Very Hard question to ask: NO DISRESPECT IS INTENDED.

[SJ318]

Re: Very Hard question to ask: NO DISRESPECT IS INTENDED.

DeathMetalRob and Beaubrummels, and EVERYBODY,
He (luthier) and I both talked to MJ personally, about mags, wires, etc. I explained, he explained, MJ explained, we all had a productive (almost conference call) talk that wound up after her listening to my likes, impressions, output of pickup, etc. that it would be a waste of money to have her try and duplicate it when she said an Antiquity bridge would be what she would wind up making.
This man is well respected in this community and has done excellent work for many people I know, and we have done business together several times on just a handshake. He lives in my area of the city.
So he and I sat down, took a pen and paper and started to ring up things I want that would make a trade reasonable for the both of us. We started, after I showed him the the price ranges for PAF's that I looked up, $1,000.00 (4) $1,500.00 (4) $2,000.00 (4 w/nickel covers-clean) up to $3,000.00 (not many) and that set for $6,000.00 (clean set/covers).
I decided that I wanted $1,500.00 in goods as well as services, and how much could I get in the real world to get what I wanted-so when we got close to $1,500.00 in real, not imagined costs of what I would want to trade, he said to stop, he could go no further as this would cost him X amount out of his own pocket, all of these things were services and goods he could get at wild and sometimes not so wild discounts though his many accounts as a luthier and licensed dealer, including Duncan.
At this point, he said take it or leave it. I took it and still feel like I got a very good deal. For trial, I put my PAF in guitar "A" and my Seth Lover w/an A4 mag in guitar "B" and that Seth A4 sounded as good as, maybe even a touch "better" to me than the PAF. I kept my excitement to myself, knowing now I could always replicate that particular pickup w/a Seth A4 mag. Man, I must tell, it was a revelation and I still get excited by how good that Seth sounded. Never really A/B'd before.
So thank God, I feel VERY good about the deal, if anyone still thinks I got ripped off, I must disagree, if anything after all of your input, I feel like I got a GOOD deal. Thank you all for taking the time and being so upfront and what beaubrummels said really affected me. You guys have been great looking out for one of your own.
I thank you all big time, Sincerely,
Steve Buffington

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Very Hard question to ask: NO DISRESPECT IS INTENDED.

So...what exactly happened? How much trade value did you get?

 

[SJ318]

Re: Very Hard question to ask: NO DISRESPECT IS INTENDED.

I got trade value of $1,500.00. This was my calculation without dealer and trade luthier discount. His cost will no doubt be much less, but I got want I wanted. AND- better yet- I got what I simply couldn't put my back through. I don't have to hire rides, pay for for such things, and as I don't have any close friends per se, rides here and there would all be taxi rides. The few friends I still speak to are not close enough to ask for limo-service. As a veritable shut-in who comes out to play 3-4 times a year as a local celeb, not that I am any great player, I just kept at it even during my 22 years of school and career, never stopped practicing and learning new things that were within my reach, thus keeping me above the fray locally with guys who used to play but stopped for whatever reason. Guys from my class/herd of '68-'72. I'm 61 so that leaves still a lot of old fans still around. Lost a few way younger than myself, which I still have a hard time getting my head around, but I guess I'm In that age group now. I flagrantly digress!
I don't have to hassle with anything, just sit back and wait for my dream guitar (1+3 I already have), to come to me. After I got almost all I wanted to get the value, I was left with a small amount after he said stop that would be out of pocket for a 2 post trem. Still at his dealer discount.
I am still thrilled that I had a pickup all this time that sounded just as good or better, like I said. So I almost feel like I took advantage of him. I know that is not the case, but to re-iterate; my Seth Lover with an A4 mag just kills through a small tube amp (Blues deluxe Pro), at least as desirable as my PAF. I had been trying things through a Fender Frontman 25 and when I switched to a tube amp for my A/B it just came alive like it had been kicked in the ass by lighting, just such a good sound.
An Antiquity bridge pup was in the trade to, I didn't ask him his dealer price, but it must have been a good deal. I feel very positive that he took it on himself to talk to his friend at Duncan and then speak with MJ with my input, and both of them coming up with the same idea. He even said "Antiquity" before MJ said she would be making basically that pickup for me for $180.00. So imagine the fun I could have swapping an A3 or A5 for purely "scientific" reasons, of course. Think the Ant. comes with an A2 IIRC.
So thank you all again for your great comments, even the complaints about maybe I was getting ripped off, which gave me the courage to up my asking price (or in this case-trade value). One of the most useful posts I've ever put up.
Sincerely,
SJ

 

[superpete]

Re: Very Hard question to ask: NO DISRESPECT IS INTENDED.

if you're happy with the deal, it's a good deal!

 

[AlexR]

Re: Very Hard question to ask: NO DISRESPECT IS INTENDED.

$1500 is an amount that I feel a lot more happy with.....not to mention you will too.

