New Humbucker Pickup for Crowdster+?

[noregretsguitar]

Currently, I use 06 Crowdster+ in a Contemporary Worship Praise Band and enjoy having one guitar for both acoustic and electric sounds. However, I cannot get the full, clean electric sound like on my 07 American Standard Strat.

I would like to lower the output of the original Crowdster+ humbucker pickup (for the electric) from 14.78 to around 10 (or less like a Noiseless neck pickup of a Strat). I like more of a low-output, flat sound that I can manipulate with the amp (Egnater Rebel 20), EQ and pedals.

Suggestions? Since these pickups are custom, could I swap/replace it with a lower output Anderson humbucker? Would a coil-tap switch lower the output of the humbucker to a single coil? Has this modification been tried and what did it sould like?

Thanks for your input!

[tom]

you could easily split what's there buy grounding out the green and white wires coming from the pickup. if you change to something else, you'll either have to switch to steel strings or figure out how to modify the magnetic field to weaken the B and high E strings. i'd try the split first. keep in mind you're comparing a neck pickup to a bridge pickup, big difference there. you may want to join the "i wanna neck pickup in my crowdster plus" club. i hear there is a support group here on the forum;)

[Pietro]

I am the president of the "second-pickup-in-a-crowdster" fan club.

How about a nice easter present, Tom? (No, I know it's not free... I just mean the offering of the 2nd pickup option...)

btw, noregrets, have you tried just lowering the pickup? Might like it.

[marsodude]

WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!

You cannot do this mod of the "second-pickup-in-a-Crowdster" without getting the VP involved!

I am the VP of the fan club and I want one too!

[Pietro]

Sorry Bob

Let's just all say we're the president. I'll have business cards printed up and everything. (btw, my solution to the space problem with this upgrade is that I'm perfectly willing to lose the acoustic/both/electric switch on mine. I use volume pedals or the volume pots to control that anyway.)

On a serious note, if there's never a 2nd pickup option, I'll still be ecstatic. Just last week I brought out the C+ and not other guitar for a rehearsal where I thought I'd be playing mostly acoustic guitar. The electric player didn't show, and I filled in on the Crowdster, and I was reminded, again, that I could really get this guitar to hold its own on every song I needed to "rawk out" on, one pickup, wound g-string and all...

Just reading nogrets post got me thinking about maybe lowering this pickup just a tad (I like that on most of my guitars anyway).

Tom, I know this pickup is different from other pickups, would lowering it much get the balance wacky or would that be okay?

[tom]

lowering is fine. i mostly crank them up because they have to compete volume wise with the active piezo in the mono mode(yes, some people actually use it that way).
i actually did give it some thought last night while i was sleeping(i do my best work then), and was stuck on what it would look like. there would have to be a ring since the body is hollow under where the neck pickup would be. another oval ring might start looking like the the geico money eyeballs staring up at you:o

[Pietro]

That would be the biggest challenge, but I think a black pickup ring would be cool. I agree that two ovals would be a bit odd, and actually I think if the rhythm pickup was covered (but the other one wasn't), that might not be a bad look. If I get a chance I'll photograph the top of the guitar and do a comp of what it might look like. I'm pretty good with photoshop...

good point about mono mode. I only use mono mode when I'm only doing acoustic, and I crank the electric all the way down, so lowering the pickup would work great for me. I'll just count how many turns I turn it so that I can put it back if I change my mind. I'm thinking one or two turns of the screw might make a difference (I'm a sucker for weaker pickups sometimes.)

[tom]

what pickup are you looking for in the neck position? sounds like we have one vote for a single coil sized pu.

[Pietro]

Wow, I actually wouldn't be picky... something that would sound good in this particular guitar obviously, something that balances well with the lead pickup... for me, I use the in-between sound a lot. I wouldn't, I think, like a 5-way switch on a guitar like this (that would be doing too much), and I'm not sure I'd even want some push-pull pot to split coils. I like it simple for this guitar.

I'd say either another M-sized that would balance well, or perhaps a single-coil sized stack. For me, I don't do true single-coils on any guitars anymore. I'm a big fan of the stacks, too (used to have a couple of yours in a strat, and loved 'em).

I think the point is to find something that, again balances well with the lead pickup tone-wise, and something that in all three positions will continue to work well with the acoustic tone. I would totally trust what you thought should come in there (even if you feel solidly that it should be a single... like maybe a tele rhythm pickup...)

And if you do this, I want mine done before Bob's... After all, his C+ looks nicer than mine, so I should be first to get the 2nd pickup mod... But we won't fight over it, will we Bob... :p

How long would I be without my baby?

[noregretsguitar]

I'm glad to see the lively discussion and responses...However, since I started this thread, I think I should be the first one for Tom to mod my Crowdster+ with a single-coil neck pu (with or without a cover). You can swap out my 3-way switch to accomodate whatever changes need to be made.

Regarding pu tone, I just want more of a vintage output and full sound.

I've tinkered with lowering the humbucker, but with no tonal success. I'm having to modify it with a lot of the EQ options on the GT-10.

I might be willing to try to change the wiring...

Let me know when to send my Crowdster+ for mods...

Blessings!

[Pietro]

I can live with being second as long as I'm ahead of Bob... :cool:

[Suriel Zayas]

and was stuck on what it would look like. there would have to be a ring since the body is hollow under where the neck pickup would be. another oval ring might start looking like the the geico money eyeballs staring up at you:o

tom doesn't know it, but i've been doing a little r&d on this. bottom-line, you can use any pup in the neck position or even in the bridge, but i don't think the bridge pup is the issue. here's the solution, once all the mods are complete, the guitar is sent to dan lawrence. at that point, dan will finish the additional modified pup in the finish of the guitar. you'll never know that pup is there!:cool: :D :cool:

[marsodude]

Ok, I read all the post when I awoke 14 hours ago for work. I really didn't have time to post but I have been thinking about it all day.

