Enwistle Darkstar Pickups Equipped!

My Frankenstein is now Entwistle Dark Star equipped. Hadn't had the time to extensively test it. It has been a really busy day. First thoughts on the pickups is, it's closer to my Seymour Duncan in terms of tone instead of Dimarzio Evolutions. Nonetheless, the output is way higher compared to Seymour Duncan Jazz and Customs. My new Amp head was already breaking up pass 9 o'clock. The tone is smooth and sweet, closer to mid range which is perfect for solos. Watch out for more indepth reviews!

A day of setting up my cheapo recording gear

So I decided that if I were to write a blog about guitar, I should be able to provide means to allow people to hear the sound samples. So I got around in buying the cheapest mic I can afford now, which is an omnidirectional dynamic mic and hook in straight to my EEmu external sound card. It ain't the best setup out there but still gets the job done for now till i can afford an USB condenser mic.





EEmu external sound card

My Omnidirectional dynamic mic

To test my new recording setup, I've tried recording something. I've played this with my Frankenstein, which are equipped with Dragonfire screamers. It is played directly to my Marshall mini stack with max gain and max Reverb, with EQ set at flat. Pardon my bad playing and slightly out of tune guitar (which I conveniently forget to tune while recording), none the less it gives a rough idea on the recording quality and the sound of the Dragonfire Screamer Neck pick up.

Psuedo baroque by Adrian Goh

Changing Pick Up Magnets

Previously, I wrote a short article on how changing Pick up Magnets can actually change the sound of your pick up. After further investigation, I read from Jemsite that swapping the magnet for the Ibanez V7 and V8 actually improves the sound drastically. As V7 carries a Ceramic Magnet while the V8 carries the Alnico V magnet, swapping them actually changes the way the magnetic field is being projected out that picks up (That's why it's called a pick up?) the steel string vibrations of the electric guitar.

In this post, I shall attempt to show my readers out there on how exactly to change pick up magnets. The magnet measures 2.50'' long x 0.50'' wide x 0.125'' thick by the way. First things first, what you need is a cross head screw driver, and a flat head screw driver. I must warn all my readers out there, please be very careful when you attempt to remove the pick up magnets just in case you damage any of the coils, which will then be really trouble some to repair.

Now, remove the back plate cover of the pick up by first unscrewing the 4 screws located behind the pick up. Once you have done that, pry open the back plate cover with the flat head screw driver. As mention, please take great care in this process, you really don't want to break any coils.

And this is how it looks like inside.

After prying it open, you will see this very obvious stick of magnet in the middle of the pick up. Pry it out again with a flat head screw driver, and make sure you remember the position of it. I marked it with a marker, just in case I forget. The reason being is that the magnet are placed in a way aligned with the north and south pole in which since i don't own one of those meter to tell which pole it is, I have to use this primitive method to remember it. Before replacing the magnet, make sure to try putting it on top of the existing one. If it sticks, it's the correct direction and if it doesn't it's wrong.

And this is how it looks like after the magnet is taken out. Note that I written BT on the magnet. That means Bridge Top. So go ahead and replace the magnet by putting the new magnet on the middle of the pick up, cover it up with the back plate and screw back the 4 screws which you have taken out earlier.

I haven't gotten the chance to test the pick ups but I shall leave that for another day. Thanks to LonePhantom from Jemsite on providing the information on the magnet swaps and of course the sound samples at your end. You rock bro!

Dragonfire Pick ups

I was surfing around the net looking for decent pickups without a hefty price tag on them. I came across these pick ups on ebay known as Dragonfire pick ups. I haven't actually tried them myself but I've just ordered a set in. I'll drop them in my newly revamped guitar and test them for myself.

These pick ups are supposedly made by Artec in Korea. Same as GFS pick ups. They have several other models which includes Dimarzio X2N and EMG 81/85 clones. For players who are looking for a budget higher end sounding pick ups, these pick ups might just be for you.