Tom Holmes pups in Gary Moore's LP

[Jeffrec]

I was listening to Gary Moore's new CD (Monsters of Rock...). On the track "Don't Believe a Word", the guitar tone is really sweet. Nice PAF tone, similar to the Peter Green/Gary Moore LP. So I emailed his website and asked if it was that guitar. They got back to me and said it was the prototype Gibson-Gary Moore model with Tome Holmes pups.

Has anyone had experience with these? I know they've been talked about over at the LPF, along with every other latest PAF clone.

Jeff

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Tom Holmes pups in Gary Moore's LP

I have a set of Holmes double cream humbuckers in my '00 Les Paul 1959 RI. It came with 57 Classics, which sounded very good... but those will never get near that guitar again. The Holmes are just as special as everyone says. Very lively and present. They make my Les Paul sound like one of those real hot one's like I get the impression Jeff Beck used on Truth, which is the tone I want when I reach for my Les Paul. Or the tones I hear Billy Gibbons get. The Pearly Gates are sort of in that territory too, but the Holmes have more of a custom shop vibe and tone. I'd think if Seymour wound a set of Pearly Gates he could add a little secret sauce (ketchup and 1000 island) and make a set that sounds like Tom's. But Tom isn't making pickups anymore from what I understand. Lew

 

[Lee_M.]

Re: Tom Holmes pups in Gary Moore's LP

As of 1 year ago, Tom Holmes still made pups, but at the high price of $600 a set. For a long time he was winding for $240 and got back-logged with orders to Asia. He was so far behind he just stopped selling any new sets.

One day, a gentlemen called and wanted to order 3-4 sets (after Tom had decided not to take any new orders) and was very insistent that Tom wind them. After a while, Tom finally said "I'll do it, but it will cost $600 a set...at my age, that is how much my time is worth." Sure enough, the gentlemen paid $2,400 for 4 sets of pups. Tom was amazed.

Fortunately, I already owned a set and was just calling him to order another pair. That is when he told me the story. He said that he couldn't budge off the price because it wouldn't be fair to other customers who had previously asked.

It may be worth it to give him a call. Perhaps things have changed. You can reach Tom via the website, below.

http://www.tomholmescompany.com/

Best,
Lee Moore

P.S.> I really like the pups but they are not worth $600, IMO. At $240, they were a good deal. I'd see if you can find some on E-Bay. I believe the prices have come down.

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: Tom Holmes pups in Gary Moore's LP

Guys,

Thanks for the info.

Lee, thanks for the web address.

Lew, You're description is right. Gary tends to have more treble and bite in his tone, even when using Greeny's LP. So the comparison with what a Custom Shop set of PGs would sound like, makes sense.

I've had a set of Antiqs in my LP for years and love them. In the past, mine have compared very well when a/b'd with real PAFS. Recently however, Wattage played mine and a converted 54 Lp with PAFs and the Antiqs were a little brighter. Still in the PAF ballpark, but not quite as warm (I had to appeal to the age of the wood in the '54 as an excuse, to calm myself down :laugh2: ).

How would you compare Holmes' pups with Antqs?

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Tom Holmes pups in Gary Moore's LP

Guys,

Thanks for the info.

Lee, thanks for the web address.

Lew, You're description is right. Gary tends to have more treble and bite in his tone, even when using Greeny's LP. So the comparison with what a Custom Shop set of PGs would sound like, makes sense.

I've had a set of Antiqs in my LP for years and love them. In the past, mine have compared very well when a/b'd with real PAFS. Recently however, Wattage played mine and a converted 54 Lp with PAFs and the Antiqs were a little brighter. Still in the PAF ballpark, but not quite as warm (I had to appeal to the age of the wood in the '54 as an excuse, to calm myself down :laugh2: ).

How would you compare Holmes' pups with Antqs?

Thanks,

Jeff

I think the Holmes pickups sound hotter and more aggressive than Antiquitys. They don't use aged magnets like the Antiquitys but I don't know what else Tom is doing to make them sound so strong and lively. At first I wasn't really sure I liked the Holmes humbuckers...they just have so much presence it took a while to get used to them. Still, as knowledgable as Seymour is, it's hard for me to believe that Seymour couldn't make a humbucker that equaled the Holmes in the Duncan Custom Shop. Lew

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: Tom Holmes pups in Gary Moore's LP

Still, as knowledgable as Seymour is, it's hard for me to believe that Seymour couldn't make a humbucker that equaled the Holmes in the Duncan Custom Shop. Lew

You're absolutely right on that point. I imagine Holmes went for the tone he likes. Seymour went for the real deal, and actually after having played many PAFs, in old LPs and SGs, they all differed to some degree. They ranged from dead-on sweet to terrible and definitiely not worth the money.

Jeff