NOT DUNCAN...NOT DiMARZIO....then what?

[JeffB]

I *NEED* new pups for my Hamer.

I'm leery of the Super D I've been considering because of ceramic mags and Duncan just doesn't make anything that I'm looking for (unless I go custom shop)

I need:

a "hot" PAF voicing...good bass, good mids all around, good bite but no TWANG (59s twang cos the mids are so neutral)

Don't want ceramic...at all...don't want that compression and loss of dynamics.

I want a "crunchier" type sound, and less smooth/twangy for the bridge. I'd prefer to stay away from alnico II as well...don't want that softness in the bass and smooth highs (but don't want piercing either).

Going for that John Sykes neck tone (which most PAFs will get I know, but 59s aint cuttin it..too hazy/not clear enough)

Need to keep the price around $100 or less for each pup, otherwise I'd go BK,Wolfetone, or a custom shop overwound 59, and be done with it (holidays comin up...gotta start shopping soon :laugh2: )

A friend recommended I look into Fralins and Rio Grande (BBQ, I think?). I've got NO experience with either of these brands..

I'm looking for what amounts to a Custom's (SH5) voicing with Alnico magnets (not a C5, or CC..voicing is different)

WHO MAKES A PUP like this????

 

[DeanSweden]

Re: NOT DUNCAN...NOT DiMARZIO....then what?

Need to keep the price around $100 or less for each pup

http://www.billlawrence.com

 

[JeffB]

Re: NOT DUNCAN...NOT DiMARZIO....then what?

http://www.billlawrence.com

I forgot about these when I posted... AJ has some clips that sound great, but they are in a strat, and those are the only clips I've ever heard of these pups.

 

[jimlp]

Re: NOT DUNCAN...NOT DiMARZIO....then what?

I *NEED* new pups for my Hamer.

I'm leery of the Super D I've been considering because of ceramic mags and Duncan just doesn't make anything that I'm looking for (unless I go custom shop)

I need:

a "hot" PAF voicing...good bass, good mids all around, good bite but no TWANG (59s twang cos the mids are so neutral)

Don't want ceramic...at all...don't want that compression and loss of dynamics.

I want a "crunchier" type sound, and less smooth/twangy for the bridge. I'd prefer to stay away from alnico II as well...don't want that softness in the bass and smooth highs (but don't want piercing either).

Going for that John Sykes neck tone (which most PAFs will get I know, but 59s aint cuttin it..too hazy/not clear enough)

Need to keep the price around $100 or less for each pup, otherwise I'd go BK,Wolfetone, or a custom shop overwound 59, and be done with it (holidays comin up...gotta start shopping soon :laugh2: )

A friend recommended I look into Fralins and Rio Grande (BBQ, I think?). I've got NO experience with either of these brands..

I'm looking for what amounts to a Custom's (SH5) voicing with Alnico magnets (not a C5, or CC..voicing is different)

WHO MAKES A PUP like this????

I just put a BBQ/Texas set in my LP and I am liking it. The BBQ has a good tight low end but it is not boomy and the mids are bumped up but not overbearing. The highs are rolled back a bit which is a good thing in my opinion, it is hard to fix piercing highS and the pickup doesn't sound thin for leads. The BBQ does have some bite/sizzle to it, if you are looking for a "vintage" sound these pickups may have a little to much output for you. They do have A5 magnets though.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: NOT DUNCAN...NOT DiMARZIO....then what?

Try Jon Moore. He'll make you whatever you want with any kind of magnet you want. And take it from me, his stuff is GOOD...

 

[gripweed]

Re: NOT DUNCAN...NOT DiMARZIO....then what?

Try Jon Moore. He'll make you whatever you want with any kind of magnet you want. And take it from me, his stuff is GOOD...

There are a lot of smaller winders that will wind anything you want. Wicked Lester recommends High Order pickups too. High Order charges *extremely* reasonable prices. Our own Rev. Donzo does some rewinding too. I think you can see some of it on his Buck Cannon site.

I'm not sure that Fralins are what you want. They have many of the qualities that you are looking for, but they are very articulate -- almost like a Jazz with more mids, less bass and less treble. The a4 magnet is closer to a5 than a2, but there is a noticable difference. I'm assuming the Hamer is the Explorer type. I've often thought that Fralins would sound fantastic in those types of guitars. I'm not sure why though:laugh2:

 

[wildstar]

Re: NOT DUNCAN...NOT DiMARZIO....then what?

High Order. Just placed my order for A2 neck and bridge pups. Jeff seems like a swell guy, and I've only heard rave reviews of his pickups. Tell him what you want and he'll wind it. I have not heard them myself, yet, except for his clips on his site:

http://www.highorderpickups.com/

6-8 week build time though... That's frustrating, but at $50 for a custom wound, hand wound pickup, who's complaining? Not me!

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: NOT DUNCAN...NOT DiMARZIO....then what?

Try GFS pickups on ebay. I have had good luck with them and theyre very cheap.

