Tom Holmes' pickups??

Splattle101 · 01-15-2009, 12:23 AM

I was just wondering if anybody out there was using his pick ups? If so, would you care to give your view of them? That Tone Quest Report shoot out spoke about them in fairly glowing terms, so I wondered if anybody on the MLP was a secret user.

cheers,
Splat

Fader · 01-15-2009, 11:59 AM

There was 455 bridge Tom Holmes in my G0 when I bought it. I left it in for a while then I put in a Dimarzio DP and finally a WCR Godwood.

The Holmes was very good sound and I can't complain. But the WCR did it for me. The Holmes are supposedly very expensive. In that regard, I can't say that it did anythng any more special than p/u's that cost less.

Splattle101 · 01-15-2009, 06:14 PM

Interesting. Thanks for that reply.

Has anybody else used them?

Liam · 01-15-2009, 06:24 PM

At least one LP Replica builder here in the UK uses them. A friend has a replica with Holmes pickups and is really impressed with them. He's not easily impressed, and has played a LOT of vintage guitars. My guess is that they are probably pretty good. I've played the guitar, but not spent any time with it plugged into an amp to think about pickups, was more interested in the woodwork at the time.

When I play the guitar next time I'll pay more attention to pickups, the fact I didn't think about it probably means they are good rather than bad - that's just how my "glass half empty" nature works!

Liam

Sgt.Pepper · 01-16-2009, 03:44 AM

Sid Poole and myself used to be the main importers of Tom Holmes pickups into the UK untill they became so expensive. They are excellently made with great attention to detail - not a PAF clone but an upgraded PAF type pickup. How Gibson would have made them in the 50's if they'd been fanatical about detail and not running a factory with as much cheap labour as they could get away with.

Nigel Tufnel's tech · 01-16-2009, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sgt.Pepper

Sid Poole and myself used to be the main importers of Tom Holmes pickups into the UK untill they became so expensive. They are excellently made with great attention to detail - not a PAF clone but an upgraded PAF type pickup.

Are you a luthier as well Sgt Pepper.? Sid Poole's name is one i wish i'd heard of sooner. He did not come to my attention until his passing.

Sgt.Pepper · 01-16-2009, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Tufnel's tech

Are you a luthier as well Sgt Pepper?

No, just a regular Christian.

Nigel Tufnel's tech · 01-16-2009, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sgt.Pepper

No, just a regular Christian.

... I'm a Atheist thank God.

Starrman · 01-17-2009, 05:25 PM

I tried them in a semi-hollowbody.....They were a little on the bright side for my taste.....or you might say brilliant or clear...If you want a brighter cleaner sound, they would work fine. He may have various types...l I think they are a little over-priced from what I've seen....you could find great PU's for much less IMO...

5F6-A · 01-18-2009, 03:02 PM

Sid Poole's guitars were fantastic...

Nigel Tufnel's tech · 01-18-2009, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5F6-A

Sid Poole's guitars were fantastic...

I hear a lot of good things about him and his work from other guitarists, I unfortunately have never played one of his instruments.

5F6-A · 01-19-2009, 06:56 AM

BTW, Tom Holmes is a big fan of alnico IV pickups, just like me!

Liam · 01-19-2009, 07:25 AM

I believe the OTP Guy also favours Alnico IV.

Nigel Tufnel's tech · 01-19-2009, 07:48 AM

I hear Nugget is a IV fan as well, especially Rocky

Zeymatis · 07-26-2009, 01:52 PM

Hi there .

I knew Sid very well and have had two of his guitars , both with Tom Holmes H450s .. Back in 94 his custom guitars including case were going for about £1500 so i imagine the pickups were a lot cheaper .

