Pete Biltoft is Officially Out of Business

[Alder Statesman]

Just reporting back, I put these in my Cabronita Thinline, and they sound gorgeous! The neck pickup is especially sweet!

Pics, please.

[rlrhett]

Damn, damn, damn. I have three guitars with his pickups and was thinking of making myself another. I don’t think there is another boutique maker I like nearly as much. That really is unfortunate news.


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[arnie65]

Damn, damn, damn. I have three guitars with his pickups and was thinking of making myself another. I don’t think there is another boutique maker I like nearly as much. That really is unfortunate news.


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Dave Plummer with Zhangbucker pickups is pretty good, in my opinion. Personal service with a phone call or email, his prices are not too bad, and he makes custom stuff too. He's made a few pickups for me over the years. I don't think he makes CC pickups or blade type pickups.. Here's a link to his homepage.

Home



Cheers,
Arnie...

[Michael in Philly]

Hello Andrew, you mentioned that you had a floating Biltoft CC PU/pick guard assembly available-- could you please private message me (or any way you can respond) and give me more info about it please? I'm new to this forum and haven't gotten the swing of communicating through it. Can I give my phone number to you? Thanks, Michael in Philly

[murrayatuptown]

I bought a Blade P90 from Pete for an archtop and had an old rewound P90 evaluated because another rewinder said he had a 'problem' when he did a no-charge rewind for me.

I delayed two HSS Strat-clone rebuild projects (VVG P90's for Neck & middle & a 'normal' P90 at bridge H-size opening opening, and blade Strat at Neck & Middle, & blade P90 at bridge.

In Oct. Pete said he HAD sustained damage & was hoping to find another place by December. In late November he contacted me to say he would not be taking orders indefinitely & I should choose another source.

I think he spend time in Hawaii as a surfer dude...his Youtube channel talked about surfing, with some videos.

Good guy, amazing technical resume, too...physics IIRC.

I chose some Bill Lawrence (by Wilde) double blade pickups (L45 N&M and L90 + Bill's Q-filter tone alternative) after a few dead ends trying to figure out what I think I want (but not why).

I use neck pickup 99% of the time anyway. I only have one guitar with two HB's & it was a gift...I probably wouldn't have chosen. Maybe that should tell me where I shouldn't go.

Murray

[213Cobra]

A Biltoft CC is one of those things I intended to get years ago but never got around to, in part because I couldn't decide which guitar to put one in. So I belatedly and unexpectedly solved that problem by finding a guitar with a Biltoft CC floater already on it. It's a 2015 Gibson Solid Formed 17" that I got from ThatRhythmMan, and it arrived yesterday. Exploring it today. First Solid Formed I've played. This Gibson's simple cosmetics and the CC together give an old school look. The Solid Formed Gibson has a bit different acoustic voice compared to my carved and laminated archtops, as I expected. Love the robust neck. Acoustically, it has more thump and resonance than my ES-165 w/floater or the earlier-build 165 with the top-mounted p/u, but less snap, chime and tonal complexity than my L-5CT Acoustic or L-5 Wes. Overall, I think it looks like it sounds and sounds like it looks. My guess is these were/are underappreciated guitars, and therefore not plentiful. Now, about to find a cable and get into the CC but I already know what to expect. So net is, I love my Biltoft CC and the box it came in! -Phil

[fmorelli]

I order this pickup from Pete with specific specs to make it all work. I have a variety of his pickups for instruments I build. This was done for a client of mine including fabrication of the ebony pickguard. Pete's work is first class and always pushed my electronics work to meet his quality!

[Unclegrumpy]

A little info on Vintage Vibe successor:

"Vintage Vibe" Biltoft Design Single-Coil Pickups by Vince Gorman

[Jimmy Mack]

Thanks for the "Heads up" Uncle. Krivo p/ups could do very well with PB's blessings and gifts. PB also made other p/ups and services.
Kudos to those guys.

[fmorelli]

A little info on Vintage Vibe successor:

"Vintage Vibe" Biltoft Design Single-Coil Pickups by Vince Gorman

Yep thanks to @andrew for pointing this out over DMs. I just got a note back from Jason Krivo - so glad they picked this up. Spec'ing a setup with them now.

[Nick59]

No disrespect to either...I just needed a title in a rush, as it were.

Here in the UK, I've noted the odd Vintage Vibe pop up since Pete's retirement.
So, this news is very interesting. I see that Promenade Music, Morecambe, Lancashire are a UK agent/distributor, so I'll give 'em a ring.
I'm looking at my mid 50's Hofner President as I type this...one of those new low profile PAF's would be on my list for Santa....if I hadn't already asked him for a Jazzmaster.

[GuyBoden]

I order this pickup from Pete with specific specs to make it all work. I have a variety of his pickups for instruments I build. This was done for a client of mine including fabrication of the ebony pickguard. Pete's work is first class and always pushed my electronics work to meet his quality!

Fantastic, that pickguard/pickup attachment is top quality workmanship. Well done, I'm very impressed.

The neatness on the back that's never really seen, wow, truly impressive................................

[jads57]

Have owned Steve great custom made pickups from Peter Biltoft.
Reasonable prices for custom work! Plus ability to easily swap magnets made for a really great deal

[murrayatuptown]

Jason Flores, owner of KRIVO pickups recently announced he was offering certain Biltoft CC-inspired PU's, made by Vince Gorman, who took over Pete's operations, effectively as Pete's protegé.

I had purchased a Biltoft 'Blade P90' for an ES-150 in 2024, a friend loves the result and I asked Jason about that configuration, which did not appear in the new Krivo offerings.

Jason referred me to Vince.

A Johnny Smith neck-mount is better for the current carved-top target guitar(s). One has no (misplaced) pickguard and another has a detached PG. The PU thickness is one of the challenges due to a high fingerboard end elevation and no height adjustment on blade pickups. The neck mount under the bound fingerboard presents additional restriction.

I paid for one PU, Jason sent me what I ordered plus another for size comparison which I returned afterward.

I have been working with Vince because I don't know what will fit the most easily.

Vince made a custom housing version and showed me some new styles he's working on.

Vince has shipped (ETA Fri. 11/29) a custom height tab-mount CC Rider in the finish and style I chose at no extra cost or shipping. Krivo has the money and they'll sort it out between them.

Yes, it's taking time, but I didn't know what would work up front.

I am quite pleased with the flexibility and customer service. I need to adapt my PG. If there is a problem with the taller design, Vince said he'll redo it no problem.

The response times have been quicker than Pete (but not complaining).

Cost is up in the Krivo $ range, comparable to other specialty vendors like Lollar, but I think Biltoft/VVG were underpriced.

If I find the photo of the latest style, I'll add it.

They are electrically as-designed by Pete Biltoft.

[murrayatuptown]

Forbon (material used for pickup bobbins) tab