Statler floating pickups-any experiences, good or bad?

[Little Tina]

Hi all,
I am sorta giving up the idea of finding DeArmond Rhythm Chief 1100 pickup for less than $1000, and thought that this Statler replica would do the trick. They sell for 250€, look nice and promise to sound very close to the RC.
Anyone tried these on a carved archtop?
Thanks,
Tina

[itaetsaega]

Hi Tina

I have a statler on my Sonntag 18" archtop. The looks is great but for me the sound of the - rather expensive - PU is disapointing - it has a low output and sounds muddy. I would rather buy a kent armstrong single coil. I got an old de armond "guitarmike" which is more defined in sound and much better than the statler

[cosmic gumbo]

I dropped one in the bathtub and it sank like a rock. So much for floating pick-ups.

[itsall4you]

Originally Posted by cosmic gumbo

I dropped one in the bathtub and it sank like a rock. So much for floating pick-ups.

LOL, your comments are always so clever..

[jazztrio.be]

Just bought myself a second hand Elferink with a Dearmond rythm chief. I kinda thought it was all snobbery, but upon hearing the Chief... i'm just flabbergasted! It sounds more snappy than a p90 and more shiny (brilliant high notes) than a duncan jazz or even a Bartolini.

Isn't that weird for such an old pickup? I don't like the warm sound, but when you press the rythm button, the lows are rolled of a little and you get a more defined sound with all of the agressiveness yet round and fresh sounding high overtones on the treble side. It's much warmer than the -wonderful- P90 that I love so much...

[Little Jay]

I know that Dutch archtop-builder Wout Bosma uses Statler pickups on his guitars and is very enthusiastic about them. He has a lot of information on his site: Welcome to Jazz-Guitar.com