[DBBJ]

Hey all,

I'm new to the forum and am currently having a Wolf variation built. I own multiple other guitars that I gig with and that meet all of my other needs tone wise. This guitar is going to be used specifically for Jerry type stuff. My favorite Jerry tones are early Wolf and Alligator which initially tells me to go the 3 single coils route. But, I play in a 3 piece band and I don't want my tone to be too thin sounding and to my ears the split Super II's somehow sound a little bigger to me?

Also, is there anyone here that plays 3 single coils that can speak to how they sound when playing later era dead stuff like West LA Fade Away etc.? I'm also wondering about pushing an envelope filter and overall tone when doing so...

Ultimately, if I could get opinions from folks that have played both configurations and prefer one or the other and why. I only have the $ to build one guitar and want to try to get it right the first time. I'm thinking of going with:

a) 3 single coil D.Allen Voodoo 69's (maybe the voodoo blues set with hotter p/u in bridge?)
b) 2 super II's and a D. Allen Voodoo 69 in the neck
c) 3 super II's
d) maybe super II's in neck and bridge for versatility and a single in the middle for that pure single tone of early wolf/alligator in the most used position?

Any opinions are greatly appreciated! If you have links to clips of your guitar as examples, that'd be awesome! In particular actual single coils as I've not founds u clips that aren't split super II's for comparison.

Thanks!

http://www.davidbazinmusic.com/Musician ... ction.html

[TeeJay]

a) 3 single coil D.Allen Voodoo 69's (maybe the voodoo blues set with hotter p/u in bridge?)
b) 2 super II's and a D. Allen Voodoo 69 in the neck
c) 3 super II's
d) maybe super II's in neck and bridge for versatility and a single in the middle for that pure single tone of early wolf/alligator in the most used position?

What preamp/buffer are you going to use?

[milobender]

I build most of my guitars to cover as much time in Jerry tone as possible... to cover the most ground, use the HHS configuration, and put both a Blaster and a Buffer in it. You won't get exactly Alligator/Early Wolf, but with the blaster you can get it pretty close, and still have the later tones, OBEL, and great envelope filter reaction.

[DBBJ]

We're planning on putting in the Scott Walker duel preamp that has the buffer and the boost, and thanks milo, that's what I've been thinking too and very well may end up doing to be safe so to speak, but man, whenever I hear those early 70's tones, I immediately rethink it lol....I'm super torn lol...

[milobender]

I've decided, for me, I just need 3 guitars... one for the SG Darkstar period, an Alligator/Early Wolf, and a Tiger type "o) I've got a great all single coil guitar for sale, with period proper Blaster, and a modified Tube Screamer Clone in it if you are looking for the early sound "o)

[Free Jazz]

You might prefer Super Distortion/Dual Sounds to the Super II's for the slightly thicker, fatter Wolf tones.

[Brandon Bowlds]

I recently had an Artinger guitar built with 3 single coils. You can see pics in this forum. I used Fender CS 69s. They sound really good and pretty much nail most tones. Definitely HBs complete the rig and add versatility. But JG himself said he used the single middle position 95% of the time, right?
I use a Earth drive in front of the EF and it drives it great. The single coils should do it by themselves if the pickup height is right. But on mine, it was a little weak on the high E and the Earth drive helps even it out.

in hindsight, the CS69s were not the best choice on my guitar because it has a 12" radius and these pickups are staggered pole and really designed for a Fender radius. The G string is really loud. E a bit quiet.

so...I finally disassembled a Dimarzio Super Distortion and I have made 2 single coils. I just need to solder the leads and ground on to the pickups and they are ready to go in. I plan to do that this week and I using those in the neck and middle and a SDS1 in the bridge. I don't the bridge pos much in this guitar but I think I might like a hotter, darker pickup in that position. We'll see, if I don't like I might try a stacked HB there. But again, don't use it much. I will post clips of the Super Distortion singles when I get them in.

as an aside, besides using a MXR dist +, I have a Eventide H9 that I using for the sustain-ey "wharf rat" solo type lead tone. The Crushstation algo on there is killer and you can dial in more midrange to the distortion so simulate a humbucker. also have it set up for blending the dist tone with a exp pedal. Very cool. Good luck. I have used David Allens and they are great. But the staggered pole thing is something to consider. I would imagine he makes them both ways.

