Pickup Help - Norlin LPC

  • Thread starter Thread starter glpg80
  • Start date Start date
Duncan Custom sounds better in my 77 than the Aldrich's did. That is my fave pickup in that guitar.
If you want crazy beef - try a Psykes or Sykonaut
 
If you want something hot

Psykes/vintage dirty fingers

Duncan sh6 and sh14
 
I have a 79 LPC - Duncan Custom in the bridge and Pearly Gates in the neck. Removed ash tray, wired old school and grounded. It's worked for 34 years to my ears...
 
Throwing a set of these

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In this

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Greazygeo said:
Duncan Custom…
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JohnnyGtar said:
Yep, the SH-5 Custom is legendary for good reason. Grab that one and git you a Duncan Jazz SH-2n and slap it into the neck position. Done.
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Wayniac3 said:
Duncan Custom sounds better in my 77 than the Aldrich's did. That is my fave pickup in that guitar.
If you want crazy beef - try a Psykes or Sykonaut
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JF Scarfi said:
I have a 79 LPC - Duncan Custom in the bridge and Pearly Gates in the neck. Removed ash tray, wired old school and grounded. It's worked for 34 years to my ears...
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Appreciate all of the recommendations.

The custom sounds great and will be my backup choice if these don’t work out. The reason I didn’t go with a custom is because I plan to put this guitar in either C standard or D standard and there’s a high mid hump in the customs that stands out awkwardly for lower tunings. The black winters sound almost identical in output and balance better without that mid hump to my ears.

I’m giving these a try and if they don’t work out they’re still worth having around. Same with the custom as my backup plan.
 
glpg80 said:
Appreciate all of the recommendations.

The custom sounds great and will be my backup choice if these don’t work out. The reason I didn’t go with a custom is because I plan to put this guitar in either C standard or D standard and there’s a high mid hump in the customs that stands out awkwardly for lower tunings. The black winters sound almost identical in output and balance better without that mid hump to my ears.

I’m giving these a try and if they don’t work out they’re still worth having around. Same with the custom as my backup plan.
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I agree about that slight mid push with the SD custom with a touch of compression, I hear it as well.:yes:


The Wes Hauch SD Jupiters are supposed to be a more balanced lightly warmer L500XL, I have one sitting here just haven't thrown it in anything yet . The Jalen Fair Warning pickup might be interesting since it is an underwound JB about 13.5 K with a rough cast short A-5 magnet.

Since you want high output the SD Saturday night special 9.75K Alnico IV PAF probably isn't on your radar. I think the Black Winters sound great from all the vids if you are looking for detuned modern rock/metal I think you made a good choice.
:2thumbsup:
 
glpg80 said:
Appreciate all of the recommendations.

The custom sounds great and will be my backup choice if these don’t work out. The reason I didn’t go with a custom is because I plan to put this guitar in either C standard or D standard and there’s a high mid hump in the customs that stands out awkwardly for lower tunings. The black winters sound almost identical in output and balance better without that mid hump to my ears.

I’m giving these a try and if they don’t work out they’re still worth having around. Same with the custom as my backup plan.
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I have installed some Black Winters in a few guitars. They have a good amount of “wah” sound to them. Not like a PAF Pro though. Wouldn’t mind giving them a go in something.
 
Greazygeo said:
I have installed some Black Winters in a few guitars. They have a good amount of “wah” sound to them. Not like a PAF Pro though. Wouldn’t mind giving them a go in something.
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The ONLY thing I don’t like about the black winters, and once I point it out you can’t unhear it, is a slight grainy character to the top end. It’s not present in SH-4,5,or 6 pickups.

If the winters don’t work out there’s a change I may throw another EMG set in it too. Maybe 57/66 or the Hetfield set in it.
 
Catthan said:
57/66 are my fav EMG set and had them
in a 78LPC and a r7 before that. But listen to that before you swap the t-tops out

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T tops during this era are horribly inconsistent and don’t all sound the same like everything Norlin quality during that era. I find mine are weak output and just don’t have any girth or sustain under your fingers. Just honestly a bear to wrestle with. The 57/66 combo fixes exactly what I speak of in your pickup comparison - they sound great!

Still excited for my black winter set that’s coming.
 
glpg80 said:
The ONLY thing I don’t like about the black winters, and once I point it out you can’t unhear it, is a slight grainy character to the top end. It’s not present in SH-4,5,or 6 pickups.

