What PU's do you guys recommend for Classic 70's rock tone?

[leadguitar_323]

thanks for that mate...

Mick

 

[japanstrat]

Here are some pickup samples

Here is a 1976 Ibanez Destroyer with Super 70s played through a Pod XT

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=723684&songID=5804064

Here is a Greco Destroyer with U-2000 pickups played through a Pod XT

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=723684&songID=5759008

Here is a Strat with Duncan 59 I think played through a Marshall 2203 clone

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=503988&songID=7693551

Here is a Strat with a DiMarzio Super Distortion with a changed magnet from the original ceramic magnet to a Alnico 5 magnet played through a 2 amp slaved setup

It's basically a cranked tube Plexi first amp into a line out load which is a Marshall Powerbrake and then the line out is taken to amp 2 which is a tube power amp (effects return input) and then guitar speakers.
Amp 2 can set the volume at any level (including bedroom level) and the same tone will still result.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=503988&songID=6917395

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=503988&songID=7164257

 

[leadguitar_323]

WOW....that destroyer with the super 70's sounds great. That running with the devil clip is spot on...

Mick

 

[CliffsGuitarWorld]

It depends on your thinking... if you want the 70's sound that was popular like Led Zeppelin... Then go with the DRY-Z's as these are as close to the Gibson PAF's out there... IMO....and many others.... hence the price!!!

 

[Mick51]

Mitch, here's my nickel's worth on 70's tone pickups:

Depends on what you want for 70's sound. There's 70's, and there's true PAF tone.

I have tried quite a few US p/ups. I can't comment on the Dry-Z's or Dry-1982's, or any of the well-regarded British or European p/ups. But, from what I have tried, the very top of the 70's sound heap are Peter Florance VooDoo 59's, and Wolfetone Dr Vintage. They are not quite true PAF, to my old and somewhat damaged ears, but they are exceptional for what they are. Jim Wagner makes some fine p/ups, there are lots of others, but I put these at the top. Better than any of the T-Tops, Shaw, etc that I have installed and played.


For true PAF sound, I have a couple pair pre-T-Tops. One of them is as close as I will ever get to PAF's, because I'm not paying $5 k for a pair of p/ups I could have bought for $100 back when I was in college. But, for folks winding sound-alike p/ups, the very best that I have found are Tom Holmes H450/H455 - around $600 a set from Tom, with a 4-6 month waiting list; Dave Stephens Vintage Lab - around $400 a set, with 4-8 week waiting list; and Wolfetone Legends, $250-$300 and pretty much 1 week or so. I can't put these in any particular ranking; I just don't think there is such a thing as "better" at this level.
Each of these is excellent, true PAF tone, and each is slightly different. Big surprise - none of the late 50's PAF's sounded exactly alike, either. They do seem to take a couple weeks to "play in," after you get them set about right. Don't know if it's the magnets, windings, or what, but there is a subtle change in the tone after several sessions of playing.

So, that's my take. Remember, your mileage may vary..

 

[Mitch Malloy]

Thanks for that I may implement so of your knowledge but at the moment I'm pretty much loving all the Stock PU's in my Greco's. And because of that I bought a Greco PU off ebay and put it in my Hamer Artist to replace the Seth lover or whatever they are called and it sounds WAY better. Cheap nasty PU's those Grecos and to me they sound better than anything else I've heard. But that's me. I like a LOT of top end and clarity and I get the beef from the amp. I tired some texas barbecue somthing or other and it sound like a bloated piece of *****. Sent it back and put the Greco back in. Ahhhh the high end came back. :>) I'm happy,,, this was an old post asking about PU's as I wasn't happy at the time and thought I could surely beat these cheap light little pu's that came with the guitar but in the end so far I can't. After some tweaking and getting used to it I don't think I could beat it at all. I've had other session guys in with all their nice guitars and they end up playing all the Greco's and going home and most likely buying one of their own. :>) I can't even play my $4000 Anderson tele anymore it sounds like *** compared to all my Gecos. ??? Go figure.. I just wish Greco had a current company and I could endorse them. And get some more stuff. LOL..

 

[leadguitar_323]

Hi Mitch, Depending what year yours is, after 1981 Fujigen is the company that made most of these guitars and they are still producing excellent high end guitars now.
http://www.fujigen.co.jp/default.asp

Have a look, there are some beautiful guitars on their site.

Mick

 

[Mitch Malloy]

Cool thanks for that.

 

[le juge]

The only way to be endorced by Greco is to buy all greco guitars you can find.
I have stock PUs (U-1000) on my 1976 Greco SG-600 and I prefer the sound to other expensive PUs ! The true sound of 70's r'n'r.
I also like the old tone of the stock DiMarzio Paf of my 1978 Eg model.

I'd like to try Dry Z, but unfortunatly, I haven't played a Super Real EG-1200/1800 ! :-?

 

[MIJvintage]

I have one set of Dry Z, which are IMO so far the best.

I have one set of PU-2, which are IMO a pretty close second to the Dry Z pups.

All of my other pickups don't come close to these two ............. even the SD Seth Lovers in my LS-320 don't compare :-? ................

 

[Mitch Malloy]

Seths clean are good but they are buzzy turned up. They have a strange buzz on the top I hate. At least in my Hamer they did.