Harmonic Design bucker review

[rays44]

This is the V plus uncovered bridge model. Have it in a LP heritage elite. One tone pot acts as a variable coil splitter for the HD, the other is a master tone with a .0068 cap. Neck is a Seth. The HD bucker has an alnico magnet (don't know which one) and an 8.9K output. It replaced a Duncan JB. The V plus is ballsy with punch and clarity at the same time. Nice even spread across the board (more bottom and tighter than the JB). The top is focused and clear but not sterile. First impression; notes FLY out the amp like 10 guage steel shot. Very sensitive to pick attack and dynamics. Very nice sustain. I don't play through Marshalls anymore, but I hear a convincing early Van Halen in those coils. A great match for the Seth and has a world of tones with this guitar setup. It's closer to a PAF than a hot pickup in terms of harmonic spread, but it's not a PAF clone. More sensitive to string proximity than any other pickup. I play with an aggresive blues style through mostly Fender amps and this pickup suits me well. It is one of the few pickups that has it's own thing going (like the Z90). As always, your mileage may vary.:smokin

 

[allenkaatz]

I have the exact same pickup in the bridge position of a historic LP custom, they are really nice. More clarity than a real PAF but still sweet sounding. I'd like to hear the covered model though as I sometimes have to roll off the treble on this PU with my guitar. I really like the HD stuff anyway, I have a set of his pickups on a Telecaster and a set of Z-90s and VP-90s on two other guitars. All of the HD pickups have that clear quality and are very dynamic. They don't sound like anything else but they sound good.

Al

 

[Alien]

Thank you very much! I'm enlightened... I think I have to check them too.

The only thing that disturbs me now is that the HD's generally emphasize the top end a lot. I understand that this is the key to clarity and opennes in sound. I wonder if you could compare its top end to a SD '59 or Custom or even a Gibson 500T.

Thank you!

 

[justin]

i just got a set

I just got both the neck and bridge models. I haven't fooled with the neck pickup much yet, but the bridge pickup I have absolutley dialed in to perfection! I agree that thee pickups are extrememely sensitive to height and polepiece adjustment. I even emailed scott about it and he confirmed that no other pickup is as sensitive.

I've been able to get a really warm, clear tone from the bridge pickup by lowering the polepieces so that they're just a tad below the cover.

I'll post again about the pickup as soon as I get some mileage on them.

Yeah baby...
http://ezprints.mye-pix.com/image.a...jpg&width=415&height=504&title=601136_rig.jpg

 

[justin]

Hey Alien

Alien,

HD's, in my experience have the best high end I've heard. They're clear and warm at the same time. If you think they're bright, chances are that they were adjusted too high or something. Like I just said in my last post, these things are very sensitive! But I will have to confirm all my observations once the newness wears off a little.

 

[EdA]

I had an HD in the neck of a tele, really amazing pickup. Loud, clear, open and sustaining. Much more alive than the typical vintage type tele neck pickup. I shouldnt have sold it...

 

[Alien]

Justin, muchas gracias! :mex :term o :fatty

 

[GuitarG]

Thanks for the review. I have only played the HD once, in a R59, and I was very impressed. I'm thinking of getting a covered model for the bridge of my RI Custom. I have Seths in there now. I love the neck Seth but I think I want a little more 'oomph' from the bridge. I may just have to get one.