Cheap Guitar Pickups - and are they still any good - Celebrating two years on Youtube
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 ต.ค. 2024
- Just demoing a couple of my guitars with these amazing pickups.
www.axetec.co.uk/
This is the last pickup video I will be doing for a while, I will now try and concentrate on some other more blog type entertainment videos, got lots to share with you, hope you stay tuned :)
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Dave, give yourself more credit. playing 100 gigs or more a year is not a "nobody" - you're a damn fine player and te:h !
Dave... Reviewing stuff after 2 years of using it is the most honest and trustworthy thing to do on youtube. Kudos for that
Nobodies don't have 5,000 subs, Dave.
Dave, congrats on 2 years! After watching your vids, I just got the blues engine/dirty torque set for a no name “lawsuit era” Sg knockoff I picked up. Can’t wait to hear this little low-budget rocker for the first time! Cheers
You have the absolute best guitar channel on u tube! Very informative and interesting at the same time. My playing has improved greatly in the last year thanks to your lessons that anyone else would charge an arm and a leg for. You rock!
I don't think you give yourself enough credit! I take your opinion more than most of the channels out there! I've bought pickups you've recommended and been really happy with them! Btw...rockin all those gigs every year is a pro to me! You know your stuff and I listen!👍😎🎸🎶
Great to see someone sticking by what they reviewed years back. I bought a set based on what you said and .... they are still in the box but I'm sure they are what you say. Dave you seem like Mr. down to earth ordinary chap who I can believe
Happy Anniversary, Been here with you from the beginning.
I totally agree that the Iron Gear pickups are as good as the more expensive brands. I have played a number of them and recently brought the Tesla Sharks for my upgrade of a seventies les Paul and I love them. I quoted you as the reason for my purchase so you may be getting shares in the company very soon, you never know. Great video again Dave. Thanks for posting and keep them coming
Love how passionate you are about these pickups and your Les Paul Baby, that's cool.
Thanks for the videos, Dave! I learned about Iron Gear pickups from you, & bought a set of Hot Slag, Rolling Mill, & Blues Engine. I like your videos because they’re fun & informative. Rock on!! 🤘🏼🤘🏼
Omg the person peeking in the door at the begging of the vid FREAKED ME OUT!!!! Love your vids bro!!!
Begining* lol not begging
Peeler is a 2:11 in
Yeah, was my son LOL
That's cool lol
I've been using IronGear's around 7-8 years, can't fault them. They are realistically priced whereas Bare Knuckles cost more for one pickup than about three or four IronGears, which is ridiculous! People often buy expensive brands because they are reassuringly expensive, and they equate price with quality and sound, which is not the case all the time. Some manufactures talk as if their products are a magic combination of the right individual parts and therefore justify the silly prices. If you want a great sounding pickup then you can't go wrong with IronGear (and no I'm not affiliated with them in any way, I'm just a punter who has around a dozen of their pickups, check them out)!
Same here :)
I remember when pickups were not wax potted and would squeal when I played loud plus I could use them as a microphone. The pickup’s seemed more open or airy sounding.
Love the Iron Gear pickups !!!
I enjoy your video"s,rock on Dave!
Aw mate. I've learned so much in the last two years from watching your videos as you were one of the first channels I found when I started repairing and playing again in my spare time. I've now built guitars from kits, from spares, from bare wood, done fret levels for myself and other people and even wound my first good pickups (with the help of Master Wizard Alex from Alegree).
I've gone from knowing three chords to knowing some tidy rock riffs and flourishes you've shown us as well, and my playing is finally just awful and not actually upsetting to young children. And then there's loads of good playing and maintenance habits and tricks you've mentioned - like getting rid of sharp fret ends and profiling the fret properly from side to side. And swapping magnets in an already good pickup to experiment with the tone. And getting a troublesome guitar intonated well!
So you're definitely not a nobody youtuber, sir, you're probably my number 1 reliable go-to guitar youtuber in a top 3 amongst so many other review-to-sell channels. Thanks! And I reckon the makers of tesla sharks and blues engines are pretty happy with you too as they've sold a fair few on your recommendation, passed off as my own smarts!
