Custom '62 Construction Specs?

[WhiteRam]

Is the Custom '62 single coil built with an A5 magnet & enamel wire? 

Also, I know it's described as woody, but is it glassy sounding too?

WR

[AndyR]

I'd like to know about this too :D

[Elliot]

I would assume that a 62 set is going to have A5 and formvar wire - as that would be correct for 62.  The Mother's Milk has A5 and enamel wire.

I have a custom set that Tim made me based on a 61 strat set specs I saw on the internet - A5, formvar wire and rated 6.1k in the neck and middle and 6.6k in the bridge.  After Feline set the guitar up for me (great job as usual) I was totally shocked at just how early 60s the guitar sounded.  Played through the Vibrolux channel of my Supersonic it captures the surf sound totally.   

[PhilKing]

The custom 62 are AV magnets, 6.2k, 5.5k, 5.5k on my set, and I'll need to pull the pickup to tell you the wire!

[WhiteRam]

The custom 62 are AV magnets, 6.2k, 5.5k, 5.5k on my set, and I'll need to pull the pickup to tell you the wire!

Thanks PhilKing, and all you guys for the info, no need to go through all that trouble PK but if you're ever in there and get a look maybe.

I'm asking for the knowledge yes, but I should say too that I've got an Apache in my Strat's neck and although beautiful and great for pop strumming, it doesn't have the defined clear glassy tones.  This is probably because of the A3 in my guess.  I had a thread concerning my quest for a neck PU that would do the early Robin Trower tone, which 90% of the replies said Apache.  

The Apache is very transparent, just as BPK describes it, but it's not glassy and just a bit soft, however and again it's awesome for stumming as it doesn't have that hard hit ya might say.  Trower on the neck pickup is my all time favorite tone in the world.  He get's the tone through loud power tube distortion and somewhat heavy strings, however there is still that "glassy" thing going on.

I have a note into Tim, the most beautiful guitar I've ever heard is Trower in Stockholm Sweden 1975 doing Daydream.  He's on the neck pickup, he had three Strats with him that night. . . two 1966 and one 1962, I don't know which of the three he used on that song, but Tim is checking into some things plus has a sound clip.

So hopefully after 25 years of research I'll get this missing piece of the puzzle, I'm sure it's a weak PU, but what magnet and wire is the mystery for me.  Thanks again guys.   :)

WR

[AndyR]

Interesting stuff :D

I've always shied away from Apaches because I suspected they might be just a little too "rounded" for me - sounds like it might be the case. I like the "rounded" that guys like Robin Trower, Rory, and SRV got by backing off guitar tone controls (or by backing off volume and lifting tone controls). My fear has always been that Apaches might not stand up to that so well as some others.

By the way, I love that Robin Trower live album. My Sultans got me closest to that sort of tone, but that was when they were in a rosewood board CIJ "62". Robin Trower uses maple necks doesn't he? My Sultans have moved to a maple neck Roadworn 50s, and they're pointing me more at Hendrix and Ritchie Blackmore (early 70s) now. (And they're AII, or something, aren't they? :roll: :lol:).

Anyway - I'll be very interested to hear what you get back from Tim. :)

[WhiteRam]

Yes Andy, rounded is a good way to put it too.  Ya the Sultans are A2.  Robin used maple necks on that tour/album, but did use a rosewood from time to time shortly after that time period. . . he said the rosewood gave his finger tips a rest as they were easier on them, I can totally relate as all I have is maple boards, I worry a bit as they're really taking a toll on my fingers, but that lovely glassy tone, I hope I can continue to use the maple.

I've been going back and forth between an A5 Apache or '62, from Tim's description of both as compared to the A3 Apache, I'm betting he recommends me the '62 after my last and final note to him.  I'll let ya know as he's getting back with me soon, and thanks for sharing your experiences.  :)

Again and in defense of the A3 Apache in my neck, some of my originals are a pop/alternative style such as The Cranberries music, where I'm strumming a lot of open chords, my Strat is cut-out for a single coil in the neck, so the A3 works beautiful for this, also it will do lovely tones like The Cure for example.

