Pickup for rockabilly

[vinnie1971]

Pickup for rockabilly

You need the Dynobucker!

That's what I would like to try

GFS do a humbucker sized dyna (surf 90) tone search did one ( the dynasaurus) I am not sure if TV Jones do one in a HB format - I bet the SD one costs a lot!
Mixed reviews on GFS.


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[Dave Locher]

Re: Pickup for rockabilly

Whoo, them Dynobuckers is pricey!

I'm with you, Vinnie - I like humbuckers for rockabilly. I think just about any low-wind PAF style with an A5 magnet will get you there. Low wind to keep the sparkle and not get all growly, A5 to keep it bright and scooped. It will still be thicker than single-coils but not crazy. But if you really want the P90 growl you will probably have to get P90s.

Just do what I do - buy a used pickup and if you don't like it sell it and try another one. I usually break even that way, and sometimes I actually make a few bucks on one. And once I find the one I like I have something like half of retail in it. eBay is my friend...

 

[vinnie1971]

Re: Pickup for rockabilly

Whoo, them Dynobuckers is pricey!

I'm with you, Vinnie - I like humbuckers for rockabilly. I think just about any low-wind PAF style with an A5 magnet will get you there. Low wind to keep the sparkle and not get all growly, A5 to keep it bright and scooped. It will still be thicker than single-coils but not crazy. But if you really want the P90 growl you will probably have to get P90s.

Just do what I do - buy a used pickup and if you don't like it sell it and try another one. I usually break even that way, and sometimes I actually make a few bucks on one. And once I find the one I like I have something like half of retail in it. eBay is my friend...

If I could get my hands on some Maxon super 58s ....


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[Dave Locher]

Re: Pickup for rockabilly

Just try some pickups with similar specs. I had a Gibson patent # humbucker in a hollowbody that twanged like a mofo (compared to most humbuckers, that is). I also had a Schaller humbucker that was also bright and clear and loud. They aren't that hard to find.

In fact, right now I have a Wilde Bill Lawrence K-500C ("Clear") humbucker that might to the trick for you if you'd like to buy it. Or just buy yourself an L-500C or an L90 2 henries model pickup new. Call up Becky and tell her what sound you're chasing and she'll recommend the best humbucker-size pickup for the job. But personally I prefer the PAF-ish pickups for the sound you're looking for.

 

[vinnie1971]

Re: Pickup for rockabilly

Whoo, them Dynobuckers is pricey!

I'm with you, Vinnie - I like humbuckers for rockabilly. I think just about any low-wind PAF style with an A5 magnet will get you there. Low wind to keep the sparkle and not get all growly, A5 to keep it bright and scooped. It will still be thicker than single-coils but not crazy. But if you really want the P90 growl you will probably have to get P90s.

Just do what I do - buy a used pickup and if you don't like it sell it and try another one. I usually break even that way, and sometimes I actually make a few bucks on one. And once I find the one I like I have something like half of retail in it. eBay is my friend...

Would A2 not also work?
I have some lowish wind humbuckers that are very bright almost single coil voiced when you put A2 in them. I guess it's because there little bass. Put A5 in and they sound woofy, but A8 has some bass back but not losing the upper mids or sparkle. If they were brown and based on the super distortion format I'd use them ...



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[Dave Locher]

Re: Pickup for rockabilly

Would A2 not also work?
I have some lowish wind humbuckers that are very bright almost single coil voiced when you put A2 in them. I guess it's because there little bass. Put A5 in and they sound woofy, but A8 has some bass back but not losing the upper mids or sparkle. If they were brown and based on the super distortion format I'd use them ...

I suppose A2 would work, but as far as I know the specific individual pickups I am referring to were all A5. I think less mids is the key to getting rockabilly out of a humbucker, and I'm sure there are plenty of ways to make that happen but it is so easy to find low-wind A5 "PAF-style" humbuckers.