So here is my opinions:

Covered would be cool.

Camouflaged with paint, OH YEAH!

Black ring instead of white, definitely.

M sized or single coil stack is ok by me. Certainly no HB in the neck on this one.

Swap out the three way switch is acceptable as long as we can regulate volume of each PU.

I may have never purchased the Atom if the C+ would have had a second PU, so this would be way cool.

Now for the tough stuff. If the "other" fine gentlemen in this post want to have theirs modded first, then I say OK. We all know, practice make perfect!

So Pietro, no, we won't fight over it!

Personally, I just cannot believe Tom is even considering this!!!
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t271/marsodude/TAG%20Crowdster%20Plus/IMG_4803.jpg

[Pietro]

I'm guessing that a volume control for each pickup will be impossible with the limited space, Bob.

But I'd like to think you could get the blend right with pickup height, that and TAGW's expert winding of the pickups, and I feel like I'd be set. I mean, none of my guitars have individual pickup volumes anymore, and I do okay.

But Bob brings up a good point about practice making perfect... You can go first, Bob...
:D

[tom]

if we stayed with a mini switch for pickup selection, i think it could go on the same horizontal line as the either/or switch somewhere between the existing switch and the bridge. still not sure what to do with the ring. might need to replace the existing oval with something more rectangular to go with the neck pickup.

[Pietro]

I kinda like the oval, though... For me, I'd almost rather have the oval on the bridge and a square on the neck. different in a kind of wacky cool kinda way.

I'm too busy with preparations for our Easter service this week, but I might do a Photoshop mockup next week.

[Pietro]

Also, if I read you right, you were thinking of replacing the stereo/mono switch with the either or switch?

I could totally live without the mono/stereo switch, but I'm guessing not everybody could. Then again, my Cobra has no stereo/mono switch, and it never gives me any fits.

[tom]

no, the s/m pushbutton has to stay. i was thinking of adding another mini switch in a line with the e/b/a switch midway between the bridge and the existing switch.

[csd]

what about using flamed maple pup rings to accommodate the mini hb size? i do not own a c+ (yet), and don't know if the 'football' size/shape is necessary for the route??
just a thought. :)

[Pietro]

I'll try to include that in my mockup if I get the chance to make it... maybe tomorrow...

And I for one think that disguised pickups or "matching rings" would be very 'un-TAG"... I don't think you try to hide it...

[tom]

never liked wooden rings. they're always meant to "blend in", but they always look like another kind of wood and make the guitar look busier...but that's just me.

[Pietro]

Tom,

I completely agree.

Wooden bobbins are even worse imho...

I meant I'd include the other switch in my mockup, not wooden rings. I know some guys do 'em, some guys dig 'em... nothing wrong with that...

[noregretsguitar]

Okay...until I'm notified by Tom to send my Crowdster+ in for the single coil p/u mod, I've lowered my humbucker (alot) with some tonal success. I had to lower the pickup just above level with the guitar top and at a slight angle towards the bridge.

I look forward to all of the mock-up photos of the mods and can't wait to get it done!

Blessings

[Pietro]

I couldn't stick a pickup ring around it,

but I think another m-sized pickup would be way cool...

and with the extra switch...

It would like this...

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z209/Pietro_gtr/crowdster_2-pickup.jpg

[tom]

i was thinking the extra switch would want to be more in line horizontally with the existing switch so it doesn't get in the way of fingers reaching for the volume control.

[Pietro]

I might have it wrong, and can move it again...

but...

like this?

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z209/Pietro_gtr/crowdster_2-pickup2.jpg

[tom]

90 degrees counterclockwise will do it. in between the existing switch and the bridge.

[marsodude]

I think you need to Photoshop it on mine, I'm just saying.

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t271/marsodude/TAG%20Crowdster%20Plus/IMG_4803.jpg

[noregretsguitar]

Using the above Crowdster, I've modified it with a chrome single pick up with the switch positioned like a Les Paul (the Strat pu switch location sometimes gets in the way...accidently).

I like the name- "Crowdster++"

What's your thoughts about pic and name?

[tom]

good luck holding the switch while tightening it:D
also, all these pickups need to mount somehow, so there's going to have to be a ring.

[noregretsguitar]

How about a black, rectangular ring just a little bit bigger than the pickup itself?

[marsodude]

Using the above Crowdster, I've modified it with a chrome single pick up with the switch positioned like a Les Paul (the Strat pu switch location sometimes gets in the way...accidently).

I like the name- "Crowdster++"

What's your thoughts about pic and name?

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t271/marsodude/Crowdster2B2B.jpg

[Pietro]

all other images deleted...

Tom... this right?

I can live with this BIG time... I'm guessing that the switch closest to the bridge is the pickup selector, not the acoustic/both/electric switch.

I also like the idea of a "tele" pickup at the neck, but I'm betting it'll be easily to tonally balance the M.

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z209/Pietro_gtr/crowdster_2-pickup3.jpg

I kept the box and packing material from this, so I can UPS it as soon as you say go. I'll be especially sad without it for a bit, but I'll be okay.

[Pietro]

btw, guys, my illustration is just that, an illustration. I'm sure Tom will put the pickup right at the "24th fret" where it belongs!