serial Posted January 30, 2009 Posted January 30, 2009 My in-laws got me a set of WB Gregwinds for Christmas and after struggling to figure out which guitar to install them in, I hit an absolute grand slam.As several HFCers (Poe and Jeffro at least, being former owners of this guitar) can attest, the korina Vector I have was pretty close to the pinnacle as it was. Well, as close to perfection as that guitar was, I was never really enamoured with the look of the double double-black Duncans that were in there (the covers were long gone). I really don't dig gold covered pickups, so that wasn't an option and the thing sounded so good that I didn't want to mess with success.Enter the Gregwinds. I had some spare time one night this week and installed them, cleaned the board and put on a fresh set of Blue Steels. I was VERY impressed in the difference that they made through my little Vox ampplug, but bringing it out at rehearsal last night where I could really wind it up, just blew me away.I have never been a cork-sniffer when it comes to pickups and am too cheap to pay the going rate for anything other than a stock Dimarzio, etc. (I have Rios, etc but usually swapped into those or something), but these pickups ARE everything that the hype says. Absolutely the most articulate, clear, punchy, cut-through and beautiful sounding pickups I've ever owned. In the korina Vector, they're magical. Controlled feedback (even with the noise gate on my Rocktron amp) like never before. I have a set in my LP Standard, but b/c that guitar has been crap for tuning, I haven't really been able to put it through its paces yet-I'll be getting new tuners and a new nut for that one damned quick now!I am in Love.
silentman Posted January 30, 2009 Posted January 30, 2009 Cool Steve. Did you put in zebras?I'd like to try a set of the WB's but I'm not sure the gregwinds will fit my needs.
Mad Man Mike Posted January 30, 2009 Posted January 30, 2009 Way to go man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I bet it made your ears go nuts. I had Greg put some WB Gregwinds into a Schecter (Diamond Series) I brought from him and boy did it improve the sound of that git fiddle.
Jack C Posted January 30, 2009 Posted January 30, 2009 What's the bridge PU read?Playboy. But just for the articles.
serial Posted February 1, 2009 Author Posted February 1, 2009 Pics added-note Hamer 70s/early 80s correct alignment!
santellavision Posted February 1, 2009 Posted February 1, 2009 What's the bridge PU read?Mine read Neck-7.85 Bridge-12.03 But, as Greg would say, readings aren't everything, especially with these as they are wound for a specific tone.
bubs_42 Posted February 1, 2009 Posted February 1, 2009 What's the bridge PU read?Try a set Flynn. They are really great pups. I love the Neck Pup it is my favorite neck pickup. They Cut through anything. I have a set in my 4 Digit and they sound great. I will probly be swapping them to a Sunburst Soon. I'll let you know what I think.
Guest pirateflynn Posted February 1, 2009 Posted February 1, 2009 Cool thanks!How would you guys describe the bridge sound compared to a PAF style .... like an original Dimarzio?
bubs_42 Posted February 1, 2009 Posted February 1, 2009 Cool thanks!How would you guys describe the bridge sound compared to a PAF style .... like an original Dimarzio? Bright, Full but more articulate than the Dimarzio's. They, well I have to say are like a HIFI PAF.. Very Defined if you play with a band you are going to be hard press to get lost in the mix. I let Greg know every time we talk that these pups rock !.
serial Posted February 2, 2009 Author Posted February 2, 2009 Cool thanks!How would you guys describe the bridge sound compared to a PAF style .... like an original Dimarzio? Bright, Full but more articulate than the Dimarzio's. They, well I have to say are like a HIFI PAF.. Very Defined if you play with a band you are going to be hard press to get lost in the mix. I let Greg know every time we talk that these pups rock !.EXCELLENT description. Awesome pickups.
