Supro Vistatone Pickups

[ragamuffin]

So I recently built a Supro-inspired guitar using a body that I made myself along with a Warmoth neck. The pickups are Supro Vistatones and I just had to write something about them because the sound great!

Vistatones are an old pickup design that look a lot like humbuckers (the originals were slightly larger, but the new ones are hum sized) but are actually a unique single coil that's somewhat like a p90. Here's a short Premier Guitar article one them https://www.premierguitar.com/articl...pickups?page=6

Anyways the sound: they're very fat, and have more output than I expected without sounding overwound or congested. They have a very "vocal" midrange and go from polite when played soft to growling when pushed. Lots of p90-like qualities, but they also have that great glassy clarity of Fender single coils, the bridge position even has a bit of tele twang. Compared to Supro reissue "gold foils" (which are the Supro Cleartone design) they have a little less juicy roundness and a more aggressive bite. I'd highly recommend trying them if you have a humbucker equipped guitar that you're thinking about changing the pickups in, particularly if you're a fan of p90s.

 

[Artie]

Nice review. Nice build. Is that a Hipshot bridge?

 

[Securb]

What a great build

 

[ragamuffin]

Nice review. Nice build. Is that a Hipshot bridge?

Thanks! Yep, Hipshot bridge, I really like them.

 

[Artie]

Thanks! Yep, Hipshot bridge, I really like them.

Me too. Solid, simple, look good, and sound good.

 

[Mincer]

What a nice build! What is the neck made out of? Does it have a finish on the back of the neck?

 

[ragamuffin]

Thanks! The neck is bloodwood with and ebony fretboard. No finish, just polished up really smooth and it feels amazing!

 

[Mincer]

How is the bloodwood? Is it a heavy neck? I just ordered a Warhead neck, too.

 

[ragamuffin]

How is the bloodwood? Is it a heavy neck? I just ordered a Warhead neck, too.

It's really nice, probably my new favorite of the neck woods I own (roasted maple, goncalo, wenge). It's has a very dense and smooth feel and a little bit waxy-er/less dry feeling than roasted maple, but not so much as goncalo or wenge. I suppose it's a little heavy as a neck and I didn't weigh it, but I didn't notice it being much heavier than my other necks either. Nice, what kind of wood is yours?

 

[Mincer]

Mine will be roasted maple with an ebony fb, and stainless steel scalloped frets.

 

[St_Genesius]

That's gorgeous. I like the new Supros well enough, but yours is way nicer looking.

 

[Mincer]

A bloodwood neck was something I really considered. I have a wenge Warmoth neck with a bloodwood stripe that I really like.

 

[ragamuffin]

Mine will be roasted maple with an ebony fb, and stainless steel scalloped frets.

Very cool, have you played a scalloped neck before? I'd love to try one at some point

 

[treyhaislip]

Very cool looking guitar! Any clips?

Really diggin Supro’s stuff!

 

[Mincer]

Very cool, have you played a scalloped neck before? I'd love to try one at some point

Yes, my main Music Man for 20 years or so has a scalloped neck.

 

[ragamuffin]

Yes, my main Music Man for 20 years or so has a scalloped neck.

Very cool!