Best Aftermarket T-top type pickup

[RMosack]

Re: Best Aftermarket T-top type pickup

Why?

For me it’s simple. I recently learned that the Jimmy Page 1973 TSRTS Madison Square Garden Tone was a bridge T Top and stock neck PAF.

I’ve always wanted that tone. Kind of a bummer that SD has no similar options. And $400 for a set from ReWind is outrageous.

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Best Aftermarket T-top type pickup

http://www.vineham.com/humbucker_pickups.html

You are welcome. Also note that all prices listed are in CANADIAN dollars. In real money it's like $65 per pickup plus shipping. Nothin but positive reviews all over the internet. I have not yet installed the pickup I bought (not a T top) so I can't personally vouch.

 

[Adieu]

Re: Best Aftermarket T-top type pickup

As I understand it, fads come in waves...

Used to be a time in the late 80s you couldn't trade a 70s Norlin Custom for an '87 Ibanez RG 5xx or 7xx. Cause lots of people wanted the RGs and had the Norlin Customs.

Then... other way a decade or two later as there were more unwanted Ibbys than Norlins on the market.

Now? The old Ibbys are becoming increasingly collectible, both sell for 4 figures. Supply and demand and collectibility and all that...

Ttops were unwanted back in the day, regardless of their quality or lack thereof, cause everyone and their grandmother had stuff with Ttops. And since the big aftermarket pickup companies hail from those same days, the same thinking persists and will onky fade when the people winding pickups are replaced by younger folk to whom a Ttop is a vintage rare, not generic pickup 101.

 

[raistlin]

Re: Best Aftermarket T-top type pickup

Another thumbs up for Vineham pickups! I haven't installed it yet but great customer service.

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: Best Aftermarket T-top type pickup

Not sure why $400 a set seems to be asking for too much. Its a fair price for a one man custom shop. James will take the time to wind you what you want and turn it around in about 10 business days. Not to mention he's dealt with a ton of vintage pickups and co-written a book on the subject. You deal with the man himself. Two Custom Shop pickups will fetch you about $375 or so and take longer to build. Again, you focus in that expertise to wind you a specific set (Post72 JP set shoots for that Madison Garden tone, which he's sourced time and knowledge to provide that service). I've had nothing, but great experiences with James and his sets speak for themselves. Highly recommended at MLP.

I thought the SNS and WLH were suppose to be shooting for that '70s vibe, why not just get one of those and call it a day?

*edit: Last thing, if $400 for a brand new set is too much, shop used. You'll have sets sell for $200-300. A recent Rewind set of mine went for under $200 (quick sale). Be patient and shop smart.

Sent from my LG-H931 using Tapatalk

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Best Aftermarket T-top type pickup

Not sure why $400 a set seems to be asking for too much. Its a fair price for a one man custom shop. James will take the time to wind you what you want and turn it around in about 10 business days. Not to mention he's dealt with a ton of vintage pickups and co-written a book on the subject. You deal with the man himself. Two Custom Shop pickups will fetch you about $375 or so and take longer to build. Again, you focus in that expertise to wind you a specific set (Post72 JP set shoots for that Madison Garden tone, which he's sourced time and knowledge to provide that service). I've had nothing, but great experiences with James and his sets speak for themselves. Highly recommended at MLP.

I thought the SNS and WLH were suppose to be shooting for that '70s vibe, why not just get one of those and call it a day?

*edit: Last thing, if $400 for a brand new set is too much, shop used. You'll have sets sell for $200-300. A recent Rewind set of mine went for under $200 (quick sale). Be patient and shop smart.

Sent from my LG-H931 using Tapatalk

I’ve bought 4 sets of pickups from Ilya Fokin. His shop is out of Moscow. 3 of the sets were standard model sets and one was a standard set with a magnet swap. He doesn’t charge extra for customization. And he makes phenomenal pickups....I’m shocked more people aren’t buying his stuff left and right.
I’ve never paid more than $150 for a set and that includes shipping from Russia.
IMO, $400 a set is a complete rip off.

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: Best Aftermarket T-top type pickup

We can run circles around this issue. US made vs Foreign. Materials. Specs. Prices. Etc. My point is instead of ripping into one guy's business based off what he deems fair price for his services, why not find something that works for you. He's got plenty of other customers who feel the price is worth it.

You found your guy in Russia and you have been a repeat customer. That says a lot. It seems like Seymour Duncan already makes T Top ish pickups. Why not just add a short mag and be done with it? You can a short A5 to a 490R and get close.

Sent from my LG-H931 using Tapatalk

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Best Aftermarket T-top type pickup

Why?

For me it’s simple. I recently learned that the Jimmy Page 1973 TSRTS Madison Square Garden Tone was a bridge T Top and stock neck PAF.

I’ve always wanted that tone. Kind of a bummer that SD has no similar options. And $400 for a set from ReWind is outrageous.

Duncan Jazz Neck with short A5 in the bridge position. Then Seth Neck in the neck position.

As an alternate, a 59 Neck with either a short A5 or A4 in the bridge position. And possibly swap an A4 or A3 into the Seth N if needed.

