British Pickup (Lesser known) Manufactures

Attila

Ok, chaps I think its time i shared another little something with all ya all.

I came across another British brand called IronGear http://www.irongear.co.uk/irongear_032.htm you might be surprised at what you get for the price. I've got a set of Tesla Sharks at the post office waiting to be collected....

Another British pickup is from Gemini Pickups http://www.geminipickups.co.uk/standard_hb_12.html quite like these

Whats quite cool about them is that they have coil taps, not a HB coil split, what this really comes down to is that they wind symmetrical coils ( balanced coils) then on one coil they have a tap which makes that the HB asymmetrical ( unbalanced) ... have a listen to their sound samples

singemonkey

The list cannot be considered representative without talking about Bare-Knuckle Pickups: http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/ ?

guidothepimmp

Why yes sir

I've taken a strong liking to bareknuckle

Have a holydiver, blackdog, coldsweat, rebel yell, and quarter pounder

Each one i got to choose between 2 or 3 magnet types, and, got asked what geet they're for so that they make them to fit

Seriously great service, seriously..

Attila

Of course you are right Singe ....BK is way up there .... My intention was to promote lesser known Brit brands

I wish we had a choice of SA Winderys

Chocklit_Thunda

Attila Barath wrote: I wish we had a choice of SA Winderys

I had the capital I'd tell you to watch this space ?

Also to add to this list, pickuos by The Creamery. Hand wound in manchester I think and they come highly regarded.

Big-G

These guys make some great pups! Played a few basses fitted with them, and they are seriously nice....

http://www.wizardpickups.co.uk/

Regards
G!

Manfred-Klose

also entwistle pickups
http://www.entwistlepickups.com/

Attila

So today I collected my IronGear Tesla Sharks low-wind alnico pickups and I thought I would share my initial thoughts and photos before I install them

NO NO ....I am not being paid by the manufactures to do this

So what comes in the package

* Pickup
* Screws and springs
* Foamy packing bits
* Wiring guide - nice touch

Nice bit of laser etching and what looks to be maple wood Keeper-Bars (Top Right Corner) that holds the one side of the coil off the Nickle Silver base-plate - very PAF-ie/Classic or vintage correct design

The Pick-ups are 4-wire Alnico II's (B)8.54K Ohm & (N)7.93K Ohm DCR (measures very close to this)

Some marketing blurb to ready you to enter into the realm of the guitar gods

My first impressions are that the product is very well put together and presented. Also using wood instead of plastic supports and fabric tape to protect the coils, tells me that a lot of thought has gone into designing these pickup ..... of course the acid test is how they perform. So lets see and I will give some feedback on that soonish

Peace

AlanRatcliffe

Congrats Attila! I'm waiting to hear your impressions once they are in...

BTW - Are Iron gear open to custom winds?

Attila

Thank Alan, I will do.

I don't know a custom winds, but have a chat with Kieth on info@axetec.co.uk who is quite helpful.

AlanRatcliffe

Attila Barath wrote: I don't know a custom winds, but have a chat with Kieth on info@axetec.co.uk who is quite helpful.

Thanks!

Big G wrote: These guys make some great pups! Played a few basses fitted with them, and they are seriously nice....
http://www.wizardpickups.co.uk/

They have a very interesting sounding pickup, the Novatron:

=

Quite an unusual, hollow tone. Plus they look quite different...

Attila

Ooooh those Novatrons are nice

Big-G

I'd imagine those novatrons to sound quite interesting in your 12 string Alan! They look nice.

G!

Attila

Ok So I fitted my the Tesla Sharks to my Vintage VRS, wired up coil cuts on both pickups on individual push-pull switches, I have used a .022uf cap as per the Irongear recommendations will experiment with a .047 next

I still have to get used to them but they a huge improvement on the stock Wilki pickup, still playing around with pickup height settings etc .... as they are also a lot hotter than I expected. What was I thinking these ARE marketed as SLASH tone pups. 8).

My verdict is that I like em a lot esp the Neck pickup. In single coil mode they sound really nice not too thin at all

Anyhoo due to my questionable playing ability I found a reasonable vid to give you a feel for them,

=

enjoy

AlanRatcliffe

Thanks! Pity the demoer uses a lot of chorus on his clean sound...

Nicholas-L

Man these pups sound great ? ... I would love a Blues Engine in the neck and a Tesla Shark in the bridge. Mmmmm ?