Terms & Conditions | Registered Trademarks, There are 2 different types of Kent Armstrongs. The extended cover allows for use with traditional 7 string arch-top electrics. The PAF and bridge humbucker in my Jackson Soloist are excellent pickups. I had my LP wired so that 1 volume pot was a master volume, and the other was middle pup only. Unfortunately it didn't work out - for Dan wanted an additional 10% above of the proceeds for the use of his name. i was looking at the seymour duncan ones but i think there a bit expensive because ill need 3 of them. I just fitted a tele bridge pickup and it's great. I had some 7 string pickups from KA. I use it with the series parallel switch and with 13.5k output, it works well in passive mode. By From the well setup action and the finely-cut nut, to the smooth polyurethane WebDescription Reviews (0) Description This is a low output humbucker that is reminiscent of the early Gretsch FilterTron pickups which are used for rock, country and rockabilly. But during the electric guitar boom in the 1950s, he added the original Danelectro and Silvertone guitar to his lineup, again with the starter-budget guitarist in mind. I contacted Kent Armstrong himself about the pickup thinking maybe I'd just have him make me new one and here was his Thanks one and all, that's filled in a lot of blanks for me, and hopefully others. I have some KA's in a Benedetto Benny. Danos usually feature a 3-way toggle switch. Does anybody really play bebop these days? You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. kent armstrong - Epiphone Electrics - Gibson Brands Forums I put Kent Armstrongs in my much-reviled epiphone LP about a year ago and found them to be a good pickup and much improved over the stockers (obviously). On 28/02/2021 at 14:34, Tvrtastic said: Kent Armstrong has posted a little clip about his life. And Strat Players like SRV retrofitted lipsticks into their Fenders years ago. They were meant to be used straight into a tube amp, although an OD pedal is ok. No wonder I didnt like it. Assuming they do, it is curious how so many Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by. Glad a better product exists from them but they need a top notch marketing person in the states. I changed out the stock p.ups because they were pretty crappy (apparently they have improved a lot over the years). EDIT: forgot to mention, I'm especially interested coz I have a G-400 Custom which has 3 buckers also, and I have an active picup git, an Ultra-II with NanoMag, it can make some half decent tones. WD Music's Kent Armstrong Humbuckers- Are these any LOL. The customer changed his mind and went with a Different Armstrong. These new pickups allow you to completely equalize the string balance through height adjustment of individual polepieces. has body but the upper frequency contour is really interesting. So if you are in the market for these old-school models, we recommend finding a broken-down Dano from the 50s or 60s and pulling the pickups out yourself. I had a licensed Armstrong Floater installed in my Korean Gretsch Synchromatic(laminate) and I have to say it turned an unusable acoustic jazz guitar into an excellent electric jazz guitar for trad jazz/swing style rhythm playing and leads. Just youtube "Stockholm Sydrome Glastonbury" You'll get the idea, the idea that the motherbucker is Broootal! I had that configuration on an Epi LP and it worked great. When searching for the right single-coils for his guitars, Daniel knew they would have to be easy and inexpensive to manufacture. before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. Gotta find that pup and find a guitar to install it in soon! Maybe a medium output but with nice growl. By contrast, the Armstrong (VT-made) PAF 12-pole humbucker has a much fatter, more electric sound. So while many ended up collecting dust in basements, others found themselves on the worlds biggest stages and recording timeless rock n roll. They're were custom wound and came with the guitar. No lie, folks, he also built the Televersary. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. People still mistakenly use 0.022uF/22nF/22000pF or 47nF caps on anything, but even a 22nF is really too dark on mid level inductance pickups for fundamental note definition up the entire neck. Players love how they teeter between tone and chaos. And.they sounded way different too. And not only did these metal tubes give his pickups a unique look, but the metal cover helps shield the electronics and mellowed the otherwise ice-picky sound of his design. We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. Sam: How was the pickup swap in your ElRey? Virtually no one knows about the high end products. But the pickups arent the only reason Danelectro guitars sound the way they do. Theres a ton of in-depth information on all of our different designs, how-tos, tone demonstrations, and a whole lot more. This is fairly hot for a jazz guitar. This pickup has the deadly combination of power and