Info About Arcane Humbuckers

[braintheory]

So I tried emailing Arcane, inquiring about his different humbucker models and like most of you guys, I didn’t get a response. So I thought I’d ask here if any of you guys could give me any info. I’m interested in the Savage, George Lynch, Phil X, Bulldozer, and Triple Clone models. How would you guys describe how they sound and compare to each other or to other humbuckers? Also, lemme know if any of you guys have any of these for sale. I could be interested. So far my favorite humbuckers I’ve tried are the Wolfetone Marshallheads. They have everything I want (they’re growly, aggressive, open, and great for leads and single notes), except I’d like more tightness/focus in the bridge pickup. Have any of you guys gotten to compare any Arcanes to Wolfetones?

 

[SpiderWars]

I've had the Wolfetones on my short list of pickups to try for a while but just never take the plunge.

I got a Brownbucker and a neck pickup that is ~8k/A3 (it doesn't say Triple Clone or 57 Experience). This was in August or September last year. The Brownbucker was really bright/twangy and wasn't a good fit for me. The neck pickup is very nice and is in my Les Paul right now.

Rob can be slow to respond but he did always respond. He was also extremely nice/professional in the exchanges we had. I sent the first-contact email and just forgot about it. About a month later I had my pickups. That's a deal breaker for some but I just decided to be patient and see where it went.

 

[harddriver]

I have a brand new set of triple clones for sale in the classifieds. Check em out and let me know. I'm selling the guitar I bought them for.

 

[dooredge]

I have a set of Wolftone Marshallheads I peeled out of a Les Paul. I found what you found, not quite enough oomph to keep things tight. They do sound very nice though so I've hesitated selling them.

Last week I placed an order for an Arcane Bulldozer (bridge) & a Triple Mod (neck). I will chime in when I receive them and give them a go.

I heard from Rob within a day of placing my order. I sent him an email listing exactly what I wanted (50mm, long leg, 2 conductor, nickel covers) and he sent me an invoice. Guessing he responds to orders 1st and when time allows everything else.

I have a good guess as to what I will like based upon the pickup description and it's output/k-rating. Figure they'll be easy enough to sell if I don't dig them.

 

[braintheory]

I'm definitely curious to hear your thoughts about them. I have a Wolfetone Blisterbucker with an Alnico 5 in the bridge of another guitar of mine, and it has the tightness I want (it very tight and chunky) but prefer everything else about the Marshallhead. Still a great pickup though and probably my second favorite. It's a high output pickup at 16k, so I wonder how that would compare to the Bulldozer at 17k. The neck Marshallhead is by far the best neck humbucker I've ever played (I don't really have any complaints about it), so that would be quite impressive if you end up liking the Triple Clone even better.

 

[braintheory]

Anyone else?

 

[CEG85]

Arcane's are next on my list of pickups i want to try.
There is a local shop near where I live that stock Arcanes.
http://www.bassexchange.com/

Ive shopped there before, nice people.
I'm sure they can answer your questions.

 

[badgergman]

About 2-3 weeks ago a Arcane Mr Scary appeared on ebay in England. I pulled the trigger on it.
I've put I in my ESP GL-56 Lynch relic Strat.
This guitar shipped with a custom shop SD Pearly Gates in it. I found that just didn't work for me. Too bright and low output. I've had a lot of joy in my main gigging guitar from a Rio Grande BBQ. Great pickup. I snagged one and popped it in the ESP. Good result. Worked well but still wasn't 100%.
When I dropped the Arcane in its really opened the guitar up. Its a hot pu for sure but perfectly manageable with the 2 singles with a bit of height adjustment.
Clarity between notes is superb. Note attack really pronounced. Harmonics (pick) just jump out now. Even with a high gain setting its really percussive, note clarity superb. Really noticeable improvement for me. Sustain is massively increased, and it was good before. Best of all it cleans up beautifully on the volume pot. Only done 2 shows with it but I've really enjoyed it. I've been playing the ESP at home exclusively too.
I'd definitely recommend it. If another one comes up on ebay I'd probably go for it to swap the BBQ out from #1 just out of curiosity.

 

[braintheory]

Anyone else?

 

[moltenmetalburn]

Pickups made to the same "recipe" are like 90 percent the same across all winders. Why wait for someone who doesnt answer or respond at this price point?

Call mick at manlius tell him what you want or what arcane you were looking for and get wuick responses fast turnaround and great prices.

After being burned or ignored by so many "magic" winders i tried dozens of pickups and found that as long as made out of HQ parts the differences are negligable.

I only use guys who find their customers a priority now and my tones have NOT suffered at all.

 

[scottosan]

Pickups made to the same "recipe" are like 90 percent the same across all winders. Why wait for someone who doesnt answer or respond at this price point?

