who's rockin' guitar force pickups?

[ryanmichael95]

I recently became interested in GuitarForce pickups and just wanna get a feel for what people who have them in their guitars like about them/don't like or just an honest opinion...I really like the Rebel II's from what I've heard as far as sound clips go, and I've heard mention of a "RebelFire", in between the Rebel II and the Spitfire...any comments? There just does not seem to be too many opinions stated. A few, but was wondering if there were more out there?

[slowhand0461]

I have a V 57 set,LOTB set,Rebel I set and a Erupter bridge/Rebel II neck set.

Love 'em all, they all have their purpose, to me none are any better than the others. they are all great in their own way.


I really suggest contacting Kevin and telling him what youre looking. I'll bet that he'll steer you to the perfect set for you.


Great guy,great service and outstanding products.


I almost forgot he wound a custom set for a guitar I built for a friend and nailed the perfect sound for him!!

[mrpesca]

I've got Rebels, love em. Going to purchase something a little hotter for my cousins 92 classic. Can't go wrong especially with the price. BIG value for your $$$

[ryanmichael95]

I shot Kevin an e-mail...I'm looking forward to his reply....the more I find out about his pickups, the more excited I get!

[needlespauls]

meeeeeeeeee!!!!
Love em'. I've got the Rebel II set in my LP. Its a great sounding pickup set that is very even sounding. So even, that I find myself switching thru all three positions quite a bit because all of them sound so good. The neck is not too boomy-bassy or muddy, the middle is not over "plunky", and the bridge is not ice-picky at all, but not over-dark. Just perfect!!! Not a very high-gain set, but not too weak leaving you wanting. I need another LP SOON, and I want to put a Rockdriver set in it for my heavier tones. Those two axes and pickup configs will cover everything I do perfectly!!!! BUT, overall, the Rebel II is really what I identify with. They just sing at all volume levels and gain ranges. Of course its a sum of all parts between guitar, electronics and amp, but I'm tellin ya, these pickups are special!

[freddarl82]

I received my first set of pickups from Kevin last week. I thought I wanted to get a set of the Vintage 57's, but after exchanging a few emails with Kevin, he recommended a custom-wound set of Vintage 57's, wound a little hotter. So, they are Alnico II, unpotted. The bridge DC resistance measures 8.4K and the neck 7.4K.

I installed them in my 2004 57 Goldtop Historic, which has RS pots and Luxe Bumblebee caps. I just bought my first recording gear a few weeks ago, so I wanted to try to record a few clips. I used a SM57 close-mic'd into my Line 6 UX2. The only pedals were a Van-Amps Soul Mate reverb and a BK Butler Tubedriver (the 3 knob version). I recorded the clips through two different amps. I did not pay much for either one, but one is a low powered, fairly run-of-the-mill amp, the other is a more boutique-like 50-watter:

1. Silverface Champ. Chassis was built/modified by an amp hobbyist. It is mounted in a 2x10 combo with Fender Alnico Blue speakers. Volume on about 4 on both clips.

2. Hand-built Tweed Bassman Clone. Built by a different amp hobbyist, it's running EL34's. Mounted in a 2x12 pine cab. The mic'd speaker is a Celestion V-12-80. Dirty clip is with volume at 9 1/2, no overdrive or distortion pedal, just pure tube sweetness.

Please forgive my playing - I hope you can at least get a feel for what Kevin can do. I feel I did not use any recording trickery (I don't know enough about it to be tricky!). I used one of my recording program's compressors after recording - just enough to bring the clips "back to life" and approximate what they sounded like live. This is also my first attempt uploading sound clips to a forum, so I hope you can hear them OK.

All clips follow the same pattern - chords, then single-notes:
Neck pickup -- Bridge pickup -- Both pickups

Guitarforce Custom Wind Vintage 57 into Champ - Clean

Guitarforce Custom Wind Vintage 57 into Champ (w/tubedriver)

Guitarforce Custom Wind Vintage 57 into Bassman-clean

Guitarforce Custom Wind Vintage 57 into Bassman - dirty

[needlespauls]

Hey great sound demos man!!! I really liked the sound of that pickup set, particularly in the middle position!!! Nice!!!

[mrpesca]

Thanks Fred, nice demo.

[5F6-A]

Mixing pickups...

[Hawk]

I have a set of LOTB's being built by Kevin right now to go into my R9.

I found GuitarForce through this post by jonesy77777.
He has some uploaded clips at that thread if you want to hear the Lord of the Blues pickups.

[jonesy77777]

Like Hawk said, I have a set of LOTB's and really like them. My #1 set of pups.

[rockie1974]

I have the Rebel II Great pickups, great price!

[cynic79]

I've got a set of LOTB pickups in my Les Paul. Sounds wonderful for clean and overdriven tones, and I can get some good crunch with the tone control rolled back a bit.

[5F6-A]

my own sounds very late 60's. A bit like the best & fattes Tele neck p/u

[kevinT]

Originally Posted by freddarl82

I received my first set of pickups from Kevin last week. I thought I wanted to get a set of the Vintage 57's, but after exchanging a few emails with Kevin, he recommended a custom-wound set of Vintage 57's, wound a little hotter. So, they are Alnico II, unpotted. The bridge DC resistance measures 8.4K and the neck 7.4K.