tone! do They are very dull and lifeless None of that typical P-90 sound. Assuming they do, it is curious how so many people automatically rip out the stock Epi pickups and replace them with (you guessed it) Kent Armstrongs. I'll hafta get some of Telenators PT-90's. Lipstick wiring is also a contributor. Between the warmth and adjustability, you just can't beat this pickup. You must log in or register to reply here. In fact, you were doing that on the vid and it was good. I played classic / rock / blues at the time and got several compliments on my sound after gigs. That meant that the bobbins and custom-machined pole pieces Fender and Gibson used were out. I got the cheap ones (I was only 18 at the time) and was very pleased. I'm actually thinking of up grading. Kent Armstrong Pickups Kent Armstrong All rights reserved. (HJGN-2 for neck mount version) Made in the tradition of the Johnny Smith endorsed Gibson instruments introduced in the early '60s. Wasn't so keen on the bridge which is hot @ 15k. i think ill go for them. Clear editor. They allow me to play the most aggressive styles of music out there like no other, they really complete my tone. Also what is the difference between active and passive pickups? This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. This instrument is listed as being in 'very good' condition in accordance with Reverb's definition of the term. Pasted as rich text. Kiesel Guitars: Allan Holdsworth Signature. I like the WD Kent Armstrong pickups very much. He was jamming on it while I was in the store which is what caught my attention. They can be a little bit of figuring to roll off and clean up but once you find the sweet spot your good to go and you can't expect pristine creamy cleans from pickups of this output. Mike, thanks for the feedback (no pun intended). He made pickups for many UK builders (not to mention Benedetto (sp?) But part of that is the guitar. Let me continue to believe that my stock Casino pickups are as good as any others because when I read opinions like yours I once again go to this page, http://www.pinupmusicparts.com/Pickups-Kent_Armstrong_P90_Famil.html. WebThe Rocker cleans up nicely and is warm, even in an alder/maple set up. etc.) Perhaps Ryan Burke of the 60-cycle Hum Podcast described it best, saying, they basically sound the way they look: Despite their penchant for clean sounds, theyre also a ton of fun with a cranked amp exuding a snarly breakup and a loose low end. I have used Seymours and Gibsons and there's very little difference, except in the price. But they were very noise free. I've been browsing the wdmusic site and have found a few products with identical descriptions, one is for a ceramic version the other an alnico version, both are the same price and tech specs except for the magnets. The Kent Armstrong's were about 8K Ohms (as they should be). Theres a guy selling the following KA pickups around here for a reasonable price Are they any good? sorry, didnt mean to digress from the original topic. anyhow, i've had 2 or 3 of those on guitars i've owned and they are thin and overly bright. ive noticed that about my guitar that the middle doesnt really do much. 2 reviews, 4,340 hits, 0 comments 9.9 Superb HSDO-1 Super Distortion This is a high output, tight, bassy It would be hard to describe in words just how bad they were. Kent Armstrong This pickup is only 3/8 thick but sacrifices nothing in terms of the full rich sound that players have come to expect from him. http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Pickups:_Guitar,_archtop/Kent_Armstrong_Suspended_Jazz_Humbucker.html. before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. Santa Barbara, California. 1995-2022 Harmony Central, Inc. All rights reserved. I also suggest that you choose your priority for heat level. Playing them clean in a tube amp.best tone I've ever heard. I have spoken to him many times on the phone. Does anyone know if the Kent Armstrong pickups that "W D Music" sells are the real deal or - are they the Licensed pickups? EMGs or something else but they were so good I've kept them. I may be wrong, but i think that is one of the overseas "licensed" pickups, not handmade in Vermont. All times are GMT-7. All I know is WD sells Kent Armstrong pups at higher end pricing with no sound clips or specs. they have the full range and a brief description of each one. What I did not know was the extent of the Kent Armstrong catalog. Judging by their use on low-end guitars I assume they're cheaper to make. They have a nice full tone not thin and bright like most pickups in this output range. S, Copyright 2022 - Jazz Guitar Online - All rights reserved - Privacy Policy. http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/product/PAF_Style_Chrome_Cover_HPAC-1, http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/product/Rocker_Alnico_Humbucker_Chrome_Cover_HRC-1A. Mike, Any experience with this one? http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Pickups:_Guitar,_archtop/Kent_Armstrong_Suspended_Jazz_Humbuck They also make a set of Rory Gallagher pickups that were made to replicate the original Rory pickups provided by his estate. Seymour Duncan Strat Sized Lipstick Pickup, Seymour Duncan Danelectro Lipstick Pickup, Seymour W. Duncan Biography: The Man Behind It All, Mark Holcomb Scarlet & Scourge Signature Humbuckers, The Wes Hauch Jupiter Rails Humbucker Pickup Set, The Present and Future of Lipstick Pickups. again, i cannot help with what you are really asking, but after reading some disparaging other comments, i thought i should at least share my experience with his handmade jazz pickups, which are superb. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Is this Mark Whitfield's new D'Angelico??? There seem to be a plethora of newer 100 watt smaller floor based amps these days. It sounded pretty good. Are all of his current pickups made over seas? I bought one of the pickups made by WD music in Kent's name. It is the bridge model of the 4/5 string soapbar. L5 CES started in '53, had p90s, soon got staple pickups, then Carvin or Kiesel Alan Holdsworth HH2 P90's are normally ~8H -- nearly double the inductance of an average PAF. He'll also custom wind you anything you want if you call him. Check out any vintage Zep live footage, and youll see what we mean. been to his house and talked to him many times. Ceramic tend to have a "thinner" sound, but powerful ceramics give good metal tones when over-driven. I was shocked! The Kent Armstrong Humbucker on the Eastman AR371ce measured about 8.7K Ohms at the output jack. I have the Tele bridge pickup and it's OK, but not great. I have another Tele with an SD AlNiCo II pickup that I prefer over the Kent Armstrong. Wa Haven't got them yet. And like the Rhoads fan mentioned above, the split tones are excellent, and not that weak-ass puss-o-matic tone which is the usual result of split coils. Various humbucker models including PAF style and higher output ceramic humbuckers, standard Tele & Strat pickups, lipstick tubes, high gain metal pickups, Jazz, P90's, Firebird, LP Deluxe you name it. The "Hot Rod" bridge pickup was a fattened up PAF sound, similar to a Burstbucker but with warm thick mid's and highs without being harsh. I recommend them. This is the links to the two: http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/product/Rocker_Humbucker_Gold_Cover_HRG-1, http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/product/Rocker_Alnico_Humbucker_Gold_Cover_HRG-1A. The cheaper type are made in the far-east while the more expensive ones are USA made. You won't find the distortion on the WD website though. good low end with plenty of midrange cut-through and hi sparkle What would you guys recommend fro the bridge of a Les Paul if I want deep bass, solid mids, and sweet(smooth) highs. By So what are they? This pickup is only 3/8 thick but sacrifices nothing in terms of the full rich sound that players have come to expect from him. I imagine earlier pre WD Armstrong pickups would hold quite a bit of value. Kent Armstrong pickupsany good? - Harmony Central The Gear Page is the leading online community and marketplace for guitars, amps, pedals, effects and associated gear. Improving my guitars tone. Part 2: A different pickup What's the opinion from those I got the cheap ones (I was only 18 at the time) and was very pleased. I don't need to read posts like this, Greg! This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. It is true he never runs out of notes. The Epiphone pickups measured 7.7K (neck) and 8.2K (bridge). WebThese pickups are handwound in the USA by Kent Armstrong and retail for $160 new, not the import version. I've got a set in an el-cheapo Flying V I have. The vintage is real nice - sweet and full. custom pickups into a 1994 Gibson Les Paul Standard. It may have just been whatever model I had that I didn't like. KENT ARMSTRONG Pickups?? I LIKE! | The Les Paul Forum Really thin and very harsh. I used them exclusively in my tele strat builds for a long time, and those are all nice pups, too. Hughes and Kettner, Victory Amps, Black Star, Two Notes, etc. Again, it took me by surprise about the sheer number of pickups they produce. In my case, a 30 minute job involving a certain amount of swearing. It may not display this or other websites correctly. They are built/distributed by WD Music, which is a great company that is very helpful to smaller custom pickup builders with a wide range of pickup parts available for purchase. Instead, they used a relatively crude Alnico V bar magnet with the copper wire wrapped directly around it. www.wdmusic.com is the us distributor. I don't have one but I use the capacitor in my ToneBlock 202, and I do have the treble up higher than I used to. JavaScript is disabled. So those VT hand-wound, 12 pole HB'show much does something like that run? The middle pup doesn't do much tone-wise on a 3 pup LP so the stock Epi pup is fine in my view. The later made-in China pickups are not nearly as well