HRW pick-ups are more than "Hi-Fi"

[Blunote]

I've notice a trend toward describing HRW's as sounding "hi-fi".

 

If by hi-fi, we mean the pickups can dial in a clean creamy tone like Wes Montgomery would have favored, then I agree, they'll give lots of pure clean sound. But they can also dial in a whole other range of tones that are anything but "hi-fi".

 

Even so, at some point, someone coined the term and it stuck. In my view, it unfairly and inaccurately conjures images of a sound that's overly processed; lacking genuine character, sterile.

 

Fortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. However, It concerns me that new members might rule out guitars with HRWs. That would be a shame. IMO, HRWs are among the finest sounding pickups on the market, and since they're only available in a Heritage, I'd especially encourage anyone considering this brand to check them out.

[FredZepp]

I don't currently own a set of HRW's, but I understand what you mean in saying the term "Hi-Fi" in guitar terms may not be seen as a positive comment.

 

Certainly a lot a people love the HRW's and I seem to remember a guitar magazine giving an award to Heritage for that pickup.

 

Would you describe it as...

Relatively powerful, not at all muddy or gritty, well defined and articulate, but in a vintage flavor. ?

 

 

I'd certainly consider HRW's a plus in a Heritage guitar. But then, I like a wide variety of pickups, just to keep things interesting.

[H]

I own an H-170 with HRWs. I don't play with a lot of pedals.

 

The bridge pickup is hifi; for me that is uncoloured, without character, without 'depth'. However, with a pedal, such as overdrive or distortion, it doesn't descend into 'mud' like others can.

 

The HRW neck pickup, by contrast, is a thing of sonic wonder A varying range of tones at different volume levels and truly fantastic played alone with the tone rolled right back.

 

I've heard enough pickups to know what I like and, for me, the bridge HRW in my 170 does not provide enough variance in sound when adjusting the tone/volume to make it a position I want to play very much.

[Blunote]

I own an H-170 with HRWs. I don't play with a lot of pedals.

 

The bridge pickup is hifi; for me that is uncoloured, without character, without 'depth'. However, with a pedal, such as overdrive or distortion, it doesn't descend into 'mud' like others can.

 

The HRW neck pickup, by contrast, is a thing of sonic wonder A varying range of tones at different volume levels and truly fantastic played alone with the tone rolled right back.

 

I've heard enough pickups to know what I like and, for me, the bridge HRW in my 170 does not provide enough variance in sound when adjusting the tone/volume to make it a position I want to play very much.

 

I don't get that characterization. Are you unable to get an overdriven sound without a pedal? On the bridge pickup only?

 

 

What amp are you using?

 

 

[Blunote]

Maybe it's just me, but I hear plenty of character in this demo.

 

[tulk1]

If I had a beef with HRW's it'd be that, for me, they have always tended to fade away in the mix. Playing them at home they sound fantastic. Low volume rehearsals they're fine. But let the live stage vol start to rise and suddenly I'm searching for my guitar. Which is probably where the "hi-fi" comes in, in that they don't stand out on their own. Granted, my experience has been with semi-hollows, not solid bodies. Maybe (most likely) they react differently in a solid body. But I don't have that problem with the PhatCats in the Prospect. I do, however, think they are one of the most realistic "split" humbucker tones out there. They get that single coil sound going quite well.

[Kuz]

I have had several guitars with HRWs and switched out the HRWs to other PAF pickups.

 

In my current Heritage Golden Eagle it has an HRW, which is fine, but wouldn't be my first choice. Reason why? The HRW is too Hi-Fi (meaning it is higher output, and doesn't have enough woody, transparent tone). I can get by with HRWs in archtops (where I have had two guitars with them), but my first choice would be Seth Lovers for more of a low output, transparent tone (like I have in my 575, where the Seths are very woody and rounder, sweeter sounding).

 

Just my opinion, but I don't like them in Semi-hollows (had a set in my 555) or in solid bodies (had a set in my GT 150).

Didn't like them for the same reasons.

 

If they work for you that is GREAT, but for me I think there are a lot other truer PAF pups I would use first.

 

But again, this is only my opinion.

[Blunote]

I have had several guitars with HRWs and switched out the HRWs to other PAF pickups.

 

In my current Heritage Golden Eagle it has an HRW, which is fine, but wouldn't be my first choice. Reason why? The HRW is too Hi-Fi (meaning it is higher output, and doesn't have enough woody, transparent tone). I can get by with HRWs in archtops (where I have had two guitars with them), but my first choice would be Seth Lovers for more of a low output, transparent tone (like I have in my 575, where the Seths are very woody and rounder, sweeter sounding).