[milobender]

You might prefer Super Distortion/Dual Sounds to the Super II's for the slightly thicker, fatter Wolf tones.

That would be my preference also...

[kurt eye]

Here's some sound clips I posted in another thread.

Here are some sound clips of my rig:

Strat w/ blocked trem-->D.A. Voodoo 69 pick ups-->Stratoblaster pedal-->SMS preamp-->Carvin DCM200L-->JBL K-120 reconed to D-120 specs in a 1x12 combo box of walnut and maple.

The sound quality and playing for that matter aren't great, but hopefully you get a sense of the tone.

https://soundcloud.com/shrimper-skippy/stella-jam
https://soundcloud.com/shrimper-skippy/bird-song-jam
https://soundcloud.com/shrimper-skippy/morning-dew-jam

[DBBJ]

Thanks folks for the continued posts! Great stuff and it's a big help!

I'd seen your post of the Alligator with benefits guitar Milo and it looks great. I'm already committed with this Luthier with the guitar all but payed off at this point, or I'd have definitely pulled the trigger on your build! I wish I had $ to buy yours too, I'd simple go the SHH route with this guitar and have your guitar for my early 70's tone!

I'll definitely give a listen to some clips of some Super Distortion/Dual Sounds too, and Brandon, those are some great ideas, definitely share some clips once you have those PU's in your Artinger! I''be got an email out to D.Allen about the pole piece height, I'll post his answer for anyone else interested to know if he builds them standard and staggered....

And thanks for your clips Kurt! Great sounding rig there! It's funny, my ears and heart are telling me go 3 singles and my head is telling me go for the versatility of the the 2 Super II's etc....still have time to chew on it though...

[ccw3432]

The pickups play a huge part in the tone of an electric guitar. I'd go with the single coils if you really want to nail Alligator or early Wolf tones. Anything else will be a compromise. I don't think you can nail that sound with SDs or SD2s. As much as I love the Dimarzios I would just be prepared for some level of compromise for achieving Alligator or early Wolf tones.
I like the Voodoo 69s as well and have them in one of my guitars. I recently played a strat with Rio Grande single coils through my rig and I was blown away. I immediately heard the Alligator tone in those and will be putting them in a build at some point.

[Searing75]

Voodoo 69 in neck and middle. Echo in bridge. All from D. Allen. Email him. He will sell you this configuration.

I recommend two guitars. One for the single coils, and the other with the super II's, or dual sounds. Options baby!

[DBBJ]

Yup! I'm leaning more and more towards just going for it and following my heart and getting the 3 singles, and then planning on adding (yet another) guitar down the road for the Tiger tones etc...if need be. Also, I looked up that Echoes bridge PU from D Allen, and I think that's also the way I may go with the Voodoo 69's in the neck and middle. Thanks again everyone! And once she's finally done (man this is quite an exercise in patience lol...) and I finally get her, I'll post some clips!

[Brandon Bowlds]

Ok, I got the Super Distortion split singles in my guitar. here is a quick little clip I made with my iphone. starts clean then goes thru some of my pedals. I think it is all middle pickup until the very end, and then I am on the neck.

https://soundcloud.com/brandon-bowlds/d ... dist-split

[kurt eye]

Ok, I got the Super Distortion split singles in my guitar. here is a quick little clip I made with my iphone. starts clean then goes thru some of my pedals. I think it is all middle pickup until the very end, and then I am on the neck.

https://soundcloud.com/brandon-bowlds/d ... dist-split

Nice. Sounds great.