Last weekend I discovered that another pickup maker has a humbucker called a “Blue Sky” and they’d been using the name longer than us.
We were left with a problem – what to do.
There wasn’t really an option, the decent thing to do would be to contact the other maker and explain and change the name of our pickup.
But what to call it?
We asked that question to the NZGuitarist/Bassist Facebook group, wow, what a response! Over 300 suggestions!
In the end the name we chose was “Integrity” and the winner gets a T-shirt. Which reminds me – a merchandise page will be up in the website in the next few weeks.
Every pickup manufacturer makes a “Vintage” humbucker based on the Gibson PAF, of course they do – old Gibsons sound so good.
So how come they all sound so different? Well, the simple answer is that PAF’s were all different. I’ve been a full time luthier since 1995, whenever I come across an old humbucker I test the ohms and the gause and have a good listen. They’re all different. My conclusion is that pickup manufacturers have taken the PAF they like and based their own version on that. Old PAF’s vary so much so modern ones do as well.
I like my own version to be clear sounding, have obvious string separation and definition and to keep clarity no matter how much gain. The mids must be strong and woody, this is not a “scooped” pickup. The clean sound needs to be chimey and clear with no mush; through a valve amp I want clarity. When I tickle it I want clean and vocal sounding when it clips. The bridge pickup needs to be well behaved with high gain and clear with enough cut through so the drummer knows you’re there. The neck smooth, clear and articulate. Warm but with none of the boom you get with a more powerful pickup.
I don’t want much do I.
My “Vintage” Humbucker has an Alnico II magnet and I’ve used plain enamel insulated magnet wire with asymmetric coils to open up the mids. The very first pickup I ever made back in 1995 was a PAF style and I’ve been tweaking the recipe ever since. Like all my pickups I’ve used a number of test pilot players in its development as well as gigging it myself. It wasn’t until around 2015 that I settled on this particular design. I did a gig with a set in a PRS SE series only last weekend – sounded great to me.
The full and honest sound of this pickup along with it’s timeless tone inspired the name “Integrity”.
just published “Ep#6 MrGlyn Meets Your Maker”with Tony Pepers from Pepers Pedals in Dunedin.
Please help promote NZ made guitar gear by sharing, subscribing and telling your mates.
Just posted Ep#5 of “MrGlyn Meets Your Maker” on Youtube. In this one I talk with Russ from Mattsen Guitars about his handmade Resonator guitars. If you have any interest in Resonators, Slide guitar or guitar construction this one is for you.
Just posted Ep#4 of MrGlyn Meets Your Maker. It would be great if you could help support Kiwi made musical gear by subscribing or sharing.
Stephan Gilberg makes a huge range of guitar pedals from his workshop in Nelson NZ.
In this episode he talks about pedal design, the inspiration behind his creations and what drives him.
If you’re at all interested in unique guitar sounds, expanding on the traditional palette or just want something funky on the floor then this episode is for you.
In Episode #3 of ‘MrGlyn Meets Your Maker’ I talk to David Benavides of Benavides Guitars in Ahipara.
I first played one of his handmade guitars about 5 years ago and immediately gave him a call I was so impressed.
If you are an aspiring guitar maker, have an interest in guitar construction or are in the market for “the” acoustic guitar it’s well worth listening to what Dave has to say.