 

[vinnie1971]

Re: Pickup for rockabilly

I suppose A2 would work, but as far as I know the specific individual pickups I am referring to were all A5. I think less mids is the key to getting rockabilly out of a humbucker, and I'm sure there are plenty of ways to make that happen but it is so easy to find low-wind A5 "PAF-style" humbuckers.

Thanks for your inputs.

The reason I ask is that I from all the SD demos, I think Seth's really hit the spot, which I thought were A2? but they rarely come up on the used market. A bit too pricey for nickel covered new ones. Plus my freakish Maxons that are super bright when you put A2 in, but would look horrible in the guitar (look great in their original 1970s home)

I am warming up to phat cats too for a bit more mid range growl. And also paying attention to GFS I like the sound of the surf 90s but not so sure about dream 90s. I hear mixed reviews about GFS though...






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[Dave Locher]

Re: Pickup for rockabilly

If you just want bright, then try a DiMarzio Humbucker from Hell. (Odd name for what it is and what it does.)
I can't promise that you'll love what I'm recommending, but it works for me. We all have different ears and different fingers, though.
Good luck on your hunt!

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Pickup for rockabilly

Hard to beat pearly gates for that kind of sound. Nice twang and growl from the bridge. Vintage jazz warmth in the neck.

You'd think Phat Cats would be great too but they actually sound pretty dark.

Most important ingredient is the amp though. What are you using?

 

[EDX]

Re: Pickup for rockabilly

For what you want i'd go with a Pearly Gates + on the bridge and either a Phat Cat floor shop with degaussed a5 mags or a low H Wilde L-90

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[vinnie1971]

Re: Pickup for rockabilly

Hard to beat pearly gates for that kind of sound. Nice twang and growl from the bridge. Vintage jazz warmth in the neck.

You'd think Phat Cats would be great too but they actually sound pretty dark.

Most important ingredient is the amp though. What are you using?

I love what I hear about PGs. I have APH1s in my Dearmond and they can be pretty darned spanky and really twang when I put the coils in parallel.

I like what I hear with Phat Cats but listening to demos, a couple of UK boutique pickup makers do the job better but without trying for myself it's hard to really know, especially when all the demos use different amps from fender Tweed, Tone Master, Fender bassman, peavy, modern Amos, Marshalls or DI into a recording interface using modelling amps.

The amps I use depends where I am and what mood. I have access to a Bugari valve head and a cab with 4X12" celestions, but when I am at home it's either my old Solid state Fender combo or my old solid state Marshall combo both of which sound good, I use the Fender for clean and low gain and the Marshall for more raunch and rudeness.

For recording I find using software modelling amps are great, for country I use the blackface fender, for rockabilly the fender tweed or brown face work well, but so does the black face. I actually use my strat for playing a lot of rockabilly as I have a neck and bridge blend pot but I think for the tone I am looking for I want a fatter ruder tone but still all the spank, sparkle and twang.

I like the sound of Gibson burst bucker 1 and 2, the 57s also sound decent with clarity and sparkle.



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[Mincer]

Re: Pickup for rockabilly

Well, there are other options. Rockabilly-type pickups (especially with the right look) might be had cheaper, and then you may be able to send them to the Custom Shop for a rewind, which would be a lot cheaper than the Dynobucker. The Custom Shop could probably wind something close to a Dyno with traditional bobbins, too, for a lower price.

 

[vinnie1971]

Pickup for rockabilly

My favourite tone is the one Scotty Moore got on mystery train. He is most known for playing that gold ES295 in the early Sam Philips days but..., July 1955 he traded it for an L5 and then in 1957 he traded the L5 for a super 400 CES - the latter guitars are the ones he used on the songs I love best and mystery train as recorded with the L5.

So that's my research done - is a Seth going to be the closest or PG? Or Burst Bucker 1& 2

I didn't realise I thought those recordings were on the ES295 but those early PAFs were spanky and not at all muddy.
That 400CES was used by Elvis on the come back special where plays the main riff for Little Sister on it and that is also a great tone.
Do there we have it I was looking for a low output humbucker all along !

