Next up: A Dearmond S-73 experiment

[mad dog]

Hey gang:

Putting Z-90 pickups in my black M-72 Dearmond has freed up a set of goldtone humbucker, now left to loiter on my workbench. We can't have that. So a plan was hatched. They're off now to a pickup winder on the west coast. David Plummer (AKA Zhangliqun) about whom I've heard so much. He will rewind them into "Pure Handwounds". I told him I wanted something like the old Guild HB-1, and or the post PAF, pre-Ttop p/us in my '66 ES-335. They'll be wired to allow for out of phase middle operation, if desired.

Then into the Dearmond S-73. Those stock Goldtone p/us will stay stock, while the Zhang specials and possibly a phase switch go in. I'm trying to more closely replicate the Guild S-100. The Goldtones have their virtues, but perhaps this worthy low-end guitar can do even better. We will see.
MD

 

[Qvart]

I'm trying to more closely replicate the Guild S-100. The Goldtones have their virtues, but perhaps this worthy low-end guitar can do even better. We will see.
MD

That was sort of the plan with mine - switch out the pups and make it more like a Guild. But then I decided not to mess with the Gold Tones and instead part with the guitar so someone who will appreciate the pups can have it.

Still, I'll be interested in how your projects turns out. Keep us updated!

 

[coastie99]

Hey gang:

Putting Z-90 pickups in my black M-72 Dearmond has freed up a set of goldtone humbucker, now left to loiter on my workbench. We can't have that. So a plan was hatched. They're off now to a pickup winder on the west coast. David Plummer (AKA Zhangliqun) about whom I've heard so much. He will rewind them into "Pure Handwounds". I told him I wanted something like the old Guild HB-1, and or the post PAF, pre-Ttop p/us in my '66 ES-335. They'll be wired to allow for out of phase middle operation, if desired.

Then into the Dearmond S-73. Those stock Goldtone p/us will stay stock, while the Zhang specials and possibly a phase switch go in. I'm trying to more closely replicate the Guild S-100. The Goldtones have their virtues, but perhaps this worthy low-end guitar can do even better. We will see.
MD

Interesting, Doggie.

I'd like to see updates on this one. I've just bought an S-100 ( Madeira ? ) body to play with.

Forgive me if the subject has already been covered, but what's your opinion of the Z-90's in the M-72 ?

Why did you choose Z-90's ?

I too, have a trans. black M-72. Bought for a P-90 experiment, but like the neck p/u too much to molest the guitar.

 

[mad dog]

Coastie:

To quote from comments of mine on the Fralin P-92 thread:

"More on the Z-90s: The neck p/u is quite a bit different than the bridge, designed that way. Loads of bass available, but not of the mud variety. More a large, solid low end, with a hot edge. I've not played it live yet, so don't know whether this will be usable in a loud mix. (Not all neck-only pickup sounds work live.) So we'll see on that. The bridge p/u is just about ideal. Once again, a hot edge. Bite, no ice pick. Both p/us manage to be quite hot in output (aka LOUD) yet maintain clarity. A smooth, dense kind of drive, which is the P-90 heritage I suppose. Not really the same somehow. Goes from clean smoothly into OD. Gretsch vibe as well, especially clean on that neck p/u with some delay. It can sound huge. The bonus for me is the middle spot, which is classic T-Bone out of phase. I heard Anson Funderburgh play all night once on an old ES-5, with that sound. Didn't expect to get that on the M-72 ... Depending on how you set p/u volumes, you can de-emphasize that out of phase effect almost completely."

It isn't just these p/us I'm reacting to with the M-72, it's also that vibramate-mounted Bigsby. And the various devices (Tim, retrosonic delay, reverberato) I'm playing it through. All of it adds up to something so interesting. I don't want to unduly influence you and cost you money ... let's just say for me it's working very well.

 

[coastie99]

Coastie:

To quote from comments of mine on the Fralin P-92 thread:

"More on the Z-90s: The neck p/u is quite a bit different than the bridge, designed that way. Loads of bass available, but not of the mud variety. More a large, solid low end, with a hot edge. I've not played it live yet, so don't know whether this will be usable in a loud mix. (Not all neck-only pickup sounds work live.) So we'll see on that. The bridge p/u is just about ideal. Once again, a hot edge. Bite, no ice pick. Both p/us manage to be quite hot in output (aka LOUD) yet maintain clarity. A smooth, dense kind of drive, which is the P-90 heritage I suppose. Not really the same somehow. Goes from clean smoothly into OD. Gretsch vibe as well, especially clean on that neck p/u with some delay. It can sound huge. The bonus for me is the middle spot, which is classic T-Bone out of phase. I heard Anson Funderburgh play all night once on an old ES-5, with that sound. Didn't expect to get that on the M-72 ... Depending on how you set p/u volumes, you can de-emphasize that out of phase effect almost completely."

It isn't just these p/us I'm reacting to with the M-72, it's also that vibramate-mounted Bigsby. It was a worthy guitar before, but a mite plinky and sharp at times (which can happen with chambered solid bodies), with those rather twangy Goldtones. Now it's at another level. I don't want to unduly influence you and cost you money ... let's just say for me the whole experiment was worth it.

Cheers Emwoofer .............. it's all coming back to me now; I remember the Vibramate !!