Keeping it stock with no mag swaps, just put a 59 Neck or Jazz Neck in the bridge and a Seth Neck in the neck. Or even two Jazz Necks or two 59 Necks will get into the territory.

Pots and wiring are influential, so 50’s or modern wiring and pot values will affect which pickups work out best. The amp and speaker are a lot of the sound, so multiple pickups can get in the zone.

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Best Aftermarket T-top type pickup

$400 for a pair of T-top pickups is simply too much. Vineham is in Canada and charges about $130US for a pair. Zhangbucker is in the Heartland of America and will make you anything you want. I believe he will wind a T-top for under $100 each.
We are not talking about era-correct PAF replicas here. T-tops are pretty easy to reproduce.
AND, of course, a little internet shopping will yield an actual pair of actual Gibson T-tops for less than $200 if one is patient.

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: Best Aftermarket T-top type pickup

The post72 set is a PAF correct neck and T Top bridge (wound specifically to match Page's tone). $200 a pop even. Like I said, shop used, I have seen this set and even pickups sell for $100 single HB or $200 a set. You guys have found your suitable substitutes. Cool, there's no prob. I just see no point in bashing someone's work on a sig set of pickups. SD Hendrix singles run for $270 and the CS version are only $300. You see this everywhere on sig sets.

Sent from my LG-H931 using Tapatalk

 

[AlexR]

Re: Best Aftermarket T-top type pickup

James uses bespoke parts, so even the cosmetics match.

If you use generic parts you can save a LOT on the construction yet have a pickup that sounds practically the same.
You pick your level of detail.....and be happy.

For the whingers - you act as if you're being forced to buy, not merely commenting on a choice you didn't make.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Best Aftermarket T-top type pickup

Why?

For me it’s simple. I recently learned that the Jimmy Page 1973 TSRTS Madison Square Garden Tone was a bridge T Top and stock neck PAF.

I’ve always wanted that tone. Kind of a bummer that SD has no similar options. And $400 for a set from ReWind is outrageous.

I don't think $400 is outrageous when you look at the lengths James goes to in sourcing the exact vintage components. Also, his service is stellar. He'll spend as much time as needed up front talking to you about exactly the tone your looking for, your equipment, etc. Then when you get the pickups, if they don't sound quite right he'll tweak them for you until they do....within reason.

I ordered a set of his Low Output pickups, and for me they didn't balance well. The neck was full and strong but the bridge sounded weak and didn't balance well. We talked details again and I sent them back. He's rewound them and I just received them back. He'll tweak them again if necessary.

If you look at a Custom Shop set from SD, they start at $300 and go up a bit from there. SD makes some incredible CS pickups and I am a HUGE SD fan. This set from Rewind is only the 2nd set of pickups I've tried that SD did not make.....in the last 19 years.

But it's good to branch out a bit and SD doesn't specialize in EVERY type of pickup, but I've no doubt that MJ can make just about anything.

What I'm trying to say is that $400 is not out of line for a great set of pickups, when you compare it to SD or Dimarzio custom shop prices. James specifically makes terrific pickups.

 

[Francois]

Re: Best Aftermarket T-top type pickup

I had two 1980 T-Tops. I removed them from the guitar and now it sound better !
But it was a Firebrand.

Reading these posts it seems they may sound good on certain guitars.

 

[lp1987x]

Re: Best Aftermarket T-top type pickup

I have a set of real t-tops that came stock in my '77 Les Paul Standard I'll sell you. I just took them out to try a Seth Lover set. Make me a reasonable offer via PM.

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Best Aftermarket T-top type pickup

I have a set of real t-tops that came stock in my '77 Les Paul Standard I'll sell you. I just took them out to try a Seth Lover set. Make me a reasonable offer via PM.

There you go! Problem solved. Can't get more authentic than, you know, REAL.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Best Aftermarket T-top type pickup

I had two 1980 T-Tops. I removed them from the guitar and now it sound better !
But it was a Firebrand.

Reading these posts it seems they may sound good on certain guitars.

It depends.......certain pickups just don't suit players no matter what guitar they are in. I hate high output pickups....they sound sterile and flat no matter what guitar I play them in. Low output ones just suit my style.
In that way you might never like T-tops.....but its true that pickups do interact with the guitar.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Best Aftermarket T-top type pickup

It depends.......certain pickups just don't suit players no matter what guitar they are in. I hate high output pickups....they sound sterile and flat no matter what guitar I play them in. Low output ones just suit my style.
In that way you might never like T-tops.....but its true that pickups do interact with the guitar.

I think this is true. I've tried higher output pickups, but I usually end up frustrated. I can hear what others do with them, and I like it. But I can't make them work for me or my ears at all. It feels like I am trying to run wearing wet boots.

 

[formula73]

Re: Best Aftermarket T-top type pickup

Reading Ace’s T Top hate is as fun as Blueman’s JB/mahogany spiel.

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: Best Aftermarket T-top type pickup

just see T-Tops as the "Pabst Blue Ribbon" of pickups. It was meh then, and it is meh now.

Lol. Pretty accurate description haha. Hadn't read this piece of gold prior to the last comment.

Sent from my LG-H931 using Tapatalk

 

[Blackie13]

Re: Best Aftermarket T-top type pickup

Emg Retro Active Hot 70...