First video I've recorded in a while (actually 2)

**jzucker** · 05-21-2023, 07:41 AM

Recorded direct using my Gibson 175 and Helix stomp

Spinal surgery in 5 days. Ironically, my chops are now back to about 90% of what they were before my injury in November. Hopefully it's all straightened out in a month or 2.

**Doctor Jeff** · 05-21-2023, 08:06 AM

Looking and playing good. You remind me why I love my 175 so much.

Good luck with your surgery. Tell the surgeon to wash his hands. They always love that joke.

**jzucker** · 05-21-2023, 08:07 AM

Originally Posted by Doctor Jeff

Looking and playing good. You remind me why I love my 175 so much.

Good luck with your surgery. Tell the surgeon to wash his hands. They always love that joke.

Something about the classic '57 pickups bother me. There's sort of a high freq chirp on the attack. Considering replacing them with a more neutral paf pickup.

I found a company in croatia making '59 copies that are reasonably priced, scatter wound, etc.

Might take a chance on a set.

**skiboyny** · 05-21-2023, 10:59 AM

That's a very high level of play! Got the Martino vibe. I really like the sound your getting there. Best of luck with the back. The chops will be there waiting for you when your ready.

**ccroft** · 05-21-2023, 01:16 PM

Nice to have you back at it Jack! I'm happy to see you're looking to get a Kessel again. It looks so good on you.
I mean...everybody plays a 175. Zucker plays a B.K. :-)

**deacon Mark** · 05-21-2023, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by jzucker

Something about the classic '57 pickups bother me. There's sort of a high freq chirp on the attack. Considering replacing them with a more neutral paf pickup.

I found a company in croatia making '59 copies that are reasonably priced, scatter wound, etc.

Might take a chance on a set.

If your ears hear some chirp they must be laser focused I have no sense of a chirp. 57 Classics are my go-to pickup and if it is not broke don't fix it. To me 57 Classics are about as neutral as they get but I am not you. Also, get better fast after the surgery and give us an update. All back surgery is always something to take with full focus on recovery.

**jzucker** · 05-21-2023, 01:49 PM

Originally Posted by ccroft

Nice to have you back at it Jack! I'm happy to see you're looking to get a Kessel again. It looks so good on you.
I mean...everybody plays a 175. Zucker plays a B.K. :-)

Haha, thanks. I should never have sold the other spruce one. I was emailing the guy every once in a while to see if he'd sell it back. He bought it for $3200 I think. So I recently offered to buy it back for $5000 but the email bounced and no longer exists.

Originally Posted by deacon Mark

If your ears hear some chirp they must be laser focused I have no sense of a chirp. 57 Classics are my go-to pickup and if it is not broke don't fix it. To me 57 Classics are about as neutral as they get but I am not you. Also, get better fast after the surgery and give us an update. All back surgery is always something to take with full focus on recovery.

There's definitely a characteristic chirp in there. I know several folks who have ditched the 57 classic for that reason. But thanks, I'm going to work hard to get back to and surpass where I am now.

**Stringswinger** · 05-21-2023, 02:31 PM

If the 57 Classics are not working, try a set of MHS pups (1st generation with the alnico 3 neck pickup) with a set of 550K pots. The articulation of that setup will rival any vintage PAF setup for a LOT less scratch.

Good luck on the surgery. Getting old sure has some drawbacks, but as long as we are around and able to play music, we are OK.

**jzucker** · 05-21-2023, 02:43 PM

Originally Posted by skiboyny

That's a very high level of play! Got the Martino vibe. I really like the sound your getting there. Best of luck with the back. The chops will be there waiting for you when your ready.

Thanks, try as I might, i can never get rid of the joe pass and pat martino inside my head. It just seems like the lines are always influenced by those two

**skiboyny** · 05-21-2023, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by jzucker

Thanks, try as I might, i can never get rid of the joe pass and pat martino inside my head. It just seems like the lines are always influenced by those two

Two giants. Wonderful examples.

**blille** · 05-21-2023, 03:22 PM

I always enjoy your posts and playing. Thanks for sharing it. Wish you the best with the surgery.

**John A.** · 05-21-2023, 04:20 PM

Hope all goes well with your surgery. FWIW, a friend of mine just had what sounds like very similar surgery, and she’s doing well. Hope that bodes well for you.

Re: the guitar sound, I’d say it seems a bit brighter than the the blond and the cherry 175’s on your channel. I would not be able to tell whether that’s the pickup, the recording/signal-chain, or the guitar, though.

**dconeill** · 05-21-2023, 07:18 PM

Good luck with the surgery. Hope you have a quick recovery!

**GuyBoden** · 05-22-2023, 05:13 AM

Nice, get well soon, looking forward to hearing your 100% chops.

**Rograt** · 05-22-2023, 06:04 AM

Thanks for sharing.

I think I hear what you are hearing.

My ‘72 175 into my Henriksen sounds as warm as toast and I have a number of guitars with Classic 57’s. I consider them to, if anything, have a pronounced treble roll off.

My money is on the Helix Stomp affecting your tone.

**jzucker** · 05-22-2023, 06:29 AM

Originally Posted by Rograt

Thanks for sharing.

I think I hear what you are hearing.

My ‘72 175 into my Henriksen sounds as warm as toast and I have a number of guitars with Classic 57’s. I consider them to, if anything, have a pronounced treble roll off.

My money is on the Helix Stomp affecting your tone.

it's not the helix. Because My other guitars that do no have classic '57 pickups in them do not have the same chirp

**Rograt** · 05-22-2023, 06:43 AM

Strange. The closest to chirps I get is when my picks are worn from nicely rounded edges to sharp edges.

**jzucker** · 05-22-2023, 06:49 AM

Originally Posted by Rograt

Strange. The closest to chirps I get is when my picks are worn from nicely rounded edges to sharp edges.

Not strange, a lot of people have switched away from classic 57s for the same reason. Well known member here - guitarist and teacher Joey Goldstein was just telling me something similar. He's switching to Dimarzio 36th anniversary PAFs I think.

**jzucker** · 05-22-2023, 06:56 AM

these are the guys i'm considering ordering from

Q Pickups – Handwound guitar pickups – Custom guitar and bass pickups, handcrafted

**jzucker** · 05-22-2023, 07:15 AM

The other consideration is that guitars in the '60s , particularly the plywood ones have issues with top sinkage, braces coming loose, etc. After selling the '63 I had, I tried a couple kessels in my price range. But I also inspected the interior with a endoscope camera, I could see the bracing was loose on both. On one of them, the owner had tried spraying gorilla glue (the foaming kind) in there. Not an appropriate fix!

**lawson-stone** · 05-22-2023, 09:06 AM

Originally Posted by jzucker

Thanks, try as I might, i can never get rid of the joe pass and pat martino inside my head. It just seems like the lines are always influenced by those two

WHO WOULD WANT TO? Most would kill to get Joe Pass and Pat Martino into their heads and playing the way you do.

**lawson-stone** · 05-22-2023, 09:07 AM

Originally Posted by Stringswinger

If the 57 Classics are not working, try a set of MHS pups (1st generation with the alnico 3 neck pickup) with a set of 550K pots. The articulation of that setup will rival any vintage PAF setup for a LOT less scratch.

Good luck on the surgery. Getting old sure has some drawbacks, but as long as we are around and able to play music, we are OK.

Are the MHS pickups for sale generally now? They had previously only come installed on guitars. Can they be bought direct now?