If the winters don’t work out there’s a change I may throw another EMG set in it too. Maybe 57/66 or the Hetfield set in it.
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Might be able to play with the pickup height to help,woth that. The 57/66 set isn’t too bad. Not so smooth of an attack like the 81/85.
 
@glpg80, not 'my' vid but glad the point gets across. Only reason I posted was in case you ended up swapping the TTs for similar sounding EMGs.
I never considered T-Tops would vary as Norlin guitars did, interesting.

In my case, I only had experience with one set, that in my '78 and I just wanted to pocket the cash difference and pay for something else so I flogged the TTs and put EMGs.

I am strongly considering throwing another set on my r9 but I might try some more modern passives first. Good luck on the hunt.
 
Catthan said:
@glpg80, not 'my' vid but glad the point gets across. Only reason I posted was in case you ended up swapping the TTs for similar sounding EMGs.
I never considered T-Tops would vary as Norlin guitars did, interesting.

In my case, I only had experience with one set, that in my '78 and I just wanted to pocket the cash difference and pay for something else so I flogged the TTs and put EMGs.

I am strongly considering throwing another set on my r9 but I might try some more modern passives first. Good luck on the hunt.
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Will keep everyone updated on these black winters. No one clip of them sounds the same (unlike Aldrich pickups) so I’m hoping they do well. If not I’m definitely putting 55/66 in. I really appreciate your post because it shows they fix what I hate about them in the first place and nothing else.
 
Killertone used the SD Black Winters in his sig guitar in this video......they sound quite nasty in a good way......:rawk:
 
I hope you enjoy the 'Winters! It's one of my favorite Duncan pickups. Right now, I'm enojoying the Custom (I have it in a guitar in Drop C), so I was going to recommend it as well. But the Winter is another great choice. It does have the rasp in the high-end that you mention, though. I love it. But you might not. We'll see.

glpg80 said:
T tops during this era are horribly inconsistent and don’t all sound the same like everything Norlin quality during that era. I find mine are weak output and just don’t have any girth or sustain under your fingers. Just honestly a bear to wrestle with.
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That was my experience with T-Tops as well. Based on the specs, though, I would think that's what most of them are like, TBH.
 
Rex Rocker said:
I hope you enjoy the 'Winters! It's one of my favorite Duncan pickups. Right now, I'm enojoying the Custom (I have it in a guitar in Drop C), so I was going to recommend it as well. But the Winter is another great choice. It does have the rasp in the high-end that you mention, though. I love it. But you might not. We'll see.


That was my experience with T-Tops as well. Based on the specs, though, I would think that's what most of them are like, TBH.
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Yeah I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned about it. This is an old growth custom with a thick maple top and a maple neck so the top end will cut. If all I hear is rasp in the high end then I’m gutting it all and going 55/66.

I’ll post another video with the Aldrich for comparison sake sometime over the holidays. I’m sure it’s going to be fine as it’s a metal pickup and it will bring the heat which is what I’m looking for.
 
Hard to go wrong with Wagner Godwoods in an LP for something a bit hotter and meatier than PAF, but still cleans up and reacts well to picking dynamics.
@scottosan wound me a set up PAF types that aren't as hot, but sounds sweet. The Burstbucker Pros in my Silverburst are great, a bit hotter than regular Burstbuckers, Antiquity, Seth Lover, etc, with more lows and highs. They're the perfect sounding pup for late 90s/early 2000s tones.

The Suhr SSH+ is an Aldrich taken down a notch, really dig it in my Suhr Modern with mahogany body maple top.

Generally, I find I don't like super hot pickups in an LP. I like to hear the sound of the guitar, work the dynamics, let the amp and/or pedals add gain to taste.
 
glpg80 said:
Yeah I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned about it. This is an old growth custom with a thick maple top and a maple neck so the top end will cut. If all I hear is rasp in the high end then I’m gutting it all and going 55/66.

I’ll post another video with the Aldrich for comparison sake sometime over the holidays. I’m sure it’s going to be fine as it’s a metal pickup and it will bring the heat which is what I’m looking for.
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just out of curiosity, have you tried any of the Fishman sets? I didn't have any particular interest in getting them, but got a couple guitars that came with them already. They can definitely bring the heat. I swapped out the moderns on an EII with the Adler set, and I really dig them.
 
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