Fans of HRW's

[backline]

I've actually had good results with the older Schallers in my older H-140.

The floating Schallers on my stock Eagles have been servicable, but not everybody has found them so I guess.

 

So the question is:

 

What do YOU think of the HRW's?

 

Having had both an older H-575 with the regular stock Schallers, and my '07 H-575 with HRW Schallers, I think they're an improvement.

 

To my ears the HRW's (on a H-575) vs the standard Schallers, have more high end and are capable of that juicy resonance that an archtop needs to sound Hi-Fi.

 

As I've said before, they also can sound Bluesy with tremendous honk if that's your thing, but so can the standard Schallers in my experience.

 

In reading Harmony Central database reviews it seems even the HRW's sometimes get swapped out for people's favorite Duncan's or whatever. Are they giving the HRW's a chance? Have you?

[tulk1]

I've only got the one set of HRW's to compare anything to. They're in a Millie DC. And I just happened to be sitting here comparing it with the Millie SAE with the lowly regular 'ol Schallers. Played without comparison the Schallers sound great in the SAE. Very articulate, good balance across the tonal spectrum. Neck is warm and can get some nice jazzy-ish tones. I say jazzy-ish because I flunked theory/jazz. The neck gets some nice grunt going. But in the SAE it's all greatly influenced by the very woody tones this Millie SAE puts out. I think it's the laminate arched back and top that give this one a very real semi tone.

 

So it may not be a fair comparison to the Millie NFH which is solid top and back. I've said many times that the DC NFH has as much feel as a solid body 150 as it does a semi-millie. However, in my comparisons I would have to say that whatever the SAE is getting and giving from the standard Schallers, the DC NFH gives just that much more with the HRW's. Everything is a bit more pronounced, a bit clearer, rounder and maybe a bit more musical. Of course, it's really hard to verbalize what the ear hears. Sometimes it's just feel.

 

As for getting swapped out, I think that could be as much that they don't have that universal "OMG" personna that the marketed replacements have. It could be as much that "grass is greener" syndrome as anything. And to be completely fair, there will be players that just don't like them. Much as there are players that just don't like certain other necks, strings, picks, brands, amps, etc ad infinitum. But ... I like mine!

[brentrocks]

I have HRWs in the 555. I love the way these pups can go from one extreem to the other and perform so well. i can play heavy distortion and get great fat clean tones from the same guitar!!

 

I also have HRWs in the Korina V...same thing...i was gonna put 59s in the V, i'm glad i didnt

[Dick Seacup]

The Millie DC and the H170TS both have HRWs. I think they are awesome pickups because they do everything I need. I am not a pickup swapper, though, so maybe I just don't get the subtle differences between brands/models.

[Thundersteel]

I liked the HRWs in an H157 I had. But they didn't sound so great (to me) in an H555.

 

Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

[pro-fusion]

I have experience with HRWs in my Millie and in Brent's 555. I think they're fantastic pickups. One of the few pickups I've ever tried that sounded great in both high gain and clean settings. Some people might think the bridge version is a little hot, though.

[tulk1]

I have experience with HRWs in my Millie and in Brent's 555. I think they're fantastic pickups. One of the few pickups I've ever tried that sounded great in both high gain and clean settings. Some people might think the bridge version is a little hot, though.

 

Very possibly so on the bridge pup. I noticed on the NFH that where with the neck pup I can get some nice clean(ish) tones thru the 5E3, the neck pup puts it right into OD territory. I'd measure the impedance for comparison but that would mean having to get out of my chair to find the meter.

[TheRecordFable]

I have them in my H-555 and it's my first experience with them and they sound great.

They have a big yet creamy tone and are quiet.

The neck position has sustain for days.

They record well and they get many rave reviews from my studio visitors.

[Paul P]

I've only got the one set of HRW's to compare anything to. They're in a Millie DC. And I just happened to be sitting here comparing it with the Millie SAE with the lowly regular 'ol Schallers. Played without comparison the Schallers sound great in the SAE. Very articulate, good balance across the tonal spectrum. Neck is warm and can get some nice jazzy-ish tones. I say jazzy-ish because I flunked theory/jazz. The neck gets some nice grunt going. But in the SAE it's all greatly influenced by the very woody tones this Millie SAE puts out. I think it's the laminate arched back and top that give this one a very real semi tone.

It would be interesting to do the same tests but with the pickups swapped between your

two guitars. That way the influence of the guitars themselves could be heard.

[yoslate]

...H170TS...

 

 

 

 

You're gonna drive a couple of 'em nuts, here, Dixie, trying to track that down on the website!

[Dick Seacup]

You're gonna drive a couple of 'em nuts, here, Dixie, trying to track that down on the website!

 

 

[SouthpawGuy]

You're gonna drive a couple of 'em nuts, here, Dixie, trying to track that down on the website!

 

Lets see ... a 170 with a built in Tube Screamer.

 

 

or maybe a tuna sandwich ?

 

 

( hold the mayo )

 

 

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end of hijack

 

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[tulk1]

It would be interesting to do the same tests but with the pickups swapped between your

two guitars. That way the influence of the guitars themselves could be heard.

 

Oh Lordy!! Talk about major surgery!! The NFH is wired ala standard solid body guitars. The Millie SAE is wired per semi-hollows, iow, no access plate. Plus the piezo. Would be cool tho'. What we really need are hot-swappable pickups. Now THAT would be cool.

[Gitfiddler]

I really like the HRW's in my 575, 150 and 555.

 

There is a HUGE sonic difference when you raise or lower them. It also depends on the guitar they are installed in. I try to tweak my p'ups as much as possible before considering swapping out. So far every HRW equipped guitar of mine has remained HRW.

 

Have any of you guys coil tapped them (other than the DVIP System) with push/pull pots? What were the results.

[Paul P]

Oh Lordy!! Talk about major surgery!! The NFH is wired ala standard solid body guitars. The Millie SAE is wired per semi-hollows, iow, no access plate. Plus the piezo. Would be cool tho'. What we really need are hot-swappable pickups. Now THAT would be cool.

One way would be to cut the wire close to the pickup and use some kind of plug to connect

things back together. Then you could plug and unplug pickups to your hearts content. Not

sure there's enough room nor what kind of plug would be suitable but it would sure make

things easier.

 

Here's a four conductor 2.5mm plug and a matching jack that might work but must be a

bitch to solder, or you could just use two conductor versions if you only have two wires.

 

I'm not suggesting you do this.

[smurph1]

I've actually had good results with the older Schallers in my older H-140.

The floating Schallers on my stock Eagles have been servicable, but not everybody has found them so I guess.

 

So the question is:

 

What do YOU think of the HRW's?

 

Having had both an older H-575 with the regular stock Schallers, and my '07 H-575 with HRW Schallers, I think they're an improvement.

 

To my ears the HRW's (on a H-575) vs the standard Schallers, have more high end and are capable of that juicy resonance that an archtop needs to sound Hi-Fi.

 

As I've said before, they also can sound Bluesy with tremendous honk if that's your thing, but so can the standard Schallers in my experience.

 

In reading Harmony Central database reviews it seems even the HRW's sometimes get swapped out for people's favorite Duncan's or whatever. Are they giving the HRW's a chance? Have you?

This is a bit off topic, but in my (Limited) experience with the lowly Schallers, they sound great..I was considering swapping them out, but then I started running them through my Blues Junior instead of the Gibsonette..A WORLD of difference.. The moral of the story is, don't discount your amp's influence on you sound..