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I'm trying to avoid paying $350 for a few yards of wire wrapped around a couple of screws... I know you get what you pay for, but I'm also sure that one of these pickups can work well:
1) Artec MHPA95
2) GNA jazz AlNiCo pickup
3) Shadow AZ-48
Apart from obvious differences - mounting options and singlecoil/humbucker type - which can mean a lot in practice, does anybody know anything about these from firsthand experience? All opinons welcomed and thanks in advance!
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11-15-2023 08:25 AM
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I do know the Shadow Attila Zoller. It came mounted on my 1953 L7. At the time (1987) i didn't like it because of it's brightness, but this might be different now, as i'm gradually steering away from my former preference for very dark guitar sounds. The Attila Zoller has been a proven PU on the market for long. I do not know the others, would not even bother to consider either of them. As far as i know they have not been credited for decent sound & quality anywhere.
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I was disappointed with the neck mount AZ. Strange tone and weak high e. I changed it for a used mini HB that supposedly came off the short lived Ibanez AF84e (no pole screws). That is surprisingly good. I assume it's ceramic. I have ready to try a mini HB by Artec which is Alnico and has pole screws.
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FWIW, Attila told me that the AZ48 was designed for use with La Bella 13-56 flat wound strings (which he also designed). Attila didn't actually use the AZ48, though. His 2 guitars (1 Hofner & 1 Framus - both 'AZ' models of course) each had a set in neck humbucker that he wound himself!
Last edited by Tom Karol; 11-15-2023 at 04:57 PM.
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I was using Chrome 13s with my AZ.
Originally Posted by Tom Karol
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Maybe that's this one - Artec MHFC-93. Originally Posted by garybaldy
As far as pickups with adjustable polepieces go, there are these GB10 George Benson ones or this Guyker Johnny Smith model. Do you think that adjustable polepieces are a must?
Shadow AZ-48 sounds like a singlecoil should, judging by YouTube clips. Transfers the sound of the guitar pretty much exactly like it is. But that can be a weakness as well as strength - no mids, no cut-through.
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On many archtops when played at slightly louder volumes the low mids and lows need to be "tamed" more than the higher strings. Also the balance between the higher strings benefits from some additional adjustments. This can be helped quite effectively by adjusting polepieces. Originally Posted by Rocket Roll
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If anyone wants a Benedetto B6 cheap, I have one with the mounting tab broken off. It works fine and could be mounted easily with a reusable mounting putty. It just can’t be mounted to a pickguard.
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I always wanted to try the Shadow (built in version) to get a more acoustic archtop sound out of my Sadowsky.
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Edit: Sorry I misread your post. Not sure about the ex. Ibby pickup but it could be the one in your link. Originally Posted by Rocket Roll
This is the other one I have. The pole screws will need to be made flush with the pickup base plate so as not to dent the top of the guitar.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/MHFA94-Alni.../dp/B0B3QN8D29
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All of Kent Armstrong hand wounds are around $200. 3 times as much as some of the listed ones, but a far cry from $350. Might be cheaper in the long run than a few tries at something that's not quite right.
His branded and not-wound-personally-by-him are under $100. I've never played these, but his hand-wound PAF is a favourite.
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Unfortunately, that's where geolocation comes into play. Say KA handwound is $200, fine. Shipping to me is another $50. Then the customs add those two figures and make me pay a 1/3 of it in taxes. We're already at $325. Add their infinite creativity in adding costs, and what with customs inspection fee and last mile overcharge, we're in the $350 range. Originally Posted by ccroft
On the other hand, Artec pickup in the first post is about $25 and customs charges will not apply. That's TEN TIMES AND LESS money for the pickup which most likely works at 85% of Seymour Duncan floater or Benedetto.
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Yeah, that was a nice one as per spec - Alnico V humbucker - Artec MHFA94. Poles a bit on the long side, probably replaceable. Unfortunately, it's discontinued, I can find only one in stock at the moment (Reverb). Originally Posted by garybaldy
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Don't know if these are any good to you.
