Author Topic: Calibrated sets (Read 3118 times)

Tol · « **on:** September 13, 2005, 12:37:55 AM »

Hi,

My brother was talking to me today about how he wished he had different settings for his neck and bridge pickup. As in playing live the tone switching to the neck from the bridge (or opposite) isn't as good as he would like to have it. Is this what calibrated is suppose to help with?

He plays a set of 59s, I think he would like the VHII. I just went on tour with him in the midwest for 2 weeks actually. Fun experience.

Thanks for reading.
Tol

PhilKing · « **Reply #1 on:** September 13, 2005, 05:25:09 AM »

You can also mix pickups for this. I have an Emerald/Mule set and a Riff Raff/Stormy Monday. I have Alnico IV in the neck pickups and so get a great sound with both pickups too.

Depending on what sounds you want, there are many combinations which will give you more tonal differences between the pickups. A calibrated set makes the output of each pickup more balanced, so there is no volume drop or jump when you change pickups.

HJM · « **Reply #2 on:** September 13, 2005, 08:13:19 AM »

I'm coming around to the calibrated set way of thinking - after mixing and matching BKPs for the last couple of years.

Lots of mass produced pickups don't let the harmonics and tone of the guitar come through, and often neck pickups made this way sound dull. With BKPs scatterwinding the tone is more open and allows the natural tone difference between the neck and bridge to come out.

I've got a VHII set in a PRS, the bridge is bright and crunchy while the neck is open and clear.

Not to say that Phil is wrong - just another way of doing things! :)

Ratrod · « **Reply #3 on:** September 13, 2005, 10:25:15 AM »

It's a matter of taste, or it might depend on what you need from a guitar. If you want the guitar to have a certain sound or caracter, go for a calibrated set. If you want a guitar with a split personality you can mix n' match.

jt · « **Reply #4 on:** September 13, 2005, 05:08:52 PM »

:D I`ve got a set of calibrated VHII`s in my Tradition Guitar. i have to say for me personnaly the main reason to get the bridge & neck P/U`s calibrated even if there different models ie; stormy monday neck & VHII bridge is it seems to my ears at least help give a better balance to the output of the set. I`ve not had to raise the P/U`s that high in there mountings in order to get a good sound balance & it has at least for me ment that the middle position on my P/U selecter swirch [ 3- way ] now produces a great & very usable sound which is a lovely mixture of neck & bridge. It`ll be interesting to see what Tim has to say on the subject :D

:D 8)

big steve · « **Reply #5 on:** September 13, 2005, 05:15:56 PM »

even if you don't have a calibrated set, can't you adjust the pickup height to balance the output level?

HJM · « **Reply #6 on:** September 13, 2005, 05:19:22 PM »

Yeah, but there's a sweet spot in terms of height for all BKPs, you just have to find it. I've had a Stormy Monday neck with a Miracle Man bridge for a while, volume wasn't an issue. What was is although it's nice to have tweo distinct tones for different jobs, when I wanted to rip on the neck the power wasn't really there!