Baintlinc Home Generators

Tone Generator Kit

Why Gibson Pick-Ups Are The Best!

For years or decades I've played electric guitar in bands at bars, schools, concerts and recording sessions yet I couldn't tell you what pick-ups (p/u's) were about. I mean, I didn't have a clue as to what a pick-up did what to my sound. I grew up in a Gibson family. I mean that my relatives, when they didn't ridicule me for my participation as a rock and roll guitar player, said if I played a guitar, it had to be a Gibson. So, I only had a clue about humbucker type pick-up's Gibson used. Oh yeah, it's little brother the P-90.

My first electric was a Tiesco Del Ray I got for Christmas in 1967. I did get a Mattel Tiger guitar that was made of plastic and used a contact type pick-up. My brother and I each got one that XMAS so often times we'd use one of the pick-up's as a vocal mic.

Those days' electric strings were extremely limited in types and gauges available to young poor city folk like yours truly. I think I only remember Gibson, Fender and Black Diamond strings. This is before the Maestro Fuzz and the Vox Wha-Wha were available to the buying public like me. Back to pick-up's!

With the limited info as to how the stars were getting "THAT SOUND" we just kept trying to learn guitar without "how to" magazines and poor sounding phonograph players playing 45's on a tiny speaker. You could say there was no reason to discern between p/u's.

In the mid 70's I was already playing full time and knew about vintage Les Pauls and the legendary PAF pick-up's that were installed in them. Around that time a N.Y. Co. was making a name for them selves as a replacement for your non- Gibson brand type (humbucking) pick-up, DeMarzio. I ended up buying one for my 76 Explorer. Mind you I owned since the mid 60's, a late 50's Epiphone symmetric cherry finish Coronet with a, I think someone called it a cobalt pick-up. It is referred to as the "P-90", or "soap bar" single coil type pick-up. I loved that guitar and its sound. I just thought I should have a "real vintage" sounding guitar with a humbucking p/u installed. I also owned a Les Paul Deluxe with the mini humbuckers. It sounded great, I just thought it should have full sized p/u's to sound and look right. To quote Ian Hunter in the mid 70,s, "Rock guitarist's seem to have this Gibson fetish", and I did! I wanted the "look".

Gil Pini, the other Guitarist playing with me was using the DeMarzio super Distortion humbucking , and I for some reason didn't feel good about it's sound and feel, although it was touted as "heaven sent " sort of thing, especially for Marshall amplifiers back then (no master volume on the pre-amp stage). I eventually purchased a Super 2 p/u, because it had more bite. And to me, meant, it would cut through cleaner and not be as transparent in the mix. I even bought the Alembic 'Hot Rod Kit" for my 56 Les Paul Jr. (stupid) in 1976 or 77. That was supposed to be a good idea because it was hotter (better sounding) with a ceramic magnet to install, and since it was from Alembic (from California) and not some "upstart p/u manufacturer" it was the right thing to do. I didn't think about the DeMarzio pick-up's and I didn't know that those pick-up's used the ceramic magnets at the time.

As I started to record in major recording studios I'd learn to discern my sound. I didn't have those how to magazines to hip me to that elusive vintage "sound". Yet, I could hear my Gibson Explorer and my Les Paul Jr. distorting at all volume levels as well as attack approach. It just wouldn't smooth out. I was puzzled. Still trying to connect the look with the sound, I stumbled through the maze for years.

Not having the patience, or the money to buy and compare p/u's, I just tried to make a sound with what I had. I had all the right Pro equipment. Yet I was looking back, "wagging the dog".

A good sound starts from the fingers, to the guitar to the P/u's. If you don't start there, you're spinning in circles and you'll end up with a transparent (fuzzy) sound without body and response. "Your fingers are your tone generators". Not the amps or pedals. Those are tools to augment your expression. And if you learn anything about trouble shooting on the fly, you go down the line to find the problem with your sound or rig. The same goes for finding your sound. When establishing your sound you start with you, through the pick-up on down to the amp. With trouble shooting on stage, you should start with the amp and go down the line back to you. Which makes sense since you've established your rig set up, and you're trying to fix what was working, you back track. If not, you're spinning in circles, again!

So, I had a friend who made the point about how some pick-up's play you and PAF's don't. I soon tried two 57 Classic pick-up's installed on my 92 Les Paul Classic and what do you know? I had a sound that was tight on the bottom ringing on the top and honking clear / dirty mids when I played hard, and subtle soft tones when I backed off the and played lightly. I was in HEAVEN!! And the great thing that went with it was that, this same thing happened regardless of the volume setting on the guitar.

