Ash at Oil City answers pickup questions:

lysander · June 2020

Hi guys, I’m after a set with a tonal signature along the lines of Dimarzio air classic on the neck and Duncan full shred for the bridge, what pickups in the range would you recommend ?

OilCityPickups · June 2020

Hummm ... haven't tried all the opposition's pickups and the Full Shred is one that's slipped under my radar ... let me check

lysander · June 2020

Ok thanks - sorry for mentioning the opposition, it’s just easier than trying to describe the sound.
Would always rather buy a set from you than from the big brands !
Looking forward to your thoughts.

OilCityPickups · June 2020

Full shred it turns out is pretty much like my Blackbird Ulfberht with the alnico 5 magnet option. The Air Classic is similar to my Riot Act or Tubesnake :-)

Funkfingers · June 2020

lysander said:

sorry for mentioning the opposition

It would come as little surprise to me if the majority of bespoke pickup order requests were expressed in terms of, “can you build a pickup that will sound like a ____________________ “ (fill in the blank)? That could mean a Gibson or Fender design from the respective golden eras of those makers. It could mean some outrageously high output eight string beast.

Assorted long-serving DiMarzio and Duncan pickup designs are points of reference - even after their specs may have changed fractionally over the decades. If these reference points help to explain, use them.

OilCityPickups · June 2020

Funkfingers said:

lysander said:

sorry for mentioning the opposition

It would come as little surprise to me if the majority of bespoke pickup order requests were expressed in terms of, “can you build a pickup that will sound like a ____________________ “ (fill in the blank)? That could mean a Gibson or Fender design from the respective golden eras of those makers. It could mean some outrageously high output eight string beast.

Assorted long-serving DiMarzio and Duncan pickup designs are points of reference - even after their specs may have changed fractionally over the decades. If these reference points help to explain, use them.

That's pretty much how I look at it ... it's like saying I want a car with the build quality of a Volkswagen and the styling of a Ferrari ... they are common points of shared reference

timmypix · July 2020

Hi Ash,

Sticking with the theme of a point of reference, and playing with the idea of a pickup change down the line...

Would you be able to say how your Blitz Spirits or Tubesnake models compare to a Gibson '57 Classic/'57 Classic Plus set? I'm still getting to grips with them in a new acquisition but my immediate feeling is they have a wonderful bite for lead sounds, but are a bit woofy/muddy in the low-mids.

Funkfingers · July 2021

@OilCityPickups ;

Ash, I have a pair of pre-owned Stonetone pickups that give abnormally high DC resistance meter readings. (8.0k centre, 8.25k neck.)

Even allowing for a cronky, old analogue meter, 10% tolerance seems rather generous.

Is it possible that these are special customer order units rather than the regular, off-the-peg specification?

The baseplate model identity labels are simple black and white. Non-MW, not signed.

OilCityPickups · July 2021

What you have there mate are a custom pair I do to match a hot bridge humbucker ... They are effectively based off the bridge version

Funkfingers · July 2021

This is useful to know. Thank you.

60cycles · August 2021

Got me a Japanese FGN made at the Ibanez factory, with the same humbucking pickups the old Ibanez Artists had on them.
They're a healthy mix of bluesy low output mellow and typical jazzy(tm) tonality/sensitivity. I know they're Alnico, but i haven't taken them apart to tell you which type. Can also measure them for you if we get to that point.

Was wondering what you'd recommend if:
1) i wanted something along the same lines only better(tm)
2) i was after the cleanest, most faithful in reproduction, sensitive pair of pickups i could get from you. Limit being the icepick territory. Which is also a matter of amp, granted, but i can say i've got plenty of headroom from that end.
Both cases we're talking about matched pairs.

Should your current lineup not cover either or both of the above, a custom order would also be fine with me, time isn't an issue; but i would appreciate a pointer regarding pricing, general ballpark so i know what i'm looking at.

Post Brexit and all.. ever from your standard lineup, am looking at an easy 400+ after customs and local VAT, so i hope you'll excuse my needing to ask this, presumably custom's more expensive i gather.
(you can always PM if mentioning a price here's problematic for you)

My thanks in advance.

OilCityPickups · August 2021

Hi,
My alnico 3 Riot Act Humbuckers are what you want - they are £230.00 for a pair. Alnico 3 has a magic when used in low output humbuckers.

60cycles · August 2021

Appreciate it Ash

Funkfingers · October 2022

Without revealing any trade secrets, could you explain the difference between your Copperfield, Fortyniner and Honky Tonk Angel bridge position pickups?

OilCityPickups · October 2022

Funkfingers said:

Without revealing any trade secrets, could you explain the difference between your Copperfield, Fortyniner and Honky Tonk Angel bridge position pickups?

the Honkytonk Angel is alnico 2 and wound with 43awg wire to give more mid push
The Fortyniner is alnico3 with a smoother and more compressed sound - like Fender lap steel pickups that were fitted to the very earliest Teles.
The Copperfield is a direct copy of a certain mega famous Tele pickup that came into my hands for repair.
in deference to the wishes of the client I can't say which guitar or which star ...
but it is also a copy of a lap steel pickup - but a very different one: less output than many music journalists have speculated.
it's alnico 3 but 42awg wire - shall we say it's very good when pared with a neck PAF ...
Oh the original bridge pickup had a butchered baseplate and a block of wood under to stop it flopping about :-)

Funkfingers · January 2023

Belated thanks.

