A2 P.A.F. or T Type options?

Stratavarious

I might need to replace the lovely bridge pickup in a vintage Gibson semi which seems to have died.

Been down the Bare Knuckle route before a few times and not happy with the premium they charge now. SD Seth Lovers look good but concerned about unpotted squeal with some of the stuff we play.

Don’t feel the need to pay a fortune.  Got a pair of A4 Classics from Tonerider in an old Les Paul that are perfectly fine.  

Any other UK options with pickups in the vintage ballpark?  I want nicely open, clear and airy.

mark123

Alegree old timers ? His budget range, you can choose output and magnet type , im sure if you sent him a message he would help you with your choice.

Shoukd be around £70 for a pair which is a bargain in my book. 

Boromedic

I bought a TTop from Vineham pickups in Canada, it's built to similar standards as the usual suspects. It's had a little dip in waxb compared to it, but it sounds pretty much as great as the Mojo non potted PAFs in my Tokai 335.

They're about £60 to buy as singles, obvs shipping on top. Craig will wind you whatever you want for no extra cash. I just bought his standard 6070 classic.

earwighoney

Stratavarious said:

I might need to replace the lovely bridge pickup in a vintage Gibson semi which seems to have died.

Been down the Bare Knuckle route before a few times and not happy with the premium they charge now. SD Seth Lovers look good but concerned about unpotted squeal with some of the stuff we play.

Don’t feel the need to pay a fortune.  Got a pair of A4 Classics from Tonerider in an old Les Paul that are perfectly fine.  

Any other UK options with pickups in the vintage ballpark?  I want nicely open, clear and airy.

Why don't you get the original pickup rewound? I'm sure Oil City Ash or Alex Alegree of this forum could do a great job for you.

Boromedic

earwighoney said:

Stratavarious said:

I might need to replace the lovely bridge pickup in a vintage Gibson semi which seems to have died.

Been down the Bare Knuckle route before a few times and not happy with the premium they charge now. SD Seth Lovers look good but concerned about unpotted squeal with some of the stuff we play.

Don’t feel the need to pay a fortune.  Got a pair of A4 Classics from Tonerider in an old Les Paul that are perfectly fine.  

Any other UK options with pickups in the vintage ballpark?  I want nicely open, clear and airy.

Why don't you get the original pickup rewound? I'm sure Oil City Ash or Alex Alegree of this forum could do a great job for you.

Great idea that actually

Stratavarious

Boromedic said:

earwighoney said:

Stratavarious said:

I might need to replace the lovely bridge pickup in a vintage Gibson semi which seems to have died.

Been down the Bare Knuckle route before a few times and not happy with the premium they charge now. SD Seth Lovers look good but concerned about unpotted squeal with some of the stuff we play.

Don’t feel the need to pay a fortune.  Got a pair of A4 Classics from Tonerider in an old Les Paul that are perfectly fine.  

Any other UK options with pickups in the vintage ballpark?  I want nicely open, clear and airy.

Why don't you get the original pickup rewound? I'm sure Oil City Ash or Alex Alegree of this forum could do a great job for you.

Great idea that actually

It’s a number one guitar and I am very busy so did not want it out of action for weeks.  So ideally off the shelf.

If it def. needs a rewind (TBC) I will probably get it done and swapped back in down the line. Makes sense,

 The 60 odd year magnets might be why it sounded so sweet and jangly although it was getting a bit microphonic.  It was that character I did not want to lose.

earwighoney

Stratavarious said:

Boromedic said:

earwighoney said:

Stratavarious said:

I might need to replace the lovely bridge pickup in a vintage Gibson semi which seems to have died.

Been down the Bare Knuckle route before a few times and not happy with the premium they charge now. SD Seth Lovers look good but concerned about unpotted squeal with some of the stuff we play.

Don’t feel the need to pay a fortune.  Got a pair of A4 Classics from Tonerider in an old Les Paul that are perfectly fine.  

Any other UK options with pickups in the vintage ballpark?  I want nicely open, clear and airy.

Why don't you get the original pickup rewound? I'm sure Oil City Ash or Alex Alegree of this forum could do a great job for you.

Great idea that actually

It’s a number one guitar and I am very busy so did not want it out of action for weeks.  So ideally off the shelf.

If it def. needs a rewind (TBC) I will probably get it done and swapped back in down the line. Makes sense,

 The 60 odd year magnets might be why it sounded so sweet and jangly although it was getting a bit microphonic.  It was that character I did not want to lose.