Good luck for the next 2 years! I'll catch ya lataaah!
"playing is finally just awful and not actually upsetting to young children" - I love that :)
Stateside I buy Dragonfire Crusaders from TnT Guitars which look alot like the Hammerheads. They originate from South Korea and I bet the supplier is the same or close. Love them and highly recommend them. I enjoy your posts Dave... Rock On!
Keith @ Irongear Designs the pickups before the spec gets passed to the factory but its possible that the same factories manufacture them :)
I have the Blues engine from axetec in my LP Epiphone along with the Emerson kit (pots and controls). My guitar sounds awesome, my Gibson friend wanna play it all the time. Hes Gibson Custom do NOT sound as good as my Epi, Im ordering some singlecoils for my partscaster from Axetec soon, love the price/performance from those guys. Keep on Rocking Mr Barlow
I think Dave has it spot on with his description of Alnico magnet tonal characteristics.
Thanks dude.
Dave, I love PAF style pickups (I've had an SH-1 for 25 years in various guitars too). I think mainly because I play through a Marshall (which in itself is a bit of darker sounding amp). Single coils and more trebley pickups work well for that amp. When it comes to my Blackstar (SS), it's a fairly bright sounding amp and I'm finding on the same guitar I have to turn the volume down more than I normally would (or EQ the amp lower). But the PAF style pickups generally have a ring to them which is what I like.
BTW If you can't decide which pickups for the LP, it's time for an extra guitar ;)
I tried iron gear pickups . I put a set of jailhouse rails 2 in a fender squire strat. And I really liked them . In fact people were knocking down my door wanting that guitar. I finally ended up selling the guitar . what a mistake. However I got 3 times the money back over what the squire originally cost. But I would love to have it back. So yeah iron gear pickups are well worth the money. I have a set of Blues Engines i just dont have guitar to put them in ( yet) 😆
Keep on keeping on -- Bless you my man !
Nearly all the pickups I've bought by Irongear are fucking fantastic. The hot slag, Pig Iron and Blues engine are the best in my view.
I'm thought this is Dave Murray... That sounds good!!!
Got a few Iron Gear pickups after watching your reviews. Actually like the Hot Slag more than my Bare Knuckle Nail Bomb !!! Also got Rolling Mills and Rolling Mill mini humbucker, really can't fault them. Not got the Blues Engines but got Tonerider AC4s which are pretty nice. Thanks for all the advice you give, I only used to buy BKP (still got a few)
yeah the tonerider pups are also top notch :)
The proof's not in the pudding, Dave, but in the eating. Sounds like they taste good.
Sweat and beer. That's probably what they taste like. 🤘 🍻
I don't know if I've commented this before, but hey ho 😆 Did you know that the only main difference between the Blues Engines and Tesla Sharks is that the Blues have alnico 4 magnets and the Teslas have alnico 2s?
The outputs of the 2 pickups are virtually the same, so to save some money if you can't decide which ones to buy, just buy 1 set, say the Blues Engines and buy a couple of alnico 2 magnets and that way you get the best of both worlds 👍
They are similar :)
i use Iron Gear pups there great, and so affordably, Cheers Dave ,
I picked up an old Aria Thunder 1A recently that also has a maple body. I remember people looking down their noses at them in the 80s because they were 'budget' guitars, yet it's really well built and is Japanese made. Needs some work on the electronics and tidying up, but it cost be £10! Does your Hondo II have a set neck or bolt-on?
Bolt on but its the best fitting bolt on I have ever come across, agreed these guitars are quality built, however, electronics and hardware are a bit on the crappy side but easy to swap out.
When I was in my teens I only had a A les paul Junior with a P90 Playing Through a Magnatone. I knew nothing about cutting the stings with a pick till I met a friend in school with a 50 watt Marshall and a SG custom with P90s. This was in the late 60s when Overdriving the amps was becoming part of the art. I was fascinated with the magnetic field of the pickup. At the time you could not just buy parts to make a pickup that essay.So a played around with swapping parts.Something came to my mind and this applies to everything.You will always trade off in lets say an 100% scale IMO a P90 would be 60% tone & 40% power. Power is = to Bass.or some people would consider it to become muddy.Any Just some thoughts on this. Enjoyed the sound your getting as well as your playing thanks for sharing. c];-)
Honestly Dave, your gold Les Paul sounds awesome! And so do you.
