P Pickups Variations in Build and Tone

[Sean]

Yesterday I was swapping pickups in my Valenti P and noticed a big difference in the build between the two P pickups. 

 

I've changed the pickups in the Valenti a few times just to have a change from time to time.  What I've been chasing this time is high end grit and sparkle without losing any bottom end. 

 

My go-to chap over the last couple of years is Lee Laverack of Laverack Guitars, who makes Toltec pickups. He's based in Leeds. I bought a pair of Toltec J pickups a couple of years ago and they blew me away. 

 

Earlier this year I asked Lee to make me a pair of J-based splittable humbuckers for the BB1300 and worked his magic way above and beyond. The original Yamaha pickups weren't great but the bass is a peach and he did it proud. In the early stages Lee likes to understand what you're looking for in the sound, so likes a chat to establish what you like and don't like in a pickup. 

 

I've been playing the Valenti a lot lately and have found that it doesn't sound like I want it to these days. It's a PJ and I used to play it in a rock covers band, with two guitars, playing it mainly with a pick. I decided to have a conversation with Lee and see what he could do. 

 

At this point it's worth saying that Toltec pickups are very competitively priced compared to other handmade UK boutique pickups. The custom made (to my spec) P+J set I've just received cost the same posted as a P from other UK boutique makers' standard products. 

 

Here's the Toltec P (2) compared to the HotRod Thumper (1) that I took out. You can see it's much taller. The sound and character of the bass has changed completely. Lots of top-end and sparkle. it's a tall bobbin, overwound with higher gauge wire to bring out the dynamics and reduce the compression. 

 

It'll be at the Bash tomorrow and at the SE Bash next month.