I understand.  If you are going to send it to be rewound, it could make sense to ask whoever does the job what they would advise as a replacement.  I'm sure Ash, Alex etc would have a great idea to would make a suitable replacement. 

noisepolluter

earwighoney said:

Stratavarious said:

I might need to replace the lovely bridge pickup in a vintage Gibson semi which seems to have died.

Been down the Bare Knuckle route before a few times and not happy with the premium they charge now. SD Seth Lovers look good but concerned about unpotted squeal with some of the stuff we play.

Don’t feel the need to pay a fortune.  Got a pair of A4 Classics from Tonerider in an old Les Paul that are perfectly fine.  

Any other UK options with pickups in the vintage ballpark?  I want nicely open, clear and airy.

Why don't you get the original pickup rewound? I'm sure Oil City Ash or Alex Alegree of this forum could do a great job for you.

Was going to say this.

I know very little about pickups but might not even be a full rewind if it’s a break in the coil somewhere that can be repaired easily?

In any case I’d imagine getting the original pickup restored sympathetically would be the best cosmetic match - plus why go to the bother of fitting a temporary one to a semi if it’s going to be swapped back out again? Plus you’ll know the existing magnets will be a perfect match.

Edit: and it’s definitely not a bad connection elsewhere in the wiring?

MSedg

Bit spendier, but the standard Monty’s PAF is A2 bridge (with an A5 neck). Can highly recommend (but bought when a bit cheaper).

Seziertisch

Seeing as it’s a vintage pickup, repairing would be preferable to replacing. Depending on what it is, Ash at Oil City has a stock of vintage wire so you can preserve originality as much as possible.

OilCityPickups

Stratavarious said:

I might need to replace the lovely bridge pickup in a vintage Gibson semi which seems to have died.

Been down the Bare Knuckle route before a few times and not happy with the premium they charge now. SD Seth Lovers look good but concerned about unpotted squeal with some of the stuff we play.

Don’t feel the need to pay a fortune.  Got a pair of A4 Classics from Tonerider in an old Les Paul that are perfectly fine.  

Any other UK options with pickups in the vintage ballpark?  I want nicely open, clear and airy.

If it's lovely ... then the week or so it takes to get repaired would seem the way to go ... why buy a new pickup if the old one can be made to work as it did  for probably way less than half the price of a new one?

earwighoney

OilCityPickups said:

Stratavarious said:

I might need to replace the lovely bridge pickup in a vintage Gibson semi which seems to have died.

Been down the Bare Knuckle route before a few times and not happy with the premium they charge now. SD Seth Lovers look good but concerned about unpotted squeal with some of the stuff we play.

Don’t feel the need to pay a fortune.  Got a pair of A4 Classics from Tonerider in an old Les Paul that are perfectly fine.  

Any other UK options with pickups in the vintage ballpark?  I want nicely open, clear and airy.

If it's lovely ... then the week or so it takes to get repaired would seem the way to go ... why buy a new pickup if the old one can be made to work as it did  for probably way less than half the price of a new one?

I've been trying to send the business your way Ash!  Honestly, read my posts!

OilCityPickups

earwighoney said:

OilCityPickups said:

Stratavarious said:

I might need to replace the lovely bridge pickup in a vintage Gibson semi which seems to have died.

Been down the Bare Knuckle route before a few times and not happy with the premium they charge now. SD Seth Lovers look good but concerned about unpotted squeal with some of the stuff we play.

Don’t feel the need to pay a fortune.  Got a pair of A4 Classics from Tonerider in an old Les Paul that are perfectly fine.  

Any other UK options with pickups in the vintage ballpark?  I want nicely open, clear and airy.

If it's lovely ... then the week or so it takes to get repaired would seem the way to go ... why buy a new pickup if the old one can be made to work as it did  for probably way less than half the price of a new one?

I've been trying to send the business your way Ash!  Honestly, read my posts!

Lol lots of folks do rewinds ... I'm just one.
I'm tight ... why spend out on a new pickup if your old one just needs fixed and there are quite a few companies - including Bare Nipple Knuckle ... sorry, freudian slip ... who will do repairs 

earwighoney

OilCityPickups said:

earwighoney said:

OilCityPickups said:

Stratavarious said:

I might need to replace the lovely bridge pickup in a vintage Gibson semi which seems to have died.

Been down the Bare Knuckle route before a few times and not happy with the premium they charge now. SD Seth Lovers look good but concerned about unpotted squeal with some of the stuff we play.

Don’t feel the need to pay a fortune.  Got a pair of A4 Classics from Tonerider in an old Les Paul that are perfectly fine.  

