you might want to check these out...
you might want to check these out...
Hamel pickups... supposedly one of the greats out there. This is a post off the tdpri forum:
oh these pickups are UNREAL
Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 7:57 pm
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Here's a copy of a Hamel "test" I did and posted over on the Weber Forum:
First, a pic of Alan's Flatpole Bridge, aged by GVCG:
click image for fullsize view
First the subjects:
#1...7 pound 55 replica, 1" maple boatneck, Custom shop nocaster bridge and neck pups, 7.5 and 7.1k
#2...7 pound 57 replica, 1" maple boatneck, Voodoo bridge and neck pups, 9.3 and 8.5k
#3...7 pound 55 replica, 1" maple boatneck, Hamel early 55 flatpole bridge pup, Hamel neck pup with a nickled brass cover.
All 3 guitars built by me, identical finishes, identical pots, identical .05 Wax Cap, Elixr 10-52's, identical 6105 fretwire, Scicchitano handmade 1/4" steel saddles.
Amplifier is a 65 Princeton Reverb, volume 5, treble 5, bass 7, reverb 3.
Cable is a 10' George L.
I will not go into detail about the #1 and 2 guitars, as the Hamels are the subject of this post, suffice it to say that #1 and #2 Teles sound good, they twang, cut, and speak like a Telecaster should, they behave, they get unruly, they are good sounding instruments.
The Hamels are a little different:
First thing I noticed was the unmistakable "click" one gets while switching to the bridge position on a vintage Telecaster. The bridge pup is somehow a tad microphonic and "alive"! How Alan does this on a new pickup I do not know. I have never heard this quality in a repro pickup, but I love it.
The bridge pickup is instantly to die for, smooth rich overtones, a pleasant thickness, thicker than all of the other pups tested, and the top end of this pickup is the best and most vintage-like I have heard on any repro pickup.The high end sparkle and brilliance is perfect, never an “icepick”, the tone is well beyond that. Chords in the bridge position have a cascading quality. I have spent the last 2 days playing and testing a slew of Telecasters with Jim Campilongo, we spent several hours testing and playing a 100% 1955 Tele # 7197, and this pickup instantly reminded me of that elusive high end and depth of field that I heard hours earlier on #7197 ; same amp, same settings.
The neck pickup is a dead ringer for both the 55 and '52 Teles in my shop, "woody", and not quite dark, yet not emphasized or “EQ’d” on the high end. This is a fat rhythm pickup, and may be too dark for some people’s taste, the cover attenuates some of high end, no doubt, yet also adds a richness that I have only heard on old Teles.
The Hamel neck cover is chromed brass, which no other makers are doing to my knowledge. The cover is also squared off at the top, as per originals, he has these custom made.
The bridge pup when compared visually to a 52 and 55 flatpole in direct sunlight is absolutely 100% dead on.
Large Alnico 3 slugs, lacquered, crudely pressed through the upper flatwork, and dipped in black wax.
I have seen no other pickups this close appearance-wise.
….I had to take a break and hear these again....
The middle position is pretty unreal as well, the character that eack pup has really makes the middle position unique, and there are 3 very distinct sounds at the switch.
These pickups are absolutely outstanding.
None of the other pickups tested have the character, overtones, piano-like chime, warm neck sound, overall robustness and twang that these possess. I knew after talking with AH in length that they were going to be good, but these instantly made my jaw drop, period. I spend everyday testing, listening, building and playing Telecasters, these pickups have me very excited, and they are truly on the “next level”. Contact Ron Ellis or myself if you want a set.
