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Author Topic: Apaches vs Slowhands  (Read 6003 times)

38thBeatle

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Apaches vs Slowhands
« on: June 05, 2006, 05:49:06 PM »
OK, first impressions at home volumes comparing the two:
I have 2 Strats- 1st is a USA 1970's ash body, maple neck and r/w 'board-hard tail with Apaches. 2nd is a Japenese 1996 made 1960's basswood body, maple neck and r/w 'board-stock whammy bar with Slowhands.
Apaches- classic vintage Strat with all the "sprang" and "snap". Dynamic
(as are all BK's by the sounds of things) and although low output, they are terrific with a crancked up amp.
Slowhands have a tad more output but this is tempered with the whammy bar and so the net output is very similar. They seem to have a slightly thicker mid range to them- they seem to be slightly better at the in- between sounds (the Apaches lose a bit of volume on my guitar).
I will know more after a band rehearsal and indeed after a gig in a few days. I used the Apache Strat virtually all the time because the Japanese pups sounded just a little sterile (previously I had been unaware of this). Now the Japanese guitar will get far more use as it has the dynamics and good old Fender snap.
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BKP's: Apache, Country Boy, Slowhands.

Searcher

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Apaches vs Slowhands
« Reply #1 on: June 05, 2006, 06:57:24 PM »
Hey, thanks for the comparison.  Will you get round to posting some clips anytime soon, do you think?
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38thBeatle

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Apaches vs Slowhands
« Reply #2 on: June 05, 2006, 08:15:30 PM »
I might actually. HJM did a similar thing a while back with Strat pups and it was very useful though the trouble is, the subtleties don't always come across by the time you record, compress to MP3 and listen to them on PC speakers. I can have a go and see what occurs. I am looking forward to the rehearsal and the next gig I can tell ya.
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BKP's: Apache, Country Boy, Slowhands.

TwilightOdyssey

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Apaches vs Slowhands
« Reply #3 on: June 05, 2006, 08:43:24 PM »
Quote from: 38thBeatle
I might actually. HJM did a similar thing a while back with Strat pups and it was very useful though the trouble is, the subtleties don't always come across by the time you record, compress to MP3 and listen to them on PC speakers. I can have a go and see what occurs. I am looking forward to the rehearsal and the next gig I can tell ya.

Very true. Some differences you can feel before you hear. And chopping out 90-plus % of the bandwidth destroys the spirit of ephemeral changes like that.
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Searcher

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Apaches vs Slowhands
« Reply #4 on: June 05, 2006, 09:03:53 PM »
Yeah, that's quite true, but I'll take whatever clips I can get.   ;)   Although, they do only make me want to buy more pickups, so I'd probably be better off without them.
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StefanPrice

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Apache's.
« Reply #5 on: June 05, 2006, 09:43:46 PM »
The Apache's are THE GREATEST vintage pickups!
I am using them on the song "DOWN TO THE WATERLINE"
You can hear what they sound like on the middle and bridge combo.
Stefan.
http://www.stefanprice.com
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38thBeatle

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Apaches vs Slowhands
« Reply #6 on: June 05, 2006, 09:57:16 PM »
Stefan, you really do them justice !
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38thBeatle

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Apaches vs Slowhands
« Reply #7 on: June 07, 2006, 11:35:55 PM »
OK played a rehearsal tonight  ( unfortunately I wasn't feeling too good)and we played at a much lower volume than we would normally and so I did not really get to put the Slowhands through their paces as I had hoped. I broke a damn string part way through too. My Bandmates indulged me by playing through Clapton's "Old Love" and I cranked it up a tad for this and it did sound rather good- certainly way better than the stock pups. BKP's do raise the bar( as Phil King has said elsewhere recently) and the fact that I had used this guitar rarely live was because of the great sound of the Apaches in my other Strat. I just want to tweak it a bit ( not quite as playable as my battered old USA Strat)and I will use it live next Saturday night when we rock Hassocks ( a tiny village  just north of Brighton).
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38thBeatle

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Apaches vs Slowhands
« Reply #8 on: July 03, 2006, 06:03:31 PM »
I have played two gigs with my two Strats-one with Apaches, the other with Slowhands and my impressions are that the Slowhands have much more mids to them- no surprises there, it says so in the description on the products page. Overall, I prefer the sound of the Apaches though that is not to say I have any problem with the S/H's it is just for what I do , the Apaches are a tad more adaptable ( I am talking about live). However, the S/Hs are great when things get a bit lary. The S/Hs have a lovely creamy tone and the 2nd & 4th positions do seem to be thicker than the Apache equivalents. The middle pups of both sets are great, I know many players don't bother with them, I have always liked them but since having BK's I use them even more. Appropriately enough I use the S/H's on "Badge" and "Old Love" t'other night ( Clapton songs for those that don't know) and an audience member spoke to me after and said how much he liked my playing and my tone and that he often worked for Eric Clapton ( I think he was a builder)- I suggested he tell Eric about BK's- he took one of our cards and said he'd mention it- you never know do you.
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Johnny Mac

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Apaches vs Slowhands
« Reply #9 on: July 03, 2006, 06:23:48 PM »
Interesting stuff Mr 38th! I bet that country house gig was nice, sounds it!

I love 'Badge', those arpeggios send shivers down my spine. Hey that would be cool if E.C got some BKPs! It must feel good to have someone in the audience and say that. Nice one!

Do you fancy getting some I.T's in the future too?
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38thBeatle

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Apaches vs Slowhands
« Reply #10 on: July 03, 2006, 07:42:38 PM »
Hi Johnny- I would love to get some IT's- I will have to get another Strat which I am up for but not sure about the Mrs. I am a fan of Rory G as well as SRV and I can imagine they'd be superb for that sort of stuff - not that the Apaches or S/H's are lacking- trouble is, I'd spend ages trying to decide what to play and would be late for the gig. I don't know how guys like Tim and Phil King cope- they are truly legends.
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PhilKing

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Apaches vs Slowhands
« Reply #11 on: July 03, 2006, 07:55:34 PM »
For me it is easy - I don't play gigs anymore so the guitars are all at home :shock:

I think though that if I am honest, my favourites are the LP with Riff Raff/Stormy Monday and LP with Black Dogs,  PRS with Crawler & 2 P90's (I was talking with TO and was saying that I would probably pick this one to gig with if I had to just take one guitar), Strat with Apaches and 1960 Strat with 1 BKP rewind and originals in other positions. Tele with Brown Sugar/Slowhand, PRS with Rebel Yells and last but my no means least HSS Strat with Holy Diver and 2 Trilogy Suites (beautiful neck after Jonathan fixed it and scalloped the top half).  You can now see the problem I have though, how to pick one guitar out of them!  I think that when I get the new mules for the 335, then I might want to play that a lot too!
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TwilightOdyssey

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Apaches vs Slowhands
« Reply #12 on: July 03, 2006, 08:03:02 PM »
I think you're both looking at it the wrong way.

Which guitar to take?





The one that matches your stage attire the best!!!!!!!!!!!
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Jonesy

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Apaches vs Slowhands
« Reply #13 on: July 03, 2006, 09:23:15 PM »
Pardon my ignorance, but whats a 'stage attire'?
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CaffeineJunkie

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Apaches vs Slowhands
« Reply #14 on: July 03, 2006, 09:33:39 PM »
Quote from: Jonesy
Pardon my ignorance, but whats a 'stage attire'?


what you wear on stage
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