Kent Armstrong Pickups

**Kent Armstrong USA** · 03-23-2019, 11:02 PM

Just a FYI Kent has not licensed anyone in China to build his pickups......He does have a Korean partner who builds and sells Kent Armstrong pickups which he builds to Kent's specifications....

**Kent Armstrong** · 03-24-2019, 09:58 AM

I saw the posts asking about my pick-ups made abroad.
In answer to all, my Korean partner builds to my specifications faithfully. I use his parts here in Vermont to make conventional pick-ups like humbuckers and single coils. I also use them to prototype for customers wanting to have them made in Korea.

I can promise you that my Korean ones are every bit as good as the ones I would make here in my shop.

Most sincerely Kent Armstrong

**Cunamara** · 03-29-2019, 11:20 PM

Thanks for the info, Kent! We appreciate you stopping by.

**FredC** · 03-30-2019, 03:20 AM

Just out of curiosity, how much does a hand wound KA pickup cost?

**Spook410** · 03-30-2019, 04:15 AM

I've never seen a 12 pole hand wound Armstrong pickup or the single coil version as OEM pickups on a Korean or Chinese guitar. Except maybe a special model Eastman but I thought those were US made pickups. Seems we're talking about other models in the extensive Armstrong pickup catalogue. The hand wound jazz pickups are among my favorites and I'm really not concerned where they are made. If these are being made in Korea and there are guitars coming out with them, would like to know where to look.

**sgosnell** · 03-30-2019, 09:36 AM

Look at Eastman. Most Eastman archtops have Armstrong pickups.

**lawson-stone** · 03-30-2019, 10:34 AM

That's classic Kent Armstrong. He steps up to the plate and offers the facts. Amazing individual. Wish there were more like him!

**ptchristopher3** · 03-30-2019, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by lawson-stone

That's classic Kent Armstrong. He steps up to the plate and offers the facts. Amazing individual. Wish there were more like him!

Am I allowed to agree more than 100%?

Love the KA 12 pole on one guitar and LOVE the stock Korean KA PU on my Eastman 805ce.

I never got all the “Asian” KA bashing and the miraculous change that players discovered when they “upgraded”.

It is great to have the myths knocked over. In this case directly from the man. Great lifetime achievement from this guy for the benefit of all of us.

In the other cases (PIO caps, etc.) it can take quite a few attempts to knock the myth down for maybe 60% of players, with a faith-based remaining contingent being unshakable - and also bothered by volutes or whatever.

**ccroft** · 03-30-2019, 01:14 PM

Great to see Kent here!

My experience: I bought a used 2007 Eastman 880 Pisano. I swapped out what I now know (thanks to Kent) is the Korean for his Vermont made PAF. It's much more to my liking than the original.

This is not to say there's something wrong with the Korean one. It just has a different voice. The literature says Kent and John collaborated on that original pickup, so I would suspect the difference is due to what Mr Pisano wished to hear in his signature guitar. I think it's what's often referred to as "letting the acoustic voice come through". Personally I prefer the fatter sound of the KA PAF-0, as seen in the for sale section. I also have the floating version on another carved top. My pickup swapping days are over.... for these 2 anyway.

It may be that the main diff between the 2 is that the Vermont made is 'potted' in solid epoxy, where the Korean doesn't look like it is.

One of the things I like about these 12 pole PAFs is that they'll balance bronze strings. I do that for the floater and I really love what I'm getting there both acoustically and amplified.

**ptchristopher3** · 03-30-2019, 01:27 PM

Hi ccroft,

Great to hear the 12-pole works so well for you.

The so-called 12-pole is the pinnacle of floaters, in my opinion, for many reasons. This includes, as you mention, the remarkable level of control it gives you over string balance with absolutely any set of strings.

An amazing result in a low-profile package that stuffs under the strings on many archtops.

I get nervous about the short tab on this PU for a glue-on configuration. But since it was my own guitar (so easily fixable if it failed) I mounted one on an ebony PG with Gorilla CA adhesive 6 years ago and it remains solidly attached. So the seemingly short tab, as designed, works great even with a polymer enhanced CA.

