Getting caught up in the hype

[Stramm8]

Agree that your findings apply to just about all gear. I've tried a bunch of high dollar amps and a few boutique pickups and have found that quality, stock amps are all that's required for getting a great live tone. Same goes for pickups. My fav lately being the trusty gibson 498T. I laugh every time I watch a rig rundown and the subject is using a "stock DSL" or whatever

Personally I think the guitar itself has more to do with getting good tone than anything else. If your guitar plays and feels great or your "comfortable" with it, I think it just helps you to play better?

 

[Stramm8]

Finding cheap, mass produced products that just gel with what I do is wayyyy more rewarding than altering my style in order to make use of an overpriced, "boutique" product any day of the week.

Exactly! I absolutely adore my $329 GC Used Gibson SG Worn Cherry. All mahagony, rosewood board, long neck tenon...what's not to love

 

[university81]

good post

something else is that i usually find it easier to find suitable pickups from seymour or dimarzio (as they are more 'tried and tested' as it were) for guitars and are more willing to give them a go given the price than spending ages thinking over and clicking through samples and trying to read up on the more boutique stuff,

i've had some great experience with some even cheaper brands as well (tonerider p90s for example .. or irongear pickups from the UK ) , where given the price again you're more likely to give it a go and it's always nice to be pleasantly surprised by cheap gear

thing is with so many factors affecting tone , badly matched pickups/guitar wood is going to sound bad no matter what pickup you have in there whether they cost 20 dollars or 200, you'll just feel less bad about it when they're cheap =0

 

[Sierra Voodoo]

This past year I went to a pretty expensive pickup search. After watching YouTube demos and reading gushing reviews, I handed over a lot of hard earned money to some of the various boutique pickup makers. In the end, I wound up frustrated and unsatisfied. I've been a Seymour Duncan user for years. How could these boutique pickups not only not sound as good as my old Duncans, but in some cases sound worse. While I practice at my house all the time, I'm primarily a live band player. What I found with most of these boutique pickups is that while they sound great at home by myself, in a band setting they lacked the ability to cut through the mix. I found myself fighting to be heard in the mix. After each unsuccessful attempt, I would load my Custom or JB back in to the guitars and be right back in the mix.

So my lesson from 2013... Just because it's twice as expensive doesn't make it any better than the industry standards. There is a reason that Seymour Duncan and DiMarzio hold the lion's share of the pickup market. Their products just work. Some of you guys may have had great luck with WCR, Fralin or Suhr pickups. I'm glad that they have worked for you. For me... Some times a beer is just as good as champaign.

My thoughts exactly! The only exception I will make is the Suhr Aldrich which I do love in one of my Agile LP's. That said, that pickup is still in what I would consider the "affordable" market.

 

[gibson5413]

I feel the same about a lot of the expensive amps some seem to gush about all the time here.

Got to agree here.

 

[TrueTone500]

I've been playing for 33 years now, so I've picked up a few things along the way... Luckily, none of them required antibiotics.

Could you please list exactly which model(s) of boutique pickup you used, and then please post which model DiM/SD pickup(s) you used to solve the issue? It's just that I have a difficult time accepting that you had to switch from a WCR and/or Suhr to a DiM and/or SD to achieve a righteous mix? I have a set of SD 59's, and they aren't that much different from my Dr. Vintage pickups. I prefer the Dr. Vintage for their increased clarity, but they aren't worlds apart in terms of tone.

Here's a short review on the WCR Peter Green set:
http://www.dinosaurrockguitar.com/new/node/836

I don't know what type of music you play, but I will concede that if you're using a lot of preamp gain, you're probably better off just sticking with production pickups.

 

[Badronald]

Absolutely.

I've gone through many high end amps, pedals...etc. they're all gone.

The only thing I indulge in that is pricey are dirt pedals. I find the booteek ones, in general, to be light years closer to good amp gain than cheap ones.

As long as your gear is quality, your good.

The most important factor though is either you can play or you can't.

 

[blackba]

So SFW, how about naming names. What guitar and what did you try in place of the JB or Custom. Just curious.

I have had good luck with Suhr, Seymour Duncan, Dimarzio, TV Jones, Fender Custom Shop, Gibson, and Anderson pickups

 

[Schaf]

quote]My thoughts exactly! The only exception I will make is the Suhr Aldrich which I do love in one of my Agile LP's. That said, that pickup is still in what I would consider the "affordable" market.[/quote]

Yep, it's realy the only boutique thing I have left. I'm a huge SD fan. I tried several production pickups in my flying V before I put the Aldrich in. Turns out it was the perfect match. I tried the JB, Duncan Distortion, Super distortion, 500T, 498T. None sounded very good in it. But that's the exception. I usually use a JB, 59er combo.

 

[SFW]

Pickups that I've went though... WCR Godwood, Fralin Pure PAF, Lollar Imperial, Sure Aldrich, SSH+ and SSV. The guitars where my Les Pauls and my Strat. I'm not saying that the high end pickups didn't sound good. Just not better than say the Custom, JB or 59 that I normally use. The Aldrich was very nice. I just prefer the added bottom end thump of the Custom. I've played all kinds of high dollar PAF style pickups over the years. I've yet to find a set that sounded that much better that a set of 59s. Seriously. The Godwood was a huge example of frustration. My 59s sounded great through my 1987x. The Godwood sounded like there was constantly a fuzz pedal running. Through my 5153 it was even worse. I have yet to find a better sounding, more all around versatile humbucker for a Strat that the JB. The SSV came close, but just didn't quite do it for me.

Suhr is probably a poor example of boutique priced pickups. They aren't much more that say Duncan or DiMarzio. As far as DiMarzios I've used. Super Distortion, ToneZone, AirZone, PAF Pro, 36th Anni PAF, AT-1 to name a few. In general I prefer Duncans. But I do keep a select few DiMarzios around in case they are needed.

 

[metalmaniac93]

None of the Duncan's I put up against my boutiques even compare IMO. If they did I would use them.

I have however found some boutique and even chinese winders charging duncan prices or less that sound just as good as the high dollar pickups. So I do agree the cost does not equate to tone.



IMO, it all comes down to a few simple factors.


The pickups need to be made out of the right quality parts. Nickel silver not brass baseplates, etc.

The pickups need to be scatterwound. Not handwound but scatterwound. I've used a machine scatter wound pickup as good as the hand scatter wound.

You need to understand pickups science, the attributes of the guitar and what your starting point should be to reach the desired goal. Randomly choosing pickups based on specs and opinions is completely hit or miss.

There is no such thing as a bad sounding pickup as long as these factors are correct. There is only such thing as a pickup being wrong for the system it is currently part of.

In the end the pickup is merely a filter in a much larger system.

I agree!!! They do make a difference and I have tried a few boutique pickup companys such as MCP, BKP, Fralin, Suhr, Anderson and Manlius. On that note I still like the Dimarzio SD, Duncan Custom 5 and 59' neck. The JB works in certain guitars and set-ups.

 

[Sierra Voodoo]

quote]Yep, it's realy the only boutique thing I have left. I'm a huge SD fan. I tried several production pickups in my flying V before I put the Aldrich in. Turns out it was the perfect match. I tried the JB, Duncan Distortion, Super distortion, 500T, 498T. None sounded very good in it. But that's the exception. I usually use a JB, 59er combo.

I also have been a heavy JB user. I've had them in all my HSS strats, past and present, and one of the Agile LP's. The Agile that now has the Aldrich has a DiMarzio 36th PAF in the neck. My other Agile has a '59/Custom Hybrid in the bridge and a '59 in the neck. Interestingly enough I like the 500T in my V but would love to try the Aldrich in there as well. Sounds like we are on the same page!

 

[jsp]

This is just my opinion, but if I can't find a Dimarzio or Duncan (usually Dimarzio) that a particular guitar can't sound good with, then I conclude that the guitar itself doesn't sound good and I ditch it. The exception is the Tom Anderson H3, that pickup is fantastic.

 

[Anonymous]

I dunno… I find it hit or miss. I pretty much only use the Dimarzio Super Distortion in the bridge of all my Charvels - I've tried tons of stuff (some expensive, some cheap) in those guitars (and other super strat style guitars) and nothing sounds as good to me and they are cheap. However, I've tried a lot of PAF style pickups over the years in other guitars and I recently got a set of VERY expensive OX4 PAF clones and I've never heard anything near as good in my R9. I've had LPs before with Duncan Antiquities, etc., and they were always lacking for what I wanted to hear, but these pickups are clear, punchy and even though they are low output they seem to have enough sustain for everything I want. I love 'em and will get another set in my Bartlett when I get it. I guess my bottom line is that I'll spend what I need to get me the sound I'm looking for. If I can get it cheaper (like the Super Ds),all the better…

Steve

 

[Stramm8]

quote]Yep, it's realy the only boutique thing I have left. I'm a huge SD fan. I tried several production pickups in my flying V before I put the Aldrich in. Turns out it was the perfect match. I tried the JB, Duncan Distortion, Super distortion, 500T, 498T. None sounded very good in it. But that's the exception. I usually use a JB, 59er combo.