I installed them in my 2004 57 Goldtop Historic, which has RS pots and Luxe Bumblebee caps. I just bought my first recording gear a few weeks ago, so I wanted to try to record a few clips. I used a SM57 close-mic'd into my Line 6 UX2. The only pedals were a Van-Amps Soul Mate reverb and a BK Butler Tubedriver (the 3 knob version). I recorded the clips through two different amps. I did not pay much for either one, but one is a low powered, fairly run-of-the-mill amp, the other is a more boutique-like 50-watter:

1. Silverface Champ. Chassis was built/modified by an amp hobbyist. It is mounted in a 2x10 combo with Fender Alnico Blue speakers. Volume on about 4 on both clips.

2. Hand-built Tweed Bassman Clone. Built by a different amp hobbyist, it's running EL34's. Mounted in a 2x12 pine cab. The mic'd speaker is a Celestion V-12-80. Dirty clip is with volume at 9 1/2, no overdrive or distortion pedal, just pure tube sweetness.

Please forgive my playing - I hope you can at least get a feel for what Kevin can do. I feel I did not use any recording trickery (I don't know enough about it to be tricky!). I used one of my recording program's compressors after recording - just enough to bring the clips "back to life" and approximate what they sounded like live. This is also my first attempt uploading sound clips to a forum, so I hope you can hear them OK.

All clips follow the same pattern - chords, then single-notes:
Neck pickup -- Bridge pickup -- Both pickups

Guitarforce Custom Wind Vintage 57 into Champ - Clean

Guitarforce Custom Wind Vintage 57 into Champ (w/tubedriver)

Guitarforce Custom Wind Vintage 57 into Bassman-clean

Guitarforce Custom Wind Vintage 57 into Bassman - dirty

Sounding great. Thanks.

[nitrous12]

I have an Erupter/Rebel II set and a Rockdriver bridge.
I also have a Black Diamond set that I should be getting soon and I just borrowed a Rebel-Fire from a fellow forum member and liked it so much I now ordered a Rebel-Fire bridge/Rebel II Neck set.
The Erupter has a warmer and slightly softer feel than I am used to because of the A2 mag. It did not work that well in on of my Traditionals because that guitar is a bit on the muddy and mellow side naturally. Now the Rebel-Fire in that same guitar kicks major ass! And the Erupter sounds great in both my Standard and my other Traditional.
The Rockdriver is a bit more aggressive than the Erupter.
Search my username for some threads I started with some clips of the Erupter and Rockdriver.

[Belzeebub]

I have a set of matching V57 pups in my LP Classic. My honest opinion about them is that I love them. Of course I will always be curious to try other pickups (Rebel, and the others) just to see what they are all about, but I don't see myself going without these. I have received lots of compliments about how good they sound - through a Blues Deville. Very warm, PAF type of organic sound. I find the bridge pup more "organic" sounding than the neck pickup - but maybe thats just me. Not a bad thing at all as the two pickups are supposed to give unique/different voicings/sounds from each other. I really dig the sound of vintage spec Alnico IIs for some reason.

[ryanmichael95]

Well, I ordered up....a couple of custom winds. Kevin is awesome to deal with. Fast is the first word that pops into my head. You e-mail him, and he actually responds, unlike some others out there. So far a very cool experience. I can't wait till the pups come in.

Thanks to all for the replies.

[LOVEROCK]

Rebel II PAF +1

[SlyStrat]

I just bought a Traditional with Gibson 57 Classics. Anyone compare tone of the Gibson pups to Kevin's?

[nitrous12]

Originally Posted by SlyStrat

I just bought a Traditional with Gibson 57 Classics. Anyone compare tone of the Gibson pups to Kevin's?

I have two Traditionals. Both are pretty different from each other. I found a major improvement in both with Guitarforce pickups over the stock 57 Classics. Clarity, dynamics, low end tightness....all enhanced significantly over the Gibson stuff.
Same can be said for many of the boutique pups out there....they really are head and shoulders above the stock pups and I can't imagine you wouldn't hear and feel the difference. You just have to find what you like which is why it is so cool to have all the choices we do. Kevin's pickups are right up there with the best I have tried and I have tried quite a few of the big name winders. All good...all different...find your flavor.

[jonesy77777]

Originally Posted by SlyStrat

I just bought a Traditional with Gibson 57 Classics. Anyone compare tone of the Gibson pups to Kevin's?

I replaced the 57 classics from my es335 with LOTB's, night and day. The LOTB's are far more responsive and crisp.

[SlyStrat]

These '57 Classics aren't bad pups. I'm actually getting some good tone from them. I play through a JTM45 and chase the "vintage" Clapton tone.
But most people say there are improvements out there.

[freddarl82]

Originally Posted by SlyStrat

I just bought a Traditional with Gibson 57 Classics. Anyone compare tone of the Gibson pups to Kevin's?

Yes, I have. I agree with Nitrous12 for the most part. I had BB1/BB2 in my 57 goldtop. The BB's have some more mids, but that is not to say Kevin's 57 set he wound are "scooped," certainly not like a Duncan 59. I like the Guitarforce set for the tight bottom, clear, distinct highs, and string separation.

I recorded clips of my Goldtop with the BB's and the Guitarforce custom-wound Vintage 57's (I posted the Guitarforce clips earlier in the thread). If you would like to compare the BB's with the Guirtarforce head-to-head, PM me. Or, if there's enough interest, I'll put them in this thread (it might take a few days).