Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: metale on November 15, 2015, 10:16:24 AM

Title: NGD Dean Hardtail Standard
Post by: metale on November 15, 2015, 10:16:24 AM
I was browsing the local classifieds and spoted this Dean for cheap-ish.

- Mahogany neck and body
- Set neck, grover tuners
- Push-pull splits on the tone controls
- 24,75 scale

I have it as the tech now, having it fitted with this set of Aftermaths:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v622/metale/guitarras/temp0_zpsmlgdc0ow.jpg)

I will be used in drop C with 54s and already have black gibson speed knobs to replace the very heavy and too flashy stock ones.

The push-pull are to be changed to series/parallel wiring for each humbucker.

If I don't get along with the bridge Aftermath, will put the neck one on the bridge position and the Mississippi Queen I have laying around on the neck.

Cheers and sorry for the grainy phone pics

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v622/metale/guitarras/2015-11-09%2022.52.52_zpsmxcatu6h.jpg)

With my Epi:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v622/metale/guitarras/2015-11-09%2022.51.38_zpshgmd7dzg.jpg)
Title: Re: NGD Dean Hardtail Standard
Post by: Telerocker on November 15, 2015, 12:38:56 PM
Good catch. The pickups on these are a weak point, so an upgrade will be rewarding.
Title: Re: NGD Dean Hardtail Standard
Post by: dave_mc on November 15, 2015, 07:15:28 PM
Nice :grin:
Title: Re: NGD Dean Hardtail Standard
Post by: 38thBeatle on November 15, 2015, 07:24:05 PM
A good buy I think.
Title: Re: NGD Dean Hardtail Standard
Post by: metale on November 15, 2015, 08:00:56 PM
Thanks guys.

The guitar fells very solid. It's the heaviest guitar I've owned (previous was an ash telecaster), the neck is massive and feels like a PRS to hold.

I'm having second thoughts about the bridge Aftermath though. I'm not a technical player at all. I like KSE rythms and riffs, for instance, and feel that something like a Miracle Man would suite me way better. So as stated I may go for plan B, sell the bridge pickup and have the neck one installed on the bridge and the Mississippi Queen on the neck.
Title: Re: NGD Dean Hardtail Standard
Post by: Kiichi on November 15, 2015, 08:54:24 PM
Nice. Deans are very often good value to money to begin with. Congrats on picking one up at a nice price.

If it is middy, which IŽd assume, the AM might indeed not work that well. The MM then could work better. And it does KSE very well.
Title: Re: NGD Dean Hardtail Standard
Post by: metale on November 28, 2015, 12:02:58 AM
So.... Got the guitar back from the tech. Plan C, as I sold the Aftermath set to another guitarist 3.900km away .

The guitar now has a Mississippi Queen neck and a bridge Abraxas. I'm ansious to try it tomorrow!
Title: Re: NGD Dean Hardtail Standard
Post by: Telerocker on November 28, 2015, 11:46:15 AM
So.... Got the guitar back from the tech. Plan C, as I sold the Aftermath set to another guitarist 3.900km away .

The guitar now has a Mississippi Queen neck and a bridge Abraxas. I'm ansious to try it tomorrow!

That combo should be quite versatile. Hope you dig it.
Title: Re: NGD Dean Hardtail Standard
Post by: metale on November 28, 2015, 12:36:14 PM
Pics online on the pics thread  :cool:
Title: Re: NGD Dean Hardtail Standard
Post by: metale on November 29, 2015, 09:21:32 AM
Well. I under-estimated how well the MQ would do on Drop C. It is really good! Not a hint of muddiness, I can see myself forgeting the toggle switch on the neck position from time to time, even on high-gain rythm.

The Abraxas also did very well. I switched from my other newly modded guitar (metal strat) to it and first I was completly underwelmed... until I noticed that for some reason the tone knob was all the way down on the guitar! Doh  :rolleyes:

I don't know if its the thick, tight strings or what, but both pickups are performing very well! They were going to be kind of a temporary solution until I got a metal orientated set (was thinking Miracle Man), but not so sure anymore.

Also, their caracter matches each other VERY well (the MQ marries the Abraxes a lot better than with the Black Dog) and the Abraxas is alot more quiet than the humbucker on the strat (a touch lower output though).