Erik Posted July 9, 2009 Posted July 9, 2009 Hi folks, I am about to be a new Heritage owner (but not yet).... In my search of a real nice sounding, playing and looking guitar, I am seriously thinking about custom ordering a 535 or 555. But I still have some questions and I hope some of you guys might help me out... Is there anyone having this D-VIP installed on a 535/555? Are you happy with the sound (when coiltapped, in-phase, out of phase)? What pick up do you use and wich would be the best one in this case? One of my reasons for a 535/555 is that I play different styles of music (rock, blues, alternative, jazz, funk, quiet) and need a versatile guitar with a nice variety in sounds. On the Heritage site they state that the D-VIP controls work best with their new HRW pickups. What about SD Seth Lovers? Thnx for any reply. Erik
SouthpawGuy Posted July 10, 2009 Posted July 10, 2009 Hi folks, I am about to be a new Heritage owner (but not yet)....In my search of a real nice sounding, playing and looking guitar, I am seriously thinking about custom ordering a 535 or 555. But I still have some questions and I hope some of you guys might help me out... Is there anyone having this D-VIP installed on a 535/555? Are you happy with the sound (when coiltapped, in-phase, out of phase)? What pick up do you use and wich would be the best one in this case? One of my reasons for a 535/555 is that I play different styles of music (rock, blues, alternative, jazz, funk, quiet) and need a versatile guitar with a nice variety in sounds. On the Heritage site they state that the D-VIP controls work best with their new HRW pickups. What about SD Seth Lovers? Thnx for any reply. Erik As no one else has responded I might as well chip in ... I don't have the D-VIP in a 535 or 555, I have it in my VIP 2 (with HRWs'), an almost strat type solid body guitar. My honest opinion on the system is that it is very cool to be able to get all of the tones, and there are many, it is a bit tricky to use on the fly. For home use, recording etc. it is fine, but if I were to go out and gig with it it would be a different situation when used live. I find the biggest issue with coil tapping humbuckers is the volume difference between humbucker and split coil / out of phase modes, it is quite a big drop in volume when going from bucker to split coil. You would have to decide if you wanted to use the single coil as your primary tone with the humbucker for a boost in volume, or vice versa, or try to use the volume control constantly to compensate. Another side effect of the D-VIP is that you lose a volume and a tone control, if you like your double humbucker guitars to have individual volume and tone controls for each pickup that might be something to consider. Have you read the info on the Heritage website about the D-VIP ? Link: http://www.heritageguitar.com/Custom%20Features/D-VIP.htm Hope this helps Obligatory pic ... ( the middle mini switch is a kill switch and not involved in the D-VIP system)
Doug Posted July 10, 2009 Posted July 10, 2009 Just played my new 535 with the boys last night and it was a bit baffling. It is going to take a while to get the set-up where I want it. I agree that the volume differences are pretty dramatic for switching on the fly.
jacques Posted July 11, 2009 Posted July 11, 2009 I had the same experience with the complexity of the switching in live situations. I played two guitars with the older VIP system and indeed one easily switches to some wrong position with too low volume. Therefore I had my tech make things very easy: either humbucker or single coil (individually for both pickups) and nothing else. The variable phase knob is now a tone knob. No volume differences, no more mistakes and beautiful sounds. My 19-year old son who stole the guitar (also the VIP2 model) from my room is quite sure the pickups sound better than before. I have the same impression. I am not sure if this has to do with the different wiring or if it is just our imagination. Conclusion: VIP no, coil splitting yes. All you need is pickups with 4 wires.
Erik Posted July 14, 2009 Author Posted July 14, 2009 Thnx for responding! So the volume drop with the VIP and coil split can be rather annoying. Jaqcues, you say:' VIP no, coil split yes" , and have no volume drops with the coil split after removing the VIP? The others did also have volume drops with the coil split. Does that mean that when you remove the VIP, the coil split kind of restores itself? I mean volume increases? Has anyone experience with other pickups rather the HRW with the VIP system? (seth lovers for example). ERIK
jacques Posted August 6, 2009 Posted August 6, 2009 Sorry Erik, I never noticed your new questions - vacation! There is no volume dropping when going from single coil to humbucker and back, just the usual thinning of sound which is nice for backing. You might try and figure out what coil splitting will do to the particular pickups you have in your 535. Do you have one yet? In my case we're talking about SD Alnico II pros, which I installed to warm up the all maple body of the VIP2 guitar. SD 59s in a regular H 535 Classic may not respond in the same manner when split. There's even a question if you actually need coil splitting on a guitar like that. I noticed turning down the volume a bit cleans up the sound nicely.
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