You still using the raw nickel covers as well? Wondering how well they worked out, you were pretty stoked when you got em. Thanks brother. Peace!
I love them :)
good guy and a good video
Hey! Great video! What's the name of the guitar?
Cheers Dave ! \m/
you are a beast on the guitar.
Hey Dave havent commented in a while but...my understanding is like yours. ...pickup makers paint pictures of there pickups like there magic an sound like no others ...i have bought an used cheap china pickups most issues with them are there unpotted...if uour good with parafin wax they can sound as good as seymour duncans...plus alot of the cheaper ones are using ceramic magnets ...to me the attack on the ceramic cheap style are resophonic because a lack of potting ...in my experience ive even went as far as trying in different axes composed of different woods an setups an output is the only real difference i hear ...even swapping out single for humbucker....i like your Hondo. ...i had 78"one like yours but. Sunburst paint job....i have heard u play in gig settings an videos on your channel ....im a picky listener an your sound is tight an full....bottom line its your skills an fingers....it reminds me of a channel i stumbled on with the pros playing hello kitty guitars ....fucking hilarious but surprisingly entertaining an leads back to say sound is in the fingers ......thank you for your views on this i think it helps the older money pincher people like me be less sceptical on buying gear like this an other stuff...no your not a Zack wylde or Kirk Hammet ...but your a gigging guitarist with good tone an That my friend is more important than sales gimmicks.....👌👍👍👍
Sounds really good
After watching most of your videos on these pickups, I hesitate... I would like to change the pickups of a Les Paul epiphone (stock pickups from a 90 epiphone)... Dirty torque + Tesla shark or set of blues engine? For classic rock, which ones to choose?
Classic Rock go for the Blues Engines (AC/DC etc) or Tesla Sharks (Slash EVH etc), The Dirty Torque sounds like Suhr Doug Aldrich pickups to me. Hope that makes your choice easier to make.
@@DaveBarlowGuitar Thank you for the advices! I'll go for blues engine !
Entwistle neodymium British pickups are also a great alternative if you want something affordable. On the other hand, brass is good stuff to increase sustain.
OK agreed I did a video on an Entwistle pickup, they are very good quality. Regarding the the base plate, Brass v Nickel may be good video to do.
HI Dave. I have an LTD Les Paul with Dimarzio 36th Anniversary pickups in both positions but I need something a bit more agressive in the bridge with more tight bass end. Do you think the Dirty Torque is the right pickup? I can´t really try it out unless I buy them. I´m going for the Alice in Chains / Queensrÿche sound.
No, if you want tight, go with the Hot slag, will have a tighter bottom end, they are similar to the dirty torque but have a more modern tighter sound. :)
If you change the neck pickup, go with the Tesla shark rather than the blues engine, will suit your genre much better.
I have a theory about cheap pickups. They got a LOT better when we started seeing Duncan Designed pickups. Seymour Duncan was outsourcing pickup designs to overseas companies and calling them Duncan Designed. The companies then started making their own pickups using these designs. So we are all using cheap Duncan pickups now. If this is the case, I can't feel bad for Seymour Duncan, it is a problem that they created for themselves.
I can't answer that but I know this for sure, Keith from Irongear designs every pickup before the spec goes to the factory.
I was more talking about Dragonfire and Guitarheads. I honestly don't know much about Irongear.
Oh by the way I play the squire through a oeavy penta and 2 Marshall cab and don't need any pedals to get a great tone just saying
Your original video is how I found you, after someone mentioned iron gear pickups
What do you reccomend for an Ibanez Grg 121dx , I like metal,hard rock , rock n roll
The pickups already fitted are pretty good considering the guitars price point and will cover the genres you have noted, so not sure if its worth swapping them out. If it was my call I would put in a set of steam hammers.