I wouldnt really say that they were any better then any other high end PAF clone that i have tried but they do sound very good . If i had to replace them i would get a pair of bare knuckle which sound just as good but cost a fration of the price

Ive just noticed that the bridge is a 455 whilst the neck is a 450 ,, not sure of the difference , i suppose the neck may be a little hotter

nwobhm · 07-29-2009, 06:53 PM

I used to have a couple sets, I liked them alot. They had a real lush, almost hi-fi sound. I had an early neck 450 that I picked up used, that was really nice sounding. I put it in the neck of a les paul that wasn't particularly resonant or great sounding and it brought it to life. As nice as they sounded, especially the cleans, they just didn't have the growl I was looking for. I like a little raw, edginess to the tone.

monroe · 07-29-2009, 07:10 PM

.

cryptozoo · 07-29-2009, 09:37 PM

I think there was a time when these were at the top of the vintage-sounding ladder when it comes to boutique pickups. With all the winding options now, I don't believe that's the case anymore. And the used prices... sheesh.

PINKBITS · 07-29-2009, 10:10 PM

Soooooo Mr Splat, thinking of trying out some cork sniffer pickups eh?

PINKBITS · 07-29-2009, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sgt.Pepper

No, just a regular Christian.

That was very good

PINKBITS · 07-29-2009, 10:23 PM

Splatts, have you ever checked this guy out before? Slider's Classic 57 Pickups for Stratocaster, Strat - eBay Guitar Parts, Parts Accessories, Guitar, Musical Instruments. (end time 02-Aug-09 17:14:18 AEST)

He got a big thumbs up in the ToneQuest report for his single coils. I'd reckon he'd do a mean P90 or humbucker. He's an Aussie to boot

Have only heard a couple of clips of his single coils. They sounded

I would have really liked to have tried a set.

Splattle101 · 07-29-2009, 10:48 PM

I saw the glowing review of Slider's stuff in the TQR shootout. It looks really interesting. However, the only Strat I've got is a nasty Chinese Affinity Squire. It plays pretty well, and it sound alright with the Texas Specials that are in it. So I have nothing to put a set of Strat pickups in. Nothing that deserves it, anyway. I'm certainly not going to fork over the foccacia for a set of superb pickups and then stuff them into some plank of routed whatever-the-****-it-is they make those Affinity axes from.

Regarding me trying cork-sniffer pickups, no. I doubt it. Not unless they turned up at a reasonable price. From what I've seen of the prices for the Holme pickups, they're too much. When I first posted this thread I thought I saw them for $800 or so. US dollars. Nope.

But I was interested nevertheless, because of that TQR report. They positively waxed lyrical about them. So I was interested to see if anybody else had used them, and did they hear the magic, too?

But not for me at that price. That would come to $14-1500 Au by the time I got them here and paid the tax etc. I fear they would have a very poor SA coefficient.

PINKBITS · 07-29-2009, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Splattle101

I saw the glowing review of Slider's stuff in the TQR shootout. It looks really interesting. However, the only Strat I've got is a nasty Chinese Affinity Squire. It plays pretty well, and it sound alright with the Texas Specials that are in it. So I have nothing to put a set of Strat pickups in. Nothing that deserves it, anyway. I'm certainly not going to fork over the foccacia for a set of superb pickups and then stuff them into some plank of routed whatever-the-****-it-is they make those Affinity axes from.

Regarding me trying cork-sniffer pickups, no. I doubt it. Not unless they turned up at a reasonable price. From what I've seen of the prices for the Holme pickups, they're too much. When I first posted this thread I thought I saw them for $800 or so. US dollars. Nope.

But I was interested nevertheless, because of that TQR report. They positively waxed lyrical about them. So I was interested to see if anybody else had used them, and did they hear the magic, too?

But not for me at that price. That would come to $14-1500 Au by the time I got them here and paid the tax etc. I fear they would have a very poor SA coefficient.

Yes mate, they are way to expensive IMO. I personally wouldn't pay over $300 U.S for a set of pickups.

