Introducing the pup that killed Evo 2

[Shredcows]

Guys,
Just 1 week back, I changed my pups in my S520EX for the 12th time. From an Air Norton / Double Whammy to an Evo neck / Evo 2 set.

I really love the Evo neck.. its got this grit and more character than the Air Norton. Not as dynamic but good enough, and thicker than the AN. I love it, my search for the neck pup can be laid to rest now.

The Evo 2, was met with mixed reactions. I was thinking oh man, this pup screams!!! The bass is uber tight... not much bass but if you use large speakers, WOW... the bass is good enough. Very cutting. Very tight. Good cleans IMO. Nice. But somethign was just bugging me... maybe it was the way it was compressed? I dunno... but something just didn't agree.

ENTER the Stan Hinesley Viper.

This is a custom wound pup from www.has-sound.com .... got it last night... plonked it in... and WOW.

Take a listen first (all same clip):
Rig: Ibanez S520EX with Viper (bridge) --> Tonefactor Hellbilly --> Tech21 TRI AC --> Demeter mid boost --> Boss DD3 --> laptop (onboard slight reverb)

http://s29.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0...71UWPWLUX2FM2I

http://s29.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2...N3QGT8JKODZ9JE

http://www.megaupload.com/?e=XJ3ZBJNPY9ZLRN

Note:
@ 1:15, lowered the vol control, showing how the Viper cleans up
@ 1:40 split tones (I like)


Now, these are my thoughts about the Viper...
It straddles the line btw vintage and modern tones. Its kind of PAF-ish (very similiar to the Breed neck in bridge) but has great bass, tight too. There's this slight fizz (for lack of a better word) which gives this Viper a raw character that stands out from the processed tones of the Evo 2. The bass, while obviously there, has this slight wooliness to it, very nice. Treble, it bites more than the Evo 2, more presence. Its really a runchy rock n roll kind of vibe.

A word about the mids... we know Dimarzio has a very vocal mid range to it... the Viper has it but less prominent than the Evo 2. I would think the mids on the Viper is down by a notch. Very crisp and clear for rhythm, I would think its more articulate than the Evo 2.

Note clarity and seperation is very good. Very very good. The evo 2 is voiced more modern? Its like then notes meld together with higher gain... the Viper has a good degree of note seperation. Not everyone's cup of tea but it works for me!

Dynamics wise, it is similiar to the Evo 2, not as compressed though. It cleans up quite well, I would say the Evo 2 cleans up in a smoother way but no biggie to me.

Harmonics? It sure can scream! The Evo 2 screams more easily by a hair but this Viper sounds more... organic, warmer than the Evo 2.

Split, it has a more bold tone and interprets your picking dynamics well.

Cleans, well, its not in the clip above but its got great bass, and sounds thick and slightly mellow. Full bodied kind of tone.

Strangely, though the Viper's DC resist is measured at 13.5k, its magnet pull (I used an allen key to compare) is much weaker than the Evo 2... very cool. Means more sustain. :P

Overall, the main thing that makes the Viper rock so HARD... is the raw character. It just makes you wanna rip out with some old school riffing, if you get what I mean...

I'll be posting more clips to showcase the cleans and what not... but this pup, man, slayed the Evo 2 for me. Gimme your thoughts guys...

[JimmyJ]

glad to hear you like it man!

I listened to your clip, and although i like the clarity of the pickup sound, i wasnt sold, whether it was the style you were playing or the material you played, didnt sell me as it sold you.

But maybe im wrong, but what does it matter that i didnt like it, you like it right ive learned that as long as you are over the moon with the sound thats all that matters

[Shredcows]

You are right man. Very right. If it rocks for me, more power to me!

But its really good stuff, I had to share. :P

Well, one thing I realised, when it comes to pups, sound is just one tiny bit of the criteria to becoming a killer pickup. Another factor is how the pup interacts with you. And this Viper just did it for me.. the way it interacts with me. Amazing.

One thing about it... I'm not sure if people noticed.. but.. for a BRIDGE pickup, the Viper sounds damn meaty when playing all the way up! Like > 15th fret on the plain steel strings.

In any case... Here's another clip. :P You can clearly hear the bite, dynamics and the meaty-ness-high-up of the Viper...

http://s22.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0...J39Q6PC0A2V4U5
http://s22.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1...N3CE1ETNHA614I

[JimmyJ]

glad you agree, makes me realise we are definately on the same wavelength

[Shredcows]

(A) HAS Sound VIPER humbucker

Demo Song*
Viper 1 link

Ibanez S520EX w/Viper Bridge --> Ibanez TS9DX / Tonefactor Hellbilly (either one on)--> Skreddy Screwdriver--> Tech21 Sansamp Classic (on clean, its my "amp")--> Demeter Midboost (for last lead)--> Boss DD3 (w/hi cut mod)--> Laptop (mixdown with some reverb, nothing else)

0:01 - 0:07 : Clean tones only. Only Sansamp Classic on. Viper split for
rhythm, series for leads.
0:07 - 0:21 : Still mainly clean. Lead is TS9DX --> Sansamp Classic 0:21 - 0:28 : Moderate gain tones. Rhythm is just Skreddy Screwdriver --> Sansamp Classic. Lead is TS9DX --> Skreddy Screwdriver --> Sansamp Classic
0:28 - END : My highest gain. Rhythm is TS9DX --> Skreddy Screwdriver --> Sansamp Classic. Lead is the Hellbilly instead of the TS9DX.

You can focus your attention on the many parts going on to "bring out" that part. There's a LOT of different parts so you can take your time and relisten as much as you need to. Oh, I never played with the tone/vol controls on my guitar.

*Note: Some of you will remember this was the same piece I used for the Breed neck in bridge demo. Well, listening to that old clip now... I'm quite... appalled by my old tone.

FLAT RESPONSE DEMO
Viper 2 link

Ibanez S520EX w/Viper Bridge, Tech21 TRI OD (speaker simulation only, bass & treble at at 12 o'clock), Laptop. No efx, just a mixdown.

Check out the DYNAMICS. Its only a speaker sim going on, which is essentially, like just plugging straight to my laptop from my guitar.

[Screaming Solo]

sounds great man....how would you compare it with a Tone Zone? its my current pickup of choice

[Shredcows]

Well, I've used a Tonezone in both the bridge and neck positions in the same guitar mentioned above. So!

I find the Tonezone's bass rather loose, and it does have an organic vibe to it aye? The mids are always in your face... you can hear it. Its dark, very dark. Its quite dynamic. Harmonics are great! Not much of note seperation...

So in comparison with the Viper...
The Viper has a tighter bass but remains slightly loose so it does sound organic too. The mids are much more subtle than a Tonezone but , as you can hear from the flat response demo, its fat alright. The Viper isn't as dark as the tonezone, which (TZ) does sound almost muted clean. And you can hear how dynamic the Viper is. The Viper has more bite to the harmonics and overall tone, mainly due to the ceremic magnets. Great note seperation.

Thats my take on it. For the first time in all my life, I've actually stopped looking for bridge pups... I'm actually satisfied. Hahaha! Damn... took me a long time...