Hamer Scarab update

[gwEm]

Some if you might remember my NGD and subsequent tweaks.

So I put in a Cold Sweat bridge and it sounded very dry in the mids, there was a short discussion about it.

It was questioned wether the guitar might be poplar rather than mahogany. What I have seen of the wood is brown, so would suppose mahogany.

After a few weeks with the Cold Sweat there was certain aspects I liked : the clean tone, the 'not too cold, not too hot' output level, the aggressive treble. But the bass response needed to be less, and the big problem remained the lack of mids. It was clear to me that a step was needed on the pickup.

I asked Tim and he suggested that step would be the Aftermath, or maybe the Painkiller. I was also thinking the Aftermath, so I promptly ordered one. It should arrive early next week. Tim also stated the Painkiller has even more aggressive treble, which I am aware of since I have one in a Jackson Rhoads, but if the Aftermath doesn't work then I can have a bit of a switch around.

[Kiichi]

Interesting. Can see how if you want mids the CS is an issue. The AM certainly has more mids and from what I gather less bass, so that should fit the bill in that regard. Look forward to your impression.

[Philly Q]

Did you mention to Tim that it's a single-pickup guitar?  I'm curious if that would have a bearing on his suggestions.

And having had time to think about it, did you decide you are going to start a can-opener guitar collection? 

[Plenum n Heather]

The Cold Sweat can be quite finicky. Not surprised that it had to struggle with the mids in that sized body. I would have guessed Painkiller as well. Interested to hear your impressions of the Aftermath.

[gwEm]

One final point. The original 80s pickup the guitar came with wasn't a Hamer Slammer, it was a Charvel J90-C. It was an 18k ceramic thing, loads of mids and quite dark. I guess that was a bit in the direction of a ceramic warpig.

Obviously the pickup had be changed at some point. Someone had clearly had fun with the electronics, they had bodged a 1M amp pot in there.

Philly: yes I had informed him of that, but I also informed him I was after a tone for traditional heavy metal and that I like the aggression of the Cold Sweat.

[Brow]

Let me know if you want to sell the bridge CS!   

[gwEm]

In fact it's part of a full CS set which is waiting around for something better to do..

[Dave Sloven]

In fact it's part of a full CS set which is waiting around for something better to do..

If they are long leg they will work very nicely in an SG (you need long leg for the bridge).  If not, look for something else with a similarly middy character that takes short leg pickups.

[gwEm]

In fact it's part of a full CS set which is waiting around for something better to do..

If they are long leg they will work very nicely in an SG (you need long leg for the bridge).  If not, look for something else with a similarly middy character that takes short leg pickups.

yeah.. i'm saving them in case i ever buy a les paul.

the aftermath has arrived (pretty quick!). not sure yet when i'll get a chance to fit it.

[gwEm]

Just fitted the Aftermath. I need to play more and think about how I feel about it.

First impression are its not vastly different from the Cold Sweat, but you can hear clear differences.. A bit tighter bass, more mid-mids. However more modern sounding. It has some of the attack of the Painkiller. Just as aggressive as the Cold Sweat was. Clean not quite as nice, but perfectly usable.

Good output level, maybe a shade more than the CS, but not much in it. Cleans up very well with the volume knob.

I would say its a modern balanced tone with ceramic aggression and a clear note attack. It's certainly not a warm sound, crushing maybe? Definitely a pickup for metal.

Just some first impressions, I suspect it's probably ideal for Djent, but it works perfectly well with the more traditional stuff I play.

[Philly Q]

Interesting.  I've never really paid much attention to the Aftermath.  I'm not convinced you're convinced, though....

[gwEm]

Interesting.  I've never really paid much attention to the Aftermath.  I'm not convinced you're convinced, though....

Well, that's partly true. The thing is it sounds exactly as I expected it to (more or less) so I've not been blown away in the way I have been in the past with BKPs. It's what I wanted though.

I'm nervous about saying too much, as in the past my reviews have all been written in the moment of excitement after installing the pickup.

Am quietly pleased at this point. I shall write more about it in a couple of weeks I expect.

[Philly Q]

I'm nervous about saying too much, as in the past my reviews have all been written in the moment of excitement after installing the pickup.

Oh, I know that feeling!  All buzzing about something... then six months later it's on eBay. 

I think my judgement's improved quite a bit over the years.  Nowadays I know pretty much straight away if something's really a good 'un or not.  Although sometimes there may be some minor negative detail which detracts from many more positives, in those cases it takes a while to see the guitar (or whatever) in the proper light.

[gwEm]

I'm nervous about saying too much, as in the past my reviews have all been written in the moment of excitement after installing the pickup.

Oh, I know that feeling!  All buzzing about something... then six months later it's on eBay. 

I think my judgement's improved quite a bit over the years.  Nowadays I know pretty much straight away if something's really a good 'un or not.  Although sometimes there may be some minor negative detail which detracts from many more positives, in those cases it takes a while to see the guitar (or whatever) in the proper light.

well, precisely. and that may turn out to be the case - in my case i was kind of surprised about the pick attack, though its there to hear in the BKP clips. (this may turn out to be a beneficial quality for live use)

also, its not vastly different from how the Cold Sweat sounded, which was already "not bad", so I don't have that immediate 'oh my God this as bloody ammmaaazzing' shock.

but it is an excellent pickup, and only a fool would say otherwise. however, it is one of BKPs more modern and 'technical' options.

[gwEm]

I've been playing this guitar alot since I got it, and I must say I enjoy the feel of it.

It feels workman-like and unfancy like a vintage Gibson. But at the same time, it has a precise shred feel to it a little like a Jackson.

Wouldn't mind getting another old Hamer based on this experience.

I should be able to say more about the Aftermaths next week, but I am warming to them.