Fender CuNiFe Wide Range Humbucker vs. Vintera Alnico Wide Range Pi
- Thread starter Mark Wein
- Start date
tiger roach
Urban Bovine Knievel
I’m impressed by how good the sound is, just on my squirrelly iPad speaker. I can easily hear the differences in the pups. Of course having a certified Master Bluesman doing the playing helps. 
I think the sound overall improves with the later workshirt takes. And I agree the sound from the bridge pup still has some rough edges, but I doubt a casual (non-guitar nerd) listener would notice.
I think the sound overall improves with the later workshirt takes. And I agree the sound from the bridge pup still has some rough edges, but I doubt a casual (non-guitar nerd) listener would notice.
Yeah. I’m going to just spend some time playing it and seeing how it works with the rest of my gear for a while because it is something that I’m not familiar with at all, sonically.I’m impressed by how good the sound is, just on my squirrelly iPad speaker. I can easily hear the differences in the pups. Of course having a certified Master Bluesman doing the playing helps.
I think the sound overall improves with the later workshirt takes. And I agree the sound from the bridge pup still has some rough edges, but I doubt a casual (non-guitar nerd) listener would notice.
There isn't as much difference between the two sets as I thought there would be. It's better, but I'm not sure its $400 better.
Motorik
Kick Henry Jackassowski
Great video!
I can hear a difference between the stock and CuNiFe pickups, but I''m actually impressed that the stock pickups are voiced pretty similarly to the CuNiFes. I think the CuNiFes are a bit airier, which I like more, but it's not a huge difference to my ears.
I really dig the middle and neck positions. The bridge sounds good for cleans, but the overdriven sound is pretty bright! How do they sound when you dial down the tone knob?
I'm thinking now that I'd quite like a Telecaster Custom, with the WRH in the neck and the regular tele bridge.
I can hear a difference between the stock and CuNiFe pickups, but I''m actually impressed that the stock pickups are voiced pretty similarly to the CuNiFes. I think the CuNiFes are a bit airier, which I like more, but it's not a huge difference to my ears.
I really dig the middle and neck positions. The bridge sounds good for cleans, but the overdriven sound is pretty bright! How do they sound when you dial down the tone knob?
I'm thinking now that I'd quite like a Telecaster Custom, with the WRH in the neck and the regular tele bridge.
The necks are pretty close. The bridge CuNiFe has more presence, kinda like a mid-'60s greybottom vs an early '50s Tele bridge. Definitely the same ballpark but certainly a difference.
baimun
Funkasaurus Rex
@Mark Wein .... have you ever played a PRS Starla?
I was watching a video for the S2 starla and they talked about their D2 pickups that use dual slug coils.... and I was surprised at the clear, clean, jangle sound.... very appealing to me.
I was watching a video for the S2 starla and they talked about their D2 pickups that use dual slug coils.... and I was surprised at the clear, clean, jangle sound.... very appealing to me.
Monson
Sonic Automatist
Gave it a listen through my AKG K240 headphones, because I felt that was the least I could do with all the trouble you've been through with this otherwise beautiful guitar.
I prefer the replacement pickups after the adjustment. To my ears the stock bridge pickup has a rather harsh top end, and they actually sound pretty good in combination, but the replacement PUs have more depth and complexity especially in combination, but that's obvious I guess with all the frequency cancellation going on. And it's just a type of sound I really love. Perhaps the new bridge PU sounds a bit too compressed with high gain after the adjustment, but OTOH it's not a type of sound I favour that much and can really tell the nuances in.
Are they worth the $400? Oh, I dunno - if I had the money and liked the pickups I'd keep them if that's what it takes to make this lovely guitar do what I wanted it to do.
I prefer the replacement pickups after the adjustment. To my ears the stock bridge pickup has a rather harsh top end, and they actually sound pretty good in combination, but the replacement PUs have more depth and complexity especially in combination, but that's obvious I guess with all the frequency cancellation going on. And it's just a type of sound I really love. Perhaps the new bridge PU sounds a bit too compressed with high gain after the adjustment, but OTOH it's not a type of sound I favour that much and can really tell the nuances in.
Are they worth the $400? Oh, I dunno - if I had the money and liked the pickups I'd keep them if that's what it takes to make this lovely guitar do what I wanted it to do.
I haven't. I wonder if they are like the Railhammers that I have in my PRS?
I think that the video doesn't really convey what I'm experiencing with the adjusted pickups through my amp. I still need to play with it but with the adjustment I'm most happy with the guitar than I've been. I'm probably still going mess with it more, though.
gregtulipp
n00b
Thank you for doing this comparison! Regarding the very first example, the CuNiFe pickup in the rhythm position had a really pleasing dwank to it that the stock pickup was missing. I felt like I was hearing a riff on a 70's slab of vinyl - it made it sound more alive to me. But when the CuNiFe pickup for the bridge is turned on, it becomes more of a coin toss. The CuNiFe in this position cuts more and can sound sweeter, but at the same time can sound harsher. To my ears anyways.
Welcome to the forum!
Did the bridge sound better to you before or after Mark adjusted the height and pole pieces?