Cold Sweats in s basswood super-strat?

[darkandrew]

Hi, following on from a previous thread - I'm thinking of getting a set of Cold Sweats for my Fender Showmaster super-strat. They'll be used mainly for high-gain / over-driven rhythm playing in a sort-of rock and 80's new wave style. I currently have a VHii set in there and want something a little hotter and harder. I am also looking for something other than Nail Bombs, Rebel Yells and Crawlers as I already have these in other guitars.

My worry about the Cold Sweats is that they are going to be too harsh in the top end when put into a basswood guitar with a maple neck (albeit with a rosewood fretboard).

[Dave Sloven]

I would probably wait for Jonathon to say something, as he has the most experience with these pickups in different guitars, but given that the Cold Sweat has similar characteristics to the Miracle Man (which some say has more or the same amount of highs as the Cold Sweat) it could be fine, as the latter has been recommended many times for maple neck guitars, including maple neck through guitars.

[nkay]

I have a Fender Contemporary Stratocaster (HSS) from the 80's with similar specs, and I have used a Cold Sweat and Holydiver in it.
The ceramic-based Cold Sweat sounds better to get notes to jump out of the soft basswood body. My neck is also maple with rosewood fretboard, and overall the guitar is very neutral sounding, if a bit dull. The Cold Sweat really suits it, no harsh top end, it cuts but in a nice crunchy way.

Having said that, I've been curious about the Miracle Man, as it sounds like the next step up in power, but the Cold Sweat is pretty versatile for classic rock, hard rock, 80's metal, and beyond. Takes gain really well while staying relatively open compared to higher powered pickups.

[Dave Sloven]

Having said that, I've been curious about the Miracle Man, as it sounds like the next step up in power, but the Cold Sweat is pretty versatile for classic rock, hard rock, 80's metal, and beyond. Takes gain really well while staying relatively open compared to higher powered pickups.

I think you've hit the nail on the head here regarding the advantages of the CS over the MM.  That's the reason I went for it in my SG rather than an MM. Either would work, but the CS is more versatile and has better cleans.

[darkbluemurder]

The Cold Sweat bridge has a lot of cut in the top end - it reminds me a bit of a Firebird kind of cut. I don't hear that as harsh but it's definitely bright. But that is why it never gets muddy no matter how much gain you throw at it.

The Cold Sweat neck does have a lot of highs, too, but not as much as the bridge model.

Cheers Stephan

[darkandrew]

How would you compare the high top ends of the Alnico Nailbomb and Cold Sweat bridges?

[Dave Sloven]

How would you compare the high top ends of the Alnico Nailbomb and Cold Sweat bridges?

I've had them in the same guitar.

CS may have slightly more cut.  The A-Bomb has a lot more middy rasp and hairiness.  CS is definitely smoother and has less output than the A-Bomb

[darkandrew]

"CS may have slightly more cut." - That's complicated things a bit; although the A-Bombs sound great in one of my other guitars, in this one they were also pretty good but the top end was on the verge of being a little too much on the top three strings. I guess what I'm after is a bit of a lift in the upper mids (to compliment the basswood's natural peak in the centre mids) but without an over-emphasis of the highest frequencies or a flabby bottom - and I guess that would be a Rebel Yell then?

[nkay]

Yes, I would say the Rebel Yell as well.. The Cold Sweat mids are very neutral all over, and a bit hollow in the low mids especially. While its cutting, it's more in a crunchy way? I've never found it too bright myself. But I think it sounds best in a real dense boat anchor Les Paul custom type guitar.

I'm hoping to try the Rebel Yell myself in my LP Axcess as while the Cold Sweat is good, I think I need more mid-push.

[m t soule]

I just fitted a cs neck in an rg550, and i have a vhii neck in another (maple board) to compare it too, so I will get a vid done soon if you guys want?

[Telerocker]

Rebel Yells!

[darrenw5094]

Rebel Yells!

RY must be a bit of a gamble in basswood bolt ons with the tightness in the low end.

[Telerocker]

Rebel Yells!

RY must be a bit of a gamble in basswood bolt ons with the tightness in the low end.

The RY has not so much bass/is quite tight, so I don't see too much problems there. The output and character fits the OP demands. If he wants more bass, he'll end up in Nailbomb-territory.

[m t soule]

I had the RY in my rg550 and swapped it out for the HD because the bottom did not punch enough for the task i had in mind.
Also as much as the RY and NB are "related" they sound very different e.g the ry yell growl when distorted is quite tight in comparison with the my NB which had an open growl.

Comparing my CS neck to the MM bridge last night gave me a surprise!
They are in credibly similar (apart from the obvious neck to bridge differences) especially at the top.
I needed my amp topped out on tone/treble before things got piercing too much. Even then it wasn't unbearable
A great pair indeed!

[darkandrew]

In the end I went for a RY bridge to pair up with the VHii neck that I already had in there and I'm very glad that I did.  The pairing works very well and is everything that I could have asked for. So thanks for all your comments and suggestions, I am very pleased with the final outcome.