Irish Tours - another set of questions for IT users

[edgie]

Just last week I got a nice offer from a friend who's a dealer on their Irish Tour set and this really got me thinking since I already have a great set with the versatile Apaches but I have this burning curiosity towards the ITs. I had a post before on how it performs with a clean tone and those who replied said that it's good with it so no need to ask about that.

Now, my questions are:

1. Will it feel spongier/less attack than the Apaches making it easier to pull off harmonics?

2.  I know it's intended for hot vintage tones but given its output, will it be able to do some 70's-80's hard rock tones like Van Halen(with the help of an 80's flavored pedal like the Fetto Nord) ?

3. How does the IT neck pickup sound compared to an Apache? Will it not be overly dark/wooly?

4. How much more gain(in terms of %) will I get if I switch from the Apaches to ITs? Will there be a significant increase. I love the Apaches but sometimes I wish I could squeeze out more gain from them specially when doing modern rock.

I'm using a Strat with rosewood fretboard with the 2nd tone control wired to the bridge so I don't worry about ice-picky bridge tones.

Thanks,
Edgie

[shobet]

I've not got a set of apaches to compare my IT set with unfortunately. However the guitar with the ITs in will be at the Northern BKP user get together on the 16th of October. If you're in the North of England feel free to pop along.

I think there will be a similar maple necked strat there with apaches in the neck and middle for comparison.

[edgie]

Thanks so much for the invitation but I'm currently based in Singapore. :D

[tomjackson]

Just remembered I sold them to you Shobet, how are they going? Will be good to hear them as we can se how they stack up to the cheaper Toneriders I anded up getting.

To answer edgie's questions:-

1. Will it feel spongier/less attack than the Apaches making it easier to pull off harmonics?

The are not spongy, they have strong bright and gritty attack

2.  I know it's intended for hot vintage tones but given its output, will it be able to do some 70's-80's hard rock tones like Van Halen(with the help of an 80's flavored pedal like the Fetto Nord) ?

They hold up well with distortion but they can only go so far for a hot vintage single coil

3. How does the IT neck pickup sound compared to an Apache? Will it not be overly dark/wooly?

I've not go Apaches but the IT neck is not dark or wooly at all.

4. How much more gain(in terms of %) will I get if I switch from the Apaches to ITs? Will there be a significant increase. I love the Apaches but sometimes I wish I could squeeze out more gain from them specially when doing modern rock

I think it's more about how much push the pickup gives, I would imagine IT's are a good bit more strident than the Apaches.  The A5 magnets give the pickups some balls.



I liked them but I think vintage bell like pickups are mor my thing so want to try some Apaches....

[AndyR]

I pretty much agree with everything Tom says.

I can also add that I'm planning on getting Apaches for another guitar. At the moment, my expectations are that Apaches will be more rounded and have less bite and attack than ITs.

In other words, my impression is that the ITs will be brighter and harder sounding than you're experiencing at the moment.

HOWEVER! Someone with experience of both might be able to shed a bit more light on this (for you and me both :D)

[edgie]

Thanks for the reply guys. I think that bright and gritty attack description might be a deal breaker for me since my amp is a THD 50 which is quite bright already for single coils. I'm afraid they might behave like the Fralins Vintage Hots(also with A5 magnets) I had in a '57 RI CIJ japanese strat which felt strident for legato lines. Maybe A5 magnets are just not my thing specially on the treble strings.

Btw Andy, I'm still enjoying the Flat 50's you recommended for my project esquire. Really awesome pickup! 8)

[shobet]

Spongey and wooly are not words I'd associate with the pickups I have in my strat, however bright is.

[AndyR]

I actually found myself wondering Slowhands. I think they're still A5, but they've got more mids I understand...

Not sure whether the Slowhand users are monitoring this thread?

Another possibility is Sultans - I have these, they have a sweetness to their brightness. They're in a maple board Roadworn that I'm wondering about Apaches for. They have quite a bit of attack in there, very Mark Knopfler, but I'm thinking of putting them back in a CIJ "62" with a rosewood board. They were quite smooth and Robin Trower like in there.

Glad you're getting on with the BG50s :D

[Telerocker]

I play IT's in my customstrat and however they handle overdrive very well, they're not in the hardrock ballpark, I think. I'd say more in SRV-terrority. If you looking for early Van Halen-type sounds, why not consider Trilogy's?

[edgie]

The VH tone is not exactly what I'm aiming for but more like the heaviest tone that I would like a single coil to achieve which actually is not so gained out compared to today's nu metal standards. I'm still more of a blues-rock guy(Hendrix, Gallagher, Winter, Page, etc.) who just happens to play in different bands with different genres so I need versatile pickups.  I cancelled out the Trilogy since based on its specs, it's just too hot for me with its 11k+ DC resistance. I'd like to keep my single coils below 8k as I don't want to lose definition.

Just a thought right now, could it be that what I need is a slightly overwound(10%) Apache? Does Tim make custom winds for his existing sets?

[AndyR]

I believe he does - sounds to me like an email to Tim might be a good idea.

[edgie]

Yeah, I'll do that later. Thanks so much everyone for the repllies, you saved me from making an unnecessary expense.

BTW, that new Manhattan p-90 humbucker looks interesting..... :lol:

[edgie]

Just an update, I PM'd Tim and he said he could do more turns on the bridge pickup but not so much as their are already full. I'll just add more boost to my drives then. :)

Again, thanks for those who replied.