Boot Camp True Grit humbuckers: anyone tried them?

[capac]

They went quite far with DCR of the pickups. How is their output compared to 57 classics?

[McBrain]

They went quite far with DCR of the pickups. How is their output compared to 57 classics?

The TGs definitely have a PAF vibe similar to the Gibson pickups, but clearer, louder and with much tighter lows.

I've been playing them all night, and they are really growing on me. They are just stupidly versatile pickups. I also have to backtrack on not using them for metal. I spent some time with my OwnHammer 'Heavy Hitters Collection' IR library tonight, and they sound great and insanely tight when paired up with the right amp and cab.

[McBrain]

The b and e strings were too far away from the pole pieces on the bridge pickup, so I replaced it with the 53mm version. I also measured this one before installing it and was surprised to see, that it was 14.0 kΩ instead of 13.0 kΩ. Does 50mm and 53mm normally differ in DC Resistance?

[nfrioni]

Do they resemble to a SD 59? are the true grit much hotter?

[djpatb]

They went quite far with DCR of the pickups. How is their output compared to 57 classics?

The TGs definitely have a PAF vibe similar to the Gibson pickups, but clearer, louder and with much tighter lows.

Would you describe them as an improved 498T/490R type of set?

[andrewt]

Yeah, I'm not sure why BK is being cagey with the specs, when they post them for the other pickups right there on the website (wire gauge and everything). Maybe to avoid seeming too "guitar nerdy" for the average Joe?

All I know is Nolly's comment that they're between the VHII and Rebel Yell in output (which is exactly what I wanted), and PAF-flavored. Having had both the VHII and RY, I'll definitely be able to verify that claim when my new guitar is built :).

Hey @nikosteph just wondering if you ever got to play the True Grit's in your new guitar, and if so what do you think?

[Dave Sloven]

I only have the 53mm bridge, open coil, in a Schecter C-1 Blackjack SLS FR-S (it has a Sustainiac in the neck position).  It replaced a ceramic Black Hawk, which replaced a Seymour Duncan Full Shred.

It's definitely not as hot as the Black Hawk.  It's not quite as hot as the Full Shred, but close.

I have the guitar tuned to Eb for '80s action.

I haven't tried a Holy Diver but based on clips I would say that it is somewhere between the Emerald (which I have tried) and the Holy Diver in tone.  Like a fatter Emerald.

[darkbluemurder]

I only have the bridge pickup. I would describe it as a pickup with a hot PAF voicing but the output of a medium output pickup.

[andrewt]

I only have the bridge pickup. I would describe it as a pickup with a hot PAF voicing but the output of a medium output pickup.

Do you have it in a short scale or long scale guitar, and in what woods? How would you describe the low end and the top end of the pickup?

[darkbluemurder]

The guitar it is in is a Telecaster Deluxe partscaster. It has a Warmoth ash body, a Fender MIM roasted maple neck with pau ferro board, 25 1/2 scale, a Callaham hardtail bridge with 3 compensated brass telecaster saddles. 500k audio volume and tone pots. Tone pot is a push-pull that allows me to use the coils in parallel instead of in series.

The low end is punchy but not huge (which I like), and the top end is smooth but since I did not try it in any other guitar I don't know how much exactly the guitar is contributing to the tone. Since I had various pickups in that guitar I know that it has quite a bit of low mids and soft highs. The only pickup that made the guitar sound more aggressive was the DiMarzio Norton - to the point of being too aggressive.

Cheers Stephan

[richard]

I only have the bridge pickup. I would describe it as a pickup with a hot PAF voicing but the output of a medium output pickup.

Have you tried an Abraxas? Your description sounds similar.

[ericsabbath]

from both sound and spec, I'd say it's kinda somewhere between the holy diver and the black dog, but more balanced than both, and yes, could be compared to a 498t or custom 5, but actually pretty good sounding (not a fan of the 498t, and duncan customs are too compressed for me)
it has a chunkier but tighter low end response than the holy diver, but less compression and a bit less pronounced mids
I wouldn't compare it to any kind of PAF
it's a hot rod medium-high output humbucker, but not a hot PAF
I mean... it sounds more like Jerry Cantrell than like Page or something
it delivers a big crunchy tone with lots of sustain, but not as smooth and compressed as a holy diver, not as open, middy, bright and tight as the rebel yell
it's more balanced through frequencies than the mentioned models, although I prefer the extreme mids of the others


the neck pup is quite different, though... more of a dimarzio type voicing than gibson, maybe(?), but also pretty balanced and not really PAFey nor ultra modern

[andrewt]

The guitar it is in is a Telecaster Deluxe partscaster. It has a Warmoth ash body, a Fender MIM roasted maple neck with pau ferro board, 25 1/2 scale, a Callaham hardtail bridge with 3 compensated brass telecaster saddles. 500k audio volume and tone pots. Tone pot is a push-pull that allows me to use the coils in parallel instead of in series.

The low end is punchy but not huge (which I like), and the top end is smooth but since I did not try it in any other guitar I don't know how much exactly the guitar is contributing to the tone. Since I had various pickups in that guitar I know that it has quite a bit of low mids and soft highs. The only pickup that made the guitar sound more aggressive was the DiMarzio Norton - to the point of being too aggressive.

Cheers Stephan

Thanks for that info and description Stephan. That helps me.

from both sound and spec, I'd say it's kinda somewhere between the holy diver and the black dog, but more balanced than both, and yes, could be compared to a 498t or custom 5, but actually pretty good sounding (not a fan of the 498t, and duncan customs are too compressed for me)
it has a chunkier but tighter low end response than the holy diver, but less compression and a bit less pronounced mids
I wouldn't compare it to any kind of PAF
it's a hot rod medium-high output humbucker, but not a hot PAF
I mean... it sounds more like Jerry Cantrell than like Page or something
it delivers a big crunchy tone with lots of sustain, but not as smooth and compressed as a holy diver, not as open, middy, bright and tight as the rebel yell
it's more balanced through frequencies than the mentioned models, although I prefer the extreme mids of the others


the neck pup is quite different, though... more of a dimarzio type voicing than gibson, maybe(?), but also pretty balanced and not really PAFey nor ultra modern

Thanks for that description. It’s really helpful.

I’m between this set and the Polymaths. Not many video reviews of either set and not any playing through guitars or amps that I am familiar with to get a solid idea of where each set sits tonally compared to other pickups.

[darkbluemurder]

I only have the bridge pickup. I would describe it as a pickup with a hot PAF voicing but the output of a medium output pickup.

Have you tried an Abraxas? Your description sounds similar.

Very different pickups. The Abraxas (bridge) has a lot more mids. The True Grit bridge is sharper and more articulate. 

[aieos]

Before I bought a True Grit Bridge humbucker, I was also looking descriptions of its tonal properties.

I would describe the True Grit bridge humbucker, as neutral sounding, with slightly "nasal" mids that (for some reason) I relate to more vintage style PUs. Notes are "gritty" and have a "glassy" quality to them. Chords have some crunch to them. The bottom end picking response is more on the squishy side.

There is a video on Youtube from someone with the True Grits installed in a black SG. If find the video audio quite representative of the TG's character.