KCA NOS Tubes
New member
www.crcoils.com
I'm seriously interested in the Fillmore set but am looking for some input from users.
Thanks.
I'm seriously interested in the Fillmore set but am looking for some input from users.
Thanks.
Anyone tried CRCoils Pickups?
- Thread starter KCA NOS Tubes
- Start date
Re: Anyone tried CRCoils Pickups?
I have the Crossroads installed in a custom NYC4 semihollow with chambers and these pu's are da bomb...these are Jim's lowest powered hums as I am mainly a single coil and more specifically...a tele player...and didn't want the glaze over the notes that I hear from most hums...these are pure joy to play...!!
the neck can do warm jazz the middle position can do funky Motown rhythm comping and the star of the show is the bridge pu...it can be very tele like or crunchy and rock out ala AC/DC...!!
Jim Wagner is very responsive to emails and hes got some other sets not shown on the site which are worth mentioning...tell him what you want and he'll point you in the right direction...
Chow,
Seegs
I have the Crossroads installed in a custom NYC4 semihollow with chambers and these pu's are da bomb...these are Jim's lowest powered hums as I am mainly a single coil and more specifically...a tele player...and didn't want the glaze over the notes that I hear from most hums...these are pure joy to play...!!
the neck can do warm jazz the middle position can do funky Motown rhythm comping and the star of the show is the bridge pu...it can be very tele like or crunchy and rock out ala AC/DC...!!
Jim Wagner is very responsive to emails and hes got some other sets not shown on the site which are worth mentioning...tell him what you want and he'll point you in the right direction...
Chow,
Seegs
TattooedCarrot
New member
Re: Anyone tried CRCoils Pickups?
WCR or Wangers are (they're actually not know by the name crcoils) great pickups, I've used the Fillmores, Crossroads, and Hercs. They're my favorite boutique pickups.
WCR or Wangers are (they're actually not know by the name crcoils) great pickups, I've used the Fillmores, Crossroads, and Hercs. They're my favorite boutique pickups.
brisk
NeverLostologist
Re: Anyone tried CRCoils Pickups?
Hey Mike,
Wonsuck here. Thanks for joining us. It was nice to talk with you yesterday. The fact that my amp has been served by you gives me a great relief. It sounds AWESOME.
There are many knowledgable guys here and I am glad that we got another expert ... YOU! I hope you have a great time here. Take care.
Hey Mike,
Wonsuck here. Thanks for joining us. It was nice to talk with you yesterday. The fact that my amp has been served by you gives me a great relief. It sounds AWESOME.
There are many knowledgable guys here and I am glad that we got another expert ... YOU! I hope you have a great time here. Take care.
Re: Anyone tried CRCoils Pickups?
I've had a set for quite a while. They are not a PAF clone, although some folks often refer to them as such. They are smooth, sweet and ballsy, with nice harmonics. They don't have quite the sparkle of a PAF, but they are very well balanced from top to bottom. They respond nicely to pick attack. Big sound, while maintaining great clarity. Great rock pup. Great blues pup. The bridge tone is to die for. In my lesters, dialing the tone to about 7 gives up some really killer tone. Big, fat, articulate. As sweet or as nasty as you want it to be. I like a .015 cap with the neck pup. Helps it to cut better for soloing and rhythm work, to my ears, anyway. With resistance measuring in the 12k range, they certainly don't hit the front end of your amp the way that some would expect. They are a killer pup for slide work, maybe the best humbucker I have ever heard for slide. Quite honestly, I can twist the knobs all day and not get a bad sound from them. Jim is a great guy to deal with as well. A really nice pup to have in your stash, IMHO
KCA NOS Tubes said:
I've had a set for quite a while. They are not a PAF clone, although some folks often refer to them as such. They are smooth, sweet and ballsy, with nice harmonics. They don't have quite the sparkle of a PAF, but they are very well balanced from top to bottom. They respond nicely to pick attack. Big sound, while maintaining great clarity. Great rock pup. Great blues pup. The bridge tone is to die for. In my lesters, dialing the tone to about 7 gives up some really killer tone. Big, fat, articulate. As sweet or as nasty as you want it to be. I like a .015 cap with the neck pup. Helps it to cut better for soloing and rhythm work, to my ears, anyway. With resistance measuring in the 12k range, they certainly don't hit the front end of your amp the way that some would expect. They are a killer pup for slide work, maybe the best humbucker I have ever heard for slide. Quite honestly, I can twist the knobs all day and not get a bad sound from them. Jim is a great guy to deal with as well. A really nice pup to have in your stash, IMHO
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Lee_M.
Brockburst Toneologist
Re: Anyone tried CRCoils Pickups?