EEF13 · 07-29-2009, 11:33 PM

this guy is using a Tom Holmes pickup

YouTube - Bogner XTC with Tom Holmes Humbucker

PINKBITS · 07-29-2009, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EEF13

this guy is using a Tom Holmes pickup

YouTube - Bogner XTC with Tom Holmes Humbucker

And a Bogner

Nice to have that sort of money.

EEF13 · 07-30-2009, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PINKBITS

And a Bogner

Nice to have that sort of money.

The pickup is already worth more than a guitar and then he has an american Strat and a Bogner

WolfeMacleod · 07-30-2009, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EEF13

this guy is using a Tom Holmes pickup

Not that you can hear much with all that gain....

Nice clean tone though.

EEF13 · 07-30-2009, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WolfeMacleod

Not that you can hear much with all that gain....

Nice clean tone though.

I like the high gain tone with a low output pickup

Goldtop75 · 07-30-2009, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PINKBITS

Slider's Classic 57 Pickups for Stratocaster, Strat - eBay Guitar Parts, Parts Accessories, Guitar, Musical Instruments. (end time 02-Aug-09 17:14:18 AEST)

his clips have been the most impressive singles i've heard so far... I've very tempted to get a set to try...

ZEROUPSIDEPOTENTIAL · 11-12-2009, 10:41 AM

Admittedly I did just join this forum but still after looking around it seems as though I can help a bit. Holmes opened shop sometime in the 70's and had some pretty high flying customers, such as Billy Gibbons, Albert King and Eddie Van Halen to name but a few. I've recently purchased a pair of Holmes pickups.(more later) This set has the best PAF tone imaginable. That being said you must also install the correct capacitor. For correct vintage tone you will need .022 oil in paper capacitors. As a tech this seems obvious to me but not everyone is technical eh? The Holmes bridge will ohm around 8.6K & the neck about 1 less, close to 7.6K. Any decent PAF combo will have a neck/bridge variance between .75K and 1.5K.
Remember I said I'd get back to the purchase later? Well this WEIRDBEARDGEAR guy down in Texas stocks and sells Holmes equipment, thats where I got mine. The man is a fountain of knowledge and will talk to you forever on the phone. His website can also be useful.
Heres a link>>WEIRDBEARD GEAR - TOM HOLMES PICKUPS FOR SALEPAF TONE & SOME TOM HOLMES GUITARS.

01-15-2009, 12:23 AM	#1 (permalink)
Splattle101 V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 7,263 Thanks: 87 Thanked 551 Times in 45 Posts	Tom Holmes' pickups?? I was just wondering if anybody out there was using his pick ups? If so, would you care to give your view of them? That Tone Quest Report shoot out spoke about them in fairly glowing terms, so I wondered if anybody on the MLP was a secret user. cheers, Splat __________________ The sleep of reason brings forth monsters.

01-15-2009, 11:59 AM	#2 (permalink)
Fader Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 140 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Tom Holmes' pickups?? There was 455 bridge Tom Holmes in my G0 when I bought it. I left it in for a while then I put in a Dimarzio DP and finally a WCR Godwood. The Holmes was very good sound and I can't complain. But the WCR did it for me. The Holmes are supposedly very expensive. In that regard, I can't say that it did anythng any more special than p/u's that cost less. __________________ Les Paul + Tube Amp + Pedals + Beer = Good Time sidewinderdayton.com It's not a hobby, it's a way of life.

01-15-2009, 06:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
Splattle101 V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 7,263 Thanks: 87 Thanked 551 Times in 45 Posts	Re: Tom Holmes' pickups?? Interesting. Thanks for that reply. Has anybody else used them? __________________ The sleep of reason brings forth monsters.

