Ash at Oil City answers pickup questions:

OilCityPickups · April 2023

The spacings of the bobbins in a Firebird pickup means the harmonic 'effect' of 2/4 is not very pronounced, though it is there.
I probably might go myself for an HSH with a PAF bridge, a proper strat middle for quackery, and a Winterizer 2 Firebird in a HB case in the neck position - you'd end up with a Swiss Army Knife guitar! .

stickyfiddle · April 2023

OilCityPickups said:

The spacings of the bobbins in a Firebird pickup means the harmonic 'effect' of 2/4 is not very pronounced, though it is there.
I probably might go myself for an HSH with a PAF bridge, a proper strat middle for quackery, and a Winterizer 2 Firebird in a HB case in the neck position - you'd end up with a Swiss Army Knife guitar! .

Ta - that’s the sort of thing I’m thinking, at least to try out. I’ve never had anything HSS or any sort of FB pickups so it feels like a fun thing to try with my “spare” Strat.

Though also tempted by a simple PAF+FB without a middle pickup, but I guess j could also tweak to that later if the middle & mixed positions aren’t satisfying.

OilCityPickups · April 2023

Absolutely :-)
Firebird pickups are a revelation if you've never tried them before.

Funkfingers · April 2023

stickyfiddle said:
tempted by a simple PAF+FB without a middle pickup, but I guess I could also tweak to that later if the middle & mixed positions aren’t satisfying.

Apologies for butting in but …

Signal blending in the *both pickups on* selection benefits greatly from individual volume pots for each pickup.

stickyfiddle said:

hankerings for Tele or PAFs bridge pickups but also Firebirds, what would you go for?

The Tele bridge, Firebird neck combination works wonders in the Fender Hot Rod '52 Telecaster. In OCP terms, you would be looking at the Big Block and Winterizer II models.

stickyfiddle · April 2023

Funkfingers said:

stickyfiddle said:
tempted by a simple PAF+FB without a middle pickup, but I guess I could also tweak to that later if the middle & mixed positions aren’t satisfying.

Apologies for butting in but …

Signal blending in the *both pickups on* selection benefits greatly from individual volume pots for each pickup.

stickyfiddle said:

hankerings for Tele or PAFs bridge pickups but also Firebirds, what would you go for?

The Tele bridge, Firebird neck combination works wonders in the Fender Hot Rod '52 Telecaster. In OCP terms, you would be looking at the Big Block and Winterizer II models.

Ta - that all sounds aligned with my thinking. If I go 2 pickups I'll stick with 2x vols and master tone for sure.

I'm well convinced by an FB in the neck, I just need to decide on the others

Barney · April 2023

Hello Ash ....I have a question regarding the strat neck pickup ...it always seems muddy to me ..I know I can set the amp different but don't want to do that and mess with the other pickups sounds which I like ...is there a correct height or something that would change the tone ?

OilCityPickups · April 2023

Barney said:

Hello Ash ....I have a question regarding the strat neck pickup ...it always seems muddy to me ..I know I can set the amp different but don't want to do that and mess with the other pickups sounds which I like ...is there a correct height or something that would change the tone ?

Hummmm what Strat neck pickup have you got? Generally the last thing you could level at a Strat neck pickup is muddy. Getting the pickup a bit further from the strings will lower the output and clean up the tone - but if your pickup is for example way overwound that may be the issue.

timmypix · April 2023

@OilCityPickups Hi Ash,

What are the chief differences between the Scrapyard Dogs and the PAT-63s?

I've got an SG with T-type pickups that are *almost* there, but missing a bit of character. I've got access to a set of SYDs and a PAT-63 bridge, and on paper I think they'll both do what I want. I'll inevitably try both, and from memory I've liked them both in Les Pauls, but it's been a while and I'm curious about the construction/inspiration differences.

OilCityPickups · April 2023

timmypix said:

@OilCityPickups Hi Ash,

What are the chief differences between the Scrapyard Dogs and the PAT-63s?

I've got an SG with T-type pickups that are *almost* there, but missing a bit of character. I've got access to a set of SYDs and a PAT-63 bridge, and on paper I think they'll both do what I want. I'll inevitably try both, and from memory I've liked them both in Les Pauls, but it's been a while and I'm curious about the construction/inspiration differences.

The Scrapyard Dog is similar in many ways to a later T Top, complete with modern winding wire and a 60s/70s style alnico 5.
The Pat 63 was copied from a pickup that came into my workshop that wasn't even supposed to exist, or that was at the very least a rare transition form.: A Gibson patent number pickup from 1963 (it was in a late 63 guitar with undisturbed wiring), with 60s style short alnico 5 magnet - but clearly PAF bobbins and PVA plain enamel wire like a 59 PAF.
The tone was hard hitting and incisive like a T Top, but had smoother overtones like an earlier PAF.

timmypix · April 2023

Thanks Ash! So when you say 60s/70s style A5 compared to a 60s short style, is that to say a "full size" A5 as opposed to short?

