Thoughts on Steve's Special and Humbucker From Hell?

Dee · #1 03-10-2007, 11:30 AM

Users of the Steve's Special, can you give me your thoughts / opinions of this pickup? I am planning on pairing it with a Humbucker From Hell (my favourite neck position pickup), just wondering how well the two would mix in an RG550.

voodoo_child · #2 03-10-2007, 11:57 AM

I havent a clue how it would match with your HFH, but i have one (steves specia) in one of my J-Customs and i like it a lot.

Dee · #3 03-10-2007, 12:33 PM

Having never heard the Special and only read about it, I would imagine the tone would be a decent match -- both pickups don't have a great deal of mids, the HFH stays nice and clear when distorted, etc., but I'm wondering if the output might be just a tad too far apart.

I'm trying to avoid the typical combinations of pickups here... you know "get some Evo's", and "hey, get a Tone Zone"... those pickups just aren't me, I want some soul in my tone, dammit! I just know that the HFH is the best kept secret and I want the perfect match.

howe · #4 03-10-2007, 12:54 PM

i change my steve´s special and v7 in my rg550 for two paf pro.
For me, the steve special have to much treble.

...i'm happy now with my two pafs, but i recently get in love with the tone zone!!!.

waylay00 · #5 03-10-2007, 02:22 PM

I have a Steve's Special in my PRS SE (mahogany), and the tone is incredible. It's really smooth, and I can distinguish individual notes on open chords, even with the maximum amount of gain. It's a really nice pickup in mahogany, but I don't know how it would be in basswood.

Have you looked at Breeds?

OLIE_ROCKS_THE_80'S · #6 03-10-2007, 02:28 PM

That would be a great combo Dee I have it in one of my JPM replicas and IMHO sounds great!!!!

_FR0D0 · #7 03-10-2007, 03:54 PM

I used to have a SS in my RG 570 and it sound fantastic, the sound was cristal clear, very hi-fi. It is not loger living in hat guitar cos my Other one, a S-470 was a little muddy with the new amp I get, so I used the SS to clean it up. In basswood it was cristal clear hi-fi, in mahogany, it sound smooth and clean the mud a lot.
Hope it helps.

jm1681 · #8 03-10-2007, 03:57 PM

I LOVE my Steve's Special.

The tone is full, with just enough bite, and definition galore. My favorite Bridge pickup without a doubt.

j.arledge · #9 03-10-2007, 04:00 PM

i didn't really like the steve's special too much, it is great for smoother stuff but i have a neck pickup for smooth stuff . I want a bridge pickup with a bit more drive on the pre-amp.

i am sure if i had another amp or setup the SS would be useful but i didn't like it for what i have now .

the hum from hell is loud , very loud . it says it is a vintage output pickup but it will overpower a lot of medium range pickups and even some of the high output ones , i dont think it would match ideally with a hum from hell but there again that is just my opionion .

sick-boy · #10 03-10-2007, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee

Having never heard the Special and only read about it, I would imagine the tone would be a decent match -- both pickups don't have a great deal of mids, the HFH stays nice and clear when distorted, etc., but I'm wondering if the output might be just a tad too far apart.

If you're worried about that why not try a Virtual PAF or Bluesbucker?

Dee · #11 03-10-2007, 04:52 PM

I think I'm sold on the SS, sick boy. Olie, waylay and JM''s replies have given me the confidence to put the SS at the top of my list. Clarity in high gain situations is important to me, and plenty of bite. I like to knock the treble back on the amp a little and if I can do that without getting a muddy sound, that's great. I have thought about Breed's but I was under the impression they are quite bassy?

As far as I know the Bluesbreaker or virtual PAF are not really what I'm after, but I'll certainly go read up on those a little more. Thanks for the suggestion.

EDIT: Nah, the Virtual PAF is out of the question, it's just a bit too vintage, going on the description on the Dimarzio site. I can't find specs for the Bluesbreaker, but that sounds like a blues kinda pickup, which is just not my thing. I'm wanting a Jimi-ish single coil kinda clarity on steroids.

EDIT again. I'm stupid, I found the description now. But no, it seems to be mainly bassed up with very little treble. I bet it's a creamy sounding pickup, which is not what I need.

toneboy · #12 03-10-2007, 06:09 PM

The HFH sounds loud but it's bright. BTW Dee, you're looking for the Bluesbucker and not the Bluesbreaker pup correct? I ordered a Norton and Bluesbucker for my new Les Paul. I expect to have them by the end of the month. The Bluesbucker is designed to sound like a kick butt P90. So it's like a single coil on steroids.

Dee · #13 03-10-2007, 06:18 PM

Damn, yeah the Bluesbucker. My bad. I'm half zombified here mate, no sleep since Thursday! Well let me have a think about that one, preferably after some snooze! I won't be buying for a little while anyway, so maybe I'll wait for your report on the pickup when you get it. Cheers again.

toneboy · #14 03-10-2007, 06:39 PM

Considering the Bluesbreakers are from your native land, it makes sense why you had that on your mind.

jm1681 · #15 03-10-2007, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee

...Olie, waylay and JM''s replies have given me the confidence to put the SS at the top of my list. Clarity in high gain situations is important to me, and plenty of bite. I like to knock the treble back on the amp a little and if I can do that without getting a muddy sound, that's great...

You won't be disappointed