WR

[PhilKing]

I have a set of AV Apaches and in a rosewood neck guitar they will get the sound you want.  In a maple neck they have real bite on the note attack, which is a great sound on it's own.   Robin Trower uses 3 different pickups in the RT custom shop Strat, and when you see him live he makes full use of the volume on the guitar.  On this video he goes over his gear.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj3nwpCfZOA

In order to get the pickups that he has from BK, I'd go for the 62 bridge, AV Apache middle and AIII Apache neck.   I'm actually about to do some Strat pickup experimentation, since I have an extra AV Apache (I needed a 'North Up' pickup for my 61 to replace one of the originals that went missing before I got the guitar [it came as HSS]).  I forgot to tell Tim it was North Up originally, so he made it the regular way (South Up), which gives a strange out of phase tone with the other pickup.  I have 3 guitars that I'm playing with to see what I like, a Bravewood 56 strat, with the neck copied from my 57 original, a hardtail start with a Warmoth one piece Aframosa neck, and an older Wood n' Guitars swamp ash body with a Warmoth Anagre/Pau Ferro neck.  I'm thinking the last might get the 62 Strat set, the 56 might get a set of A3 Apaches with baseplates in the neck and bridge, and the AV in the middle, and the hardtail will get the AV apache set.   I'm going to get to it today (I hope!), but I have to pulll out a couple of amps and clear the table!  I might also look at moving a Sultan to the neck on the 56 and putting the AV mule in the middle on that guitar (Basswood body with a birdseye maple/ebony custom made neck [my final carving and finishing to match my 61 slab rosewood]).  THe only thing is that the guitar sounds great as it is (it has an AII Stormy Monday bridge pu), so I don't want to spoil it.

[WhiteRam]

Oh my Phil, and I thought I was the madest of scientists!  Hope your fore-sight hits it on the head, always nice when it works out that way, especially with all you're going to do.  Good luck and keep the solder iron away from the wood!  :lol:

Thanks for the post, suggestions, and video clip.  I happened to see that video just the other day, yes I knew over the latest years what he's using in current times.  He sounds good and like all of us he probably likes to change the flavor from time to time, I saw him in my home town last year, much more preamp distortion than he used to use and was borderline neck shredding blues rock!  He also uses V-30's as of late, rather than the G12's of way back when.  I got to meet and hang with him for a bit, but didn't have the heart to bring up the past out of respect.

WR

[AndyR]

I got to meet and hang with him for a bit, but didn't have the heart to bring up the past out of respect.

:lol:

Unlike a bass-player of mine a good few years back. We came across Micky Moody playing in a blues band in a pub. During the beer break, Mr Moody went for a wee, and our bass-player followed him in...

He came back out with a "I think might have to leave now..."

The gents in this place is very cramped, one cubicle and two urinals very close so that you don't really feel like using the spare one when someone else is "in action".

Apparently the conversation was along the lines of:

"Oh wow, I saw you loads of times in Whitesnake at the Hammy Odeon..."
"Er... thanks for that... "
"Must seem a bit strange playing to 20 people in a pub now?"
"... hmmm... not really, but the dressing rooms were a lot better at Hammersmith..."
 :?

Looking forward to hearing the results of all this strat-pick-up-ery.

I'm currently thinking the 62 set, maybe, for the rosewood CIJ. But this AV Apache idea sounds cute, and of course, there's always Mother Milks that always seem to miss out when I'm buying strat pups...

[Philly Q]

Weird thing about that is, I think I'd be more star-struck meeting Micky Moody or Bernie Marsden than I would meeting Coverdale.  Even if it was in a pub toilet.

[WhiteRam]

Andy that's a funny and good story.  To update and keep my word, I've realized a big part of the problem with my current Apache neck is the staggered pole pieces, I've come to hate them actually, the G string goes off like a bomb and the B string is lost in space, and the D string could use a bit calming down too. . . what was Leo drinking?, err I mean thinking!

There is a lot to love about the Apache and it does get me some tones I hate to be without, so I'm thinking to order another standard Apache neck with flat profile and also a '62, then mad science it out from there.  It'll probably be 2-3 weeks, but I'll revive this thread and let all who've helped me here know the detailed results.

WR

[WhiteRam]

I've had the '62 installed in my neck position for a few days now.  Awesome pickup and it is as described. . . woody, hollow, clean, very balanced eq.  It's more bright than it is dark, but not too bright by any means.

I've come to learn I like the Apache AIII equally as well, I miss it on some songs and on the other hand the '62 would be equally missed.

I've realized one could get Trower's tone with either one and probably other BKP single coils too, no doubt.  BKP single coils simply rule. . . they are very quiet, professional sounding, construction is perfect.  I love the way the cover fits so perfectly on the bobbin, the pickups are constructed so the lead wire is never in the way of this fit.

I don't think there is such a thing as a BKP I would not like, I have 3 HB's and 2 SC's so far, all five are completely different and all five are glorious in tone and construction.

Please note that height adjustment is extremely important with all BKP's, they are very sensitive to the minute adjustment.  HB's require time and patience as the individual pole pieces and the over-all height must be fine tuned together.

I'll go on record, there is not a pickup designer or maker that could offer me enough money to give up my BKP's, they exceed my dream tones and performance I've been chasing for over 20 years.

WR

[Tim]

Alnico V, 4.9mm diameter, heavy formvar wire! Aged magnets too.