Fokin pickups....anyone try them out?

[Phantasmagoria]

From Russia.. I just ordered a set of them off ebay for the Chinese "Grote" semi-hollow I just bought. Ideally I'd have tried out the new SD Saturday Night Specials which I think are excellent sounding pup's judging from the vids/clips, but being stone broke (lol) ..these are what I went for and they sound pretty excellent too:





I got this (zebra) set ..an A5 "Hot Breeze" bridge paired with an A2 "Rocket Queen" in the neck.. (dude has them in a semi-hollow/hollow or something too..and they sound fat chewy & sweet!)





Wondering if anyone else has checked them out...and what they think of 'em if they have?



Anyway, If I do decide to put them in ..here's a mock up (reverse zebra/zebra combo-set)

 

[teleblooz]

Re: Fokin pickups....anyone try them out?

I think those pickups sound pretty Fokin good! Delicious cleans from the neck and the gain tones are great. Good stuff!

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Fokin pickups....anyone try them out?

Well..they were just shipped..



Probably a couple of weeks before they arrive. Definitely sound awesome in the video's ..can't wait to try them out

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Fokin pickups....anyone try them out?

Fokin hell yeah

 

[mesa0131]

Re: Fokin pickups....anyone try them out?

I have used Fokins. I had a 7 string set of 2 humbuckers made custom by Ilya suited to my needs. They were based off of the Faust and Siren model he was developing at the time. This wasabout 2-3 years ago, so my memory and ears may not remember perfectly but they were awesome pickups. They had a tone and feel unlike anything else I have ever played. Very large wide and dynamic with an almost 3 dimensional tone to them. Over tones were amazing and pick squeals were great. I then turned my brother onto them for a couple Tele franken-caster projects I was building for him. We went with two custom sets, with an over wound tele bridge on both. Very nice hot pickup but still had a great tele tone to it, but could get really mean like a p90. Again very wide, dynamic and full. One tele got a nashville style Strat middle, vintage tele neck. Both were superb sounding. Better than any similar pickups for the price. And the second tele got a neck humbucker. I requested it be vintage output and brighter for added clarity in the neck and to balance better with the overwound tele bridge pickup. He nailed it. A very sweet neck humbucker. Great for gained out leads and just beautiful for mellower jazz chording clean with the tone rolled off a touch. All and all I rate the Fokin stuff at 5 stars. It is really top notch and Ilya has an ear for good tone, and even given the language barrier he is very thorough when trying to get the information he needs to make you a pickup to suit your needs.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Fokin pickups....anyone try them out?

Wow, that's great to hear..thanks for sharing :bigthumb: Having just bought 3 new guitars in a row (lol) ..I was broke-ish & just looking for a set of more affordable pickups on ebay that were'nt rubbish....so I was looking at Tonerider's, GFS etc (Not bad, but I did'nt really come across anything that really stood out..ie they seemed ok but kinda "generic") when I came across the Fokin set listing. The demo's/video's of these pickups really sounded awesome (much like you describe..especially the big sound & 3D aspect).

The set he had listed was black with 50mm spacing and I wanted zebra's/a 53mm bridge, but he was very obliging and basically said "no problem". He even made me a set with the black bobbins both 'bridge-facing' like I wanted. As for specs, the set that was listed was a "Hot Breeze" (both neck & bridge) but, again he had no problem switching the neck pup for an A2 "Rocket Queen" when I asked. I really like the stock tones of both these pickups in the video's and did'nt ask for any changes.

The pickups (stock ones) I have in my semi-hollow right now actually sound really SWEET ..the only thing I find "slightly" lacking is the output...it's a hair lower than I'm used to. I could easily just leave them in there...so I did'nt want to get pickups that were'nt an obvious improvement ..and as I mentioned the other "budget" pup's I came across did'nt really seem like they were going to be. The Fokin's sound so good..I'd be surprised if they don't make the difference I'm looking for. And the "Hot Breeze" bridge with it's 14.2 DCR is probably closer to the output I'm used to/comfortable with. Really looking forward to checking them out

 

[htwheelz67]

Re: Fokin pickups....anyone try them out?

They sound great but I also suspect there is a Fractal Axe FX in the mix.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Fokin pickups....anyone try them out?

Maybe, (not sure how that would make a difference though?) but if so, it (Axe FX) would have to be in all the demo's I posted ...'cause the basic tone from those buckers is the same. Anyway ..going to wait for them to arrive & check them out in my guitar before passing judgement lol. I very strongly suspect they will sound amazing though

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Fokin pickups....anyone try them out?

Well..this is the Fokin "Hot Breeze" bridge in action with the most basic/no-frills recording set-up ever :lmao: (bridge only)

GUITAR: Grote Semi-hollow body

AMP: AMT Stonehead (50 Watt Solid State) - Direct with my AMT CN-1 Chameleon Cab Cab sim Pedal (reverb/delay in the loop)

BASS guitar simulation (pitch-shifted guitar) w/ my Zoom G1Xon for the (simulated) 'bass' track.

NUX Loop Core loop pedal for the backing track/drums

RECORDER: Olympus LS 20M digital handheld recorder (line input)

MIXED in Audacity. No other FX/Pre/Post production.

MASTERED on fiverr.com

Basically a single stereo track "output" from the loop pedal with the other stuff (drums/bass-sim) overdubbed over it.



Pop-rock/shred improv...

Overall, judging from the official video's I was expecting a great set of pups & I was'nt disappointed

Very full & "3D" sounding (more so than most other pickups I've tried) & juicy/crunchy with a lot of sweet ...sweet ...harmonic overtones They stay pretty tight for rhythm too..but thankfully not overly/clinically so...more like a really nice organic crunch. I really liked the stock pickups in this guitar, but they were'nt the most versatile (Bluesy honk no matter what) The Fokin's can do that too ...& very well, but are more open & balanced and don't color the guitar's natural sound as much. They're also hotter (..yay!) While the stock pickups sounded a bit too 'dry' in the lows in the room..especially with loud volumes. These just keep sounding juicy & awesome as the volume goes up :bigthumb:

I actually forgot to switch pickups (from bridge to neck) for this demo lol ...so it's just the "Hot breeze" all the way. I'll do another for the Rocket Queen (neck) when I can. It's a hell of a pup too.. amazingly airy & 3D & sweet with crazy overtones. Love it! ..definitely going to get myself some more Fokin's when I can... :bigthumb:

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Fokin pickups....anyone try them out?

I actually forgot to switch pickups (from bridge to neck) for this demo lol ...so it's just the "Hot breeze" all the way. I'll do another for the Rocket Queen (neck) when I can.

BUMP>>> Just did one..

..teh Rocket Queen (A2) neck :bigthumb:

Really sweet & "3D" ...great overtones, very clear/articulate/touch-sensitive & has some awesome grit to it. I'm not a big neck pup user, but this one begs to be played

Description in the video credits.. (pretty much the same as the "Hot Breeze" video above ^^)






And an updated guitar pic :bigthumb: