I don't understand the high end Pickup Market

And MJ from Seymour Duncan has an incredible amount of knowledge and background for making pickups.
 
(also apparently) everyone should buy cheap chinesium pickups because anything else is marketing bullshit
I think this proves the point more than anything. It's taken time for the Chinese to produce a pickup that is worth a damn at all. They didn't have a good recipe, I have owned lots of epiphones and the pickups and electronics always are the achilles heel, junk. When I grabbed a '15 Sheraton Pro it had Probuckers, and they were actually a decent pickup that I didn't immediately want to rip from the guitar. They were actually....good. It's all about the skill and knowledge of the winder. I'll pay 200-300 each for a great pickup though I do think there are a couple companies that are snake oil salesmen but ain't that always the case?
 
I haven't seen a NGD post from you in like three weeks, I hope everything is ok. :LOL:
I actually went to Ochanomizu last week, over 50 guitar stores in a small area and surprisingly I didn’t buy anything. Perhaps it was because I was hungover and screwed up transferring trains, and was overwhelmed but I’m pretty content now. The only movement on the guitar front is that I just dropped my Burny Randy Rhoads off to get new Jumbo frets installed.
 
Was away a few days and saw a 10 page RT post on pickups, knew it would deliver!!!

I’ve always looked at those $1k range pickups built with some material (NOS maybe) or some method from yesteryear that you can’t get any more. I don’t think of them as giving a completely unique sound or anything, but for someone who wants that “special” thing I can understand. Although I’d never pay that much, I can understand anyone who would.

Anyway, everyone knows the best tone comes from green power cords dipped in used motor oil…
 
I actually went to Ochanomizu last week, over 50 guitar stores in a small area and surprisingly I didn’t buy anything. Perhaps it was because I was hungover and screwed up transferring trains, and was overwhelmed but I’m pretty content now. The only movement on the guitar front is that I just dropped my Burny Randy Rhoads off to get new Jumbo frets installed.
I was there earlier this month while we were visiting wife’s family. I couldn’t help myself and walked away with a guitar.
 
I was there earlier this month while we were visiting wife’s family. I couldn’t help myself and walked away with a guitar.
I'm so jealous, if I ever go to japan I am 100% looking for a V.

I've been trying to find an edwards black and pink Alexi Laiho for a long time but gave up because of the prices
 
I'm so jealous, if I ever go to japan I am 100% looking for a V.

I've been trying to find an edwards black and pink Alexi Laiho for a long time but gave up because of the prices
If you could pick me up one of these when you are there, that would be great!
1747512455076.jpeg
 
Oh my god, I wish they made a Kai signature somewhere. Back in the day I asked ESP and they would only do it as a custom shop, at fuck off prices.
I bet it was absolutely silly money, there are a couple of very talented builders here in the Uk that I may consider asking.....Hansen has long been a major fave for me
 
There are variables that can make a particular pickup shine/shit. I recently noticed that a partscaster Star guitar build of mine had the bridge pickup placed pretty far from the bridge. Les Pauls in particular place the bridge pickup closer to the bridge so that's my reference when it comes to bridge pickups. I struggled to find a pickup I liked in this guitar. Then it dawned on me to try a pickup that I had tried in a guitar with bridge pickup close to the bridge and thought it sounded weak/anemic. It sounds great in this Star guitar. Recap - I put a pickup I thought I didn't like into a guitar I didn't think sounded good and it somehow worked.
 
Yeah you really don't know anything you're talking about - but I am jealous of being as naive as you are about it

You seriously don't know ANYTHING about how pickups are made, or why they sound different, do you?
ha ha. Ok Seymour.

There is not more obvious fleecing than Fender bringing back these old ladies that used to randomly operate a pick winder because they had whatever magic touch. Here is a video of Agibail. The interviewer asked about her technique and she basically has no idea. She’s just a nice old lady that wraps wire.

If you think she is some sort of master pickup builder then you are a fool. There a companies that make high quality pickups like Fralin. They charge a bit more but stand by a quality product. I have purchased a few pairs of Boostrap pickups and they sound great. Like really great for $50 for the whole set. Handmade in Ohio. But if you have money to burn and want to believe there is some magic formula there are companies for you too. You can buy your $1000 pickups and go on forums to tell everyone they don’t know anything about pickups.

 
ha ha. Ok Seymour.

There is not more obvious fleecing than Fender bringing back these old ladies that used to randomly operate a pick winder because they had whatever magic touch. Here is a video of Agibail. The interviewer asked about her technique and she basically has no idea. She’s just a nice old lady that wraps wire.

If you think she is some sort of master pickup builder then you are a fool. There a companies that make high quality pickups like Fralin. They charge a bit more but stand by a quality product. I have purchased a few pairs of Boostrap pickups and they sound great. Like really great for $50 for the whole set. Handmade in Ohio. But if you have money to burn and want to believe there is some magic formula there are companies for you too. You can buy your $1000 pickups and go on forums to tell everyone they don’t know anything about pickups.




I don't give a shit about Fender pickups, nor do I think Abigail Ybarra is some master of the the craft :hys: Fender very well may be ripping off idiots.

Fralin are a boutique pickup company, and Lindy is a master pickup winder. It took him years to develop all of his formulas and recipes, just like it does for every great pickup winder.

If it's so easy, why don't you wind us some pickups and show us examples of what you come up with? I'll even donate the 8 dollars in parts, and you can source them.

Oh, you don't want to do that do you? Because then you'll have to put your money where your mouth is.
 
I don't give a shit about Fender pickups, nor do I think Abigail Ybarra is some master of the the craft :hys: Fender very well may be ripping off idiots.

Fralin are a boutique pickup company, and Lindy is a master pickup winder. It took him years to develop all of his formulas and recipes, just like it does for every great pickup winder.

If it's so easy, why don't you wind us some pickups and show us examples of what you come up with? I'll even donate the 8 dollars in parts, and you can source them.

Oh, you don't want to do that do you? Because then you'll have to put your money where your mouth is.
I’m in. Send me the parts Seymour!
 
I’m in. Send me the parts Seymour!

No - that's half the fun, as @scottosan mentioned.

You get to spend countless hours sourcing the parts!

Shouldn't be a problem, as you assume everyone else's time is worth nothing, right?

Once you find all the parts for 8 dollars, let me know, and i'll paypal you.
 
I used to actually be someone that thought pickups were a bunch of overpriced snake oil. Talking with @scottosan really opened my eyes to the things that I just didn't realize. I feel like I now can make much more informed choices about pickups so, I thank him for that.
 
I used to actually be someone that thought pickups were a bunch of overpriced snake oil. Talking with @scottosan really opened my eyes to the things that I just didn't realize. I feel like I now can make much more informed choices about pickups so, I thank him for that.

There is 1000% snake oil out there. I don't think vintage PAF prices or 1000$ pickups are on the up and up at all

But the price is in the time the winder spent designing it, in the blood sweat and tears, not the materials

Because the right pickup for the right guitar can be a literal night and day difference
 
Let’s go @Killcrop. If Dan says he will PP you the $ to source the materials, he will as he’s a man of his word. Here’s your chance to prove the same, otherwise…
 
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