01-15-2009, 06:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
Liam V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Preston, Lancashire, United Kingdom Posts: 5,182 Thanks: 87 Thanked 104 Times in 23 Posts	Re: Tom Holmes' pickups?? At least one LP Replica builder here in the UK uses them. A friend has a replica with Holmes pickups and is really impressed with them. He's not easily impressed, and has played a LOT of vintage guitars. My guess is that they are probably pretty good. I've played the guitar, but not spent any time with it plugged into an amp to think about pickups, was more interested in the woodwork at the time. When I play the guitar next time I'll pay more attention to pickups, the fact I didn't think about it probably means they are good rather than bad - that's just how my "glass half empty" nature works! Liam

01-16-2009, 03:44 AM	#5 (permalink)
Sgt.Pepper V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 949 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Tom Holmes' pickups?? Sid Poole and myself used to be the main importers of Tom Holmes pickups into the UK untill they became so expensive. They are excellently made with great attention to detail - not a PAF clone but an upgraded PAF type pickup. How Gibson would have made them in the 50's if they'd been fanatical about detail and not running a factory with as much cheap labour as they could get away with. Last edited by Sgt.Pepper; 01-16-2009 at 10:47 AM.

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01-17-2009, 05:25 PM	#9 (permalink)
Starrman Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 295 Thanks: 0 Thanked 66 Times in 19 Posts	Re: Tom Holmes' pickups?? I tried them in a semi-hollowbody.....They were a little on the bright side for my taste.....or you might say brilliant or clear...If you want a brighter cleaner sound, they would work fine. He may have various types...l I think they are a little over-priced from what I've seen....you could find great PU's for much less IMO...

01-18-2009, 03:02 PM	#10 (permalink)
5F6-A Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sir Titus Salt's Land Posts: 7,983 Thanks: 396 Thanked 504 Times in 119 Posts	Re: Tom Holmes' pickups?? Sid Poole's guitars were fantastic... __________________ “The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays.” Sören Kierkegaard

01-19-2009, 06:56 AM	#12 (permalink)
5F6-A Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sir Titus Salt's Land Posts: 7,983 Thanks: 396 Thanked 504 Times in 119 Posts	Re: Tom Holmes' pickups?? BTW, Tom Holmes is a big fan of alnico IV pickups, just like me! __________________ “The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays.” Sören Kierkegaard

01-19-2009, 07:25 AM	#13 (permalink)
Liam V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Preston, Lancashire, United Kingdom Posts: 5,182 Thanks: 87 Thanked 104 Times in 23 Posts	Re: Tom Holmes' pickups?? I believe the OTP Guy also favours Alnico IV.

01-19-2009, 07:48 AM	#14 (permalink)
Nigel Tufnel's tech Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: In good old England Posts: 3,294 Thanks: 6 Thanked 100 Times in 27 Posts	Re: Tom Holmes' pickups?? I hear Nugget is a IV fan as well, especially Rocky __________________ Nigel is always one louder than you.

07-26-2009, 01:52 PM	#15 (permalink)
Zeymatis Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Tom Holmes' pickups?? Hi there . I knew Sid very well and have had two of his guitars , both with Tom Holmes H450s .. Back in 94 his custom guitars including case were going for about £1500 so i imagine the pickups were a lot cheaper . I wouldnt really say that they were any better then any other high end PAF clone that i have tried but they do sound very good . If i had to replace them i would get a pair of bare knuckle which sound just as good but cost a fration of the price Ive just noticed that the bridge is a 455 whilst the neck is a 450 ,, not sure of the difference , i suppose the neck may be a little hotter

07-29-2009, 06:53 PM	#16 (permalink)
nwobhm VintageOriginalSpec Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: East Coast Posts: 3,187 Thanks: 214 Thanked 46 Times in 20 Posts	Re: Tom Holmes' pickups?? I used to have a couple sets, I liked them alot. They had a real lush, almost hi-fi sound. I had an early neck 450 that I picked up used, that was really nice sounding. I put it in the neck of a les paul that wasn't particularly resonant or great sounding and it brought it to life. As nice as they sounded, especially the cleans, they just didn't have the growl I was looking for. I like a little raw, edginess to the tone.

