I think you'll find that they have become 100% inflexible from deviating from the range now
It's a recent decision I believe
I wasn't even allowed to have a run of Alnico 5 powered Mules for my forthcoming 20th anniversary series :(
Does the online shop still have that "additional info" box where you could specify additional details, or has that gone out of the window too?
Presumably you can still have minor options like the flipped magnet for PRS guitars?
It was certainly common to have a choice of AII or AIV in the Stormy Monday, but I don't remember if it was ever a "clickable" option in the BKP shop.
Same with the AV Mule - a number of people have bought them in the past, but AIV was always the standard. Looks like I've missed my chance to try AV.
I had a calibrated set of ceramic Nailbombs made for me with three ceramic Painkiller magnets in both bridge and neck pups , along with nickel bolt poles rather than the usual iron screws, but that was over a year ago, so yes a shame if they can't do one off customs like that anymore , but quite understandable given the success BKP are enjoying .
Perhaps a production run is possible if your name is Manson :)
Perhaps a production run is possible if your name is Manson :)
To be fair Tim had told me I could have the A5 Mule for my 20th anniversary Lion sets , but Ben has said no I can't - make do with a Riff Raff or whatever.
It does make me feel like a poor relation somewhat.
To be fair Tim had told me I could have the A5 Mule for my 20th anniversary Lion sets , but Ben has said no I can't - make do with a Riff Raff or whatever.
It does make me feel like a poor relation somewhat.
:? Isn't Tim the guy who has the final word at BKP?
Ben said it as if it was Tim's decision - I found it was odd that he'd done a 180 degree reversal on what he'd discussed with me.
I donīt know your exact relationship or usual way of buisness with BKP, but I recon you are somewhat of a valued customer with good ties.To be fair Tim had told me I could have the A5 Mule for my 20th anniversary Lion sets , but Ben has said no I can't - make do with a Riff Raff or whatever.
It does make me feel like a poor relation somewhat.
:? Isn't Tim the guy who has the final word at BKP?
Ben said it as if it was Tim's decision - I found it was odd that he'd done a 180 degree reversal on what he'd discussed with me.
It was certainly common to have a choice of AII or AIV in the Stormy Monday, but I don't remember if it was ever a "clickable" option in the BKP shop.
Same with the AV Mule - a number of people have bought them in the past, but AIV was always the standard. Looks like I've missed my chance to try AV.
it's not that big of a job to change the magnet over in a pickup Philly - just take it slow and you'll be alright.
One of the reasons Tim stops doing custom, is that you can get a result which is not extensively tested. And he doesn't want odd pickups around.
This is the answer i got when i asked for a A4 PG Blues.
"I'm afraid I don't like doing that - I don't want odd versions of my pickups going out as it confuses the options available. Anyway, the PG Blues sounds great with AII."
Just for the record Alnico V has never been an option on Mule humbuckers - I did originally offer AII or AIV as an option, back in 2003/2004 but as the range expanded I made the firm decision that Mules sounded and performed their best in the majority of guitars with Alnico IV and likewise the Stormy Monday with Alnico II. I personally don't like AV in the Mule, the mid range response gets very hard and unpleasant to my ears but that doesn't stop some customers asking for it. The Riff Raff humbucker is designed with Alnico V and the coil design supports that use. At the end of the day I try to make sure that what goes out into the market place are pickups that I have tested fully and stand 100% behind.
Sometimes what are perceived as 'custom' options ie using different magnets or adjusting winds up or down can be impractical especially given the amount of time I've put into the original voicings. Different just for the sake of being different isn't a valid reason for changing the spec of a pickup however if, after considerable interaction with a customer I feel that their guitar has a very specific design or response outside the specifications of any of the pickups I make I will then adjust a model accordingly. I have to be honest and say that with the range of pickups we offer this is a very rare occurrence.
I am considering putting the Pig 90 into the HSP90 range and the Supermassive 90 too as we get asked so much for this - as I said in my earlier post, they're essentially the same pickups just a different way of mounting them and it obviously make sense if you've got humbucker cavities to stick with humbucker-size and vice versa.
Where possible I try to make sure all available options are listed on each pickup profile on the site and also in the shop.
Tim doesn't sell snake oil. After years of SD insisting that the JB is unchanged since it's earliest incarnation there are now at least 4 JBs available. And, if you've nailed your range what's the need for a 'custom' shop other than to extract more cash from the punters ? I still think Feline is a bit a special case though.
Tim doesn't sell snake oil. After years of SD insisting that the JB is unchanged since it's earliest incarnation there are now at least 4 JBs available. And, if you've nailed your range what's the need for a 'custom' shop other than to extract more cash from the punters ? I still think Feline is a bit a special case though.