Dave Barlow thank you alot !!
Hi Dave question, bought a mix of iron gear pickups in a HSS config and putting them into an obsidian 7way switch (so far so good) but apparently the middle pick up is a smoke stack II and has a switch opportunity for hi and lows, is it the two taped of wires that go to to a mini switch and my red to and black to my pot set up? This is all I need to do to get my guitar up and running again obsidian and iron gear have no idea on each other set ups but have been helpful in their on areas
Good question, I would email IG and see what they say.
My advice if you cant decide on pickups is buy more guitars theres plenty of les paul types out now some very good quality throw in some new pickups and save up for the next guitar. Its easier swapping a guitar than pickups. I dont think you can ever have too many guitars lol. Although the mrs might disagree.
I have 13 now, 3 the missus hasn't seen yet
Tim Bateson i also have 13 and already looking at No14 😂
I am thinking of getting a Gibson 57 Classic for my V, would the Blues Engine be a good cheaper option?
The 57 Classic has an Alnico 2 magnet so I suggest you go for the Iron Gear Tesla Shark, loads cheaper and just as good.
Dave Barlow I'll give it a go. Thanks for the advice Dave and keep up the great work.
They all sound good! Just curious as to your favorite guitar pick.
My favourite guitar pickup is Blues engine, then Dirty torque, then Tesla Shark and I use them in combos on all my guitars.
Dave Barlow , sorry Dave I meant pick as in plectrum. 😁
When I put the irongear jailhouse 2 pickups in my fender squire I also went to 250 k pots it really gives it a lot more punch and response what are your thoughts on this ?
If you like it run with it :)
Meant Peavey sorry about the typo
Man, I need to get some of these, I dont like the stock pickups in my korean Epiphone Sheraton. Needs less mud!
Epi pickups are a bit dark and muddy, not sure why they make em like that, also I found the frets on the later epiphones a bit soft.
You have a valid argument.all a pickup is,is a mic and your micing up your guitar with it and you can take a pickup that sounds killer in a Les Paul and put it in another guitar and it sounds like shit.thats why it's best to buy cheaper pickups and see what sounds good in what your putting them in and the extra ones you can keep in your bag of goodies for later
Some time ago I put the locking grovers on mine (at great expense - I think they cost £120 or so?!) and I cannot at all fault them. Rock solid tuning stability and the precision for tuning is superb. However they do change the tone of the guitar. Got a definite mid-range hump and a lot more sustain. I'm considering going back to Klusons to try and get some of the 'air' back. I was also a cheap pickup guy: usually used Duncan stuff off fleabay. I also did a ton of buggering about with alnico magnet swaps. I recently ordered some of these Sheptone PAFs though. th-cam.com/video/aACN-3STzo8/w-d-xo.html
Absolutely in love. Cost a bucket but .. dang. Nails that 60's and 70's blues rock tone for me. Just sublime with gain.
What do you recommend for an SG ? Was looking at getting the blue engine
what music you playing?
Dave Barlow sorry forgot to say. Clasic/hard rock and getting in to blues too. It's and epiphone SG and going to upgrade the pots as one of the volume pots are playing up.
Blues Engine, Neck and Bridge :)
Thanks Dave wasn't sure after you said you didn't like them in your solid body guitar. 👍
James Oldfield hmmm, not sure if I said that, I like blues engines in solid body like my explorers etc and albino 2 teslas in less Paul, I do remember stating this in one of my videos but to be honest it's very dependant on the guitar sound itself.
I wish Axetec would lower the shipping rates for outside of the UK, it nearly costs as much as the pickup itself. Such a shame for that, i really want some IronGears.
Thought shipping was only $10 outside uk?
Unfortunately no, they ship with DHL only and that costs £25. Keith told me they do it because it's the safest and fastest method, but honestly i can't afford to spend 25 quid on shipping only. Wish they could just ship it with regular Royal Mail. I buy parts from the UK on a regular basis and they always arrive to Serbia within a week, never had a single issue.
OK, when I have the Workshop up and running I will see if I can set up some distribution deals.
Thank you so much Sir!!
