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View Full Version : Favorite pickups in a Drop Top??


BoraBoraNat
08-23-2011, 11:36 AM
Howdy. Since I'm about to order a new DTC, I'm just curious as to what everybody's favorite pickups are and why. I love the H2+ that's in my bridge position, and the SL's are nice too... but I don't have any experience with anything else. Am getting S/S/H configuration. Thought this might be fun to ask. Thanks.
harritone
08-23-2011, 11:39 AM
SFs = bigger/vintage voiced and SAs more sustain/modern(to my ears)...I like the H2+ and H3 for different reasons...any Anderson pickup will kill...they are the best
wolf
08-23-2011, 12:53 PM
Def go for the H2+
I tried the HF2 and didn't like it so I've just fitted another H2+ that I bought from Jack Gretz.. superb service by the way !!

I still haven't decided on the SC1's
Thinking if I had to choose again, I'd go for the SC1-
markus
08-23-2011, 01:04 PM
Personally, I love the HN3+ paired with either SA2's or SF2's, or if you wanna go with 2 humbucking pickups, an H1 in the neck.
strat56
08-23-2011, 01:41 PM
I really like the M's with the Kickback. Great noise cancelling single coil tones with the Kickback on and good humbucker tones with it off.
octatonic
08-23-2011, 01:51 PM
H2+ and SA's are the way to go imho.

I'm more of a HSH type of player though: H2+ SA H1- are my fave combination.
Big Harry
08-23-2011, 03:16 PM
H1 and H3 was my choice , no hassle with HH combination ...
they also looks very :cool: ...
oakridge
08-23-2011, 05:19 PM
SF2/SF2r/H2+ with VA boost works really well for me
It's my only DT so can't compare
But love this guitar
morty
08-24-2011, 12:54 AM
Hello i have a DT with SD's and i realy like the bite in the neck pickup! it has som nice middle tones as well. On my newest DT i have SF's and i love them! more Vintage and fuller sounding. i have H2+ in both! and i realy love it. it sings and you can play very dynamicly. H2+ is not a metal pickup, but i love it for sweet overdriven tones! i am stuck with the 80's rockguitar sound..i dont play any metal or heavy stuff
chriswhite
08-24-2011, 03:52 AM
Set of M's with an H2 in the bridge
BoraBoraNat
08-24-2011, 09:00 AM
Wow, thanks for all the great info guys! I really appreciate it. Am thinking now that I may stick with the H2+ in the bridge... Now I'm wondering what the M's might sound like in the neck and middle positions. Do they sound more like a humbucker, or just like really fat single coils? If not those, definitely the SF's. Wish I could get a guitar with each! And the next one is definitely going to have a chocolate maple neck... I know that much.

Anyway, thanks again for the great input.
gibson5413
08-24-2011, 10:15 AM
And the next one is definitely going to have a chocolate maple neck... I know that much.




I love the chocolate maple neck. Both of my TAGs have them. Here are some pics to drool over:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/gibson5413/DSC_0548.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/gibson5413/DSC_0546.jpg
BoraBoraNat
08-24-2011, 10:33 AM
Geeze... Those are ridiculous. Heck, I might get that now. :)
mike_TA81
08-25-2011, 01:00 PM
I have a H3 in my Bulldog and a HN3+ in my DT7.

I've been going back and forth a lot lately between the two guitars and I have been finding that I dig the openness/aggressiveness/crunch of the H3. The HN3+ in the DT7 is a bit too compressed and loses a bit of the "edge" the H3 has.

I know they are different guitars but per Tom's advice I may be able to get closer to that in the DT7 with a pickup swap -- just recieved a H3 for the DT so will be putting that in and finding out soon enough!
gibson5413
08-25-2011, 01:59 PM
My Drop Top has an H3+ and I think it sounds awesome. I have an H2+ in my Classic and love it for other reasons. The H3+ is noticeably more hot and a tad more focused. The H2+ sounds more balanced and open. I like them for different reasons. The Classic is alder where the Drop Top is mahogany. The Drop Top is more of my hard hitting guitar where the Classic hits a little bit of everything. If your gigging sets demand diversity I would recommend the H2+. I find the H3+ can be versatile as well when balanced with the right neck pickup.

I like having two guitars that are a little different. Both pickups sound great and clean up well when rolling the volume off.
GuitArtMan
08-26-2011, 09:07 AM
My current Hollow Drop Top Classic (basswood/maple) has SA1s for the neck and middle and a H2+ for the bridge. I've been using and loving the combination for 10+ years now. After talking at length with Roy I decided to go with SC1s for the neck and middle and HC3 for the bridge on the Drop Top Classic (alder/maple) I have on order. I know I'm anal, but part of the decision was I didn't want black pickups in this guitar! In fact, I wish the SA1s and H2+ in my current guitar were white.
BoraBoraNat
08-26-2011, 10:32 AM
Wow, this info has been great. I really appreciate it. I decided to go with M's in the neck and middle, and am getting an H2+ in the bridge position. Since I really love the H2+ in the DTC that I already have, I figured that I might as well stick with what works.

I'm also going to get an alder body this time, instead of the basswood body that mine has... and a rosewood fretboard instead of maple. So that should offer some variation right there... and it sounds like the M pickups will be quite a bit different from the SL1's. I can't wait to play my new guitar, and I'm sure that December won't get here quick enough for me! Once again, thanks for all the detailed info. It was a lot of help.
chriswhite
08-26-2011, 11:12 AM
Thats a good combo, I have Ms loaded in two of my TAGs and one of them is matched with an H2 in the bridge. It's a very versatile guitar.
BoraBoraNat
08-26-2011, 11:37 AM
Hey, thanks Chris! I'm glad that somebody else has that combo and likes it.
gibson5413
08-26-2011, 12:33 PM
In fact, I wish the SA1s and H2+ in my current guitar were white.


I wouldn't call it a complaint but honestly that would be my only ask of the company is to be able to get the humbuckers in white. I would LOVE an H2+ in white.
mike_TA81
08-26-2011, 12:55 PM
I really dig the BKP aged covers, always wondered if those could be done on the H-series.

http://www.kietzmann.co.uk/guitars/images/bkp-aged.jpg
BoraBoraNat
08-26-2011, 01:01 PM
I kind of like the contrast of the black pickups with the pearloid pickguard... but I can totally see what you mean. It would be nice to be able to choose.
tom
08-26-2011, 01:17 PM
h series bobbins will not fit under covers. you also have to know that covers do affect the response of the pickup, so even if you crammed one under a cover, it would not sound the same.
gibson5413
08-26-2011, 01:27 PM
h series bobbins will not fit under covers. you also have to know that covers do affect the response of the pickup, so even if you crammed one under a cover, it would not sound the same.


It's a small price to pay to get the sound you want. I don't feel like I'm sacrificing anything anyways.
mike_TA81
08-26-2011, 03:04 PM
h series bobbins will not fit under covers. you also have to know that covers do affect the response of the pickup, so even if you crammed one under a cover, it would not sound the same.

I figured as much -- I would rather have your pickups anyway :)
chriswhite
08-26-2011, 06:35 PM
I really dig the BKP aged covers, always wondered if those could be done on the H-series.

h series bobbins will not fit under covers. you also have to know that covers do affect the response of the pickup, so even if you crammed one under a cover, it would not sound the same.
The H series also don't have screw side.