I also have been a heavy JB user. I've had them in all my HSS strats, past and present, and one of the Agile LP's. The Agile that now has the Aldrich has a DiMarzio 36th PAF in the neck. My other Agile has a '59/Custom Hybrid in the bridge and a '59 in the neck. Interestingly enough I like the 500T in my V but would love to try the Aldrich in there as well. Sounds like we are on the same page!

How do you like the 59/custom hybrid? I think that's my next one to check out...

 

[thegame]

I've played plenty of cheaper, regular music store level gear thats great and similarly priced stuff thats crap. Same goes for the ultra boutique and expensive market for guitars, amps, and accessories. Some of it is "worth it" and some laughably not. This topic cannot be generalized IMO.

 

[TrueTone500]

I've played all kinds of high dollar PAF style pickups over the years. I've yet to find a set that sounded that much better that a set of 59s. Seriously. The Godwood was a huge example of frustration. My 59s sounded great through my 1987x. The Godwood sounded like there was constantly a fuzz pedal running...

I'm pretty sure the WCR Godwood uses an Alnico V magnet. The '59's are most likely Alnico II. To a trained ear (which includes everyone here), there's a significant difference between the two... An Alnico V can have a harsh mid/top depending on the guitar used in.

I'm not here to promote Wolfe, but I'm confidant that if you were to put a Wolfetone Marshallhead II (Alnico II magnet - not Alnico V) into your LP, your production pickup will end-up in a box. The original Marshallhead w/Alnico II is perfect for an overly bright sounding LP.

It's all good... Play what you dig!

 

[glip22]

This past year I went to a pretty expensive pickup search. After watching YouTube demos and reading gushing reviews, I handed over a lot of hard earned money to some of the various boutique pickup makers. In the end, I wound up frustrated and unsatisfied. I've been a Seymour Duncan user for years. How could these boutique pickups not only not sound as good as my old Duncans, but in some cases sound worse. While I practice at my house all the time, I'm primarily a live band player. What I found with most of these boutique pickups is that while they sound great at home by myself, in a band setting they lacked the ability to cut through the mix. I found myself fighting to be heard in the mix. After each unsuccessful attempt, I would load my Custom or JB back in to the guitars and be right back in the mix.

So my lesson from 2013... Just because it's twice as expensive doesn't make it any better than the industry standards. There is a reason that Seymour Duncan and DiMarzio hold the lion's share of the pickup market. Their products just work. Some of you guys may have had great luck with WCR, Fralin or Suhr pickups. I'm glad that they have worked for you. For me... Some times a beer is just as good as champaign.

Curious what pickups you tried? I hear you but I would bet there's a boutique one out there that would impress you loads.

 

[metalmaniac93]

I've played all kinds of high dollar PAF style pickups over the years. I've yet to find a set that sounded that much better that a set of 59s. Seriously. The Godwood was a huge example of frustration. My 59s sounded great through my 1987x. The Godwood sounded like there was constantly a fuzz pedal running...

I'm pretty sure the WCR Godwood uses an Alnico V magnet. The '59's are most likely Alnico II. To a trained ear (which includes everyone here), there's a significant difference between the two... An Alnico V can have a harsh mid/top depending on the guitar used in.

I'm not here to promote Wolfe, but I'm confidant that if you were to put a Wolfetone Marshallhead II (Alnico II magnet - not Alnico V) into your LP, your production pickup will end-up in a box. The original Marshallhead w/Alnico II is perfect for an overly bright sounding LP.

It's all good... Play what you dig!

The 59' has an Alnico V magnet.

 

[Chubtone]

I'm pretty sure the WCR Godwood uses an Alnico V magnet. The '59's are most likely Alnico II. To a trained ear (which includes everyone here), there's a significant difference between the two... An Alnico V can have a harsh mid/top depending on the guitar used in.

I'm not here to promote Wolfe, but I'm confidant that if you were to put a Wolfetone Marshallhead II (Alnico II magnet - not Alnico V) into your LP, your production pickup will end-up in a box. The original Marshallhead w/Alnico II is perfect for an overly bright sounding LP.

It's all good... Play what you dig!

Duncan '59 has Alnico V magnets.