I wish G&L would re-make the neck z-coil of the Comanche

[comanche]

Who's with me?

The neck pickup of the Comanche is a great tone, but I reckon it could do better....

The problem with such a guitar is that you can't just swap out pickups!! Who else makes Z-Coils? No one...

[DanDoulogos]

Variety is always better; and on the Bridge pickup there is already some diversity in the William Ray Bridge pickup (they have them in both black and white).

I wouldn't stop there mind you - I'd like to see a bit more variety in the Z-Coil line.

[Nedmundo]

Definitely! I've thought about starting a thread on exactly this topic, because tone-wise, the neck pickup is the only position I'd like to change. It's great for some stuff, but I'd prefer something closer to the glassy twang of a conventional Strat, and the Comanche doesn't quite get there, even with the bass control rolled off. Its thickness is always there, at least in my experience.

I wonder whether a slightly underwound version of the Z-coil would do the trick, but perhaps it would be too bright. Maybe someone like Lindy Fralin could re-wind Z-coils for different tones, but that could be risky and might get expensive.

[Craig]

Definitely! I've thought about starting a thread on exactly this topic, because tone-wise, the neck pickup is the only position I'd like to change. It's great for some stuff, but I'd prefer something closer to the glassy twang of a conventional Strat, and the Comanche doesn't quite get there, even with the bass control rolled off. Its thickness is always there, at least in my experience.

I wonder whether a slightly underwound version of the Z-coil would do the trick, but perhaps it would be too bright. Maybe someone like Lindy Fralin could re-wind Z-coils for different tones, but that could be risky and might get expensive.

Just in case you have not seen BoogieBill's post on dialing in the Comanche, see: Comanches For Dummies Redux by BoogieBill,
check it out.

[Craig]

Who's with me?

The neck pickup of the Comanche is a great tone, but I reckon it could do better....

The problem with such a guitar is that you can't just swap out pickups!! Who else makes Z-Coils? No one...

What specifically do you think could be done better?
Yes, G&L still holds the patent on the MFD Z-Coils.

Here's a post to check out: Z-Coils in Series vs. Parallel.

[comanche]

Don't get me wrong, I do like the pickup - it's my favourite on my Comanche, I just wish there were other tonal options for it, such as you get in regular shaped pickups. I posted my original comment after playing a Strat - there is just something about the neck pickup of a Strat that the Comanche can't reach, and I miss that tone.

The Comanche for dummies is a good read, if not a little gushing, and it rightly makes the point that a Comanche will never sound like a strat, hence the "clear your expectations" starting point. Having said that, the louder I crank my amp, the better a Comanche sounds I reckon, and the difference between a strat and a Comanche disappear somewhat.

BTW, what sound characteristics would you get if you swapped the neck and bridge pickups on a Comanche? I'm assuming there is a physical difference in the 2 types of pickups? What makes a "neck" pickup - is it the number of winds? or something else? What would happen if you put the Will Ray pickup on the neck for instance?

[Craig]

Don't get me wrong, I do like the pickup - it's my favourite on my Comanche, I just wish there were other tonal options for it, such as you get in regular shaped pickups. I posted my original comment after playing a Strat - there is just something about the neck pickup of a Strat that the Comanche can't reach, and I miss that tone.

The Comanche for dummies is a good read, if not a little gushing, and it rightly makes the point that a Comanche will never sound like a strat, hence the "clear your expectations" starting point. Having said that, the louder I crank my amp, the better a Comanche sounds I reckon, and the difference between a strat and a Comanche disappear somewhat.

BTW, what sound characteristics would you get if you swapped the neck and bridge pickups on a Comanche? I'm assuming there is a physical difference in the 2 types of pickups? What makes a "neck" pickup - is it the number of winds? or something else? What would happen if you put the Will Ray pickup on the neck for instance?

See: Using a Z-Coil Bridge Pickup in Middle or Neck Position,Under the cover: Z-coil pickup, and Std. Comanche or ASAT Z bridge vs. Will Ray Sig Bridge.

Hope this helps.

[comanche]

Cool. Good links - thanks!