The ShadowMusic Web Community

Hey all,

A simple question here, what were Hank's pickups on the 1989 recordings of Apache, Wonderful Land, Atlantis etc? The Fender Vintage Noiseless pickups in my Japanese HBM Strat are shot (for some unknown reason!) and I'm trying to see if I can grab some like Hank used in the 80's.

Cheers,
Robson

Some good advice Robson, Google a set of Tonerider Vintage @ around £70.00 - same as the ones I fitted on Danny Martin's Strat that he used at Shadowmania. Or better value still, the Ironestone Vintage made here in the UK @ around £29.00 - I have the lot on my Strats (eight of them) including Kinmans, Fender Noiseless, Fender 57/62, Seymour Duncans, Sliders etc etc and the sound of the Toneriders & Ironestones are just as good -
Many folks around here will tell you that for the last ten years or more, between us we have tried and tested everything that has been offered in the way of Strat pickups to find that Hank tone, so the hard work has been done for you. Check out my demos and save yourself some money. Advice from others here would save Robson a few quid.

I've tried 'googling' ironstone pick-ups' and got no response. Are they the same thing as 'Irongear'? (excellent sounding pups at only 18.95 each!)

mike

Mike Honey wrote:I've tried 'googling' ironstone pick-ups' and got no response. Are they the same thing as 'Irongear'? (excellent sounding pups at only 18.95 each!)

mike

Try www.ironstone-pickups.co.uk

thanks, but that is the site i have been trying to reach. Its probably because i am using anonymX on firefox. I'll keep trying

mike

Mike Honey wrote:thanks, but that is the site i have been trying to reach. Its probably because i am using anonymX on firefox. I'll keep trying

mike

It doesn't work for me and I'm on Google Chrome.

@ Dave Robinson - You got a link to your demo's mate?

Robson

Minishadow wrote:

Mike Honey wrote:thanks, but that is the site i have been trying to reach. Its probably because i am using anonymX on firefox. I'll keep trying

mike

It doesn't work for me and I'm on Google Chrome.

@ Dave Robinson - You got a link to your demo's mate?

Robson

Have a look at the eTap2 demos I did recently down the list a bit now, then when you get on my 4shared page there are loads more.

Ironstone Pick Ups on Ebay
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gold-Alnico-V-5-Single-Coil-Guitar-Pickups-Fender-Stratocaster-Strat-Squier-/170915290776?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&var=&hash=item27cb585e98

The thing with pick ups is people can tell what to buy, but one thing that nobody ever mentions is if your a club player and you have to plug in and play without altering the amp settings it's best to have a high output set, belive me I should know !.........So many times at home my guitar sounds great then I go along to a club it dies.....Fender Custom Shop 54's ~~57/62~~Tone Riders~~you name em I've tried them all, best for the club playing has been . Kinman HBM~~Fender Custom Shop Texas Specials~~Fender Tex Mex....And remember this is based on visiting (over the last five years)t loads of Guitar Clubs where you do not get the chance to alter the amp volume settings..At home its a different story they all sound great, because you are in charge of your complete sound output........Worth thinking about

The question was what PU's did HBM use in 1989... I am not certain, but likely to have been DiMarzio Fat Strat on bridge and Seymour Duncan 2x SS1 on Mid/Neck.

I agree with what Derek states about home and club settings as well but for the most part for me it is the bridge PU that tends to be too thin and the Mid/Neck do fine.
I think a good balanced set could be around 5.6k for neck 5.7k for Mid and 5.9k - 6k for bridge for a good shadows sound. I have heard the Fender fat 50's which are fitted on the 56 NOS which are very good at around 6.2 k on all three. Some fit a 50's fat strat to the bridge with say 57/62s to get over the thinness in the bridge. The fat strat is much higher over wound and would probably be OK with thinner string sets like 10's. The Duncan SS1 is meant to replicate the early Fender vintage PU's but once again for a lot of folk too thin at the bridge end.

It is a road most guitarists go down to get a great sound for the styles they play and it does cost a lot of money. Guitar set-up also helps tone and output.

Another PU set I have fitted recently for £37 a set is the Daddy O's from AxesrUs and once again a great Shads sound, but at 5.6k the bridge is abit thin for live playing.

So I think that is what HBM and others did they stuck with a vintage spec MID/Neck and went for a hotter bridge .

I have sent a message to Dick Plant who engineered the 1989 sessions of those recordings, maybe he can help find out exactly what type of pickups HBM was using.