Author Topic: Apache - THIN is the new FAT (Read 2679 times)

hunter · « **on:** January 11, 2008, 11:08:39 PM »

Received my Apache Set today and threw it in the Tokai Strat (an 80s Goldstar, this was my first guitar in fact).

I am speechless. It screams like nothing I ever had before. It has so much punch, clarity and dirt at the same time, it's almost too much of everything.

Obviously I had to add a pedal before the amp to get into same gain teritorry as with my HB equipped guitars, but OMG !!!! It has turned my "always not quite right" Tokai into a mean scream dream machine. Actually bought this set for the cleans but I am just coming back from 3 hours straight shredding my a... off and now I realise I didn't even try 'em clean yet :P

Clips promised for tomorrow, look forward to hopefully hear some killer tones (if I will get it right 'on tape' without my SM57 that died last week)...

lulusg · « **Reply #1 on:** January 12, 2008, 01:06:02 AM »

Glad to hear you liked them, they are that good...Cheers!

FernandoDuarte · « **Reply #2 on:** January 12, 2008, 01:14:45 AM »

Nice man! And waiting to hear it! You always make top stuff records!

38thBeatle · « **Reply #3 on:** January 12, 2008, 07:57:10 AM »

They are superb Hunter. They get "dirty" if you want them to and really kick it out. I recorded last week and did a couple of tracks for the covers band demo and used my amp cranked with a Jekyll & Hyde pedal in front and the sound in the studio was fantastic. I am betting, however, that the cleans will really blow you away.

hunter · « **Reply #4 on:** January 12, 2008, 09:20:03 AM »

Quote from: FernandoEsteves

Nice man! And waiting to hear it! You always make top stuff records!

Thanks, but it's a bit difficult to get it sound right without my usual mic (SM57) but I gave it a try.

Quote from: 38thBeatle

They are superb Hunter. They get "dirty" if you want them to and really kick it out. I am betting, however, that the cleans will really blow you away.

Usually I don't care about cleans very much but the Apaches are indeed very nice. What I am a bit struggling is pickup height, as I am a newbie to SCs. Any advise there?

check em out http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10959

Henk · « **Reply #5 on:** January 12, 2008, 12:28:21 PM »

Quote from: hunter

Usually I don't care about cleans very much but the Apaches are indeed very nice. What I am a bit struggling is pickup height, as I am a newbie to SCs. Any advise there?

Im not an expert on SC's(dont have apaches either for that matter), but i had problem at first setting the pickups to the right hight because the 'wood' tone is not as distinct(or better said is very different) then with the gibsons i have. After considering some options i have now set them up on pinch harmonics(checked high and low positions) height, so instead of setting them up on 'wood' i set them up on a mix of sustain, clarity(string) and resonance in a way the harmonics sounded best.

The bridge SC i just set to a point where the tone didnt bite too much anymore the middle and neck are set a bit lower, the middle is set the lowest.

After setting the height you should set the balance between low and high strings.

Listening to the clips i think you have the bridge SC set up quite well but the neck and middle a tad too high.

hunter · « **Reply #6 on:** January 12, 2008, 05:52:06 PM »

Quote from: Henk

Listening to the clips i think you have the bridge SC set up quite well but the neck and middle a tad too high.

That's a good idea, I think you're right!

Many thanks for the tip!

38thBeatle · « **Reply #7 on:** January 13, 2008, 01:30:14 AM »

I will dig out my Haynes Stratocaster manual as it has recommended heights in it.I probably get to it tomorrow.