Looking forward to seeing how they both get on with this SG at any rate.

Barney · April 2023

OilCityPickups said:

Barney said:

Hello Ash ....I have a question regarding the strat neck pickup ...it always seems muddy to me ..I know I can set the amp different but don't want to do that and mess with the other pickups sounds which I like ...is there a correct height or something that would change the tone ?

Hummmm what Strat neck pickup have you got? Generally the last thing you could level at a Strat neck pickup is muddy. Getting the pickup a bit further from the strings will lower the output and clean up the tone - but if your pickup is for example way overwound that may be the issue.

Thanks ...I'm not sure what type it is but it on a Fraser guitar ....but I find it like that on my other strats ...probably with the exception of my strat plus which has lace sensors in

SteveF · September 2023

Hey Ash, looking forward to getting my 49er/Honkytonk Angel tele set into my current build once it's finished, but I am now starting to plan and source the parts for my next project which is going to be a HSS Strat.

I was thinking something slightly lower output for the bridge HB, perhaps some kind of underwound PAF type to balance with some slightly beefy singles in the neck. I was looking at Suhr Thornbucker and V60LP singles but a) they're very spendy and b) I'd prefer to support a UK/forum small business. What would you recommend from your range for this type of thing?

OilCityPickups · September 2023

My own preference from my 'Standard' range would be A Forces Sweetheart and a pair of StoneTones.
From my Masterwound I might go Beano and Route 66 or even stick with the StoneTones.
Ash

SteveF · September 2023

Nice one, thanks Ash. I will be in touch.

SteveF · September 2023

Order in

can the covers on your strat style pickups be easily removed and replaced with any other standard strat plastics? I’m looking forward to the inevitable headaches with varying shades of not quite white/cream/parchment/aged white etc etc

OilCityPickups · September 2023

SteveF said:

Order in can the covers on your strat style pickups be easily removed and replaced with any other standard strat plastics? I’m looking forward to the inevitable headaches with varying shades of not quite white/cream/parchment/aged white etc etc

Yep ... any covers intended for US spec Strats will fit ...

FelineGuitars · September 2023

OilCityPickups said:

timmypix said:

@OilCityPickups Hi Ash,

What are the chief differences between the Scrapyard Dogs and the PAT-63s?

I've got an SG with T-type pickups that are *almost* there, but missing a bit of character. I've got access to a set of SYDs and a PAT-63 bridge, and on paper I think they'll both do what I want. I'll inevitably try both, and from memory I've liked them both in Les Pauls, but it's been a while and I'm curious about the construction/inspiration differences.

The Scrapyard Dog is similar in many ways to a later T Top, complete with modern winding wire and a 60s/70s style alnico 5.
The Pat 63 was copied from a pickup that came into my workshop that wasn't even supposed to exist, or that was at the very least a rare transition form.: A Gibson patent number pickup from 1963 (it was in a late 63 guitar with undisturbed wiring), with 60s style short alnico 5 magnet - but clearly PAF bobbins and PVA plain enamel wire like a 59 PAF.
The tone was hard hitting and incisive like a T Top, but had smoother overtones like an earlier PAF.

I recall the guitar was very early ’63 with parts from ’62 or before . The pickups were wound on the new winder that Gibson had and it had a controlled stop point and a traverse that gave a slightly different distribution of wire across each layer .

Im my memory it had long A5 magnets but checking pictures shows otherwise - roughcast A5s

Image: http://i1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj573/TheGuitarWeasel/IMG_4062_zpsmhkheaok.jpg

Full thread here

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/74791/oil-city-pickups-1963-patent-label-gibson-paf-on-the-bench/p1

Elwood · September 2023

Hey Ash - I've been considering a multiscale guitar and the stock pickups have mixed reviews.

Due to the niche market for them, is modifying them a realistic proposition - Or would the work/cost be comparable to just ordering a new set.

Thought I would asks here, instead of e-mailing, as it may be of use to fellow members.

OilCityPickups · September 2023

All sorts of things with multi-scales are not standardised. String spacing, slant angles and even form factor ... many being of an EMG/Soapbar format rather than traditional HB size. The good thing is that most pickup manufacturers now supply some products in the EMG form factor (we do to special order) and can accommodate pretty much any slant angle or string spacing. Some stuff may have to be a bit custom ... but it's pretty much all doable.
It's much less easy to adapt ready made pickups ... though it is possible with some ... the results may not look very good!