I had forgotten asking this question, let alone WHY I wanted to know. Oct/Nov 2022 was roughly when I acquired a buyer's remorse pair of your "2012" limited run Honkytonk Angel pickups.

The A2/43awg c. 10k formula is very similar to my favourite Seymour Duncan CS pickup for Telecaster.

Zoolooter · January 2023

Not seeing the Copperfield on your site, sounds interesting.

OilCityPickups · January 2023

Zoolooter said:

Not seeing the Copperfield on your site, sounds interesting.

https://www.oilcitypickups.co.uk/product-page/the-copperfield

drwiddly · January 2023

Hi Ash,

A mate has ordered a set of Suhr Aldrich pickups but there are massive supply chain delays and he’s been waiting months for them. I said he should have a word with you - do you have something similar in your range?

OilCityPickups · January 2023

drwiddly said:

Hi Ash,

A mate has ordered a set of Suhr Aldrich pickups but there are massive supply chain delays and he’s been waiting months for them. I said he should have a word with you - do you have something similar in your range?

Indeed,
My Black Arrow bridge pickup and my Scrapyard Dog Plus neck pickup are pretty much identical in spec.
Ash

stickyfiddle · January 2023

OilCityPickups said:

Zoolooter said:

Not seeing the Copperfield on your site, sounds interesting.

https://www.oilcitypickups.co.uk/product-page/the-copperfield

My headcanon is Springsteen or Keef. I don't mind which

Funkfingers · January 2023

.

drwiddly · January 2023

OilCityPickups said:

drwiddly said:

Hi Ash,

A mate has ordered a set of Suhr Aldrich pickups but there are massive supply chain delays and he’s been waiting months for them. I said he should have a word with you - do you have something similar in your range?

Indeed,
My Black Arrow bridge pickup and my Scrapyard Dog Plus neck pickup are pretty much identical in spec.
Ash

Many thanks mate. I've passed that on.

elstoof · January 2023

stickyfiddle said:

OilCityPickups said:

Zoolooter said:

Not seeing the Copperfield on your site, sounds interesting.

https://www.oilcitypickups.co.uk/product-page/the-copperfield

My headcanon is Springsteen or Keef. I don't mind which

One of the characters in the Dickens novel will confirm quite quickly

SteveF · January 2023

Hey Ash, sorry I have a few questions please.

if I was after something from you in the ballpark of a PRS Tremonti, what would you recommend?

Secondly, I’m a bit indecisive and switch back and forth between liking open coils and covered humbuckers. Is it at all possible to order covered pickups but spec zebra bobbins underneath in case I want to change?

Lastly, I have some of your humbucker sized P90s with the open topped chrome covers. Do you sell the full chrome covers separately?

Funkfingers · January 2023

.

OilCityPickups · January 2023

SteveF said:

Hey Ash, sorry I have a few questions please.

if I was after something from you in the ballpark of a PRS Tremonti, what would you recommend?

Secondly, I’m a bit indecisive and switch back and forth between liking open coils and covered humbuckers. Is it at all possible to order covered pickups but spec zebra bobbins underneath in case I want to change?

Lastly, I have some of your humbucker sized P90s with the open topped chrome covers. Do you sell the full chrome covers separately?

My Black Knight is in that 15.5k Tremonti ballpark - though not with square bobbins.
Yep on my site you can specify bobbin colour even for covered pickups - it's on the dropdown boxes.
And - we stopped using full nickel covers for HB P90s because after lots of experiments we discovered that it's the nickel full covers that cause HBP90s to sound different to plastic covered, full size P90s. The pole spacing on the open top Mighty Ninety etc is 49.2mm so fitting a full cover is possible, but the internal design is such that it's a very specialist job to remove the covers

Neilybob · January 2023

Morning Ash.

I bought a MIJ Tempest P bass copy, apparently made in the 70's and I took it to the Western Jam last October but when we plugged it in it sounded really quiet compared to other players basses on the day.

Does this suggest the pickups need rewinding/replacing?

OilCityPickups · January 2023

Hummm it may be a 'zombie' pickup - in which case it will need rewound, or it may have a dodgy joint. - I'd really have to have hands on (I only charge return postage for assessing a pickup). A DC resistance readout would be handy and tell me a lot! If you have a mustimeter you can simply plug a patch lead in the jack socket, turn tone and volume up full, and read between tip and ring.
Check all your other solder joints too :-)

Lebarque · January 2023

Hi, Ash. Still loving my Stonetones, thanks. I'm considering a Thornbucker neck and Thornbucker+ bridge for my 25.5" scale alder/rosewood partscaster. The keywords are clarity, balance, sweetness and versatility. Do you offer anything comparable, since I'd rather give my money to you?

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