The best of the best floater PU.

**GNAPPI** · 03-30-2019, 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by Spook410

It depends.

The handmade KA jazz pickups are among the best you can buy.

The standard KA production models are adequate.

The KA pickups on imports are licensed and sometimes they suck. Or they will use a model that doesn't suit the guitar. For instance the pickups on my Korean D'Angelico EX-SS were very hot pickups not at all consistent with this style guitar. I gifted them to the tech that swapped them out.

Your experience just goes to show how inconsistent pups can be. My EX-SS pups are not hot by any stretch. When I am playing it and switch over to my 335 with 57's in it I have to lower the volume on the 335 a quite a bit! I REALLY like the lower output of those EX-SS pups.

What year did you get yours in? Mine was a 2018 purchase.

**Spook410** · 03-30-2019, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by GNAPPI

What year did you get yours in? Mine was a 2018 purchase.

Pickups are certainly a subjective thing. My EX-SS is a 2017 (I think) but probably the same pickup as yours.. I thought at the time they were kind of harsh. Then there were some reviews that found the pickups to be pretty hot. Of course those were rock guitar reviews and they rather liked them that way. Still like the P-Rails better but that was an expensive swap. I believe D'Angelico has replaced the pickup with a SD 59 with coil tap now which should be a good match up. Thing is, with so many variables you have to go with how it sounds and if you like it, you like it.

**Spook410** · 03-30-2019, 03:12 PM

Originally Posted by sgosnell

Look at Eastman. Most Eastman archtops have Armstrong pickups.

True.. but the standard line doesn't have the 12 pole model. As you know, Armstrong has quite an array of pickups. I've retrofitted 12 pole and 6 pole models in quite a few of my guitars. If these pickups are available on a moderately priced line of guitars like D'Angelico's would be interested in taking a look. If we're talking about the other Armstrong pickups, then there are some other pickup models I start comparing to.

**sgosnell** · 03-30-2019, 03:17 PM

As I've said before here, i thought the KA pickup on my Eastman T145 was a so-so pickup, just adequate. I put the T145 on Reverb for sale, and started putting it back to stock. i removed the VVHCC pickup I had put in it and was about to wire the original KA pickup back in, when I decided to check the KA website for wiring diagrams. The wiring scheme that had been used in the Eastman wasn't the same as the diagram, so I changed it to the correct wiring per the diagram. After playing it for a few minutes I ended the Reverb listing because the guitar sounded so good. Wiring the pickup correctly gave a really great sound, better than what I could get with a couple of boutique pickups. I can't say that's the case with every Eastman, but it made a huge difference with mine. I don't think there is anything wrong with the Korean KA pickups, as long as they are wired correctly.

**GNAPPI** · 03-30-2019, 08:27 PM

Hang on, what's the deal on the 12 pole KA's? Earlier Korean D'A's had 12 pole pups. I "thought" they were considered inferior?

**The Angle** · 03-30-2019, 08:48 PM

Just don't confuse Kent Armstrong pickups with Stretch Armstrong pickups. Those things are terrible, all flabby and wobbly, like they have no spine at all.

Steve

**Gitfiddler** · 03-30-2019, 09:26 PM

It is great that Kent Armstrong took the time to stop by and say a few words about his pickups! The internet is filled with haters and naysayers, no matter what the product or topic being discussed. Its too bad that good people like Mr. Armstrong have to defend their products, and their good name, but I guess that's the brave new world we live in.

I've been a fan of KA pickups ever since being introduced to them after purchasing my '93 Heritage Golden Eagle (see avatar). I wanted the best floater PAF for this beauty, so I contacted Kent about custom making one for me. He delivered in spades, with a fantastic sounding pickup. A few years later I had the opportunity to purchase two custom solid body guitars built by Roger Giffin. Both have custom wound KA pickups and sound killer! And as I posted earlier in this thread, his pickups are an excellent match for Comins' imported GCS models, another guitar that made its way into...and later out of my hands.