I first talked with Jim when he was releasing the Fillmores into public - this has been 12-14 months ago. He caught so much grief on the LPF until one of the select few gave the pups "his official blessing". Very silly.
Anyway, Jim is very, very nice and knowledgeable. He is a good guitar player and a phenomenal bass player. He can do the Allmans like no other - Berry Oakley would have been given a run for his money.
His pickups are not necessarily PAF clones. The Fillmores seek to get the "honk" that traditional rigs are unable to produce...the "honk" defined as the slide tone from Statesboro Blues on the Fillmore album. However, they are still very well rounded in terms of their ability to cover most music from the '60's and '70's. Overall, the Fillmores are a great "classic rock" pup that can do most any tone.
As I've briefly played Jimmy Murray's LP's with all of the various Wagner pups, I can say that the Fillmores and Goodwoods have great vintage / classic rock tone. You couldn't go wrong with either unless you are looking for heavy Distortion. In that case, you would need Jim's HERC set - they are ceramic based pups, and, apparently good ones at that.
I first talked with Jim when he was releasing the Fillmores into public - this has been 12-14 months ago. He caught so much grief on the LPF until one of the select few gave the pups "his official blessing". Very silly.
Anyway, Jim is very, very nice and knowledgeable. He is a good guitar player and a phenomenal bass player. He can do the Allmans like no other - Berry Oakley would have been given a run for his money.
His pickups are not necessarily PAF clones. The Fillmores seek to get the "honk" that traditional rigs are unable to produce...the "honk" defined as the slide tone from Statesboro Blues on the Fillmore album. However, they are still very well rounded in terms of their ability to cover most music from the '60's and '70's. Overall, the Fillmores are a great "classic rock" pup that can do most any tone.
As I've briefly played Jimmy Murray's LP's with all of the various Wagner pups, I can say that the Fillmores and Goodwoods have great vintage / classic rock tone. You couldn't go wrong with either unless you are looking for heavy Distortion. In that case, you would need Jim's HERC set - they are ceramic based pups, and, apparently good ones at that.
KCA NOS Tubes
New member
Re: Anyone tried CRCoils Pickups?
Thanks Wonsuck and thanks to you guys for your responses. I'm more enticed than ever to put these in my PRS which is seriously lacking something.
One thing that concerns me a bit: The sound clip of Wagner's site sounds great and I love that tone but I would want to be able to dial in a brighter tone, at times, on the bridge pickup. Should I be concerned about this?
Thanks Wonsuck and thanks to you guys for your responses. I'm more enticed than ever to put these in my PRS which is seriously lacking something.
One thing that concerns me a bit: The sound clip of Wagner's site sounds great and I love that tone but I would want to be able to dial in a brighter tone, at times, on the bridge pickup. Should I be concerned about this?
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dr.barlo
New member
Re: Anyone tried CRCoils Pickups?
So which one is better for Duane's LP bridge tone on Fillmore East, Fillmores or Darkbursts? I thought that Fillmores were created to capture "that" tone. Then what about DB's? Darkburst refers to Duaney's darkburst paul in Fillmore East, no?
Best,
B
So which one is better for Duane's LP bridge tone on Fillmore East, Fillmores or Darkbursts? I thought that Fillmores were created to capture "that" tone. Then what about DB's? Darkburst refers to Duaney's darkburst paul in Fillmore East, no?
Best,
B
Re: Anyone tried CRCoils Pickups?
I wouldn't be concerned. Those clips of Stormy Monday are what you're talking about, right? That Marshall had JBL D120s in it. That's a big part of that tone in those clips. Not a very bright speaker. It honks pretty good tho. I like them, but they are different. I'm sure Charlie had the tone backed off some on the guitar as well, and I seem to recall other mods on that Marshall, as he was looking for that particular tone. A very specific setup to achieve a very specific tone. Now, if you were running into say.. a 2x12 with a G12H and a V30, and a Marshall 18W head...you'd have some very nice tones happening. You could be in the ballpark of those clips, or you could go in other directions by turning that knob. Those Fillmores are very responsive to knob-twisting. I think someone else here said they clean up nicely, which is true.
KCA NOS Tubes said:
I wouldn't be concerned. Those clips of Stormy Monday are what you're talking about, right? That Marshall had JBL D120s in it. That's a big part of that tone in those clips. Not a very bright speaker. It honks pretty good tho. I like them, but they are different. I'm sure Charlie had the tone backed off some on the guitar as well, and I seem to recall other mods on that Marshall, as he was looking for that particular tone. A very specific setup to achieve a very specific tone. Now, if you were running into say.. a 2x12 with a G12H and a V30, and a Marshall 18W head...you'd have some very nice tones happening. You could be in the ballpark of those clips, or you could go in other directions by turning that knob. Those Fillmores are very responsive to knob-twisting. I think someone else here said they clean up nicely, which is true.