put together as the old ones. At this point, I do not know if Kent Armstrong supplies Epiphone with other OEM pickups in addition to these P90's. link above. Most of the time I played with the middle one set to zero volume. My gut feeling is that they are one of the better import options out there but maybe not the same level as US aftermarket. Kent Armstrong Announcing the all new Side mounted Jazz Pickup. There was a set in a D'Angelico I just traded. I know for a while you could still get domestic KA pickups built custom direct by him and/or his sons - not sure if that is possible still today or if it is all via WD Music. no, i don't like those one bit. If yours sound like P-90's should sound OR you are happy with them, then don't even think about replacing them. I've got them in two guitars of my own. Very nice guy. he is quite the crackuphe was full of quips and one liners - it was an entertaining conversation. You may have to register Kent is a great guy. Also, the bridge model had slightly increased output to better balance with the neck position pickup. They are here to help. After I wax potted them they weren't too bad. archtops) and has always had a real good product. Some others seemed to like them though. I put Kent Armstrongs in my much-reviled epiphone LP about a year ago and found them to be a good pickup and much improved over the stockers (obviously). I just ordered some Burstbuckers (#2, #3) on the strength of recommendations on this forum. For me, the tone is wayyy too bright, and it seems like the top 80% of the tone wheel is all the same (this could actually be a wiring issue, I have to have it inspected). I know for a while you could still get domestic KA pickups built custom direct by him and/or his sons - not sure if that is possible still today or if it is all via WD Music. Archtop pickups are halfway down. If you go here. What's the opinion from those around here who's tried some of his work? I replaced it with a Dimarzio Tone Zone and have been happy as can be since. They offer authentic PAF tone, sounding open and warm while retaining excellent string to string articulation. Neck postion, this KA pup : http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/product/PAF_Style_Chrome_Cover_HPAC-1, 2. 1995-2022 Harmony Central, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | It was definitely an improvement over the stock pickup, which itself was not a bad pickup. I mixed and matched and put his 54 neck and 57 middle with a 62 in the bridge to slightly increase output and fatten up tone. These are the Kent Armstrong pickups in my Soloist: The bridge pickup has a bright fendery tone, for a humbucker it. I have one of his "hot-rails" type tele bridge pickups in my thinline and that is an amazing sounding pickup, not to mention the nicest made pickup of this type that I have seen from ANYONE (it even has a chrome plated grounding plate on the base), and that is one of his "mass-produced" pickups. When I first got the guitar my standard procedure was to swap things for. I had some double blade Strat pickups in my parts Strat for a while. Webhey guys, i was wondering if any of u have had experience with kent armstrong pickups. Armstrong pickups Don't despare so quickly. check out the FAQ by clicking the Danos usually feature a 3-way toggle switch. thanks. Super Block United States. The lead "Vintage" pickup was less chunky sounding than a Burstbucker 1 but creamier than an Antiquity. Kent Armstrong Review | Pickups | Reviews @ Ultimate-Guitar.Com WebKent Armstrong is one of the foremost electric instrument pickup designers in the music industry. All are welcome, from seasoned pros to absolute beginners. I would have been doing all the work and Dan would get as much - actually more for just using his name. I can't remember what the model on it was, but I do remember trying to find it and it was discontinued. Thanks again. Finally, modern lipstick single-coil pickups offer a variety of wiring improvements. I've had several pups in my sheri. More than likely, the pickups are worth way more than the rest of the guitar anyway. Rewiring to 1 master vol plus a specific vol for middle pup should be quite cheap; it doesn't need any new / different components. Yeah, I have his "high output" (not the "distortion" model but the one below that) and whatever is below that (forget what it's called) models in my Carvin DC-127. too many fuzz pedals to buy first! Ive found using a bridge Seymour Duncan Vintage Mini hum in the neck position of my Tele, gives me a warmer, darker No, I agree, with shells it's a lot easier and in some cases sounds richer. Kent Armstrong im looking to a bluesy peter greeny kind of tone. For such high output pups, they sure preserve a lot of the guitar's acoustic tone. i dont know anything about those models mentioned, but just a word of props for Kent Armstrong, he is a super nice guy and makes a quality product. He had a KA Vintage in the neck and KA Hot Rod (both nickel covered) in the bridge.
