Finally found a guitar that doesn't like the Abraxas

[fdesalvo]

I've had a few guitars come and go and finally found one that doesn't agree with the Abraxas.  It's only taken 4 tries ha!  It's still my overall fav pickup, however.  This guitar has a mahogany body - I've had two other mahogany guitars and one alder Strat the just adored it, so no harm, no foul.  Oddly enough, It still sounds really good; just missing a bit of that special fairy dust Abraxas pickups have wound into their DNA.  But damn, the 63's sound stunning! 

Here she is with the "temp" neck.






I've got another concurrent build - a retro/modern Strat - will have VHII and two 59 Slabbadabbadoos.

[Dave Sloven]

That colour combination is stunning!  What are you going to try instead?  Stormy Monday?  Riff Raff?

[fdesalvo]

Thanks, brotha!

That's a good question!  To be honest, the Abraxas sounds damn good, but it's very clean sounding  I'm starting to think it's my amp.  I just built an amp based off of an old 50s tweed bandmaster combo (3x10) and I think it's likely the way my OD pedals are playing with the alnico speakers, which aren't broken in yet!  I will be able to test it out on my other amp that's based off a 60s blackface circuit tomorrow.



Might  go back to these knobs!


I may be tempted to experiment, but right now I have way too much money floating around on guitar parts lol.  I'd likely have to sell it first.   I'm OK with leaving it in there, but you bring up a good point about a potential replacement.  I bet a SM would just be the dog's danglies in this ol 50s circuit!

[Telerocker]

Great stuff Frank, puts a smile on my face.

The retro colours on the guitar oozes sixties, but it also has a bit of Music Man- and PRS-flavour. Ha, I would try a Crawler (with split) in that one.
That tweed-clone looks just fab. I'd love to have one like that. Looks so much better than plain tweed. I see you got the right speakers in it as well.

[fdesalvo]

Nothing like Seafoam Green! 

Thanks for the kind words!  Almost wish I had the Crawler around to experiment with haha.  Im going to try a few more things before I give up, so to speak. Really can't complain about the tones, though. 

I've got a slightly stouter output transformer running in the camp,so it's got a bit more push than a standard bandmaster. Sounds magically organic and very touch sensitive!  I have a 66 Super Reverb that is collecting dust now ;).

[Telerocker]

Looks very neat. You got a very nice collection!

[Lucas]

Lovely gear, I`m drooling all over the place. Nice!

Fdesalvo, if you would have to pinpoint once thing what Abraxas is really good at, where it really shines, what would it be?
have you ever tried AB neck?

[fdesalvo]

Thanks, gang!

The Abraxas is good at being good at everything.  I know it sounds like hyperbole, but man, luck goes right out of the equation when it comes to nailing the bullseye in 4 different guitars.  It's extremely versatile - probably a better way to phrase it, but the thing is that it does so many things convincingly well.  It's got a very smooth and beautiful lead tone, handles tons of gain really well, and splits like no one's business.  I don't want to litter this forum with sound samples, but in my soundcloud - that's 99% Abraxas/63 Veneer.  People say it has soft low tones, but I disagree; they stay tight depending on your palm muting technique - I'd say the pickup is chewy on the low strings and I love that!  There isn't a frequency that overshadows the next - very balanced pickup I find.  I'm not a neck humbucker guy, so I haven't tried the AB neck.  If I was forced at gunpoint to play an HH guitar, I'd probably go for something like a Stormy Monday.

The Strat I'm working on will be equipped with a VHII and 2 59s.  I'm going to try the VHII because I'm looking for something with a bit less compression than the Abraxas - which is fairly open compared to the Crawler, I last tried.  Man what a great rock pickup that Crawler is, though.  I've heard it said that the VHII really breaks up into harmonics all over the fundamental, sometimes giving way to a bit of an airy singlecoil tone - that's something I want to play around with, especially through the Tweed circuit I just built.  I also read that it splits beautifully, as well. 

Lovely gear, I`m drooling all over the place. Nice!

Fdesalvo, if you would have to pinpoint once thing what Abraxas is really good at, where it really shines, what would it be?
have you ever tried AB neck?

Looks very neat. You got a very nice collection!

[littleredguitars2]

the abraxus is one i've yet to try but i always had that idea that it was very versatile.

[richard]

I never liked neck buckers until I tried BK. The Abraxas neck is a real joy to play and both pups together sound great. I was listening to some live Led Zep the other day and the middle position with the Abraxas set is very close to Jimmy's middle position sound.

[darkbluemurder]

Still loving my set in the Tele Gib. Great pickups.

If the Abraxas bridge is too clean, a Rebel Yell or Crawler bridge may do the trick.

Cheers Stephan

[Lucas]

Fdesalvo, how would generally describe Abraxas bridge? Is it more bluesy pickup or rather rock pickup?

[fdesalvo]

It literally can do either to a very high level.  It splits beautifully, too.