HRW vs. Sheptone PAF's

[Halowords]

Pretty self-explanatory by-and-large. I ordered some Sheptones a while ago (one set is a little hotter and it's going in my H-150 as soon as that Pagebucker wiring system comes in, one's a more standard PAF I got for a semi-hollow down the road). Anyway, it looks like I'm ordering a custom Prospect (hooray!).

 

My dilemma is that I could either send my Sheptone PAF's in and have them installed or . . . I could get the HRW's installed and swap if/when I want. I'm leaning toward the HRW's, as mentioned earlier, but I am still curious if anybody's tried both Shep's pickups and the Heritage HRW's how they differed. Anybody do a direct comparison, or even just hear both enough to give approximations?

[tulk1]

I had a similar thought when I ordered my first custom Heritage. The dealer suggested I let Heritage install their pickups. Then if I wanted, swap them out later. At the time, it wasn't for sure that H would credit me back for using my own pickups. Hence, getting factory installed from the get go.

 

Cool beans on the Prospect. I know you're gonna LOVE IT!!

 

And no clue on the Sheptones v HRWs.

[smurph1]

Congrats on the prospect!!

[FredZepp]

I can't help much here... I've got Sheptone PAF's, but no HRW's to compare. Not even Schallers...though I have a set of those on a shelf.

 

I'd suspect the HRW's would be a touch hotter, and the Sheps more vintage.

But that's a total guess....

I get a really great single coil sound from the Sheps also.

 

congrats on ordering the Prospect..!!

[Kuz]

I would send in the Sheps (and get the Heritage credit to you for not buying pickups).

 

The only drawback would be if you wanted HRWs later, they would be hard to find without sending the guitar back to Heritage.

 

PERSONALLY, I like HRWs in Archtops, played clean, for Jazz. HRWs are very Hi-Fi sounding. I didn't like them in solid body Heritages or in Semi solid Heritages. They might be good for metal playing due to their clarity, but not for a bluesy break up (HRWs are just too metallic & hi-fi sounding, I don't hear the wood in solid/semi solid bodies)

 

Just my opinion.

[pro-fusion]

Sorry, I can't help with the Sheptones. However, I finally got around to installing a set of HRWs that I bought from Brent awhile back into my 157. Holy hell, they sound good in that guitar. I already have HRWs in my Millie, but I was worried they wouldn't be right for what is a fairly "toppy" sounding 157. Nope, they sound great.

 

Keep in mind that I mostly use my 157 for very high-gain applications, so I like that precise sound and crunchy top end the HRWs add. The thing that has impressed me most so far is how useful the middle position is with HRWs. The bridge and neck versions are voiced so differently that they provide a very nice sound when used together, where LP-style guitars often sound kind of weird in the middle position to my ears.

 

I would NOT recommend HRWs if you are looking for a PAF sound, however. They are really nothing like the classic PAF. In fact, I can't think of any other pickup they remind me of.

[Halowords]

Thanks pro-f (and the rest of you).

 

Are there any good clips of people putting HRW's through all the bases? I'd love to check out what they kinda sound like in the bridge, neck, and middle position in both clean and overdriven or high-gain capacities if they're out there. More curiosity at this point than anything.