While James Burton's Telecaster work sounds awesome in his version of Mystery Train and Tiger Man, for me it's the Scotty Moore tone that has all the mojo.

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[Chickenwings]

Re: Pickup for rockabilly

For recording I find using software modelling amps are great, for country I use the blackface fender, for rockabilly the fender tweed or brown face work well, but so does the black face.

No surprises there.
Honestly, for a great rockabilly tone live (and for a really rich and rewarding practice tone at home), you need to get your hands one at least one of the amps listed here. Do whatever you need to do to make it happen. Pretty much any pickup selection you end up with will sound magic. You won't look back.

 

[vinnie1971]

Pickup for rockabilly

No surprises there.
Honestly, for a great rockabilly tone live (and for a really rich and rewarding practice tone at home), you need to get your hands one at least one of the amps listed here. Do whatever you need to do to make it happen. Pretty much any pickup selection you end up with will sound magic. You won't look back.

Those things are sooooo expensive. You don't think a solid state Fender champ or Fender deluxe might do it? They are very affordable!
Or the fender performer hybrid amp- valve state, tube preamp but the output is solid state?



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[vinnie1971]

Re: Pickup for rockabilly

Just messing around with mystery train, little sister and the 1st solo from hound dog in my Dearmond which has APH1s in it - in both my fender and Marshall solid state amps and that's a nice rockabilly tone when cranked but clean. Just keeping all the tone dials at 5 and lots of reverb - no need to even get the delay pedal in for slap back and that's a good tone from both. I am surprised the normally boxy sounding clean channel in the Marshall still gets a decent tone for this style. I normally only use it for dirty tones.

I might look to trade them for a hybrid valve state or budget tube amp - I am sure the tone would be even more awesome !



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[Mincer]

Re: Pickup for rockabilly

My favourite tone is the one Scotty Moore got on mystery train. He is most known for playing that gold ES295 in the early Sam Philips days but..., July 1955 he traded it for an L5 and then in 1957 he traded the L5 for a super 400 CES - the latter guitars are the ones he used on the songs I love best and mystery train as recorded with the L5.

So that's my research done - is a Seth going to be the closest or PG? Or Burst Bucker 1& 2

I didn't realise I thought those recordings were on the ES295 but those early PAFs were spanky and not at all muddy.
That 400CES was used by Elvis on the come back special where plays the main riff for Little Sister on it and that is also a great tone.
Do there we have it I was looking for a low output humbucker all along !

While James Burton's Telecaster work sounds awesome in his version of Mystery Train and Tiger Man, for me it's the Scotty Moore tone that has all the mojo.

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I would think a Seth might be closest but really you need P-90s with A2s for that sound, I'd think. So maybe even a Phat Cat.

 

[BRHGM]

Re: Pickup for rockabilly

Eddie Cochran used a Gretsch with A Dearmond bridge and a P 90 neck.

 

[vinnie1971]

Re: Pickup for rockabilly

I would think a Seth might be closest but really you need P-90s with A2s for that sound, I'd think. So maybe even a Phat Cat.

It does sound P90ish. I was sure the sound was the famous dog eared gold ES295 but by the time my favourite tunes were recorded, apparently Scotty Moore had already traded it for the L5 which he used for mystery train etc, and that had PAFs - I found some very old pictures of him playing it. I was rather surprised- but then when Elvis played it on the come back special for little sister, it's very bright, spanky and twangy.

So nearly decided it's between phat cats, seths, PGs and burst buckers....


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[vinnie1971]

Re: Pickup for rockabilly

For what you want i'd go with a Pearly Gates + on the bridge and either a Phat Cat floor shop with degaussed a5 mags or a low H Wilde L-90

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Thanks for the recommendation. I am also thinking of the L500 and the L610, the latter in particular sounds good on demos and is nice to look at


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