rudygeorge
New member
Is their anybody here that has some experience with Kent Armstrong pickups?
Rudy D.
Rudy D.
Is there anybody here that has some experience with Kent Armstrong Pickups?
- Thread starter rudygeorge
- Start date
Evan Skopp
SDUGF Founder
Re: Is there anybody here that has some experience with Kent Armstrong Pickups?
Hey rudygeorge:
My only experience is with their lawyer.
They got a trademark on the Lipstick Tube pickup by claiming five years continuous use in commerce (1995-2000 -- nevermind that Lipsticks were also being sold by Danelectro, Charvel, Ibanez, Chandler, Jerry Jones, us and others during that period). Then, they gave us a cease and desist.
Same lawyer represents the good folks over there in Double Cream-land.
That's my experience.
Hey rudygeorge:
My only experience is with their lawyer.
They got a trademark on the Lipstick Tube pickup by claiming five years continuous use in commerce (1995-2000 -- nevermind that Lipsticks were also being sold by Danelectro, Charvel, Ibanez, Chandler, Jerry Jones, us and others during that period). Then, they gave us a cease and desist.
Same lawyer represents the good folks over there in Double Cream-land.
That's my experience.
Evan Skopp
SDUGF Founder
Re: Is there anybody here that has some experience with Kent Armstrong Pickups?
That was another encounter with their lawyer. I had to inform them that "JB Version" is not a proper name for a Kent Armstrong pickup. They eventually changed the name.
They've also used the names "Hot Rails" and "Cool Rails" with their products.
Come to think of it, I've had a lot of interactions with their lawyer. But getting the trademark on the age-old Lipstick Tube Pickup design just burns me.
Thames said:
That was another encounter with their lawyer. I had to inform them that "JB Version" is not a proper name for a Kent Armstrong pickup. They eventually changed the name.
They've also used the names "Hot Rails" and "Cool Rails" with their products.
Come to think of it, I've had a lot of interactions with their lawyer. But getting the trademark on the age-old Lipstick Tube Pickup design just burns me.
Artie
Peaveyologist
Re: Is there anybody here that has some experience with Kent Armstrong Pickups?
Hey Evan; Perhaps this will be some consolation. I believe that a guitar pickup should be evaluated on the basis of its "sound." When a company like KA or DMZ limits their competition by "technicalities", such as the double-creme issue, I for one, take that as the most sincere statement by that company, of their inability to compete on the basis of "tone."
They've just "told" me what they can't do. I believe them. So, I won't waste time with their products.
Hey Evan; Perhaps this will be some consolation. I believe that a guitar pickup should be evaluated on the basis of its "sound." When a company like KA or DMZ limits their competition by "technicalities", such as the double-creme issue, I for one, take that as the most sincere statement by that company, of their inability to compete on the basis of "tone."
They've just "told" me what they can't do. I believe them. So, I won't waste time with their products.
Re: Is there anybody here that has some experience with Kent Armstrong Pickups?
Well I'm going to go against the grain here since I've tried a Kent Armstrong and say that the PAF version they have (M213 I think) is great in the neck. I got them stock in a guitar and yanked it out since I thought SD's would obviously be better...I ordered a '59 neck instead. Boy was I wrong....the '59 sounded like boomy muddy ass to me...well not that bad but completely overated and too warm for the neck IMO...not a big fan of that pickup. However, I put the Kent Armstrong PAF back in and it really sang....sweeter mids...better upper end clarity and the bass was rolled back some....MUCH better IMO than the '59 I had in there.
I was never a fan of stock cheaper pickups and still am not for the most part but I'm keeping this one...
Well I'm going to go against the grain here since I've tried a Kent Armstrong and say that the PAF version they have (M213 I think) is great in the neck. I got them stock in a guitar and yanked it out since I thought SD's would obviously be better...I ordered a '59 neck instead. Boy was I wrong....the '59 sounded like boomy muddy ass to me...well not that bad but completely overated and too warm for the neck IMO...not a big fan of that pickup. However, I put the Kent Armstrong PAF back in and it really sang....sweeter mids...better upper end clarity and the bass was rolled back some....MUCH better IMO than the '59 I had in there.
I was never a fan of stock cheaper pickups and still am not for the most part but I'm keeping this one...
Zerberus
Baron Von Shred
Re: Is there anybody here that has some experience with Kent Armstrong Pickups?
Well, I can tell you that the Armstrongs are coming OUT of My Jackson AT-1 and Duncans are going in (as soon an Finances allow) .
And BTW, I see it Identically to Artie, That´s one of the reasons the (stock) Armstrongs are coming out, Tone the other. And it´s the reason I refuse to use anything from Dimarzio, Ruby Tubes/ Magic Parts, and anything by anyone affiliated with WD Music Products (Tonepros).
Well, I can tell you that the Armstrongs are coming OUT of My Jackson AT-1 and Duncans are going in (as soon an Finances allow) .
And BTW, I see it Identically to Artie, That´s one of the reasons the (stock) Armstrongs are coming out, Tone the other. And it´s the reason I refuse to use anything from Dimarzio, Ruby Tubes/ Magic Parts, and anything by anyone affiliated with WD Music Products (Tonepros).
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Tony_H
New member
Re: Is there anybody here that has some experience with Kent Armstrong Pickups?
Perhaps it's worth noting that there are two lines of KA pickups: one is made in the UK and in Slovakia, and they're considered the 'real' KA pickups, and then there is another line made in Korea by Sky Pickups - they use the 'Kent Armstrong' name but not the logo. I believe it's a similar story as with the real Seymour Duncan pups and the Duncan Designed line --- but I may be wrong, so don't stone me please
I have a set of the Sky P-90s (as they call them, a S-90 and a S-90HR or so - the bridge pup is reverse polarity and wound a little hotter). All I can say about them is that they are WAY better than a set of P-90's that came stock with an Epi LP Special Double Cut that I once had. I also tried them in my testbed Strat-style guitar and they sounded fine.
Perhaps it's worth noting that there are two lines of KA pickups: one is made in the UK and in Slovakia, and they're considered the 'real' KA pickups, and then there is another line made in Korea by Sky Pickups - they use the 'Kent Armstrong' name but not the logo. I believe it's a similar story as with the real Seymour Duncan pups and the Duncan Designed line --- but I may be wrong, so don't stone me please
I have a set of the Sky P-90s (as they call them, a S-90 and a S-90HR or so - the bridge pup is reverse polarity and wound a little hotter). All I can say about them is that they are WAY better than a set of P-90's that came stock with an Epi LP Special Double Cut that I once had. I also tried them in my testbed Strat-style guitar and they sounded fine.
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