Getting used to my new H150

[rockabilly69]

As I've got the action lower I'm starting to like the neck curve on the Heritages. Originally I didn't like it cause the strings were just too damn high and that extra beef on the lower part of the neck just added to playing difficulty. But now that the action is low and slick it just gives the neck a handmade quality that I like. Also with lighter gauge strings on the guitar, I'm starting to find a resonant voice in it that just wasn't there. I'm sure part of it is due to the trussrod adjustment, and the intonation being right on, but the lighter gauge has a snap that I like. It's was missing something in the mids, but I think that had something to do with the Pearly Gates and the way they are voiced, I spent at least an hour on setting up them up until they started giving up the goods. They are very sensitive to adjustment, and can go from too thin to, too boomy, in just a few turns of the screw driver, but when you find the sweetspot they are capable of a nice singing quality. I spent two hours playing it yesterday, and had a really good time. Just playing for fun which I rarely get to do because of my busy gig schedule. Although I spent alot of time with the amp for the pickups, half the time I wasn't even plugged in. I like doing that because I can hear what the strings are doing at every fret, which sometimes get's lost in electric tests. I plan on having a slight fret dress done on it, and have the nut cut a little better, as soon as I know where all the problem areas are (and there aren't many areas on this neck that are problems). I first want to get the guitar acclimated to the low humidity of Utah and the type of strings that sound best with it. When the house is quiet, and my girlfriend is sleeping, I just sit there and play till I pass out. I've made up some cool new licks with this guitar. I can feel the handmade quality of this new rig, and I've decided that I will only play this guitar on my electric gigs until I get it perfect. I want to treat it as my only electric guitar like I did when I first started playing, when I could only afford one guitar. I surely learned how to get some serious tones out of my first Les Paul Deluxe, and that guitar was no match for this Heritage. So the verdict is that it is truley a keeper.

[LucSulla]

I love PGs. Aside from sounding great for blues and other grit applications, I found them to be a damn fine pickup for drop-d groove metal and even a bit of thrash-influenced hard rock/metal I used to play. Just screwing around with the volume on the guitar I could pretty happily go from "Jesus Left Chicago" to just "JESUS!"

[rockabilly69]

I can see the PG being good for Drop D tuning, it seems like it they actually exibit a slightly scooped tone. I personally

like a dirty tone that actually sounds clean in the mix, but when you hear it on it's own you know it's overdriven. I tend to

roll off the bright highs on my solos and eq out any low that can mud up, so that the low strings sound clean like an

acoustic guitar. As a matter of fact, I think electrics sound best when they mimic the clarity of a good acoustic guitar

but exhibit the character of the amp they are playing through. I know it's a good tone when it can stand on it's own!

[LucSulla]

That makes a lot of sense. I've found myself doing a bit of that lately, though I have never really thought it out as well as you just stated it. I switched to Mesas about a year ago after 10 years of playing Marshalls, and it has really changed my entire approach to highs and lows. The EQs on a JCM 2000 didn't nearly have the extremes of the Mesa (not to mention it was 60 vs. 90 watts). You simply couldn't overload the cab with bass. You could make it sound muddy, but you couldn't get to the point where you could hear the speakers just failing to push the lows out anymore like with a Mesa. However, after I finally learned to dial the Mesa in, the "the low strings sound clean like an acoustic guitar" sound you describe is about the best way to put what it sounds like. It is distorted, but also very clear. It has taken some getting used to, but I dig how tight that sound can be.

[DetroitBlues]

I didn't like the Pearly Gates on my old Fender Lonestar Strat. Way overpowered the single coil Texas Specials...

[rockabilly69]

DB,

 

I didn't like them in those Lonestars either! And I had them in an old Ibanez LP knockoff and they were ice picky in that.

But, I bought the H150 due to the video that was on Wolfe's site. Through that rig they sounded great, and the way I

have them adjusted now they sound very good. But, today I went to my studio with one one my best friends, who is

the best amp tech I've ever met. I was giving him some lessons on recording techniques and the differences different

preamps can bring to the table. Well, he had his 59 reissue with him, and it was loaded with Throbaks. So I plugged it

into my Tophat Club Deluxe and gave it a proper workout. Those pickups immediately gave up the tone I've been

trying to adjust the Pearlys too. No contest the Throbaks sounded fabulous. I had my guitar, plugged into the same

amp and I could not find the tone that was there, and his guitar sounded almost identical to mine acoustically. To-

morrow I will be whipping out the credit card and buying some Throbaks. My buddy said that my H150 sounded

much better than his Gibson did before he put in the Throbaks! But I actually preferred the way my H150 played

over the 59 reissue!!! I should have just changed the pickups the day I got it! Like I said before this guitar is a

keeper and the neck feels great. I also bought a nice Franklin strat to help with the heavy weight!

[rockabilly69]

That makes a lot of sense. I've found myself doing a bit of that lately, though I have never really thought it out as well as you just stated it. I switched to Mesas about a year ago after 10 years of playing Marshalls, and it has really changed my entire approach to highs and lows. The EQs on a JCM 2000 didn't nearly have the extremes of the Mesa (not to mention it was 60 vs. 90 watts). You simply couldn't overload the cab with bass. You could make it sound muddy, but you couldn't get to the point where you could hear the speakers just failing to push the lows out anymore like with a Mesa. However, after I finally learned to dial the Mesa in, the "the low strings sound clean like an acoustic guitar" sound you describe is about the best way to put what it sounds like. It is distorted, but also very clear. It has taken some getting used to, but I dig how tight that sound can be.

Yeah Fender amps like my original Deluxe have flubby bass if overdone, and my Mesa flubs out too:)

[bolero]

cool posts you're doing here, interesting.....very methodical & reasoned out approach to your sound!!

 

agree on the Throbak's I'd say they're pretty much top of the heap

 

I also have a soft spot for Wolfetone Legends which I'd rank as about equal. I have those in two guitars & Throbak's in one

 

I had a pearly gates bridge I particularily liked but left it in the blue H150 I sold DB...if I'd known he was gonna flip the gtr I would have kept it!!

[rockabilly69]

cool posts you're doing here, interesting.....very methodical & reasoned out approach to your sound!!

 

agree on the Throbak's I'd say they're pretty much top of the heap

 

I also have a soft spot for Wolfetone Legends which I'd rank as about equal. I have those in two guitars & Throbak's in one

 

I had a pearly gates bridge I particularily liked but left it in the blue H150 I sold DB...if I'd known he was gonna flip the gtr I would have kept it!!

I've never heard the Wolfetone Legends, but have heard good things about his pickups.

[koula901]

There's some serious love for Throbaks on this forum. I've never heard them before, but everyone likes them, so, you're in good company.