Question about Joe Barden Pickups

[Mr Y]

Please tell who know about Joe Barden pickups - HB Two/Tone-bridge and S-Deluxe-neck. I am looking for information about dc resistance, resonant peak and eq - B/M/T. Official JB site has not helped me

[Mike Lee]

Please tell who know about Joe Barden pickups - HB Two/Tone-bridge and S-Deluxe-neck. I am looking for information about dc resistance, resonant peak and eq - B/M/T. Official JB site has not helped me

Joe's pickups are different than others, he uses strong ceramic magnets, blade poles and different windings than most other pickup makers, so the measurements you are looking for would not provide a valid comparison to other pickups.

Most reviews say Joe's pickups are stout with plenty of brightness. Like a vintage pickup run through an EQ with bass, mids, and highs all boosted, if that makes any sense.

The bad part is the price of admission to try them out...

[Mr Y]

Mike Lee, thanks.

I am looking for new pickups for my Californian Deluxe. I have read many reviews, but I need more detailed information. Maybe not about the EQ, but about dc resistance and resonant peak.

High price does not allow to take the guesswork, so simply remove the back in the box.

[geoff_hartwell]

I have guitars with Two/Tones and S-Deluxe and I LOVE them.

They react VERY differently depending on string height, and the threads are notorious for stripping (hah), but I've gotten them with regular screws epoxied over the regular holes, then set super close to the strings, and they rule.

I like them without the included capacitor, but that's just my taste. I wish I could give you more detailed info regarding resistance and resonant peak - Sorry!

Best of luck,

Geoff

[Mr Y]

Geoff, thanks.

[azatplayer]

Cant help with specs either, but i have them in a tele, and they are awesome! All the tone, and none of the noise. Brilliant! Good luck with the search!

[BadgerDave]

Mr. Y,

Regarding the resonant peak and eq inquiry - are you looking for quantitative specifications like oscilloscope readings or subjective opinions based on listening to the pickups?

I can't help with specs, but I can tell you that the Barden Tele pickups I have in two guitars sound very full and balanced. Compared to other high end Tele pickups, the main difference in in the highs. The Bardens sound rounder and thicker - "bell-like" is pretty accurate, lacking the very high sizzle or fizz that plagues many Tele pickups. In the middle position, they can sound very lush and acoustic if you dial out some mids on your amp. The neck pickup is far superior to any Fender equivalent - not wooly or weak at all. It sounds very much like a clean, high quality P-90 to me, without the hum. The bridge pickup can get very close to the classic Tele tone, lacking some of the high end "bite". IMO, that's a good thing and I prefer the fuller and slightly less aggressive tone of the Barden.

They work well with both tube and modelling amps and interact well with all of the OD and distortion pedals I've used.

[Mr Y]

BadgerDave, thanks.