spiff1970 said:
hum... can you expand on that, please?
spiff
spiff, I'll give it a try. I have a '69 SF-IV, and previously had a '73 SF-4. So I've had both types.
To me, at least, the mini humbuckers are more musical, shimmery and full. Not an attempt to copy something else. Through my '66 DR the clean tones of the Starfire almost bring tears to my eyes. It is just so nice. But, if I use my Rivera Clubster and crank up some distortion, the Starfire will jump right in and produce great rockin' tones. Not heavy metal, but a rockin', bluesy tone that just sounds "right" to me. Hard to describe it, but the guitar makes me play better.
The HB1 pickups in the '73 were more like a Gibson sound. Nice, but darker, thicker and heavier. I think the HB1 perhaps was intended more for the production of distorted tones, rather than clean. From what I've heard, they seem to work especially well in a solid-body guitar. The S-100 folks sure love 'em!
But of course, this is only based on my playing a few examples, and filtered through my own ears and preferences.
Here's a recording but there are several guitars blended in. All the electric sounds are from the '69 Starfire. I don't have anything featuring the '73.
http://www.soundclick.com/player/single ... i&newref=1
Dave