Wide Range Humbuckers - the proper ones

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 11:00 am

Has anyone has any experience with these bad boys? I know Lee Ranaldo uses them in his Jazzblasters and i'm thinking of taking the Antiquity humbuckers out of my B&B Jazzmaster and putting a set made by Jaime at The Creamery in. I know the modern pickups (not the Fender ones) which claim to be WRH aren't quite the same due to the type of magnets the originals used but the clips i've seen sound good and they're not supposed to be far off. They seem a lot brighter than regular humbuckers (i've heard them described as like a fat sounding single coil) which is good as I find my Antiquities to be too bassy and not trebly enough. Just wondered what people thought.

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 11:16 am

novak will take your reissue WRHBs and rewind them with the proper magnets and everything. he'll also make some for you in a normal humbucker size if you like.

http://curtisnovak.com/pickups/hum-WR.shtml

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 11:33 am

Thanks for that. However he states that 'I hand wound them to true vintage WR specs with rod magnets' but he doesn't say what rod magnets he uses, I doubt he uses the 'proper' magnets as these were of a type of material which is not now used to make magnets and is very expensive. I think i'll still look at The Creamery ones as they'll be less hassle with postage and customs charges, plus i'm very impressed with the JM pickups he made for me.

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 11:44 am

If you hang on for a bit, Lollar is releasing some nigh-on proper ones. As soon as he does, I'm bunging some in a 72 thinline (funds permitting). Of course, you could always get Telenator to rewind yours (don't do this - he's an arsehole)*.

* plus, hilariously, he googles his name a lot and pops up in threads - hi telenator, you snake-oil-selling arsehole!

George · Post by **George** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 11:53 am

Haha, yeah he's a gem: saying he would seek legal advice against other manufacturers as if it was actually his design in the first place.

I'm tempted by these Lollars. I'd love to stick some in a Deluxe or Strat.

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 12:08 pm

On Lollar's post that you linked to he also doesn't mention what magnets he will be using in his pickups, if he was going to use CuNiFe magnets (which is what the originals used) you'd think he'd be shouting about it.

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 12:11 pm

They are actually available now - http://www.lollarguitars.com/mm5/mercha ... er-pickups - $200 each though, I think i'll go with The Creamery @ Â£150 for a pair.

George · Post by **George** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 12:12 pm

A shame they don't mention the magnets. Also note "our version".

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 12:14 pm

Â£150 a pair? Sheesh. Have you tried Catswhisker Pickups? They'll be about Â£40-50 each.

Actually, I've never found anything wrong with the AVRI Jazzmaster pickups. Perfect pickup for this guitar imho. Not too hot, not too cold, just right!

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 12:15 pm

Oh, humbuckers. Zzzzzz.

Post by **Mike** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 12:16 pm

It's funny how everyone is really into WRHBs these days.

BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ.

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 12:20 pm

It's only cos they can't have 'em.

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 12:25 pm

timhulio wrote:Â£150 a pair? Sheesh. Have you tried Catswhisker Pickups? They'll be about Â£40-50 each.

Actually, I've never found anything wrong with the AVRI Jazzmaster pickups. Perfect pickup for this guitar imho. Not too hot, not too cold, just right!

Not much info on the Catswhisker website re their pickups but they do one called the Ranger DLX which could be their equivalent, maybe i'll email to ask.

Johno · Post by **Johno** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 12:35 pm

This guys make cheap jazzmaster pups http://www.jlguitars.com/

George · Post by **George** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 12:38 pm

I think it's because they sound somewhere between a single coil and humbucker in tone that interests people who want something different.

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 12:38 pm

Johno wrote:This guys make cheap jazzmaster pups http://www.jlguitars.com/

Wow, that is cheap. I just bought some JM pups though.

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 12:43 pm

GeorgeF wrote:I think it's because they sound somewhere between a single coil and humbucker in tone that interests people who want something different.

I'm interested because from what i've heard they sound good and seem to be the kind of sound i'm after. I like JM pups for all round playing, regular single coils I like for clean but distorted they tend to sound too thin for my liking - the idea of a fat single coil sound that fits between a SC and HB sound appeals, it's not some kind of mojo fashion statement.

George · Post by **George** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 12:44 pm

Exactly, that's why I'm be interested as well. On the face of things I appreciate we must look like soulless consumerist paps jumping on the latest bandwagon, though.

Johno · Post by **Johno** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 12:50 pm

johnnyseven wrote:
GeorgeF wrote:I think it's because they sound somewhere between a single coil and humbucker in tone that interests people who want something different.
I'm interested because from what i've heard they sound good and seem to be the kind of sound i'm after. I like JM pups for all round playing, regular single coils I like for clean but distorted they tend to sound too thin for my liking - the idea of a fat single coil sound that fits between a SC and HB sound appeals, it's not some kind of mojo fashion statement.

P-90 / P-94?

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 12:52 pm

GeorgeF wrote:Exactly, that's why I'm be interested as well. On the face of things I appreciate we must look like soulless consumerist paps jumping on the latest bandwagon, though.

We probably do, but surely there's an element of this in all musicians otherwise we'd all still be playing the Encore Strat copies that we got for our 14th birthdays.