My experience was that the tone I got on full could be bright and tight with honk, and as soon as I backed off the guitar's volume, the tone would take on a dark or dull shade. This meant I would spend a lot of time tweeking the blend between my rhythms (clean and crunch) and lead tones. Looking for each was a drag, and a waste of time!

I'm no tech. so I can't and won't waste your time with my take of their specs. I do know that there's something about the combination of the enamel coated copper wire and the alnico magnets that give me a sound I can play with and use dynamics. It was soon after I started using the Gibson 57 Classic pick-up, that Gibson came out with their 57 Classic plus. This p/u was designed as a bridge p/u.

In the 50;s the gals at the pick-up dept. would wind these pick-up's using an egg timer or something like that. Sometimes they'd be distracted and some pick-up's would end up with more winds. Other times they would end up with less.

The p/u's with more sounded "hotter" and when people started going for the tone, they'd notice the sound of certain pick-up's compared to others. It wasn't rocket science to come up with the idea to put one of those "hot" pick-up's in the bridge position you would have a bright, tight, and honk'n lead tone where there wasn't. And a whole new sub market in 'vinatge' pick-up's ' came about.

Which brings us full circle, "I use Gibson Pick-ups and I'm sure that the other brands quality alnico pick-ups are a good sounding product. I do know what sounds good to me and what I know from "my" experience. I'm a guitarist who's been around the block and my ears have a sense as to what a pick-up should sound like, that's what I go for all the time.

Make your self happy and keep the communication's open!

About the Author

Learn about badminton shoes and badminton tutorial at the Badminton Tips site.

TRACETone Tone Generator & Amplifier Probe - Network cable testing kit $73.99 IDEAL TRACETone Tone Generator & Amplifier Probe - Network cable testing kit

Fluke Networks / PRO 3000 Tone Generator with Probe Kit / 26000-900 $88.96 Fluke Networks - PRO 3000 Tone Generator with Probe Kit - 26000-900

Tone Generator $37.99 IDEAL 62-160 TONE GENERATOR

IDEAL Tone Generator and Amplifier Probe Kit $90.99 1 x F Connector 1 x RJ-45 33-864 9 volt battery included for both Tone Generator and Amplifier Probe Amplifier Probe: Battery low indicator Tone Generator: Three different tones Low battery LED indicates when to change battery Amplifier Probe: To identify and trace wires or cables within a group without damaging the insulation Tone Generator: To identify a wire within a bundle, at a cross connect or at a remote end F-Connector port for toning & tracing coaxial CATV cabling systems Tone Generator and Amplifier Probe Kit include Tone generator and Amlifier probe.The Amplifier Probe is designed to identify and trace wires or cables within a group without damaging the insulation and tone generator to apply a tone signal to a wire pair or single conductor, and trace with an amplifier probe. Coaxial IDEAL IDEAL Industries, Inc Network Testing Device Tone Generator and Amplifier Probe Kit Tone Generator and Amplifier Probe Kit Includes: Amplifier Probe Tone Generator Lead Set Cable Assembly Soft Black Pouch Twisted Pair www.idealindustries.com

Pro3000 Analog Tone Generator - tone generator $38.99 Fluke Pro3000 Analog Tone Generator - Tone generator

Ideal / TONE GENERATOR / 62-160 $50.01 Ideal - TONE GENERATOR - 62-160

Shure A15TG Tone Generator $119.99 Shure A15TG Tone Generator

Shure A15tg Tone Generator $119.99 Shure A15TG Tone Generator

Valcom Tone Generator V9927A $103.48 Valcom Tone Generator V9927A

Viking Tone Generator CTG1 $322.24 Viking Tone Generator CTG1

Tone Generator W/Truetrace $44.99 TONE GENERATOR W/TRUETRACE

Ideal 33864 Tone Generator Amplifier Probe Kit $154.42 Ports: 1 x RJ45 1 x F Connector.Status Indicators. Amplifier Probe: Battery low indicator. Tone Generator: Three different tones Low battery LED indicates when to change battery.Media and Performance. Connectivity Media: Twisted Pair Coaxial.Technical Information. Test Services. Amplifier probe: To identify and trace wires or cables within a group without damaging the insulation. Tone Generator: To identify a wire within a bundle at a cross connect or at a remote end FConnector port for toning and tracing coaxial CATV cabling systems.

