Boutique pickups and their prices

hotpickups

Although I have decided on a set of pickups I want, on my path of research for them I came across many winders but I just can't work out why they go from reasonable to absolutely ridiculous pricing. For example Wizz pickups (http://www.wizz-pickups.net) are over £320 why? What can he be doing that is so radically different from winders over here? Could it be he charges for his very nice relic'n? Just interested in hearing your thoughts

SteveRobinson

hotpickups said:

What can he be doing that is so radically different from winders over here? 

Market positioning. Perceived value and all that I expect.

stonevibe

BS lots of it and bragging rights?

Adam_MD

I don’t bother looking anywhere else apart from Mojo.  

thegummy

Probably the same reason you can get a good t shirt for 10 quid or the same t shirt with a corporation's logo printed on it for 90 quid (or whatever crazy price they are)

hotpickups

Yeah I get all that but he's hardly a house hold name in the guitar world is he? I'm talking about Wizz by the way. I certainly wouldn't be fooled for the BS. OX4 pickups seem to be just as good albeit the relic'n isn't as good but hey get raw nickle and they will with time. Like my monty humdingers are

Funkfingers

Some people can be convinced to make pickup purchase decisions based entirely on *pedigree*. e.g. Maple spacers from the same logging yard as Gibson used in the Fifties. Same type of push-back cotton insulation as Fender used in the mid-Sixties. Hence, fractionally closer to the mythic Hendrix formula. Allegedly. (Available woven left-handed for fully authentic tone when played by right-handed guitarists.)

Some people make pickup decisions based on installing them and having a listen through a familiar professional quality amplifier.

On the Seymour Duncan User Group forum, the former were referred to as cork sniffers. The brag factor was obviously far more important to them than what the bloody things sound like. 

Sporky

Could also be they use price to moderate demand. Or that there's a market that equates higher price with better. There are plenty of good low cost options, plenty of good mid price options too, so it's not terribly worrying. 

hotpickups

Funkfingers said:

Some people can be convinced to make pickup purchase decisions based entirely on *pedigree*. e.g. Maple spacers from the same logging yard as Gibson used in the Fifties. Same type of push-back cotton insulation as Fender used in the mid-Sixties. Hence, fractionally closer to the mythic Hendrix formula. Allegedly. (Available woven left-handed for fully authentic tone when played by right-handed guitarists.)

Some people make pickup decisions based on installing them and having a listen through a familiar professional quality amplifier.

On the Seymour Duncan User Group forum, the former were referred to as cork sniffers. The brag factor was obviously far more important to them than what the bloody things sound like. 

Couldn't agree with you more @Funkfingers . Are we just sheep who are that easily led? I like to think I'm not and all my purchases have all been well considered and well informed ones 

hotpickups

Sporky said:

Could also be they use price to moderate demand. Or that there's a market that equates higher price with better. There are plenty of good low cost options, plenty of good mid price options too, so it's not terribly worrying. 

Yep I work in advertising and understand all what goes on when targeting our wants and desires. There is a limit though that I can believe it can stop being believable. Winders like Wizz may have reached that IMO  That relic'n is nice though LOL

gringopig

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GoldenEraGuitars

Personally, i didn’t see anything (at first glance) that was odd about the pricing. $300 for a set of single coils is £225. £75 a Pickup, i don’t see much wrong with that tbh.

hotpickups

lonestar said:

Personally, i didn’t see anything (at first glance) that was odd about the pricing. $300 for a set of single coils is £225. £75 a Pickup, i don’t see much wrong with that tbh.

$425 for a set of PAFs which is around £320. Ouch too much for my tastes :-
 
http://www.wizz-pickups.net/product-page/wizz-premium-clone-paf-pickup-set

GoldenEraGuitars

hotpickups said:

lonestar said:

Personally, i didn’t see anything (at first glance) that was odd about the pricing. $300 for a set of single coils is £225. £75 a Pickup, i don’t see much wrong with that tbh.

$425 for a set of PAFs which is around £320. Ouch too much for my tastes :-
 
http://www.wizz-pickups.net/product-page/wizz-premium-clone-paf-pickup-set

If you’re buying those particular pickups then you probably have a guitar worth retrofitting them to. Its all subjective and of course, without knowing what they sound like no one can really argue either point convincingly 

hotpickups

lonestar said:

hotpickups said:

lonestar said:

Personally, i didn’t see anything (at first glance) that was odd about the pricing. $300 for a set of single coils is £225. £75 a Pickup, i don’t see much wrong with that tbh.

$425 for a set of PAFs which is around £320. Ouch too much for my tastes :-
 
http://www.wizz-pickups.net/product-page/wizz-premium-clone-paf-pickup-set

If you’re buying those particular pickups then you probably have a guitar worth retrofitting them to. Its all subjective and of course, without knowing what they sound like no one can really argue either point convincingly 

LOL I certainly wouldn't be buying them. I'm obviously not the target audience

soma1975

With some builders you paying extra for an attention to detail or custom manufacture of certain items or sourcing of era-specific materials. With other builders you are paying extra to cover their marketing budgets. 

Your job is to ascertain which is which. 

hotpickups

soma1975 said:

With some builders you paying extra for an attention to detail or custom manufacture of certain items or sourcing of era-specific materials. With other builders you are paying extra to cover their marketing budgets. 

Your job is to ascertain which is which. 

I think I've already decided which I am paying attention to

John_P

hotpickups said:

lonestar said:

Personally, i didn’t see anything (at first glance) that was odd about the pricing. $300 for a set of single coils is £225. £75 a Pickup, i don’t see much wrong with that tbh.

$425 for a set of PAFs which is around £320. Ouch too much for my tastes :-
 
http://www.wizz-pickups.net/product-page/wizz-premium-clone-paf-pickup-set

Aren’t Bareknuckles somewhere around £300 a pair depending on model and finish options - I haven’t seen anyone complaining about those and they seem to be selling ok.    It’s a lot of spend I agree but if it gives the sounds you want and then fair enough.     
It’s good to see that there are other options like mojo that come in a bit cheaper. 

hotpickups

John_P said:

hotpickups said:

lonestar said:

Personally, i didn’t see anything (at first glance) that was odd about the pricing. $300 for a set of single coils is £225. £75 a Pickup, i don’t see much wrong with that tbh.

$425 for a set of PAFs which is around £320. Ouch too much for my tastes :-
 
http://www.wizz-pickups.net/product-page/wizz-premium-clone-paf-pickup-set

Aren’t Bareknuckles somewhere around £300 a pair depending on model and finish options - I haven’t seen anyone complaining about those and they seem to be selling ok.    It’s a lot of spend I agree but if it gives the sounds you want and then fair enough.     
It’s good to see that there are other options like mojo that come in a bit cheaper. 

Really? I haven't seen any got for that much

GoldenEraGuitars

BKP Rebel Yell set up to £265 or so a pair. I genuinely don’t see any problems with Pickup pricing here. Ultimately, they’ll give your electric guitar a voice. If the accent of the voice that you like lies within a a set of Chinese squier Pickups, so be it. If you want to spend £300 then you obviously heard something you like either in a sound bite or by word of mouth/reputation.

gringopig