 

Just my opinion, but I don't like them in Semi-hollows (had a set in my 555) or in solid bodies (had a set in my GT 150).

Didn't like them for the same reasons.

 

If they work for you that is GREAT, but for me I think there are a lot other truer PAF pups I would use first.

 

But again, this is only my opinion.

 

 

I don't know that I hear the sort of tone Clapton produced on the Beano album but I'm also not sure that they were mean't to replicate the early PAFs. My sense was that these are really cool sounding pickups with a signature sound the boys on Parson Street liked.

 

Did Heritage originally market them as PAF pups?

[zookroo1]

Maybe it's just me, but I hear plenty of character in this demo.

 

 

That is a pretty good demo, I'll give you that...

[H]

I don't get that characterization. Are you unable to get an overdriven sound without a pedal? On the bridge pickup only?

 

 

What amp are you using?

I can get an overdriven sound from the bridge HRW, that's not the issue.

 

The bridge HRW has no real character, no distinctive 'colouring' of the guitar's sound like, say, an SD 59 or a BurstBucker would. That might be OK for you but I personally don't care for it.

 

I play through a real Vox Night Train and about 15 virtual amps via Guitar Rig 4.

[Gitfiddler]

I like the tone of HRW's in semis, hollows, chambered and solid body guitars. Maybe it is because I mostly play clean and not much overdriven music, but they work for me.

 

Also, each guitar, no matter the construction type, is going to sound different. With HRW's, just as with other pickups, I adjust them to maximize their tone to suit me. I spend a LOT of time adjusting pickups until they sound the way I think they should in a specific guitar. I've probably saved a ton of cash by doing this rather than replacing p'ups. Plus when the drummer kicks in, those little tonal nuances that drive us crazy at home won't matter much anyway.

 

It is a very personal thing, just like adding red pepper to pasta or Tabasco to chile. It's all a matter of taste.

 

 

[Blunote]

I can get an overdriven sound from the bridge HRW, that's not the issue.

 

The bridge HRW has no real character, no distinctive 'colouring' of the guitar's sound like, say, an SD 59 or a BurstBucker would. That might be OK for you but I personally don't care for it.

 

I play through a real Vox Night Train and about 15 virtual amps via Guitar Rig 4.

 

Your post provoked me to do some A/B/C comparisons between my 3 guitars plugged directly in to a Fender Blues Jr. amp. The guitars were a Millie Ultra Std with HRWs, a H150 DLX with SD-59s and an H150P with stock Schallers. Since they are very different guitars, it's not a totally scientific test but it did give me more appreciation for how the different pickups sound. I was playing a little Crossroads Blues, and the interlude from Sweet Home Alabama on each to get a sense of how each bridge pickup sounded clean and dirty.

 

I thought the 59's had a little more of the classic PAF sound at higher gain; there's a bit of a micro-phonic character like you're listening to it through a steel drum. The HRWs had some of that but I could hear the strings ring through the distortion more than with the 59's when chords were played -which I think adds a little complexity to the sound. On the other hand, if you're looking for coloring, the stock Schallers took the steel drum effect to another level.

 

It's all good. I like each for what they do and every set of ears will have their own preferences. But I still disagree with the premise that an HRW bridge pup lacks character or "color".

[tulk1]

Plus when the drummer kicks in, those little tonal nuances that drive us crazy at home won't matter much anyway.

Really??? ............... Git, that ain't no lie, right there. ............

[guitarnut1]

I have played Burstbuckers, 490s, PRS pickups, SD (59, Seth Lover, JB, antiquities) all have pluses and, I wouldn's say minuses, as it's all a matter of taste.

 

But I personally REALLY like the HRWs, my first Heritage (150 ultra) had them and I was really amazed and loved them from the moment I picked up the guitar.

 

With the overdriven sound, IMO it's alla matter of amp, pedal settings. A pickup which sounds good clear usually sounds good overdriven as well, this has been my experience.

 

And finally, I once again got a Heritage 150 ulta with HRWs in it.

[H]

I appreciate your experiment, Blunote We have our HRWs in very different guitars.

 

My own comparisons were done with 535/Schallers and 150/SD59s (now has Phat Cats). It's all about 'subjective' I guess

 

I'll finish by repeating that I LOVE the neck position HRW in my 170. I simply cannot play that guitar unplugged!