Any other UK options with pickups in the vintage ballpark?  I want nicely open, clear and airy.

If it's lovely ... then the week or so it takes to get repaired would seem the way to go ... why buy a new pickup if the old one can be made to work as it did  for probably way less than half the price of a new one?

I've been trying to send the business your way Ash!  Honestly, read my posts!

Lol lots of folks do rewinds ... I'm just one.
I'm tight ... why spend out on a new pickup if your old one just needs fixed and there are quite a few companies - including Bare Nipple Knuckle ... sorry, freudian slip ... who will do repairs 

Yes others do, but if it's sent to you then there might be some hope for seeing one of your posts when you post up pictures of a pickup rewind, which I absolutely love!  It's a win win win outcome! 

OilCityPickups

earwighoney said:

OilCityPickups said:

earwighoney said:

OilCityPickups said:

Stratavarious said:

I might need to replace the lovely bridge pickup in a vintage Gibson semi which seems to have died.

Been down the Bare Knuckle route before a few times and not happy with the premium they charge now. SD Seth Lovers look good but concerned about unpotted squeal with some of the stuff we play.

Don’t feel the need to pay a fortune.  Got a pair of A4 Classics from Tonerider in an old Les Paul that are perfectly fine.  

Any other UK options with pickups in the vintage ballpark?  I want nicely open, clear and airy.

If it's lovely ... then the week or so it takes to get repaired would seem the way to go ... why buy a new pickup if the old one can be made to work as it did  for probably way less than half the price of a new one?

I've been trying to send the business your way Ash!  Honestly, read my posts!

Lol lots of folks do rewinds ... I'm just one.
I'm tight ... why spend out on a new pickup if your old one just needs fixed and there are quite a few companies - including Bare Nipple Knuckle ... sorry, freudian slip ... who will do repairs 

Yes others do, but if it's sent to you then there might be some hope for seeing one of your posts when you post up pictures of a pickup rewind, which I absolutely love!  It's a win win win outcome! 

You just want rewind porn ... you men are all the same ... (flounces out)

Stratavarious

Rewind porn? Show me!

Stratavarious

I got a signal back tonight.  It does not seem to be an issue in the switch or pots as I checked all the solder joints and cabling I could get to.  So still trying to find why it is intermittent.

Gig tomorrow will tell.

OilCityPickups

Stratavarious said:

I got a signal back tonight.  It does not seem to be an issue in the switch or pots as I checked all the solder joints and cabling I could get to.  So still trying to find why it is intermittent.

Gig tomorrow will tell.

Often that can be a break or dry solder joint in the 'pigtail' where the winding wire is connected to the polyurethane coated  hookup wire. inside the pickup's paper tape wrapping. This wrapping 'splints' the break allowing it to contact sometimes and not others. 

Stratavarious

OilCityPickups said:

Stratavarious said:

I got a signal back tonight.  It does not seem to be an issue in the switch or pots as I checked all the solder joints and cabling I could get to.  So still trying to find why it is intermittent.

Gig tomorrow will tell.

Often that can be a break or dry solder joint in the 'pigtail' where the winding wire is connected to the polyurethane coated  hookup wire. inside the pickup's paper tape wrapping. This wrapping 'splints' the break allowing it to contact sometimes and not others. 

Thanks.. If it cuts out again, I’ll pull the pickup out.  Shame there is not a quick connection standard/option.  

The pickup was not taken out for 30+ years and only taken out for a mono rewire a few months ago and that may have loosened something.

Funkfingers

Could be a weak ground connection at either end of the bridge pickup's braided screen.

Could be a ground connection making intermittent physical contact with either the selector switch or the terminals of a pot.

If the guitar used to have stereo outputs and/or a Vari-Tone, there could be sections of cable dangling about in places where they are not welcome.

If the guitar has dual output sockets, has the sprung switching contact been isolated?

Stratavarious

Funkfingers said:

Could be a weak ground connection at either end of the bridge pickup's braided screen.

Could be a ground connection making intermittent physical contact with either the selector switch or the terminals of a pot.

If the guitar used to have stereo outputs and/or a Vari-Tone, there could be sections of cable dangling about in places where they are not welcome.

If the guitar has dual output sockets, has the sprung switching contact been isolated?

Yep.. only half of the varitone choke is in use now.  The redundant cable was tied up but I did think if that could cause a short on the bridge pick-up to somewhere. Next restring, I’ll pop out the pickups and see if anything is amiss.  Got through the last gig fine.