That90'sGuy
DyzaBoyzologist
Re: Anyone tried CRCoils Pickups?
I was amazed actually seeing this thread.
I am obsessed with Jim Wagner's stuff (the official name for the pickups are "Wagner Custom Rewinds" or as I like to call them "WCR").
My Grosh Bent Top Custom is a top of the line instrument that suffers from poor pickups (Dimarzio VV neck and middle, Dimarzio Classic PAF bridge - the one pickup I kept). I switched the VVs out for WCR "SR" single coils and the CPAF for a "Darkburst". It's heaven. With the blend pot I can get Les Paul and Strat tones accurately. It blooms, it sings, it's versatile and the pickups sound "alive". They're never coming out, and that's "big" coming from me.
I have a full SR set in my beater G&L Skyhawk. I'll be switching out the bridge single coil for a humbucker soon, but it's only because I'm not a fan of P90s.
Jim is as nice as can be. He's very responsive and he deserves every penny he charges for them: they're a cut above the rest IMHO. I consider him a good friend and he's gotten me one step closer to my dream tone.
I was amazed actually seeing this thread.
I am obsessed with Jim Wagner's stuff (the official name for the pickups are "Wagner Custom Rewinds" or as I like to call them "WCR").
My Grosh Bent Top Custom is a top of the line instrument that suffers from poor pickups (Dimarzio VV neck and middle, Dimarzio Classic PAF bridge - the one pickup I kept). I switched the VVs out for WCR "SR" single coils and the CPAF for a "Darkburst". It's heaven. With the blend pot I can get Les Paul and Strat tones accurately. It blooms, it sings, it's versatile and the pickups sound "alive". They're never coming out, and that's "big" coming from me.
I have a full SR set in my beater G&L Skyhawk. I'll be switching out the bridge single coil for a humbucker soon, but it's only because I'm not a fan of P90s.
Jim is as nice as can be. He's very responsive and he deserves every penny he charges for them: they're a cut above the rest IMHO. I consider him a good friend and he's gotten me one step closer to my dream tone.
KCA NOS Tubes
New member
Re: Anyone tried CRCoils Pickups?
I've got a pair in my SG...guess I should try them in my PRS.
I had the good fortune of being able to hear/play some Fillmores on a customers/friends LP yesterday. After A/Bing them with my PRS stock pickups we both kind of looked at each other and said there wasn't much of a difference (especially when rolling off some highs on the PRS pickups).
I guess part of the problem was that we were playing louder than a typical gig situation for me. Maybe I just saved $250.
Seegs said:
I've got a pair in my SG...guess I should try them in my PRS.
I had the good fortune of being able to hear/play some Fillmores on a customers/friends LP yesterday. After A/Bing them with my PRS stock pickups we both kind of looked at each other and said there wasn't much of a difference (especially when rolling off some highs on the PRS pickups).
I guess part of the problem was that we were playing louder than a typical gig situation for me. Maybe I just saved $250.
orbiter
New member
Re: Anyone tried CRCoils Pickups?
The fillmores are waaaay brighter and crunchier w/ more output... the darkburst's are warm and round .. more of a classic paf tone.
does that help at all?? I dont have those LP's you mentioned so I'm going by what my ears tell me.
I've seen several of these and it really bothers me .... those grosh's are some of the nicest I've played ... I put some voodoo's in one and the change was BEYOND AMAZING... he's not doing himself any favors by using those pups IMO.
dr.barlo said:
The fillmores are waaaay brighter and crunchier w/ more output... the darkburst's are warm and round .. more of a classic paf tone.
does that help at all?? I dont have those LP's you mentioned so I'm going by what my ears tell me.
chris said:
I've seen several of these and it really bothers me .... those grosh's are some of the nicest I've played ... I put some voodoo's in one and the change was BEYOND AMAZING... he's not doing himself any favors by using those pups IMO.
Lee_M.
Brockburst Toneologist
Re: Anyone tried CRCoils Pickups?
Dr. B,
Sorry for the delay. Here's the scoop:
Most Duane historians believe that the Darkburst was not the guitar used on the Fillmore East album. Apparently, Duane didn't receive it until late June/early August 1971 (right around the closing of the Fillmore East). The album was definitely recorded before then.
Also, the Darkburst had much hotter pickups than the Cherryburst. You can actually hear a slight tonal difference in Duane's sound on the bootlegs from Aug. 1971 (going forward) compared to the Cherryburst on the Fillmore East album.
Re: Jim's pickups, the Fillmore set IS designed to be tonal signature from the Fillmore East - the Cherry Burst Guitar / 50W Bass Head / 4x12 Cab with D-120F's or Cerwin Vegas (no one is quite certain)...i.e. the Statesboro Blues tone.