I used to change all my pickups all the time until I released the original ones were pretty good. Then I left them alone.
yes, I always say if it works for you don't change it. :)
I also found out that higher output pickups are better for tube amp inputs and lower output pickups are better for pedals according to some people. Go figure.
Dave do you try usung the 432 hz tuning really makes the music better, just takes awhile to readjust, and i say that, because in mod 20th century world started the 440hz concert A standard tuning. Check it.
P.S. if you look at patterns created by soundwaves
If you had a read through Gibson purchasing order logs from 57 to 60 the golden age for those original mystical pafs
They bought in a lot more alnico 4 than they did 2 and 5
So all the cork sniffers who dismiss a4 magnets and who chase that classic paf tone are basically either ignorant or idiots ha ha
I prefer alnico 4 for a low output humbucker and those blues engines are seriously good pick ups, not just for the price either.
Has it been 2 years already Dave?!?
Hi Dave, congrats on your "consistant" 2 years being present, your over than 5000 subscribers and being such an awesome "not nobody"dude man ! I like your channel, your personality and your content, as many others do apperently. Within a few months i will start my own channel here.. let's see if i do even as good as you do. I will build my own pickups, as i do allready for a while now, and start my own brand guitars "small shop of course". I will also debunk some higher end pickups against the "cheaper" ones, but more in a way they are constructed. You are so totally right about all you say about these so called " higher end" pickups, that would sound magic, but cost you a kidney and they sound actually like crap. Yesterday i found this.. a brand i had never heard of. Listen to this, there's a vid below www.gitaarupgrade.nl/webshop/onderdelen/elektronica/pickups/electric-guitar-pickups/detail/464/van-zandt-vintage-plus-stratocaster-matched-set-of-3.html SORRY..they sound like crap and they asking 250 £ for this ???? Mine are at least as good as the real Fenders, if not.. better. I dare to say that.. I have the proof. I did some contest with my selfmade pickups, around the same specs against the real Fenders and filmed it. I'll will put that on my channel too. And at 25 % of the building cost.I remember you did a review on the Ebay Kmise RED humbuckers and they sounded bloody good ! And even more when i putted Alnico 5 magnets in them and wax potted them. Just as someone her under mentioned, the biggest problems with those pickups, besides it are mostly ceramics , mostly underwound is NOT wax potted. Just put an Alnico in it and wax pot them and most of the time you will have good ones. I believe you also did a vid on that magnet swapping. Same thing with that Seymour Duncan '59 PAF pickups with no split coil option. Buy a set of Vanson.UK '59 Alnico V with four conductor, same as the one i make, practicly the exact same specs and same sound.. only at a fourth of the cost.. It's all about brand names.. but it should be.. not between, but trough your ears. Altough if you build yourself, you should be aware of the composition of the slugs and magnets. The percentage in combined metal. Just like you have frets with different nickel silver alloy. Do tests. I"ll stop my novel here, before it gets boring. I'll catch up later with news. OOOW.. news.. ever heard of Guitarheads pickups USA ? Type in here on you tube " Guiterheadz supreme humbuckers. Sounds good, but again.. shipping fees and import fees. Always the same sh*t.. Cheers Dave !
Wow, some great info here, will keep an eye out fo your channel :)
I"ll let you know , when it's so far Pal ! what did you think of the sound of those pickups in the video ? Crap isn't it. Those Guitarheads supreme, i will surely trie out. Again, it's around 70 £ with shipping + import to the UK, or in my case Belgium and mostly they slip trough the customers service. Would be a good alternative for the Blues Engines too. It's a company similar to Dragonfire pickips. Mostly ceramics for distortion sounds, but these supremes, i'm not sure or it's ceramic. BTW you can buy these on Ebay. Cheers pal.
2:15 :)
My youngest son having a peep
Guitar players are too interested in gear, more than playing or creating. Playing and creating is more important. It's an upside down approach.
This is true, I have 5 guitars, only use 4 to gig with and only one amp. one 1x12 and one 2x12. I am a gigging musician so I think this is about right. Would be interesting to see how much gear people have in their pursuit of tone. :)