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A recent thread about a weak high E string when plugged in prompted me to pose this question.
It seems to me that well respected luthiers very often use high end pickups but tend to negotiate a specific design with the winders for their particular guitars.
Don't these high end winders already produce perfectly acceptable pickups within there range without having to alter them?
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05-22-2024 08:32 AM
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In my opinion it's all marketing.They sell you are getting someting unique and special.The whole boutique pickup thing has kind of gotten out of hand.I played a Harley Benton last year and it's stock pickup sounded good enough.Was it as good as a Seymour Duncan,no,but i bet in a loud band environment it would be hard to tell the difference.
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I respect the builder when they express a preference.
I love a certain pickup but it might be too bright for a build.
The pickup can have an EQ curve that that could be great or not so great for a certain box and for the players imagined tone.
I don`t think it odd if a certain builder has a preference for the way HE or SHE hears it.
They could even work with a winder to develop a certain pickup that they feel brings out the best in their quest.
After all, that`s what we do as players 24/7 ....they should too.
Given that ...no problem with swapping with whatever is out there if it doesn't hit YOU in the sweet spot.
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Originally Posted by WahmBomAh
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Originally Posted by garybaldy
Not starting from scratch.
Certain things are learned from experience both player and builder.
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Originally Posted by nyc chaz
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Originally Posted by garybaldy
Bought only those used and at fair price to not lose money on the experiment.
When I got it and spent a day swapping …I found a clear preference.
Later on I stumbled on a pair of 60’s Guild antihums which went above and beyond for me in this guitar in my hands.
No guesswork was involved.
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Originally Posted by WahmBomAh
Unless you can tell me something about the pickups.
When you say there was no guesswork do you mean you knew the antihums were what was needed in the Koll?
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Originally Posted by nyc chaz
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Originally Posted by garybaldy
I realize not everyone is that commited.
The Antihum is that minihumbucker found in the 60’s Guilds …especially Starfires.
I find them like a hifi P 90 tone. Great for jazz …and no hum!
Here is a link dialed in warm through a Henriksen Bud. Dark but still articulate
Paul Ricci with Art Hirahara at Arturo's "You Do Something To Me" - YouTube
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Originally Posted by WahmBomAh
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I recently added an "Empress Parametric EQ Deluxe" pedal to my rig and this in combination with the EQ on my BUD amp put an end to the recurring pickup-GAS when reading one of these glowing reviews ... It does take a little effort and patience and HARD listening before one learns how to use a complex EQ machine like this one and get the desired results but it pays off : a little tweak , a boost or cut-off at the "right" frequency and the old pickup sounds like a new one. OK, an EQ cannot alter the way a pickup compresses the tone and surely a few other artifacts unique to a certain pickup will be un-attainable but still, it's a very effective and practical way of dialing in a specific sound without resorting to more extreme measures.
Another VERY effective and cheap method is this : experiment with different pot-values and adding a resistor (also of varying value) within the wiring - this will also change the sound of any pickup, sometimes even drastically.
Lindy Fralin has put together a very informative and extensive website that covers a lot of ground :
Essential Reads - Fralin Pickups
16" 1920s/30s L5
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