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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What if I do not like the tone? Can I get a refund?
A: Here is my opinion about return policies. I have bought MANY P.A.F. pickups through the years, and I expect them to function, not be defective. Beyond that I do not expect the maker to be responsible for my particular tastes. If I do not like them, I merely sell them off (at a loss, always) but I learned more and more what I was looking for, and which ones to buy again.
I wind these to suit MY tastes, and so far people's tastes agree with mine, but if they do not, then I am sorry. They are guaranteed against defects for one year. If the coils are damaged because of cover removal, or similar accident, sorry! I reserve the right to repair OR replace a defective pickup whichever is most suitable to the individual situation. If you do not like the tone, I will however exchange them one time for you. I will credit your purchase to trade towards another set. I will charge a $25 restocking fee. (mostly for having to put new leads on the pickups). I will also offer some technical support.
Q: What is the difference between A2 and A5 magnets?
A: The A2 magnet tends to give you a more vintage tone. They compress easily, and have a softer "feel". They are rich in midrange, and sound creamier in the neck and drier and woodier in the bridge. Turn your volume pots down and they are pure sweetness. The majority of 50s P.A.Fs have A2 magnents, though A3, A4 and A5 magnets are found in 50s P.A.F.s too.
The A5 magnet sounds more modern and aggressive. The have more treble and bass, so they, in effect, sound more "scooped" in the midrange. I would not say there is LESS midrange, but rather more bass and treble. They have a harder "feel" less compression, but much more dynamic and touch sensitive. In the middle position they are killer. They sound very alive and super sensitive, almost Strat-lke in the middle position. In the neck they cure the mud if you have a dark guitar or they add heft if you have a light guitar. In the bridge they get a bit gritty and nasty.....but in a good rock sense. For the more dynamic and aggressive player. Turn your volume pots down and they mellow out.
Q: What is the difference between your Standard sets: Yinbranes or Yangbranes and your Raw set (Earthbranes)?
A: With the Earthbranes (or Woodbranes) you get the cosmetic upgrades of a vintage correct pickup cover, USA #5-40 screws (which you can appreciate from looking at the underside of the pickup) and a P.A.F or Pat No. sticker, (again not visible when pickup is installed.) So these features are for the person looking for some cosmetic upgrades. BUT! the tonal difference is achieved by premium hand selected magnets. These are for those looking for the last "nth" in vintage tone. So the $100-$151 price difference is mostly because of the higher cost of the covers at $60-$80 a set, plus the cost of the other features, including the magnets. But rest assured the Standard sets still use high quality parts, just not as vintage accurate in a cosmetic sense. After all these more expensive sets feature newer developments brought on by customer requests.
Q: Why don't you have an option for raw covers on your Standard sets?
A: Well then they would not be "Standard" anymore! It would add about $80 to your cost, so it would make more sense to just pay $100 more and get the hand select magnets, stickers and USA #5-40 screws too!
Q: So what if I want the tone of your Woodbranes or Earthbranes but do not want to pay $395-$450? Can you help me?
A: YES! I offer the Waterbranes just for you! Probably the most misunderstood set. They have the standard nickel covers and standard pole screws and no P.A.F. or Pat No. sticker; BUT they feature hand selected magnets! If you do not care about how your pickup looks on the backside or that your cover looks more modern, but want that tone, these are for you. (There were once called Mar-T I-V for you old-time customers!)
Q: What is your most popular set?
A: Well if you combine the Yinbranes, Yangbranes and Quiescence Branes together, which are really all the same except for magnet type, they would be my most popular set. But even if you DO combine them, the Earthbranes are soon surpassing them in popularity. I think most people really like the unplated raw covers that will age quickly and naturally. The aged look is really popular! I did not offer a raw set at first, and I would have to say since I have, they have become the most popular.
Q: Do you sell many of your Woodbranes?
A: Woodbranes don't exactly fly off the shelf. They are expensive, I will admit, but those covers cost me quite a bit. It is not easy to appreciate them in pictures. They are very fine! Their shape is like the old P.A.F.s. They have sharp edges and just look stunning mounted in the pickup rings. Like all my covers, they are German silver, but unlike my raw covers, they are nickel plated.
Q: Do you make your own Truss Rod Covers (TRCs)?
A: No, I have them made for me. They come from Europe. They are absolutely the final word in vintage accurate covers. These would be even appropriate to replace missing vintage parts, if you do not want to spend $350-$600 for originals.
Q: Why do you only make Humbuckers?
A: A very good pickup question indeed! As a matter of fact, I recently added P90 style pickups, Firebranes, to the list of pickups available. Although they are the newest pickup I offer, my P90 style is very well received. I hope to get more sound clips for them soon.
Q: Do you give out free pickups in exchange for musicians to endorse you?
A: No, but I am sure depending on if you are Derek Trucks or Fred Smoot (who?---exactly!) I am sure some kind of consideration can be made!
Q. Do you have any dealers?
A. Not at this time. I really would rather work directly with my customers. I do not want the hassle of that kind of relationship. I do not plan on having a "production line" or to have "bread and butter" accounts. I want a one on one relationship with those who buy my pickups. I want to be able to communicate directly and answer all emails.
Q: Why no Telecaster or Stratocaster pickups?
A: Sorry Gibson Les Pauls is my thing. It is my hobby and passion. I do not think I will be getting into the Fender style pickups. I have enough work as it is.
Q: I want something "hotter", so why don't you make a 13k style pickup?
In some ways this is similar to choosing an amp that has dials that go to 12 vs 10, thinking you are going to be able to play louder. It is natural for people to gravitate to a single measurement to sort out what they are seeking. (it makes their search simplified AND perpetuates myths)
Did you know that a PAF type pickup may actually be LOUDER or offer more overdrive than a 13K pickup? Let me explain only a small part of what I am talking about.
PAFs use 42awg wire, which is THICKER than 43 or 44 awg wire. The thinner a wire, the MORE resistance it has, and you can get more winds on a bobbin with thinner wire.
The more resistance you have in a circuit (with everything else being the same) the more rolled off the high frequencies are AND the LESS power you have at the output.
A PAF, depending on the wind pattern, when the bobbins are full, will top out around 9-9.5K. You run out of room. If you want to get MORE winds, you have to go to thinner wire, 43awg or 44awg. Also as you make more winds, each layer becomes longer per wind, and further away from the pole screws and slugs, this has an effect on energy too.
But here is the crux of the matter, these exampes are arbitrary but reasonable and demonstrative;
PAF 42awg wire 10,000 winds = 8k ohms. Nearly full.
Modern hot pickup 44awg wire 10,000 winds = 12K ohms. But you have still more room to wind more!
The PAF in THIS case (above) is actually going to have more output!! Why? LESS resistance! Same number of winds. To get the same output from the modern pickup you will have to wind more turns to make up for the higher resistance, while actually adding resistance in the process.
Resistance is NOT an indication of a pickups power in itself. It only gives you a clue as to how many winds you have IF you know the gauge of the wire. It is how many WINDS you have that gives you the power.
And I do not know about you, but I would rather have the same power BUT less of my highs taken away.
Let's say to get the same power from a 44awg coil, as the PAF coil, you have to wind it up another 15% to 11,500 winds and add even more resistance, and lose even more highs. This is why many modern "hot" pickups use magnets that tend to exaggerate highs. A5, ceramic etc.