If both parties are happy and you are getting some value for your luthier as well as value for yourself then I feel this is a good solution for everybody - plus you know where the pickup is and who is using it too.

 

[SJ318]

Re: Very Hard question to ask: NO DISRESPECT IS INTENDED.

Aceman,
Your post #38 seems awful harsh, especially since I agreed with you. You seem to be a nice person. And what you said seems to make me out as some kind of idiot. I listened to everyone, and it all helped. As Superpete and AlexR said - all's well that ends well.
Not sure what I said that got you so worked up, but whatever it was, it sure wasn't intended. I'm just asking questions, and looking for answers, if there was a misunderstanding, I m sorry, but really, no need to go so negative on me. Always respected you.
SJB

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: Very Hard question to ask: NO DISRESPECT IS INTENDED.

Waitwaitwaitwaitwait hold up....
Who says MJ ain't magic?

 

[SJ318]

Re: Very Hard question to ask: NO DISRESPECT IS INTENDED.

Gotta say,
You Duncan Forum Folks get more creative all the time. This has to be up there in the top ten!
SJ

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Very Hard question to ask: NO DISRESPECT IS INTENDED.

I didn't comment in this thread earlier, both because it sounded like you'd already made up your mind, but also because maybe the karma of hooking your buddy up with a pickup to complete his 3 pup Custom is what makes the world for musicians a little better, and less about greed. I mean, he didn't seem to be ripping you off if he's taking the time and effort to hold up his end of the bargain.

But what I like most about this thread, besides the sweet pic of one of the most amazing women I've ever met, is your analysis of the 58/59 PAF and simply playing with magnets and Seth/Antiquities. I wouldn't have thought A4 would be ideal because it's a fairly stiff sounding magnet, but then again, I've never tried it in a Seth Lover, which can be a little loose sounding with A2. It makes me want to spend more time with mag swapping in Antiquities.

And just my luck......I made a deal this week with Jolly to acquire his MJ wound User Group Day 10K Antiquity. Now, I can't wait to use it as a magnet swapping test bed, until I nail the slightly overwound PAF of my dreams.
I plan to try an unoriented roughcast A5, A3, A8, and now an A4 if I can find it.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Very Hard question to ask: NO DISRESPECT IS INTENDED.

I wouldn't have thought A4 would be ideal because it's a fairly stiff sounding magnet

Funny you said that, as to me, specially in the neck position, an A4 in a PAF wind is just the polar opposite of stiff.

My Ant set hosts UOA5 mags, and my #1 guitar hosts an Electric City Pickups RD-59 Hybrid set, which is A4.

My suggestion to try with that Custom 10K Ant, as you'll be getting mags, order'em with Addiction FX and get also an UnOriented CERAMIC 8 mag. I'm sure you'll be surprised of the organic tone this particular mag produces.

You can thank me later... or not. It's up to you.

HTH,

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Very Hard question to ask: NO DISRESPECT IS INTENDED.

Funny you said that, as to me, specially in the neck position, an A4 in a PAF wind is just the polar opposite of stiff.


My suggestion to try with that Custom 10K Ant, as you'll be getting mags, order'em with Addiction FX and get also an UnOriented CERAMIC 8 mag. I'm sure you'll be surprised of the organic tone this particular mag produces.

HTH,

I think most of my spare magnets came from Addiction FX, but through forum members like Blueman.

One of my best sounding pickups is an UOA5 Custom 5 in my LP Goldtop, so I usually start with UO or roughcast A5's for a bridge. I don't swap out my Duncans with A2's, like Seths and PGs, because I'm happy with them.

I'm curious to know what you think would be the perfect sounding magnet in the 10K Antiquity I'm getting.
My first instinct is UO or roughcast A5, but now Steve B has me thinking about A3 and A4 too. Blueman sent me an A8 too, which I've held off from because I've feared too much output and string pull.

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but it seems to have resolved itself anyway.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Very Hard question to ask: NO DISRESPECT IS INTENDED.

I'm curious to know what you think would be the perfect sounding magnet in the 10K Antiquity I'm getting

Well, without knowing the guitar it'll be installed in, what kind of music will be played with it and through what rig it'll be played, I can only speculate, although I thought the UOC8 and A4 hints were clear enough?

Anyway, it's alright. My bad, I suppose? ^^^^^^^^^^^^ There you go!

HTH,

 

[SJ318]

Re: Very Hard question to ask: NO DISRESPECT IS INTENDED.

Hi,
I don't know what mag you are starting with, but I'd have to guess an A2 as you mentioned trying all of them except an A2. So I would think that with a pup starting at a pretty hot 10K, an A3 would be a good bet to start with. Although strong, if the lows are loose, an A3 could really tighten it up and keep it sweet, without pushing it into metal territory. This, of course, if a major guess based on what I've read from the same sources that made me want to try an A4 in the first place.
Let us know, maybe even by starting a new thread so we don't miss it. I can see it now:"Test Bed 10K Antiquity-and the magnets it's slept with!"
This is way better than the National Enquirer!
SJ