Elwood · September 2023

Thanks Ash, very useful.

Funkfingers · October 2023

Q1) If pushed, which of your Stratocaster replacement pickups would you say has the most similar tone and dynamic response to your Californian model for Telecaster?

Q2) On the Californian, how much room is there under the metal cover for more turns of 42awg copper wire? (7k? 7½k? 8k? More?)

OilCityPickups · October 2023

Funkfingers said:

Q1) If pushed, which of your Stratocaster replacement pickups would you say has the most similar tone and dynamic response to your Californian model for Telecaster?

Q2) On the Californian, how much room is there under the metal cover for more turns of 42awg copper wire? (7k? 7½k? 8k? More?)

Probably my Triple Blues neck.
The standard Californian doesn't have a metal cover in order to have a slightly oversized top flatwork ... this allows 6.5k of 42awg wire. Remember Strat flatwork is larger than Tele Flatwork.
The limiting factor in the output with 42awg wire is the size of the Tele scratchplate pickup hole ... much smaller than a Strat.

Image: https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6abf16_3d17bb2f46c445c78705ac28d9ab440a~mv2_d_3665_2750_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_500,h_375,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/6abf16_3d17bb2f46c445c78705ac28d9ab440a~mv2_d_3665_2750_s_4_2.jpg

Fender makes their Twisted Tele taller to fit the wire under the cover ... the issue with that I find is that it kills bass response (which is better from a shorter 'squat' coil.

Funkfingers · October 2023

OilCityPickups said:
The standard Californian doesn't have a metal cover

This is useful to know. I narrowly avoided bidding on an eBay listing for a Californian pickup with a weird looking cover. (Spindly fastening tabs.)

Presumably, if the Californian's upper fibreboard plate is the size that you state, a metal cover should not fit over the bobbin.

OilCityPickups · October 2023

Funkfingers said:

OilCityPickups said:
The standard Californian doesn't have a metal cover

This is useful to know. I narrowly avoided bidding on an eBay listing for a Californian pickup with a weird looking cover. (Spindly fastening tabs.)

Presumably, if the Californian's upper fibreboard plate is the size that you state, a metal cover should not fit over the bobbin.

I've done a few custom Californians with smaller top plates and covers ... these use 42.5 gauge wire.

Lebarque · October 2023

@OilCityPickups Hi, Ash. I'm assembling an alder/rosewood HH partscaster. I like the description of your Forces Sweetheart set for "sweet and singing without the neck being too plummy" (assume plummy means more clarity and no mud for chords?)

Anyway, I've strung up the guitar and it's quite middy acoustically. I just wanted to check the Forces Sweetheart pups won't push the mids even more and if so, which of your PAF sets are more scooped? Cheers

Funkfingers · October 2023

Lebarque said:

(assume plummy means more clarity and no mud for chords?)

FWIIW, I associate the adjective "plummy" with the tone of fully hollow body Jazz guitars. That could be a Super with PAF humbuckers or Barney Kessel with P90s. Big flatwound strings, neck pickup, tone pot rolled back a bit.

Some Les Pauls and ES-335s have this quality. So do some Telecasters.

OilCityPickups · October 2023

Lebarque said:

@OilCityPickups Hi, Ash. I'm assembling an alder/rosewood HH partscaster. I like the description of your Forces Sweetheart set for "sweet and singing without the neck being too plummy" (assume plummy means more clarity and no mud for chords?)

Anyway, I've strung up the guitar and it's quite middy acoustically. I just wanted to check the Forces Sweetheart pups won't push the mids even more and if so, which of your PAF sets are more scooped? Cheers

'Too plummy' would be too round and fat ... and losing definition. The EQ on the Forces Sweetheart is quite flat (as in level) ... so no hump in middle or bass to muddy things up

Lebarque · October 2023

OilCityPickups said:

Lebarque said:

@OilCityPickups Hi, Ash. I'm assembling an alder/rosewood HH partscaster. I like the description of your Forces Sweetheart set for "sweet and singing without the neck being too plummy" (assume plummy means more clarity and no mud for chords?)

Anyway, I've strung up the guitar and it's quite middy acoustically. I just wanted to check the Forces Sweetheart pups won't push the mids even more and if so, which of your PAF sets are more scooped? Cheers

'Too plummy' would be too round and fat ... and losing definition. The EQ on the Forces Sweetheart is quite flat (as in level) ... so no hump in middle or bass to muddy things up

Lovely, cheers. Are any of the other PAF sets scooped in the mids?

OilCityPickups · October 2023

If you want scooped you want alnico 5, so in my range that would be the Masterwound Dynamite, the Scrapyard Dog or for a bit more output the Airship Trooper :-)

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Ash at Oil City answers pickup questions:

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