HF3/HC3 vs. H2+ ?

[talcott]

Hi there.

I am currently deciding on pickups for a guitar I'm having built by a local luthier. I'm set on M1/M1 for neck/mid, but I'm undecided on which humbucker to put in the bridge. I've owned several TAGs with H2+ in the bridge (Alder/Maple drop top w/vintage trem and mahogany/maple drop top w/vintage trem) and liked them quite a bit. I've also played several pro ams with floyds and H3s and did not like them at all. They seemed to lack both high-end clarity and thumping bass.

I am wondering if the HF3 or HC3 (or the + version of either) might have a similar output to the H2+ but have a little more character or color to the sound. I'd like a pickup that sounds a little sweeter, but I don't want to give up on the ability to get a ton of crunch when I want it. Since the HF/HCs have lower output than the Hs I have been hesitant to try them out, but maybe the new level three pickups are worth trying. I have also thought about trying the HN2. I don't want anything vintage-like or weak -- I'm matching it with Ms in neck and mid -- but would like a little more character. Maybe the HF3+ or HC3+ would give me some of that sweetness while still being able to get the same output as the H2+?

So many pickups, so little time! I do want to keep this a versatile guitar, which is why I've kept coming back to the H2+. If I lived near a dealer I would certainly try to play all of these combinations and find out what sounded best, but there aren't any dealers within hours of me.

Thoughts?

[tom]

is your new guitar going to be similar materials to the ones you liked the H2+ in?

[talcott]

It's going to be Korina body with a Walnut cap. Some sound chamber hollowing like a hollow drop top. I forgot to mention that the drop tops I loved were hollow -- the softer attack of the hollow drop tops was a big plus for me over the solid ones I've played. Neck will be 3 piece maple/wenge/maple -- fingerboard is being picked this weekend, probably something hard like ebony or ziricote but possibly rosewood.

So, I think Hollow Korina/Walnut will be similar to Hollow Mahogany/Maple (which was my favorite drop top -- owned it up until last month when I sold it to fund this project), with perhaps a little darker top-end owing to the lack of Maple. Of course, that's just theory from me at this point...

[tom]

i would expect that guitar to have a harder top end, not as high frequency wise, but a faster attack with less harmonic stuff around the note. if that turns out to be the case, the HF3 might be nice since the hf's have a softer high end.

[talcott]

Thanks for the speedy response, Tom! Much appreciated! I am still not sure I have my head around what "harder top end means." I was expecting a bit more clarity and a bit less of the highs in the guitar, but I wouldn't have thought to say the top would be harder.

I wonder if anyone has clips of a hard top end vs. a soft top end so I can try to get a better grip on it.

Clips of HF3s or HC3s A/B'd with H2+'s would be sweet, too -- but I'm thinking that might be asking too much of the interwebs.

I am hoping the chambering softens up the attack and slightly scoops the mids.

[tom]

hard top to me means a fast fundamental note without overtones going on around it, kind of the opposite of what i think "sweet" is. unforgiving would be another descriptive word. lots of people can't get enough articulation, and this would be good for them. i'k usually after smoother so that would not be for me.
one problem with sound clips is they don't let you fell what's happening when you hit the note. that's a big missing piece for me.

[talcott]

Well, I think I'm sold on giving the HFs a whirl. Now just to decide whether to go with HF2 or HF3 -- from the "pickups" pdf on the website there is no HF2+...