Jay (sylvanshine's) Atom with Floyd has an HO2+ in the bridge, and was looking for the same sound that I'm looking for. Hmmm. . . .

[tom]

ho2a would be my first guess. an ho1+a might be enough though. are you back to the m's instead of the singles you had made?

[SonicGator]

Tom, I asked this in another thread, but what does the HW2A (or HW3A) stand for with your pickups?

[tom]

the W is a different layering on the respective numbered pickups. roy and i seem to have a different take on what it does, and i haven't really spent much time with it. on my guitar, which is already a pretty dark sounding guitar, it lost definition for me. i think others have had a different experience with them.

[GaryMcT]

ho2a would be my first guess. an ho1+a might be enough though. are you back to the m's instead of the singles you had made?

I'm back to the M1-/M1-/H2 right now. I liked what the other pickups did for the highs, but honestly the M1- sounds just fine with my current amp setup as long as I'm playing loud enough. I think I'm also getting over a severe treble addiction. :) Having a voxish sound on one side and marshall-ish sound on the other helps bring out some chime from the M1-.

I'm glad you recommended the HO2 since Kevin over at the local dealer has a personal Cobra with one of those in the bridge position. I'll go check that out this evening likely and use that as a test for which one to go with. I'll get him to order me the appropriate pickup from you. :)

[GaryMcT]

Wowwy wow wow! Kevin's Hollow Cobra S with a rosewood neck and an HO2 in the bridge (not sure what's in the neck) is the closest thing that I've heard to a chunky LP out of an Anderson. If I like that, how would you expect the same pickup to sound in a solid Atom with a mahog neck? Similar? Also, contemplating HO2+ to push it a little heavier. I'm trying to get my guitars to not sound so similar. . my Atom and Drop Top are a bit too close right now on the bridge pickup.

[tom]

the rosewood neck does add some solid bottom and makes the mids hit you in the face harder. your solid body will make up for a little of that since his is hollow.the atom has a bit fuller bottom than the cobra to me. i think you'll like what that pickup will do for you. i don't think we make an ho2+, i don't think there's room on the bobbin for more wire.

[GaryMcT]

Kevin's Hollow Cobra S is causing me problems. I see a special order solid Cobra (non-S) with a rosewood neck and a trem in my future. :) Maybe with a natural back, koa top, HO1- and HO2? Hmmm, need to get on that koa list. All the positions sound ridiculously good. I know it's been said before, but what a versatile guitar!

Wait a minute. . . maybe Kevin's guitar doesn't have a rosewood neck? If not, the rosewood and the mahog neck matche perfectly! Here are the serial number:

08-27-01A

I'll put the order in for an HO2+ (if you make those. .that's what Jay says his guitar has) or an HO2 (if you don't make the HO2+).

[GaryMcT]

Nevermind on the rosewood neck on Kevin's guitar. It's actually rosewood on mahogany, it just happens to be the flavor of rosewood that looks just like mahagony (at least on this guitar). You can barely tell that it isn't the same piece of wood. :) Must. . .resist. . the. . cobra. :)

[tom]

cobras are certainly different than atoms. different beasts.

[michaelomiya]

the W is a different layering on the respective numbered pickups. roy and i seem to have a different take on what it does, and i haven't really spent much time with it. on my guitar, which is already a pretty dark sounding guitar, it lost definition for me. i think others have had a different experience with them.

Resurrecting an old thread, but I've fallen in love with the HW2A in my Atom. It brings sustain and cut that is slightly different from my H2+ (in my past Cobra's) and certainly the HO2 (in my current Cobra)

Aside from the fact that the HW2A is for the Atom, is there any real difference between the H2 and/or H2+?

If so, can I get a HW2 for my Cobra or DT?
thanks!
m.

[tom]

the A suffix is just about the different bottom mounting plate. we could make an hw2 on the traditional mounting plate for a cobra or drop top. it would be called...HW2.

[michaelomiya]

the A suffix is just about the different bottom mounting plate. we could make an hw2 on the traditional mounting plate for a cobra or drop top. it would be called...HW2.

So just to clarify the HW2 is a different p/up than the H2 and H2+?
For some reason I associated the "W" with the mounting as you pointed out and the fact that there's no p/u ring.

[tom]

yes it is different. the "A" is what makes it "atom". the W is the wind difference.

[michaelomiya]

yes it is different. the "A" is what makes it "atom". the W is the wind difference.

Yippee! Last question: have you mounted the H2W's in any other model? If so, what was the result?