07-29-2009, 07:10 PM	#17 (permalink)
monroe Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,279 Thanks: 5 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Tom Holmes' pickups?? .

07-29-2009, 09:37 PM	#18 (permalink)
cryptozoo Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: In the shadow of Dollywood Posts: 1,308 Thanks: 3 Thanked 8 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Tom Holmes' pickups?? I think there was a time when these were at the top of the vintage-sounding ladder when it comes to boutique pickups. With all the winding options now, I don't believe that's the case anymore. And the used prices... sheesh.

07-29-2009, 10:10 PM	#19 (permalink)
PINKBITS Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: From the Land Down Under Posts: 7,627 Thanks: 250 Thanked 366 Times in 63 Posts	Re: Tom Holmes' pickups?? Soooooo Mr Splat, thinking of trying out some cork sniffer pickups eh? __________________

07-29-2009, 10:23 PM	#21 (permalink)
PINKBITS Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: From the Land Down Under Posts: 7,627 Thanks: 250 Thanked 366 Times in 63 Posts	Re: Tom Holmes' pickups?? Splatts, have you ever checked this guy out before? Slider's Classic 57 Pickups for Stratocaster, Strat - eBay Guitar Parts, Parts Accessories, Guitar, Musical Instruments. (end time 02-Aug-09 17:14:18 AEST) He got a big thumbs up in the ToneQuest report for his single coils. I'd reckon he'd do a mean P90 or humbucker. He's an Aussie to boot Have only heard a couple of clips of his single coils. They sounded I would have really liked to have tried a set. __________________

07-29-2009, 10:48 PM	#22 (permalink)
Splattle101 V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 7,263 Thanks: 87 Thanked 551 Times in 45 Posts	Re: Tom Holmes' pickups?? I saw the glowing review of Slider's stuff in the TQR shootout. It looks really interesting. However, the only Strat I've got is a nasty Chinese Affinity Squire. It plays pretty well, and it sound alright with the Texas Specials that are in it. So I have nothing to put a set of Strat pickups in. Nothing that deserves it, anyway. I'm certainly not going to fork over the foccacia for a set of superb pickups and then stuff them into some plank of routed whatever-the-**-it-is they make those Affinity axes from. Regarding me trying cork-sniffer pickups, no. I doubt it. Not unless they turned up at a reasonable price. From what I've seen of the prices for the Holme pickups, they're too much. When I first posted this thread I thought I saw them for $800 or so. US dollars. Nope. But I was interested nevertheless, because of that TQR report. They positively waxed lyrical about them. So I was interested to see if anybody else had used them, and did they hear the magic, too? But not for me at that price. That would come to $14-1500 Au by the time I got them here and paid the tax etc. I fear they would have a very poor SA coefficient. __________________ The sleep of reason brings forth monsters.**

11-12-2009, 10:41 AM	#30 (permalink)
ZEROUPSIDEPOTENTIAL Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Tom Holmes' pickups?? Admittedly I did just join this forum but still after looking around it seems as though I can help a bit. Holmes opened shop sometime in the 70's and had some pretty high flying customers, such as Billy Gibbons, Albert King and Eddie Van Halen to name but a few. I've recently purchased a pair of Holmes pickups.(more later) This set has the best PAF tone imaginable. That being said you must also install the correct capacitor. For correct vintage tone you will need .022 oil in paper capacitors. As a tech this seems obvious to me but not everyone is technical eh? The Holmes bridge will ohm around 8.6K & the neck about 1 less, close to 7.6K. Any decent PAF combo will have a neck/bridge variance between .75K and 1.5K. Remember I said I'd get back to the purchase later? Well this WEIRDBEARDGEAR guy down in Texas stocks and sells Holmes equipment, thats where I got mine. The man is a fountain of knowledge and will talk to you forever on the phone. His website can also be useful. Heres a link>>WEIRDBEARD GEAR - TOM HOLMES PICKUPS FOR SALEPAF TONE & SOME TOM HOLMES GUITARS.

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