I thought this would be a fun exercise.
This is a very personal list ...
No10.
The original spec DiMarzio Super Distortion. I adore them, it has to be an old one mind ... as Larry changed the formula.
No 5.
The Ibanez Super 70 ... A PAF output pickup with a blistering alnico 8 magnet ... again the old ones are different to the later reissues.
No 4.
The original Hofner staple humbucker pickup ... it's a shame they die so easily as they sound really nice ... luckily they are easy to get rewound to original spec.
No 3
The original 60s spec firebird pickup ... glorious humbucking Tele on steroids sounds.
No 2.
The original DiMarzio PAF ... nothing like a Gibson PAF ... but lovely none the less.
No 1.
The DeArmond Dynasonic ... shares some DNA with original staple P90s, and is as difficult to fit to a guitar because of the 'valve gear' on the back ... but what a sound! Chewy and powerful while still being sparkling and cutting. I have a 1950s pair I'm just waiting for the right guitar to be a home for them.
Comments
Here's my list of 'alternative pickups'
5) Hershey Bar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNuukrlh2yQ
4) Johnny Smith
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x78S0bv1V4
3) Guyatone Gold Foil
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLqdl-UPKB8
2) Supro Vista Tone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLIrZEXiT-w
1) Supro Lap Steel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC0vap86UuY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hLjwwW_txo
I like delving into those designs that have almost disappeared outside of their 'genre' like the Dynasonic. Everyone thinks they are just some rockabilly pickup, but they really are far more than that. Or the Firebird ... that everyone just thinks Johnny Winter and slide playing.
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IMO, the Neil Young FB sound is one of the all time great guitar sounds.
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message
My nomination for hidden gem or "forgotten" pickups are the Seymour Duncan Jason Becker Perpetual Burn and SHAH-1 Allan Holdsworth signature model humbuckers. The former gets very little publicity nowadays. The latter is only available as a Custom Shop special order item. Most of what it does can be achieved by an A2 magnet swap into an SH-/TB-4 JB.
For the past eighteen months, I have been mostly enjoying the PRS/G&B D-Type pickup in a semi-hollow S2 Vela. Very responsive to picking dynamics, volume pot settings and amplifier gain.
The Jason Becker pickup is a true classic ... not tried the Holdsworth pickup.
People really miss out pickup wise when they just go for the usual suspects. Les Pauls sound amazing with Firebird pickups, and I tried a pair of rewound Hofner staples in our pickup tester Strat (bodged in with gaffer tape and foam) ... and it sounded brilliant. There is more to life than a Duncan JB :-)
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message
59/60 Filtertrons.
TV Jones Classic Plus (Bridge).
Gibson P94’s (adore the tone of Gibson ES195)
Dynasonics
Supertrons (neck)
Hilotrons
Mojo Gold-foil
Oil City neck P90 I had was glorious.
The Dynasonics I have need a damn fine guitar to go in ... as soon as I can afford it I shall pick up something interesting.
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message
I like the P90s in my Mustang. If I wanted something approaching that in my Stratocaster what would I look for in a single coil?
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5qUa1ZRY4g
I'm also a massive fan of the original Shergold pickups (made by ReAn). Unusual construction (I'm sure Ash can give chapter and verse about it - he rebuilt one of mine for me) gives a very distinctive sound - especially if you fit 500k pots instead of the factory fit 100k ones.
I also rather like the original Kent Armstrong PAF+ he used to hand make when based in Ashford (not the Sky or "Designed by" Far Eastern ones). Quite bright, very pokey but with a great snarl. Hard to find now...