Snowdog

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: NOT DUNCAN...NOT DiMARZIO....then what?

Need to keep the price around $100 or less for each pup, otherwise I'd go BK,Wolfetone, or a custom shop overwound 59, and be done with it (holidays comin up...gotta start shopping soon :laugh2: )

You just bought a high end guitar, isn't it worth spending a lot on pups if you need them?



$50 for a custom wound pup?!?! I'd definitely check those guys out, Jeff. I may have to do so myself.

 

[ErikH]

Re: NOT DUNCAN...NOT DiMARZIO....then what?

I'd look at the Bill Lawrence L500-R and L500-L. The L is a little hotter than the R. In fact, call Becky and see what she recommends. Double cream L500's would look KILLER in that guitar. :fing2:

 

[chill]

Re: NOT DUNCAN...NOT DiMARZIO....then what?

+1 on the BL recommendation. I haven't tried High Orders but I keep telling myself I need to because I've heard only positive stuff about them.

 

[JeffB]

Re: NOT DUNCAN...NOT DiMARZIO....then what?

Whoa...lots to reply to here....

Reviews on HC def are good for the Jon Moore pups...but I don't see a website or anything? Anyone have a link?

That Rio Grande BBQ sounds pretty dang close to what I'm looking for. I don't mind a bit more output at all as long as it's not getting into ceramic/compressed/lack of dynamics mode.

I've considered High Order as well...lead times do suck...(see below answer)

MIA..oh definitely,as I said I'd just go all out if I *COULD*..right now tho with the impending doom (errr...holidays ) money is a wee tight...and the 59s are really irritating me If need be, what I get now would be a "transition" set to some high dollar pups from BK or such at a later date (BTW..I meant $100 per pup, not for both, if that was confusing on my part). I'm keeping this guitar no doubt, but I need something that sounds better NOW, if you get my drift

Thanks for the info on the Fralins...doesn't sound like what I'm looking for.

I'll check into the Lawrences, but I suspect again, lead times suck? (I know I know..good things come to those who wait, but the 59s are bugging the crap outta me...to the point where I'm not pluggin in the guitar and just playing it acoustically)

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: NOT DUNCAN...NOT DiMARZIO....then what?

A lot of people use the Texas/BBQ set to warm up the archtop Hamers. In fact, a lot of people recommended them for my axe (81 Special).

Try the Super D. I suspect it's not as harsh as you think.

 

[ErikH]

Re: NOT DUNCAN...NOT DiMARZIO....then what?

If you got a Super D there, toss it in to see what it does. You may be surprised. If anything you may be happy with it until at least after the holidays.

 

[omboy]

Re: NOT DUNCAN...NOT DiMARZIO....then what?

http://truetonetechnologies.com/index.html

shoot Ben an email and tell him what you're looking for.

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: NOT DUNCAN...NOT DiMARZIO....then what?

No problem, Jeff. I understood you. I'm just not big on working my way up, so to speak. I'd rather just save up and buy the best ones when I could. Of course, if they're bothering you that much you won't enjoy playing it as much as you should.

 

[Johtosotku]

Re: NOT DUNCAN...NOT DiMARZIO....then what?

I don't have that much experience, but if I were to go outside SD/DMZ territory, which I probably will just for varietys sake, I'd go to Rio Grande, Fralin or Bareknuckle. The BBQ/Texas or 2*BBQ set looks great on paper and reviews have been quite positive as well, the same with Fralin but for a little more vintage vibe. Bare Knuckle has a big catalog and I hear they have great customer service, you'd probably find your choice quite easily from there. I do understand that they must cost a lot over there, but quality costs right? And poor people can't afford cheap, right?

Damn, I need new guitars to get all those cool pickups in. Why do I need to be so satisfied with my current pickups!?


Cough, cough, cough emg cough, cough, cough... Could be more to your liking than you think, but if they're not your cup of tea I perfectly understand... I'm not sure they're mine either!

 

[JeffB]

Re: NOT DUNCAN...NOT DiMARZIO....then what?

I've got a few emails in about Rio's, etc...

If nothing pans out, I'll throw the SuperD and a PAF in there for now...the 59s are bugging me....too twangy and smooth...necks not too bad, but the bridge is driving me nuts. I remember now feeling this way about the 59 in my Heritage when I first got it....I always had to have the Tubescreamer or SOD on to give it some mids and fatten it up for hardrock/"metal"...they are great for bluesy/blues rock stuff though. Just not what I want.

 

[shred-dog]

Re: NOT DUNCAN...NOT DiMARZIO....then what?

Jb !!! Jb !!!!! Jb !!!!

 

[chill]

Re: NOT DUNCAN...NOT DiMARZIO....then what?

I'll check into the Lawrences, but I suspect again, lead times suck?

Yes, but they are good pups for $50 each. I had heard about the lead time and asked ahead and still had to wait longer than the lead time I was given. At the time I grew frustrated with the wait, but since that has faded, I do like the pups.