SteveB Posted February 2, 2009 Posted February 2, 2009 So since I was gonna be sitting in front of the big ole TV during the game, I figured I might as well pull out the soldering iron and install the WB Gregwinds I bought some ungodly number of months ago and hadn't gotten around to installing yet. They went into my #1 PRS CE-24. At the same time I also converted it to a 3 way toggle and push pull tone verses the PRS rotary, which ended up requiring pulling out the old Dremel and doing some woodwork to thin out the top a bit so the shaft would go out. I installed with the split on the neck only. Scratched up the top just a bit around the nut ring for the toggle, but after a bit of application of my favorite refinishing tool ( black sharpie ) it looks fine. These pickups are good. Really good. I was surprised how strong the single coil sound was from the neck pup. Neck is clear and not muddy, bridge sounds great, easy to get harmonics, hot enough but its the first bridge HB I've had that I actually like clean. Easy to pull pinch harmonics with. They respond great to the volume control. When I put them in I decided to leave the PRS standard bright cap out, because I get annoyed with the extraneous brightness when the pickups are turned down really low. These pickups don't need the bright cap.In all, very pleased. Best pickups I've had in that guitar yet.
serial Posted February 2, 2009 Author Posted February 2, 2009 I love 'em as I think I hinted in my post below!
velorush Posted February 2, 2009 Posted February 2, 2009 How do they sound together? I always wonder about sets like the Gregwinds (and the Rio BBQ/Gen Texas being discussed in another thread) if the difference in output makes for any problems in the middle position.
SteveB Posted February 2, 2009 Posted February 2, 2009 I love 'em as I think I hinted in my post below! heh, I somehow missed that. Looks like somebody merged me in though, so alls good.
shredmeister Posted February 2, 2009 Posted February 2, 2009 I have WB's in 3 guitars now. I have never heard a better pick up and they split so well you don't loose any volume.Just incredible.
silentman Posted February 2, 2009 Posted February 2, 2009 How will these handle high gain: Mesa Recto, MArk IV lead, chugga chugga stuff?I've been tempted to try the heaven and hell set or whatever they call it.
SteveB Posted February 2, 2009 Posted February 2, 2009 How will these handle high gain: Mesa Recto, MArk IV lead, chugga chugga stuff?I've been tempted to try the heaven and hell set or whatever they call it.They sound great through my IIC+, and in my AxeFx with the Diezel emulation. Even with tons of distortion you can still play an arpeggiate a chord and hear the individual notes fine. With modern amps you don't need uber hot pickups anymore. The Heaven and Hell set could be cool, I'd like to try that one somtime as well.
SouthernShred Posted February 2, 2009 Posted February 2, 2009 Here are where my Gregwinds reside: Awesome is all I can say...the out of phase middle position takes some getting used to, but you can totally do UFO/MSG stuff with that tone...
bubs_42 Posted February 2, 2009 Posted February 2, 2009 How will these handle high gain: Mesa Recto, MArk IV lead, chugga chugga stuff?I've been tempted to try the heaven and hell set or whatever they call it.They sound great through my IIC+, and in my AxeFx with the Diezel emulation. Even with tons of distortion you can still play an arpeggiate a chord and hear the individual notes fine. With modern amps you don't need uber hot pickups anymore. The Heaven and Hell set could be cool, I'd like to try that one somtime as well. I don't think you could turn them to mudd if you tried.. Seriously, we all lavish some things around here a time or two, but these pickups will stand on their own. If, that is if you like Paf Style pups. These are no JB, ToneZone, SUPER D.. Not that type of pup at all.
Guest pirateflynn Posted February 2, 2009 Posted February 2, 2009 You're description reminds me of my description of WCR Darkbursts. Anybody try them both? JGale?
atquinn Posted February 2, 2009 Posted February 2, 2009 You're description reminds me of my description of WCR Darkbursts. Anybody try them both? JGale?The description reminds me of Suhr's SSV/SSV+ set. My guess is there are all sorts of pickups out there that pretty much do the same thing, but most people just stop at the first one that does it for them. -Austin
specialk Posted February 2, 2009 Posted February 2, 2009 Okay, so I went to BCR Greg's web site to find out more info on these pups. For me anyway, none of the links in the lower left of the site work. Anyone else have this problem?
zorrow Posted February 3, 2009 Posted February 3, 2009 Well, I'm seriouly willing to give them a try!
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