Difference between Mother's Milk and '63 Veneer Board sets (Nolly?)

[Philly Q]

My thoughts are turning back to my relic hardtail Strat project (just got the neck back from Wez and it is looking.... beautifully ancient!  :D  )

I was almost decided on an HSS set, but I'm just slightly wavering and wondering if I should stick to tradition..... either way, there'll be a least two single-coils involved.

Looking at the Mother's Milks and the '63 Veneer Board set, the DC resistance specs are very similar, but the construction's different - different diameter magnets and 42AWG plain enamel wire vs. Heavy Formvar.  What I want to know is, how different do they sound?  I imagine it's a fairly subtle thing.

[FELINEGUITARS]

My thoughts are turning back to my relic hardtail Strat project (just got the neck back from Wez and it is looking.... beautifully ancient!  :D  )

I was almost decided on an HSS set, but I'm just slightly wavering and wondering if I should stick to tradition..... either way, there'll be a least two single-coils involved.

Looking at the Mother's Milks and the '63 Veneer Board set, the DC resistance specs are very similar, but the construction's different - different diameter magnets and 42AWG plain enamel wire vs. Heavy Formvar.  What I want to know is, how different do they sound?  I imagine it's a fairly subtle thing.

I've been pondering this one a lot of late myself and would value both Nolly and Tim's input so I can be clearer which to offer my customers (as I keep both sets on the shelf)

So if a customer has a maple neck strat or a rosewood - which would you choose and why
And also ash or alder body - affect the choices??

[Nolly]

Yes, it is a fairly subtle difference! They suit more or less the same applications - The Mother's Milks being Tim's interpretation of the '60s sound without being concerned with vintage authenticity, then the PAT Pends being there for those that want as close a reproduction to the genuine thing as possible.

To my ears, I'd describe the '63s as a bit more focussed and possibly more open, where the Mother's Milks are slightly woodier and percussive. In my opinion the differences aren't large enough to say they specialise in wildly different sounds. I'd happily put either in more or less any strat, though if you were to press me, I would probably favour the '63s in a brighter instrument.
The introduction of the '63s was more to satisfy those looking for a vintage-correct set than to fill a unique sonic role in the range :)

[Philly Q]

Yes, it is a fairly subtle difference! They suit more or less the same applications - The Mother's Milks being Tim's interpretation of the '60s sound without being concerned with vintage authenticity, then the PAT Pends being there for those that want as close a reproduction to the genuine thing as possible.

To my ears, I'd describe the '63s as a bit more focussed and possibly more open, where the Mother's Milks are slightly woodier and percussive. In my opinion the differences aren't large enough to say they specialise in wildly different sounds. I'd happily put either in more or less any strat, though if you were to press me, I would probably favour the '63s in a brighter instrument.

The introduction of the '63s was more to satisfy those looking for a vintage-correct set than to fill a unique sonic role in the range :)

Thanks Nolly. :)   So the '63s are marginally warmer-sounding, if they suit a brighter guitar?

My Strat will be alder with a slab-board rosewood/maple neck.  No idea (yet) what it sounds like acoustically, probably not particularly bright but I like slightly warmer-sounding single-coils.

I may still just rip off your Abraxax/'63/Slowhand setup anyway. 

[Nolly]

Hmm, I'm not sure that warmer is necessarily the right word. I feel like the midrange is a little bit "harder", but the low end not quite so bouncy.
We are talking in purely comparative terms here though, I hasten to stress - both pickups perform very similarly. Put it this way, I'm not sure how long it would take me to notice if someone switched one set for the other in one of my guitars without me knowing.

[Philly Q]

We are talking in purely comparative terms here though, I hasten to stress - both pickups perform very similarly. Put it this way, I'm not sure how long it would take me to notice if someone switched one set for the other in one of my guitars without me knowing.

Well if you can say that, I'd be highly unlikely to ever notice!  :lol:

[cembo]

Yes, it is a fairly subtle difference! They suit more or less the same applications - The Mother's Milks being Tim's interpretation of the '60s sound without being concerned with vintage authenticity, then the PAT Pends being there for those that want as close a reproduction to the genuine thing as possible.

To my ears, I'd describe the '63s as a bit more focussed and possibly more open, where the Mother's Milks are slightly woodier and percussive. In my opinion the differences aren't large enough to say they specialise in wildly different sounds. I'd happily put either in more or less any strat, though if you were to press me, I would probably favour the '63s in a brighter instrument.
The introduction of the '63s was more to satisfy those looking for a vintage-correct set than to fill a unique sonic role in the range :)

I noticed that magnetic rod on MM is wider than 63. What difference does it make.

[Telerocker]

I honestly can't hear much difference between the MM and the Pat Pend 63. They're so close.

[cembo]

I honestly can't hear much difference between the MM and the Pat Pend 63. They're so close.

... and in theory, how does wider magnetic rod change the sound comparing to "normal" one ...