Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: gwEm on August 21, 2012, 06:34:25 PM
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In a way, I guess they've been available since the DiMarzio SDS came out in '79, but theres a few out there now:
Fralin steel pole
Rio Grande Dirty Harry
BG Strat P90
Vintage vibe single coil P90
DiMarzio SDS
I think about these from time to time. Anyone tried one?
Generally I find a normal BK strat pickup with a base plate is chunky enough for my bridge position, but I can't help wondering if the grass is greener ;)
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These couldn't be ACTUAL p90s... Could they?
Unless I've been misinformed P90s are slightly overwound single coils with very oversized magnets giving them that fat, more powerful sound. I'm not sure how these would work but if they do them it's a rather exciting concept...
I'll be honest, the only one I've ever heard of was the Fralin and as far as I can tell its just a single coil wound to P90 output... I can't remember whether it may have had Gibson style polepieces, which would make sense.
When buying P90s if you want a bit more chunk and power I've found that you need to be careful and buy hot ones otherwise a standard strat bridge pickup sound much bigger. At least to my ears.
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no they aren't actual P90s ;)
they are made like one though, with steel (not magnet) pole pieces, a base plate, and magnets each side of the pole pieces... but in miniature to fit in a strat pickguard.
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i know catswhisker do some with screw polepieces which would be a relatively cheap way to try.
gotta say though, they remind me (looks only, i have not tried one) of the cheap strat pickups on import guitars with bar magnets underneath... but magnet orientation/type will obviously affect how successful it is.
stating the obvious, but it wont sound like a P-90 and it wont sound like a strat. doesn't mean it wont sound good in its own right
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actually i have tried one of the ones listed in your first post.
the dimarzio SDS-1's. sounded pretty good in the jake e lee replica i made, but very noisy - and i dont normally mind p-90 noises too much
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I think i had a BG p90 at one point and it was great as far as i remember. Great customer service from Brian as well. I remember i had a v60 set as well and i thought they sounded much better than the trilogy suites i tried.
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Not tried those particular pickups but this bloke's getting a good name for handmade pickups. Lots of vintage-y stuff, strat and tele sized P90s, Filtertrons and a damn fine copy of the Wide Range humbucker.
http://www.at-the-creamery.co.uk/custom-p90-for-telecaster-bridge.html
http://www.at-the-creamery.co.uk/p90-stratocaster-pickup-set.html
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some good tips here. i'll look at the options and might well order one for something..
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well i sent cats whisker an email asking their opinion and got no reply from them :(
so i went for a dimarzio sds. i've always found dimarzio pickups more or less work out, so less see how it goes.
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Funny you mention Cats Whiskers pickups, they do a humbucker with magnetised polepieces like two actual Strat pickups sandwiched together. Of course with the polepieces being the magnets, rather than the bar magnet in a humbucker, they still have more treble and 'Stratty' quality (supposedly).
I'm quite interested in trying one in the neck position - I reckon it might well solve that old issue I have with neck humbuckers being too muddy for rhythm and Strat singles being too pingy and thin for leads.
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Yes, they have a few interesting looking designs. I was disappointed not to get a reply, but it's just one guy I think so perhaps he is really busy.
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Yes, they have a few interesting looking designs. I was disappointed not to get a reply, but it's just one guy I think so perhaps he is really busy.
Probably right - how long did you wait for a reply?
I'd just order off ebay and take a punt at those prices.
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I waited about a week I think. The prices are very good arent they? I'd have been prepared to pay a bit more and get him to wind something bespoke in the direction I was thinking.
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I played the SDS and the Fralin Steel Pole. The Fralin has less output and more highs and a more transparent sound overall. The SDS lives up to its name though.
I still have one that I currently use as a tool to check the polarity of pickup coils.
Cheers Stephan
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I played the SDS and the Fralin Steel Pole. The Fralin has less output and more highs and a more transparent sound overall. The SDS lives up to its name though.
I still have one that I currently use as a tool to check the polarity of pickup coils.
Cheers Stephan
thanks for that, good advice. seems like i went for the right one.
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SDS arrived. Its a funny looking thing(!)
I've always felt DiMarzio definitely don't use the same quality materials as BKP or even Seymour Duncan, and thats not changed. The plastics seem decent, but the hookup wire is thin and nasty. I wonder what the actual wire for the coils is like..
I'll see what it sounds like on the weekend. The magnets are substantial, so I have high hopes.
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SDS arrived. Its a funny looking thing(!)
I've always felt DiMarzio definitely don't use the same quality materials as BKP or Seymour Duncan, and thats not changed. The plastics seem decent, but the hookup wire is thin and nasty. I wonder what the actual wire for the coils is like.
I'll see what it sounds like on the weekend. The magnets are substantial, so I have high hopes.