Although I haven't spoken to Jim since the Darkburst set was released I would assume he is catering to those who prefer the even hotter tone. I'm not 100% certain, though.
If you want to try and emulate the Statesboro tone without having all of the necessary and hard to find components, the Fillmore set is the way to go.
dr.barlo said:
Dr. B,
Sorry for the delay. Here's the scoop:
Most Duane historians believe that the Darkburst was not the guitar used on the Fillmore East album. Apparently, Duane didn't receive it until late June/early August 1971 (right around the closing of the Fillmore East). The album was definitely recorded before then.
Also, the Darkburst had much hotter pickups than the Cherryburst. You can actually hear a slight tonal difference in Duane's sound on the bootlegs from Aug. 1971 (going forward) compared to the Cherryburst on the Fillmore East album.
Re: Jim's pickups, the Fillmore set IS designed to be tonal signature from the Fillmore East - the Cherry Burst Guitar / 50W Bass Head / 4x12 Cab with D-120F's or Cerwin Vegas (no one is quite certain)...i.e. the Statesboro Blues tone.
Although I haven't spoken to Jim since the Darkburst set was released I would assume he is catering to those who prefer the even hotter tone. I'm not 100% certain, though.
If you want to try and emulate the Statesboro tone without having all of the necessary and hard to find components, the Fillmore set is the way to go.
muddy
New member
Re: Anyone tried CRCoils Pickups?
the crossroads are my babies! i told jim i wanted the p'ups in clapton's painted by "the fool" sg that he played almost exclusively for a year and a half, fromjust before cream came to nyc to record disraeli gears. goddamned if he didn't nail them right on the head! i wanted to call them the "wheels of fire" set, but jim like crossroads better; good call, 'cause geoff teese wound up calling my wah by that name! jim, btw, also winds the BEST single coils on the
mlplanet, called the SR set!
the crossroads are my babies! i told jim i wanted the p'ups in clapton's painted by "the fool" sg that he played almost exclusively for a year and a half, fromjust before cream came to nyc to record disraeli gears. goddamned if he didn't nail them right on the head! i wanted to call them the "wheels of fire" set, but jim like crossroads better; good call, 'cause geoff teese wound up calling my wah by that name! jim, btw, also winds the BEST single coils on the
mlplanet, called the SR set!
dr.barlo
New member
Re: Anyone tried CRCoils Pickups?
Lee_M,
Thanks man, I appreciate the detailed info. Very cool. I have a 95LP standard that does not have that much bass, but more of mids, uppermids and highs with timbuckers with open and 3d clarity full with harmonics (and I know you know what I am talking about
). I love what it does, because the lack of bass is not necessarily a bad thing, but quite cool, especially in gigs when all the instruments occupy their certain spot in the tonal spectrum. Rolling the tone down to 5-6 (audio taper) and adjusting the amp gets me lotsa honk that I think is quite close to Duaney's Fillmore tone. But still I cannot stop itching for Wagner's buckers.
I bought a fillmore bridge from a LPF guy like a year ago, but it did not work in this very same guitar. Sold it. That's why I was asking about them darkbursts. If they were sort of more PAF than Fillmores, I was thinking of try them out. But after reading your post, I think they'd not do what I want. No?
B
Lee_M,
Thanks man, I appreciate the detailed info. Very cool. I have a 95LP standard that does not have that much bass, but more of mids, uppermids and highs with timbuckers with open and 3d clarity full with harmonics (and I know you know what I am talking about
). I love what it does, because the lack of bass is not necessarily a bad thing, but quite cool, especially in gigs when all the instruments occupy their certain spot in the tonal spectrum. Rolling the tone down to 5-6 (audio taper) and adjusting the amp gets me lotsa honk that I think is quite close to Duaney's Fillmore tone. But still I cannot stop itching for Wagner's buckers.I bought a fillmore bridge from a LPF guy like a year ago, but it did not work in this very same guitar. Sold it. That's why I was asking about them darkbursts. If they were sort of more PAF than Fillmores, I was thinking of try them out. But after reading your post, I think they'd not do what I want. No?
B
orbiter
New member
Re: Anyone tried CRCoils Pickups?
no.. great info on duane ... but, there's no way the DB is hotter ... no way I say!!
go back .. read my first post ... thats how they sound .. back 2 back in les pauls
DB = a beefed up PAF ..but not overbeefed .. still has VERY classic vibe ..smoother
ok .. I'll stop spinning my wheel's ...
lee said:
no.. great info on duane ... but, there's no way the DB is hotter ... no way I say!!
go back .. read my first post ... thats how they sound .. back 2 back in les pauls
DB = a beefed up PAF ..but not overbeefed .. still has VERY classic vibe ..smoother
ok .. I'll stop spinning my wheel's ...
