Cold Sweat Set

[RichieB]

I just wanted to post up about Cold Sweats for anyone who is considering getting them. Do it! My Les Paul Custom is now twice the guitar it was. Sure, you can get the Sykes tone -which alone is enough to keep me smiling- but they are capable of a whole lot more besides. I've kept all my clarity, but lost the nasty high-mid 'spike' that was spoiling my fun.

Also, what a pleasure it was to deal with Tim, who was so patient replying to my various emails and gave good solid advice about what to choose. I eventually ordered my CS set on a Monday morning and was fitting them by Thursday afternoon.

I know equipment and tone is a very personal thing, but the quality of these pickups is fantastic and I would happily recommend them to anyone.

Cheers!

Rich.

[yellowv]

The Cold Sweats are great pickups and a ton of guys are starting to realize it. I think for a while a lot of guys, particularly metal players would shy away from CS's because the output is a little less. I have one in my RG2610 which has nothing but a bridge pickup and that guitar can do anything with just that Cold Sweat bridge. From great cleans to all out brutality. It is super tight and well defined and that is my B Standard guitar.

[ericsabbath]

today I played my Hurricane LP Custom copy with the Cold Sweat after months without touching it
damn...
I can't really describe the perfection of that mid grain
it sounds nasty and beautiful and clear and crunchy and VERY punchy and I'll need a lot more adjectives to get an idea  :lol:
I got so excited that I blew up the low E string (a 0.52)  :(

[Philly Q]

I was going to fit my Cold Sweat set in my Mira this weekend, but as usual once I took the guitar apart I couldn't resist making a few adjustments (the shielding paint in the cavity was sloppy, and I decided to get a new scratchplate).  So I'll have to wait a week or two.  :(

[mikey5]

Yea Philly I would like to hear what you have to say about them look forward to your review

[Rock Pig]

I have no experience with them, but surely the ceramic magnet can't do wonders for the clean tone?

[Philly Q]

The bridge pickup doesn't have the prettiest clean tone in the world, but it's very useable - edgy and clangy, but not harsh.  I think it almost has a bit of a Tele quality about it.

And the neck pickup (which is AV) has a lovely clean tone.  :)

[derek]

are the Cold Sweats articulate and tight enough to handle 80's metal and thrash?

[HTH AMPS]

are the Cold Sweats articulate and tight enough to handle 80's metal and thrash?

yep, they excel at that kind of stuff - got a CS bridge in my Les Paul.

[gingataff]

The bridge pickup doesn't have the prettiest clean tone in the world, but it's very useable - edgy and clangy, but not harsh.  I think it almost has a bit of a Tele quality about it.

And the neck pickup (which is AV) has a lovely clean tone.  :)

That's interesting to hear Phil. I'm wondering if a Cold Sweat would be a good replacement for a Dimarzio Evolution (perhaps a Miracleman may be better?). One of the things I like about the Evo is it's clean tone, it's like a very hot bright tele and that sounds like your view of the CS.

[Philly Q]

The bridge pickup doesn't have the prettiest clean tone in the world, but it's very useable - edgy and clangy, but not harsh.  I think it almost has a bit of a Tele quality about it.

And the neck pickup (which is AV) has a lovely clean tone.  :)

That's interesting to hear Phil. I'm wondering if a Cold Sweat would be a good replacement for a Dimarzio Evolution (perhaps a Miracleman may be better?). One of the things I like about the Evo is it's clean tone, it's like a very hot bright tele and that sounds like your view of the CS.

Well, that's just my impression - don't rely on it!  :lol:   I've never tried an Evo, and I've only tried the CS in an SG, very different from an Ibanez of course (assuming the Evo's in something of that ilk).  Never tried a Miracle Man either, so can't comment on that.

The main thing I noticed about the CS bridge is that's it's clear, tight and balanced - it is quite bright overall, but no particular frequency range seems to really dominate.  I used to think I liked pickups with lots of mids, but I'm starting to prefer less "cluttered" sounding bridge pickups.

[Zaned]

The CS set is great! Like was said, the bridge isn't the prettiest sounding when played clean, but it's not bad by any means. However, I REALLY like the middle position for cleans!

It's a bright pickup set, but in a LP-type (or similar) guitar, it's articulate aggression without harshness.

Zaned

[derek]

yep, they excel at that kind of stuff - got a CS bridge in my Les Paul.

awesome

do you think the Cold Sweat would sound better in mahogany or alder for 80's metal and thrash?

[HTH AMPS]

yep, they excel at that kind of stuff - got a CS bridge in my Les Paul.

awesome

do you think the Cold Sweat would sound better in mahogany or alder for 80's metal and thrash?

I don't DO alder, ha ha - Gibsons all the way for me.

Seriously though, I'm a Les Paul guy so I've no idea what humbuckers sound like with Strat-style guitars as I've never owed one in more than 10 years.

[Philly Q]

Humbuckers generally seem to sound brighter (and harsher) in alder, bolt-on guitars than they do in mahogany, set-neck guitars. 

I think the CS might be a bit too bright in an alder guitar, but that's just a guess really.  :?