Call mick at manlius tell him what you want or what arcane you were looking for and get wuick responses fast turnaround and great prices.

After being burned or ignored by so many "magic" winders i tried dozens of pickups and found that as long as made out of HQ parts the differences are negligable.

I only use guys who find their customers a priority now and my tones have NOT suffered at all.

I do not agree with your recipe assessment. You could assume that an aldrich, JB, and a tone zone would sound the same, but they just dont

 

[moltenmetalburn]

Pickups made to the same "recipe" are like 90 percent the same across all winders. Why wait for someone who doesnt answer or respond at this price point?

Call mick at manlius tell him what you want or what arcane you were looking for and get wuick responses fast turnaround and great prices.

After being burned or ignored by so many "magic" winders i tried dozens of pickups and found that as long as made out of HQ parts the differences are negligable.

I only use guys who find their customers a priority now and my tones have NOT suffered at all.

I do not agree with your recipe assessment. You could assume that an aldrich, JB, and a tone zone would sound the same, but they just dont

You are correct, in fact no two pickups sound exactly alike. Its a generalization. Try it though, order the same specs from three winders and compare them. Less differences than you think. Compare two of the same handwound pickups to each other and youll be surprised how different they can be. In my experience the variation that is always present makes fine tuning almost impossible. You just hunt and peck until the combo that pleases you.


Aldrich 17.5 alnico 5 , Nickel silver

Tonezone 17.4 alnico 5, brass

JB 16.4 alnico 5, nickel silver

As you can see there are already some differences. Enough to matter that these three would differ with simply this criteria however my recipe includes more.

It is:

Dc resistance. Wire guage. Wire type. Sym or asym wind. What coil is wound higher matters when asym. Baseplate metal. Magnet type. Covered or uncovered. Pole piece type/metal.


Works for me.

 

[braintheory]

Arcane's are next on my list of pickups i want to try.
There is a local shop near where I live that stock Arcanes.
http://www.bassexchange.com/

Ive shopped there before, nice people.
I'm sure they can answer your questions.

Thanks for that! I called the store yesterday but the guy couldn't really help me since he said he doesn't carry the models I'm interested in but that he could order them for me if I want them. Can anyone else here describe the models I'm interested in? The George lynch model sounds very cool but I wonder how the Phil X or savage would compare since they're all Alnico 8

 

[scary groove]

Lynch model is badass. But Mr. Scary Guitars has removed it from their website and no longer shows in their available options for pickups

 

[braintheory]

Lynch model is badass. But Mr. Scary Guitars has removed it from their website and no longer shows in their available options for pickups

How would you describe the Lynch model? Would it be comparable to anything from Seymour Duncan, Bare Knuckle, or Motor City?

 

[scary groove]

I have never tried any bare knuckle or motor city pickups. I only mostly use a duncan JB and it's quite different. Here is a great review of the Arcane Lynch model: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9V3oCjbSLc

 

[SpiderWars]

Pickups made to the same "recipe" are like 90 percent the same across all winders. Why wait for someone who doesnt answer or respond at this price point?

Call mick at manlius tell him what you want or what arcane you were looking for and get wuick responses fast turnaround and great prices.

After being burned or ignored by so many "magic" winders i tried dozens of pickups and found that as long as made out of HQ parts the differences are negligable.

I only use guys who find their customers a priority now and my tones have NOT suffered at all.

I do not agree with your recipe assessment. You could assume that an aldrich, JB, and a tone zone would sound the same, but they just dont

You are correct, in fact no two pickups sound exactly alike. Its a generalization. Try it though, order the same specs from three winders and compare them. Less differences than you think. Compare two of the same handwound pickups to each other and youll be surprised how different they can be. In my experience the variation that is always present makes fine tuning almost impossible. You just hunt and peck until the combo that pleases you.


Aldrich 17.5 alnico 5 , Nickel silver

Tonezone 17.4 alnico 5, brass

JB 16.4 alnico 5, nickel silver

As you can see there are already some differences. Enough to matter that these three would differ with simply this criteria however my recipe includes more.

It is:

Dc resistance. Wire guage. Wire type. Sym or asym wind. What coil is wound higher matters when asym. Baseplate metal. Magnet type. Covered or uncovered. Pole piece type/metal.


Works for me.

Yep, there are lots of variables. Even if every other thing was equal, it seems different makers often use different magnets. So it might say 'A5' but that's only a small part of what makes that magnet what it is. I have an A2 magnet (from Rob at Arcane) that is stronger/brighter/bassier/more-scooped than A5 from other makers. I swapped it out in two different pickups. Some magnets are degaussed and to varying degrees. I've swapped quite a few magnets and just that one part (even like for like) can make an enormous difference.