Welcome to the Jazz Guitar Forum, Kent. I hope that your first post will not be your last.

**sgosnell** · 03-30-2019, 10:15 PM

My Korean KA has 12 polepieces, and I would not consider it to be inferior. But my taste is not everyone's.

**John A.** · 03-31-2019, 09:19 AM

Originally Posted by GNAPPI

Hang on, what's the deal on the 12 pole KA's? Earlier Korean D'A's had 12 pole pups. I "thought" they were considered inferior?

Or a Lance Armstrong pickup. They're like a KA on steroids. But weirdly, they've got almost no balls.

Try the veal, and don't forget to tip your waiter ...

John

**John A.** · 03-31-2019, 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by ptchristopher3

I never got all the “Asian” KA bashing and the miraculous change that players discovered when they “upgraded”.

It's not just that people bash - they do it with absolute certainty in contradictory ways. Some people say a pup is harsh and screechy; some say dark and muddy. Some say it's too hot; some say it's anemic,.etc. Then they switch to another pup with essentially the same specs, and the heavens open. I'd love to see real measurements and controlled testing of that scenario, because I have trouble seeing how it could be real.

Amyway, another satisfied owner of Korea Kent Armstrong pups here.

John

**Kent Armstrong** · 03-31-2019, 12:46 PM

I hope that the Lovers will be what you want BUT I fear you will not be happy with them as many people take them out to put my Korean ones in as they are warmer and totally non micro phonic.

Sincerely Kent Armstrong

**KirkP** · 03-31-2019, 04:04 PM

Originally Posted by John A.

It's not just that people bash - they do it with absolute certainty in contradictory ways. Some people say a pup is harsh and screechy; some say dark and muddy. Some say it's too hot; some say it's anemic,.etc. Then they switch to another pup with essentially the same specs, and the heavens open. I'd love to see real measurements and controlled testing of that scenario, because I have trouble seeing how it could be real.

I wonder how often perceived improvement from pickups is due to pickup adjustments. I didn’t realize for most of my years of playing how much of a difference small adjustments of pickup and pole heights can make on tone. I’ll bet a lot of pickups are changed without first checking whether adjustments are part of the problem.

I have a Korean KA floater that I’d been considering changing out due to the tone and volume of the top two strings, and only recently realized that the pickup is unusually close to those two strings. I’ve decided to try repositioning the pickguard to move that side away from the strings before I consider replacing the pickup. I can do it temporarily by removing two screws and using double back tape or putty. To make it permanent I’d need to redrill the two small screw holes on the side of the neck.

**ptchristopher3** · 03-31-2019, 04:36 PM

We are close enough to closing in on 100 (that is ONE F’ing HUNDRED) years of the amplification of acoustic stringed instruments.

Yet we struggle with absurdly high impedance PU’s and the fastidious mechanics of mounting them in 2018.

This could be considered funny.

**Spook410** · 03-31-2019, 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by sgosnell

My Korean KA has 12 polepieces, and I would not consider it to be inferior. But my taste is not everyone's.

Not sure what all the differences are between the resin cast model 12 poles and these (which are also 'handwound 12 pole') but that's still a $160 pickup if you purchase it after market. Not seeing them on current Eastman's. If there are others using them would like to go look. Sure like the resin models and would like to play other models. All that being said, I've seen a lot of negative comments on the non-resin models. Not sure what is made in Korea, what is wrapped at WD Music, or what. Would just like to hear some more since Armstrong makes my current favorites.

**Spook410** · 03-31-2019, 04:51 PM

Originally Posted by John A.

It's not just that people bash - they do it with absolute certainty in contradictory ways. Some people say a pup is harsh and screechy; some say dark and muddy. Some say it's too hot; some say it's anemic,.etc. Then they switch to another pup with essentially the same specs, and the heavens open. I'd love to see real measurements and controlled testing of that scenario, because I have trouble seeing how it could be real. Amyway, another satisfied owner of Korea Kent Armstrong pups here. John

Pickups do have different characteristics by design. What you like and don't like about those design characteristics and how you adapt the downstream electronics is another matter.