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Dear fellow jazz guitarists,
I've seen many posts recently on CC pick ups: genuine sound vs. reissue, floater vs. humbucker format, original vs. Biltoft vs. Lollar, Dad vs. Mom etc.
So I've decided to do my home works and benchmark the ones I have under hand.
Of course, of course that ain't the same guitar I'm using throughout the tape and since the dynamics is increasing along the tune they are not played exactly in the same conditions.
Anyway it should give you a proper idea on how these PU can sound. Same amps with same settings used for all (Fender Deluxe 2016 Reissue)
So now, better make up your mind !
Cheers.
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10-21-2016 04:56 PM
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Surprisingly, I prefer the floater. I had convinced myself that I didn't like floaters.
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The ES 150 from 1938, with the original CC pickup, is my choice. But I'd happily choose any one of them, and I'd also happily listen to your playing all evening - very nice. Wow, what a collection!
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I enjoyed that very much, great tone and playing. I think I liked the L-5 w/floater the best and I own a 175CC.
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Great demo Fred! All I can say is no matter the guitar or pickup your playing is very complimentary. Actually, I'm very enamored with the Slaman. Wow!
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Thank you!
Amazing all around.
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Well color me impressed! The guitar collection, playing, recording, editing are all amazing.
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First of all it's just a killer video in so many ways.
The guitars
The tune
The playing
The pickups
The playing AGAIN...
Heck I changed my mind 20 times which one I liked best.
Had decided near the end I liked the L5 the best
Until I heard the riffs on the 175 at the very end...
And this is after just putting my '39 L5P back in it's case after half an hour of really old hymns and Everly Brothers tunes thinking this L5 is now my favorite guitar...
Hope you don't mind me "sharing"...
Big
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And I have decided to add a Biltoft CC floater to my Mr. Wu Manhattan Project - which after being in the wind for the last 5 days cleared Chicago Customs this morning (GNAPPI !!!) and should get special delivered tomorrow morning !! Oh Boy, I've just about beat this nasty cold I've had most of the week, it felt good to sing again.
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1938 ES-150 for that extra bit of wooliness that I like in a CC blade. Its short scale contributed to its warm round tone, in my estimation.
They are all cut of the same cloth, all very CC-like. The Biltof floater surprised me as to how much it sounded like a regular CC.
Not a bad one in the bunch. The ES-175/CC was the revelation. It held its own against its more expensive brothers
Nicely playing, Fred. It was joyful.
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hmmmm, difficult quizz, this. I just listened through the sequence once and this is my impression :
- I found the Slaman guitar to have the most balanced tone/definition although no chords where played on it
- the L-5 had a nice acoustic touch- I'd choose this for a solo/duo gig , no drums .....
- the 175 was the weakest of the bunch and it felt like the tone pot was turned all the way down, muddy....
although I once heard one like this in the hands of a young player and it sounded absolutely fab....
In general I find this to be a very difficult affair since the tonal range can differ so much depending on choice of pick,
position of the picking hand, the strength of the attack, etc. In my experience the real test is almost always on the bandstand since it's there that one concentrates on the music, the dynamics, the interaction and how inspiring the
guitar (over all) really is. When I try out stuff at home I only see/hear/feel about 60 to 70% of what's there. YMMV
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Lovely comparison with terrific playing, as others have said.
'38 ES-150 had the most note definition and the brightest tone
'53 L-5C was the sweetest
Slaman sounds classic
ES-175CC definitely at the bottom of my list; too muddy.
What strikes me is how low all of the mounted pickups are set. Their tops look nearly flush with the guitars' soundboards. My Slaman Sister has an adjustable CC pickup, and it's sticking out quite a bit higher. If I adjust it to sit lower, I definitely lose the warmth and sustain that it needs.Last edited by rpguitar; 10-22-2016 at 08:41 AM.
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I agree with gitman. Slaman 1st,L5 2nd and 175 third. That Slaman is awesome! Great playing,as always.
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Well done. All sound good; differences are subtle.
I like the ES-150.
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I liked them all. The differences were so minor I'd be happy with any of them. If you put a gun to my head, I'd say the Bitloft edged the others just slightly.
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The ES 150 and the Biltoft for me. For myself I'd use the floater to skip the holes and cutting the top. The Slaman sounded the most retro to me, like what I'd thought the original would have sounded like.
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Shoot they all sound great to me. Thanks Fred !
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I really liked the floating Biltoft, which is why I have one that is humbucker shaped on my Matt Cushman after seeing Fred's video about his floater a few months back. I am delighted with the sound and responsiveness, but it is necessary to put up with some hum. The Slaman was just wonderful tonally, visually, etc. I love the look of non-cutaway archtops. Of course none of the others are slouches!
Thanks, Fred, for posting a wonderful video!
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They all sound good. I'd want one of each also!
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That's interesting...I have adjusted the CC blade quite low with my Slaman and it's even more pronounced on the treble side. That's how I can get both a warm sound if I roll off the treble or something more aggresive, more punchy. Others guitars have their CC blade at the same height of the guitar soundboard.
Originally Posted by rpguitar
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Thanks Fred , you've done me a great service with that Video !
which tone is your favorite Fred ?
The chord stab at 3:00 on the Slaman was awesome ! that had great woof and body to it !
I think my fav is the Slaman , its a very close call ....
but Daniel Slaman's a great builder for sure ....
One day I'll get something of his with a Biltoff CC ... one day !
PS you play great Fred ,I loved that !
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Difficult question. It depends...The guitar I play the most is the Slaman and she's the one I carry with me for gigging. But the ES 150 is my favorite. Sweet tone and such a typical sound. I also dig to play the L5 when I am alone or in duet, not so much with a full rhythm section. Originally Posted by pingu
But you're all right when you say they are close, except maybe the 175CC. It's a great guitar but for a complete different type of jazz, more modern, not 4-to-the bar style.
Cheers.
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Interesting to me, that while being the only 'CC' not built in yet the Biltoft floater held its own. But that Slaman guitar with the built in CC added several layers of clarity and sparkled!
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