Blackguard output

[tomjackson]

Does anybody know the output of neck and bridge BG's?

[AndyR]

If you mean the DC resistance readings, the paperwork for my Flat 50 set has the following handwritten values on it:

Bridge 7.1K
Neck 5.0K

:D

[tomjackson]

Thanks Andy, that is what I was after.  There's not value on the 'product' page.  5K sounds pretty low even for vintage spec for the neck...

The Tele pups I have heard the most are Fender's Custom Shop Nocasters which I really like so I was just looking to compare the specs.  It is interesting that Fenders early style Tele Pups are all AIII while the Blackguards are A5, I'm thinking Country Boy's would therefore be closer to the Nocasters.

Just a thought, I'll obviously get one model of BK's but this is some food for thought :?

[Elliot]

What sort of music are you playing?  That 5k neck has a real nice sound to it.

[tomjackson]

Sort of Blues/Jazz/Rock/Reggae Elliot, probably the type of music that suits a low output pickup!
But 5K would be by far the lowest output pickup in the whole range, not that that's a problem, I prefer lower output types, I'm just suprised it is that low.

[AndyR]

I don't usually pay too much attention to the DC readings, but even I was surprised when I read the 5K.

Having said that, it doesn't feel "low" - it balances the bridge very nicely, which is very pokey and on many amp settings is more "powerful" (pushes the preamp) than my IT bridge in a strat.

And like Elliot says - the neck's got a very nice sound, great for the blues and jazz end of things. It replaced a fender "twisted-tele", and at first it seemed a bit darker than the original, but after a fair bit of height adjustment it's my favourite tele neck so far now. It's just got "more" in all tone departments than the twisted has (and definitely more than a Texas Special I've had).

In my hands, the bridge stings and burns, but without that overly ice-pickiness you can get from tele bridges - it's got a nice chewy fatness to it while retaining the tele bridge tone, great for the AC/DC type riffing, and a really good "fender lead tone".

[PhilKing]

I believe the wire is a different gauge on the neck pickup so the DC reading doesn't really give you an accurate idea of the output (as usual - since wire gauge, magnet type, slug type and magnet size and placement would all give a totally different output from the same coil).

[Tim]

Don't go on DC output..............for a very brief period during '52 you find Tele necks being wound with 42 gauge instead of the usual 43 gauge. They sound alot cleaner and clearer than usual and balance really well to the bridge and this is how we make the Blackguard necks.

[Philly Q]

Don't go on DC output..............for a very brief period during '52 you find Tele necks being wound with 42 gauge instead of the usual 43 gauge. They sound alot cleaner and clearer than usual and balance really well to the bridge and this is how we make the Blackguard necks.

Conversely to that, can I ask which BKP Tele neck pickups use the usual 43 gauge?  I prefer the slightly darker sound.

[Ratrod]

True. DC readings don't tell the whole story.

I played a vintage 1960 Gretsch 6120. The pickups measured under 4.5K but had enough power to give a dirty edge to a clean Fender amp. There also was a '67 Tennessean with 2.5K HiLoTron pickups that was louder than I expected.

The Powertrons I have read double the DC resistance of a normal filtertron but the percieved output isn't twice as high.

[tomjackson]

Ordered the Blackguards, Flat 50's.

Thanks for the info guys, it reminded me to stop trying to be a pickup expert and just get them ordered.

And then just play!

Can't wait to see what the Blackguard bridge sounds like in the Callaham bridge I've just bought......

[Philly Q]

Can't wait to see what the Blackguard bridge sounds like in the Callaham bridge I've just bought......

That's interesting, I've just bought a Callaham Tele bridge too.  How long did yours take to arrive?  I'm still waiting after 2 weeks.

[tomjackson]

I got mine from Charlie Chandler so it was just a couple of days....

[Philly Q]

I got mine from Charlie Chandler so it was just a couple of days....

 :lol:  Fair enough! 

I went and checked the USPS tracking today, and although it says "Electronic Shipping Info Received" on 18 November, it didn't actually ship until 29 November.  So hopefully it'll be here soon.

(Edit: Dammit, the way the exchange rate has gone, it would've been much cheaper to order from C Chandler  :( .  I've become so used to getting things cheap from the USA, I didn't think.... ) 

[ailean]

Ordered the Blackguards, Flat 50's.

Thanks for the info guys, it reminded me to stop trying to be a pickup expert and just get them ordered.

And then just play!

Can't wait to see what the Blackguard bridge sounds like in the Callaham bridge I've just bought......

Blackguards rock, you won't be disapointed.