Jazz Artist Alnico 5 Neck Humbucking Guitar Pickup Gold MHFA94-GD | eBay
Old Timer 'Jazz Cat' neck mount mini humbucker | eBay
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Another cadidate might be Pete Biltof? He has several designs. The one I bought and had installed on my L-5C, attaches to the pickguard, so it is a "floater". Mine is a Charlie Christian replica. I chose one with only a volume control on the pickguard, so tone adjustments take place on the amp.
During the late '60's while actively playing, I had a different L-5C with a factory installed single Johnny Smith pickup, again with just a volume control on the pickguard. That arrangement worked very well for me.
Tom
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I've had experience with both the Shadow Attilla Zollar and a JohnnySmith-looking single coil by Guyker that cost me €17. It's presently out of stock but I've seen it come and go.
https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Guitar-Pi...97&sr=8-2&th=1
In terms of sound, the difference between the two is basically humbucker (Zollar) to single coil (Guyker). Both are perfectly good pickups.
I think the Zollar is a humbucker. At least it sounds more like a humbucker than a single coil. It's warm, even, has a fatter tone. The Guyker is a single coil, so the tone is brighter. Right now I am using the Guyker on a laminated archtop and I really like the way it sounds. The output of the Guyker is lower than the Shadow, if that matters. Even though it is single coil it doesn't seem to pickup to much noise.
I would totally go for the Artec in your first post. The underside of the Guyker has a very similar sticker, which says "MHFC94-CR" by RoHS, so it's a close relative to the Artec. $25, it's $25! those other pickups don't sound 10 times better!
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That Jazz Cat seems interesting, thanks! Originally Posted by garybaldy
I don't see any floaters on his website currently... Maybe I should write to him directly. Originally Posted by TAA
Yeah, there is a Guyker on AliExpress currently, and Artec has the advantage because it says it's Alnico. I presume it would be pretty similar to a Benedetto S-6. Originally Posted by supersoul
There's a YouTube sample of an Artec - neck mounted, but I suppose anything's better than nothing. The clip's overdriven and a bit short and clumsy, but the pickup itself sounds reasonably open and decent.
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Given the time it takes to mount a pickup, not sure saving $100 makes sense. Armstrong hand wound, either the single coil (made to sound more or less like a P90) or the humbucker are the best I've heard but I haven't tried several on your list. Kind of apples/oranges compared to the Armstrongs and might be the best sounding to many is the Rhythm Chief 1000.
Of course.. if you don't like the result on the first pass you can swap pickups again down the road. In some ways what's important is learning what you like and building the skills to do the work yourself making it affordable. So there are no really bad answers.. just better guesses.
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Rocket Roll,
Pete might not call some of his "floaters"?
When I bought mine, Pete and I exchanged quite a few e-mails working out small mounting details.
Tom
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I have one of Pete's CC pickups attached as a floater at the end of my guitar neck and it's brilliant! But, wouldn't the OP have all the same customs and import duties he was hoping to avoid?
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My Eastman 810CE7 came from them with a floating “NWPBH” KA, and it sounds great. I called Kent to order a personally-wound-by-him replacement and he told me not to waste my money. The builders’ grade KA floating HBs are made in Asia to his specs using the same materials. He’s comfortable putting his name on them, and I think it sounds wonderfully jazzy. It’s rich, warm, and woody. Originally Posted by ccroft
FWIW, my experience with Artec has not been good. My Raines Tele 7 came with a pair of their open pole HBs. This was not what I ordered - I was told that it would have a Duncan neck and a Bare Knuckles bridge PU. They were very hot and very bright, which was generally bad except that the neck P/U had a pleasantly woody jazz tone with the volume pot about halfway up and the tone pot almost all the way down on Chromes (11-50 + 65). This was thru both the DV Mark Jazz 12 with bass boosted and treble cut and thru the Vibrolux with treble at 3 and bass at 4. String pull was very high, noticeably affecting sustain and intonation and even causing some ghosting. And these are the thickest pickups I ever saw, so they could not be lowered enough to eliminate the pull or to smooth out the sound.
There may be some great Artecs at great prices - but I’m skeptical that a $20 pickup can hold its own against even the lowest priced Duncans etc.Last edited by nevershouldhavesoldit; 11-17-2023 at 12:08 PM.
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I've tried googling the HWPBH with no luck. Originally Posted by nevershouldhavesoldit
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