I ask because that "wind difference" voicing of the H2W is noticable when I go from my Atom to the Cobra (taking into account the punch of the Atom body and the focused sound of the Cobra/T body)

[tom]

i don't think we've put them in anything else, you'd be the first. it's a tough call, to me the 2 guits are voiced pretty differently. i've heard other pickups in both and they sound very different. oh, and it's HW2. shall i explain how the "w" happened?

[michaelomiya]

i don't think we've put them in anything else, you'd be the first. it's a tough call, to me the 2 guits are voiced pretty differently. i've heard other pickups in both and they sound very different. oh, and it's HW2. shall i explain how the "w" happened?

I love to be the first! :P
HW2, yes papa, please tell us the story.....:D

[tom]

gather round and i'll tell you a tale. i'll try to keep it mostly true, or at least as much as i remember.
the H2 has been a favorite of mine for many years, loved the way it split. it has a very unconventional magnet and coil structure. it has coils that are twice as tall as most humbuckers, like a single coil, and a very weak magnetic field at the strings, but strong in the coil itself. so it makes good power with low string pull. we started making humbucker that were more vintage style, HO's. they have shorter coils and an alnico magnet on the bottom. we liked what was happening on the humbucker side of things, but weren't in love with the split sounds. during the process of developing the HO's, we learned more about layering and tension so we decided to take that knowledge and see if we could make a tall coiled humbucker that would sound more like an HO but split like an H2. it has the power of the H2 but the winding style of and HO. so what do we call it? first we thought H2O, but it didn't fit into our normal numbering sequence. so since H2O is the symbol for water, we thought how about...HW2?
them's the facts, and i'm stickin' to 'em.

[michaelomiya]

gather round and i'll tell you a tale. i'll try to keep it mostly true, or at least as much as i remember... during the process of developing the HO's, we learned more about layering and tension so we decided to take that knowledge and see if we could make a tall coiled humbucker that would sound more like an HO but split like an H2. it has the power of the H2 but the winding style of and HO. so what do we call it? first we thought H2O, but it didn't fit into our normal numbering sequence. so since H2O is the symbol for water, we thought how about...HW2?
them's the facts, and i'm stickin' to 'em.

very poetic origin! I love it!
I'm very curious as to why you've not tried the HW2's with other guitars (other than the Atom). I'd imagine that in a non-Atom, mahogany body, short scale (Cobra S), that the HW2 would fatten up the bottom?

I must admit I would've remained silent on encouraging the "HW2" use if I hadn't been playing Diezel amps. These are "modern" voiced amps, with an tight low end (without becoming overly compressed where you lose the dynamics) and ton of gain. Surprisingly, they are very transparent and articulate for such "hi gain" amps, and IMHO, avoid the "1-dimensional noise machine" classification. The modern voicing, however, can become "scooped" if you don't bring up the mids.

When coupled with the HO2 and H2+ (Cobra and DT), the amps simply come alive - treble spark without too much compression or "ice pick" brightness, and a grunt without too much flab - very balanced.

But with the Atom's HW2A - a whole new dimension is added. While that balance between hi and low is evident, the HW2 adds a touch more mid that increases the cut without having to re-EQ anything. It's almost where the HO2 lacks a little presence and the H2+ has a tad too much fire. And with the HW2A, I find I can roll off the volume and still have a singing, liquid lead tone that doesn't sound like I just rolled off the volume! Enter Sandman to Day Tripper without doing anything but rolling back the knob - all through a Diezel.

I'm definitely gonna take you up on swapping the H3 from my new DT for a HW2. The SF1/SF1R and a HW2 - it's gonna sing!

[pipedwho]

Now I want to try a HW2 in my Cobra S!! :D Can these be ordered through the dealer network?

[tom]

we have made lots of underground pickups over the years. some catch on some don't. we just haven't pushed that one. it didn't work out as well for me, but i'd describe my amp as almost anti diezel, not that that there's anything wrong with either, just that with my squishier amp the hw2 was too soft sounding for me. it's always the sum of all the parts that makes a great tone. sounds like you've found a great combination for you.
yes, dealers can order them.

[michaelomiya]

we have made lots of underground pickups over the years. some catch on some don't. we just haven't pushed that one. it didn't work out as well for me, but i'd describe my amp as almost anti diezel, not that that there's anything wrong with either, just that with my squishier amp the hw2 was too soft sounding for me. it's always the sum of all the parts that makes a great tone. sounds like you've found a great combination for you.
yes, dealers can order them.

thanks tom! FWIW, the TAG H2 (H2+, H0, HW2) has been proclaimed "king" of all p/up's when it comes to Diezel. Must be the softer, lower output that just gels with this brand of amp.

http://www.rig-talk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=30174

(don't be afraid tom, nothing but love and good vibrations in that thread!):D