I always felt the same way, however, I usually prefer them of Seymour Duncans by a long shot. They have a certain clarity that most seymour duncans have never had and they have their own distinctive voicing that some like and some don't. They are my go-to budget pickup makers. That said, I would only use them for virtuoso music and rock. Definately not blues of jazz or them like. Thats where Seymour Duncans are better suited. I don't think that I have ever liked a duncan pickup that was higher output than the JB. Always too muddy with a poor voicing.
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SDS arrived. Its a funny looking thing(!)
I've always felt DiMarzio definitely don't use the same quality materials as BKP or Seymour Duncan, and thats not changed. The plastics seem decent, but the hookup wire is thin and nasty. I wonder what the actual wire for the coils is like.
I'll see what it sounds like on the weekend. The magnets are substantial, so I have high hopes.
I always felt the same way, however, I usually prefer them of Seymour Duncans by a long shot. They have a certain clarity that most seymour duncans have never had and they have their own distinctive voicing that some like and some don't. They are my go-to budget pickup makers. That said, I would only use them for virtuoso music and rock. Definately not blues of jazz or them like. Thats where Seymour Duncans are better suited. I don't think that I have ever liked a duncan pickup that was higher output than the JB. Always too muddy with a poor voicing.
I agree - even if the materials are cheap DiMarzio seem to design them quite well so the sound is pretty good and the prices are fairly reasonable, especially in the US. I don't mind buying an unusual pickup like this from them, I have some hum-canceling single coils from them too.
On the other hand, BKPs blow the DiMarzios into the weeds quite obviously in a direct test - especially for the vintage voiced models.
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I prefer DiMarzios to Duncans, too.
I've always found the descriptions on their website pretty accurate, and they have some pickups I've really liked over the years - Fred, the MegaDrive, the DLX models, some of the HS and Virtual Vintage series. I agree they're not the best place for "vintage" pickups.
That said, I've bought a brand new DiMarzio which was broken, and that's never happened with a Duncan!
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SDS arrived. Its a funny looking thing(!)
I've always felt DiMarzio definitely don't use the same quality materials as BKP or Seymour Duncan, and thats not changed. The plastics seem decent, but the hookup wire is thin and nasty. I wonder what the actual wire for the coils is like.
I'll see what it sounds like on the weekend. The magnets are substantial, so I have high hopes.
I always felt the same way, however, I usually prefer them of Seymour Duncans by a long shot. They have a certain clarity that most seymour duncans have never had and they have their own distinctive voicing that some like and some don't. They are my go-to budget pickup makers. That said, I would only use them for virtuoso music and rock. Definately not blues or jazz or the like. Thats where Seymour Duncans are better suited. I don't think that I have ever liked a duncan pickup that was higher output than the JB. Always too muddy with a poor voicing.
I agree - even if the materials are cheap DiMarzio seem to design them quite well so the sound is pretty good and the prices are fairly reasonable, especially in the US. I don't mind buying an unusual pickup like this from them, I have some hum-canceling single coils from them too.
On the other hand, BKPs blow the DiMarzios into the weeds quite obviously in a direct test - especially for the vintage voiced models.
Well, that goes without saying doesn't it?
But yes, DiMarzio voice their pickups quite well. Really nice and fat sounding. Compared to BKPs they sound rather processed though and slightly muddier too.
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well, it sounds pretty much like Wez and darkbluemurder described.
I stuck it in my Yamaha, which previously had an Injector. Sounds pretty good: raw, thick, more natural than the Injector. But there is a hum there, surprisingly loud, and also its a bit fuzzy.
Only live use will tell if its an improvement, but I kind of like it so far. I have an idea that a more boutique manufacturer would improve on this concept though.
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So were you ultimately not keen on the Injectors? I quite liked the description of them.
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So were you ultimately not keen on the Injectors? I quite liked the description of them.
I liked the Injector, but I wanted something a bit darker and a bit rawer. I still may put it back, the Yamaha was just a convenient guitar to try the SDS in.
Happy to lend the Injector to you if you want to try it out?
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So were you ultimately not keen on the Injectors? I quite liked the description of them.
I liked the Injector, but I wanted something a bit darker and a bit rawer. I still may put it back, the Yamaha was just a convenient guitar to try the SDS in.
Happy to lend the Injector to you if you want to try it out?
I don't think he's ever get to putting them in a guitar :lol:
You'd have to set a return date!
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So were you ultimately not keen on the Injectors? I quite liked the description of them.
I liked the Injector, but I wanted something a bit darker and a bit rawer. I still may put it back, the Yamaha was just a convenient guitar to try the SDS in.
Happy to lend the Injector to you if you want to try it out?
I don't think he's ever get to putting them in a guitar :lol:
You'd have to set a return date!
That is a good point.... :lol:
I would be intrigued to try it though. It would be interesting to see how it goes with the Area 58 and/or 61.