Anybody see the new Stew Mac humbuckers?

[David King]

I'm a little suspicious too as if the bobbin is a uniform dimension the whole length then the blade part of the armature will be very far from the coil and that gap will have an effect on the tone of the wound strings for sure. I bet the wound strings are totally lifeless and that's probably the whole point of the exercise.

[LtKojak]

Who cares how they look, how do they sound? You can really limit yourself by being narrow minded.

Isn't that rather cynical? Have you tried one?

I always think it's refreshing to see something new, and different, even if it isn't "revolutionary".

You see, doing something "different" just for the sake of it, I, for one, think it's just an exercise in futility.

Both halfs of the p'up should address a known problem, but for what until now they've been considered "problems", the Railhammer gets it ass-backwards.

For me, it's a solution looking for a problem that doesn't exist, design-wise. Sound-wise, if they sound good, more power to them. But I just wouldn't consider'em as something I'd use because of the price.

There are a myriad of other, more traditional-looking designs by other brands that they've proven being extremely reliable throughout several decades at a substantial lower price, which by itself defeats the very purpose of their existence, if you ask me.

HTH,

[ken]

I'm a little suspicious too as if the bobbin is a uniform dimension the whole length then the blade part of the armature will be very far from the coil and that gap will have an effect on the tone of the wound strings for sure. I bet the wound strings are totally lifeless and that's probably the whole point of the exercise.

I'm wondering if the individual polepieces aren't actually shaped like nailheads - so the main body of the pole is the same thickness as the blade.
I'm thinking about buying one just to see what's in it.

ken

[rjb]

Isn't that rather cynical?

Yup. What's your point?

Have you tried one?

No. I'm waiting for the Johnny Smith model (to use on my archtop with wound G string). ;^)

I always think it's refreshing to see something new, and different, even if it isn't "revolutionary".

IMHO, this isn't new or different. Didn't Harry DeArmond do the same thing in the '50s? ;^)

You see, doing something "different" just for the sake of it, I, for one, think it's just an exercise in futility.

What he said.

[nickc35]

I thought the rails should be under the treble strings because those are the ones you bend. Maybe SM has them in the photo flipped?

ken

I thought the same exact thing when I saw them.

[nickc35]

xx

[David Schwab]

Pole pieces pieces are not wide enough to affect strongly string harmonics within the frequency range of the system. Remember, the spacing of humbucker coils has a strong effect on the sound of the bass strings, but a very small effect on the #1 E string.

Try this; make a blade humbucker and made it so you can change the blades. You can use the bass bobbins from Mojo. Try a pair of 1/16" thick blades, and then try a pair of 3/16" blades. They will sound different. This might be from inductance as well, but the affect is real.

Likewise with a pickup like this:



I don't know about changing them in the same bobbin, but I haven't tried it.

I was just reporting the intention behind the Railhammers as stated on their website.

[David King]

I'll bet that was their original intention but when they tried them that way they realized that they sounded like sh¡t so they flipped the around and Voila!

[big_teee]

Try this; make a blade humbucker and made it so you can change the blades. You can use the bass bobbins from Mojo. Try a pair of 1/16" thick blades, and then try a pair of 3/16" blades. They will sound different. This might be from inductance as well, but the affect is real.

Likewise with a pickup like this:



I don't know about changing them in the same bobbin, but I haven't tried it.

I was just reporting the intention behind the Railhammers as stated on their website.

I have 2 guitars with bridge pickups I made a lot like the ones David showed above.
They work great.
T

[Mike Sulzer]

Try this; make a blade humbucker and made it so you can change the blades. You can use the bass bobbins from Mojo. Try a pair of 1/16" thick blades, and then try a pair of 3/16" blades. They will sound different. This might be from inductance as well, but the affect is real.

I agree that the inductances would be significantly different. Eddy current losses, too. But the string sampling should not be so different.

[John_H]

Maybe these aren't all that great... it just surprise's me that so many of you can pass judgement by how you think they'll sound. Perhaps you are all smarter than me, but it's still a little pretentious to think you can evaluate anything without hearing it. Strangely enough, there might be some circumstance where this design works quite well.

I'll rest my case here before I get burned at the stake

[John_H]

double post

[copperheadroads]

Here's some tubes
Railhammer Hyper Vintage Pickups 2 - Clean - YouTube
Railhammer Chisel Pickups 1 - Dirty - Metal Muff - YouTube

[big_teee]

Here's some tubes
Railhammer Hyper Vintage Pickups 2 - Clean - YouTube
Railhammer Chisel Pickups 1 - Dirty - Metal Muff - YouTube

Sounded OK, but nothing IMO to leave home over!
T

[LtKojak]

Who cares how they look,

FYI, most guitar players will reject an excellent sounding p'up because of the looks.

The Duncan PATB series is an excellent example.

A year ago I had an A4 PATB1n/A8 PATB3 modded set for sale. All subjects, going from young guns to old farts, where ravishing about their sound, clarity under gain and articulation in the clean mode. Would you like to buy'em? Sorry, no. They just won't look "right" in my LP/335!

I still have this very set in my Mayones Maestro.

Your Honor, I rest my case!