Pickups

[ifeellikeatourist]

I would like to hear more about Nelson pickups...I read the descriptions on the website, but I was just wondering, if you could compare them to the sound of any other guitar/pickup, how would you describe their sound? Are they pretty hot for single coils? How did you arrive upon the particular design that you used?

[Nelson Instruments]

The Rhythm chief is essentially an old dearmond as found on harmony guitars, a random pre-gibson epiphone model, and the early rick tulip guits.
It was only ever really heard on "decent" quality guitars so they were always thought of as sounding cheap.
Dearmond pickups are at the top of my list for style, manufacturing, and sound. The RC pickups sound warm, smooth, and have an awesome high fidelity. When played clean they are very pleasing to the ear.
When played with an overdrive they don't lose their articulation. Chords sound crisp and full, yet the notes still exist in their own space. They don't get muddy. They twang with the best of them, but don't have the harsh high-end bite of fenders, and don't have the mid range Honk of a p90.
The dynamo was my response to being asked for a single coil pickup that sounded a bit more like a humbucker. Personally I like the clarity of a single coil design better than a dual coil.
The 3rd revision of the Dynamo was the charm! The sound is a cross between an old supro/national/Valco pickup with a little bit of a jazzmaster thrown in.
I think it really does the trick!
I love designing and building my own unique pickups. Having something that looks, sounds, and is different from the same old thing really sets my instruments apart.
Hopefully I can get some sound samples recorded at some point so peoples can hear them.

[deadbeatriot]

can you buy them separately?

[Jero]

Yea, I'd be interested in some cool bass pups if you're up to it

[Nelson Instruments]

At the moment I don't sell just pickups. That might change at some point but right now I kind of like the idea of having them only on my guitars.
I am not concrete on this though.

[bigchiefbc]

Talk about the bass chief pickups a bit. Tonewise, compare them to some other bass pickups maybe?

[Nelson Instruments]

The fellow I just sold a bass to said that the sound was deeper than his p-bass and had a little Ric smoothness thrown in.
The pickup was inspired by the old dearmond pickups that you'd see on harmony basses. I always thought those pickups would really shine if they were used on a high end instrument. I was right!
They are articulate, smooth, punchy, dynamically responsive, and have a high fidelity sound. They sound great clean and play well with pedals too. I think you'd dig the bass with...oh...i dunno... a fuzz pedal. ;-)
I still have the Green dual pickup bass available so if you'd like to give it a whirl we can make it happen!

[Nelson Instruments]

I was just thinking about the bass pickups and I realized I may not have posted the links to soundcloud where I have audio samples of the basses.
I am on my phone and can't post the links but if you go to the Nelson Instruments facebook page and scroll down the wall you will find when I posted the links and you shall hear the Bass pickups!

[bigchiefbc]

Awesome, I found them. They sound great, really punchy and cutting. The two-pickup clip is closer up my alley.

[Nelson Instruments]

Yeah the two pickup bass sounds great! I am a single pickup guy myself. I kept the green single pickup bass for myself.
I am not one of those people that says my stuff is the best because it is mine. I'm not insecure like that. If there is something better then I up my game to try to beat it.
That being said the Coquette basses are my favorite bass ever.
I have owned a '64 p-bass, hofner bass, 1st year g&l, p-bass lyte dlx, and blue flower reissue bass as well as having played every type of vintage bass out there.
I like the Coquette bass over all of those I have owned.
Obviously it is not a "modern" style bass with active electronics and many multiple layers of different woods (I call that the Hippie sandwich).
But if you want vintage vibe up the wazoo (technical term) then you should give it a try.
As I said, I have one bass left and I believe it is listed on the ILF sale thread with a sale price. So if you are feeling saucy then you just might find a new bass friend!