Fluke PRO 3000 Tone Generator with Probe Kit. Each $82.44 Manufacturer: Fluke Networks. Each. PRO 3000 Tone Generator with Probe Kit Harris PRO3000 Tone Probe Kit 18 month warranty Requires one 9 volt battery in each product to operate (not included) "Works on virtually any cable or wire" Cat 3/5/5e/6 etc. Coax

Ideal / TRACETONE TONE GENERATOR / 62-140 $47.57 Ideal - TRACETONE TONE GENERATOR - 62-140

Viking / Viking Tone Generator / CTG-1 $263.16 Viking - Viking Tone Generator - CTG-1

Valcom / Valcom Tone Generator / V-9927A $99.96 Valcom - Valcom Tone Generator - V-9927A

Viking Multi-Tone Generator MTG10 $75.68 Viking Multi-Tone Generator MTG10

Fluke Networks Pro3000 Analog Tone Generator $91.45 PRO3000 TONE GENERATOR ACCS

Valcom Tone Generator. Each $90.26 Manufacturer: Valcom. Each. Customers also search for: Discount Valcom Tone Generator, Buy Valcom Tone Generator, Wholesale Valcom Tone Generator, 799111001975 Miscellaneous Call Management Supplies

Used Yamaha Tx7 Tone Generator $159.99 In Store Used USED YAMAHA TX7 TONE GENERATOR

IDEAL TRACETone Tone Generator & Amplifier Probe - network cable testing kit. Each $36.54 Manufacturer: Ideal Industries. Each. Product Type: Network cable testing kit Package Content (FJ): Patch cable, alligator clip Customers also search for: Discount IDEAL TRACETone Tone Generator & Amplifier Probe - network cable testing kit, Buy IDEAL TRA

Cables To Go / Tone Generator and Probe / 26844 $90.28 Cables To Go - Tone Generator and Probe - 26844

Viking / Viking Multi-Tone Generator / MTG-10 $68.88 Viking - Viking Multi-Tone Generator - MTG-10

Ideal Industries / IDEAL TONE GENERATOR & / 62-140 $49.35 Ideal Industries - IDEAL TONE GENERATOR & - 62-140

Yamaha MOTIF RACK XS Tone Generator $1299.99 Yamaha MOTIF RACK XS Tone Generator

Yamaha Motif Rack Xs Tone Generator $1299.99 Yamaha MOTIF RACK XS Tone Generator

Cables To Go Tone Generator & Probe 26844 $96.61 Cables To Go Tone Generator & Probe 26844

Hc-26000-900 - Pro 3000 Tone Generator With Probe Kit $96.87 [HC-26000-900] UPC: 754082038917 12.25L x 7W x 3H 1.53 LB

Viking Multi-Tone Generator $60.84 Viking Multi-Tone GeneratorMulti-tone generator designed to add multiple contact-controlled audio tones to paging system or 600 ohm inputs. Canbe connected to any paging source and can be configured to provide a tone every 15 seconds to notify callers that their conversation is being recorded.

Resi-Toner Tone Generator-Full Function Tone Gen $70.99 RESI-TONER TONE GENERATOR-FULL FUNCTION TONE GEN

NetTone Network Tone and Probe $288.99 The kit includes a tone generator to transmit a trace tone and a probe to detect a tone signal. It uses link light activation to help you identify port assignments

Fluke Networks HC26000900 PRO 3000 Tone Generator with P $120.22 PRO 3000 Tone Generator with Probe Kit Harris PRO3000 Tone Probe Kit 18 month warranty Requires one 9 volt battery in each product to operate (not included) Works on virtually any cable or wire Cat 3/5/5e/6 etc. Coax Deenergized Electrical Wire Security Wire Speaker Wire Tones up to 10 miles on most cable Harris PRO3000 Tone and Probe Kit is THE professional kit you need for tracing and toning wire or cable. Use it on deenergized AC wire telephone/twisted pair wire all voice and data category rated cable all coax cable speaker wire security wire virtually and cable or wire All in a durable nylon pouch with three pockets and extra large belt loop. PRO3000 Probe (Top Features) Loud speaker amplifies tone trhough walls enclosure wood or plaster Easytouse adjustable volume control dial Quicktwist tip for easy replacement FREE Spare Tip inside PRO3000 Tone Generator (Top Features) SmartTone technology can generate five seperate tones External switch lets you select solid or alternating tone options indicated with solid or flashing LEDs Continuity testing Line polarity confirmation Line cord features Angled BedofNails clips and ruggedized RJ11 plug for direct access to phone and data jacks without adaptersHC26000900

Used Korg Ns5r Midi Tone Generator @778 $125 In Store Used USED KORG NS5R MIDI TONE GENERATOR @778

Used Yamaha Motif-Rack Tone Generator $899.99 In Store Used USED YAMAHA MOTIF-RACK TONE GENERATOR

Used Trex Octavius Tri Tone Generator $199.99 In Store Used USED TREX OCTAVIUS TRI TONE GENERATOR