NP(ickup)D: Wolfetone Dr. Vintage

[David Garner]

Thanks so much to Mr. Satchmo for shipping these out so fast. I can't wait to get them installed today.

I love the 57 Classics in my Les Paul, and I intend to keep them at least until I've lived with these for a while, but I've wanted to try a set of unpotted pickups for a while. I thought about getting some Seths, but at the end of the day I saw that Satchmo was going to be selling his Wolfetones and everyone raves about them, so I thought I'd give them a try.

Will post a tone report when they are installed. Meanwhile, this is me waiting for the mail to run:

 

[David Garner]

Got 'em!



They read a touch hot out of the box but I'm assuming that's because they had been out in the hot sun all day.





So bridge 8.46 k/ohm, neck 7.94 k/ohm. In the thread where Mr. Satchmo first got them, he indicated they were 8.05 and 7.7, respectively. I assume when they get acclimated to the house they'll drop, but I didn't want to wait around and see so I soldered them in.

First impressions are really good. First, despite the fact that they are unpotted, there was no problem sitting about 6 feet away from my 18 Watt, with the volume on 7, facing the amp. So they do not squeal. They DO have a great controlled feedback and a lot of harmonic complexity. They sound a whole lot like the 57 Classics, but the former are a bit smoother and more compressed, whereas the Dr. Vs are more open and have more midrange and balance. The 57s sound a little scooped by comparison.

It took a while to get the pickup heights right. They definitely have a smaller sweet spot than I expected. Within a couple of turns either way and they are either too polite and dull or too harsh and strident. But in the sweet spot, they are really good. Very much like the Bluesbreaker/Beano tones from Clapton. With an SD-1 pushing the Marshall, they get a nice even crunch tone. Into my Deluxe Reverb they are very sweet and complex, and have a lot of character to the tone without being piercing or harsh.

Great pickups. I think they might be keepers.

 

[Slater529]

Congrats on the Wolfetones, and thanks for the informative post. But I'm curious about your '57 Classics. Are they the Classic/Classic Plus set, or an earlier set from the '90s?

 

[David Garner]

They're the 57/57+ set, pulled from a 2013 Traditional Plus by a buddy of mine who wanted more metal pickups in there. They were really close in DC resistance, though, so I think they were more like a normal 57 Classic set.

 

[Slater529]

Thanks D.G.!

 

[David Garner]

So I'm not telling y'all anything the unpotted pickup fans haven't been telling us all for years, but I really love the way these coax easily into feedback, and the best part is there is just a touch of microphonic chirp when you hit them hard that gives them so much character. The mids are so much more open and thick sounding than I'm used to. It plays like a much hotter pickup, but with the articulation and complexity and overtones of a low wind (because they are low winds).

I'm seriously impressed with these. I've played it through all my amps, but the Marshall with a Rat clone in front is just magic. Texas blues (think 70s ZZ Top), Aerosmith, etc. is all right there. They are everything I love about the 57 Classics and then some.

 

[Mr. Satchmo]

I'm glad you like them man, as far as the rating, I posted what they are supposed to be, but that bridge is a tiny bit hotter Which is nice, I never got around to measuring the resistance

Dr v pickups are some of my favorite, enjoy them!

 

[David Garner]

I'm glad you like them man, as far as the rating, I posted what they are supposed to be, but that bridge is a tiny bit hotter Which is nice, I never got around to measuring the resistance

Dr v pickups are some of my favorite, enjoy them!

I am enjoying them more than you know brother. Thanks so much.

 

[WolfeMacleod]

I am enjoying them more than you know brother. Thanks so much.

If you're able, I'd love to hear recordings!

Yes, ambient room temp will affect the readings. About about 65 degrees, they should read 8.05 and 7.55k, give or take a tiny bit. 10 degrees difference can alter the reading by about .2k Turn counts of wire are most important, though. Duncan's tolerances are +/- 5%.

 

[David Garner]

If you're able, I'd love to hear recordings!

Yes, ambient room temp will affect the readings. About about 65 degrees, they should read 8.05 and 7.55k, give or take a tiny bit. 10 degrees difference can alter the reading by about .2k Turn counts of wire are most important, though. Duncan's tolerances are +/- 5%.

Wolfe, I'll certainly do that if I can work in the time.

I re-checked them this evening installed, and they measured 8.03 bridge and 7.54 neck, which probably means they're right at the 8.2/7.7 range. I'm assuming this is one of the neck pickups wound for brighter guitars you mention on the website. In any event, they sound fantastic. I'll see if I can work in time to record them later this week.

 

[dmoss74]

don't sweat the dcr. just play 'em. congrats.

 

[David Garner]

don't sweat the dcr. just play 'em. congrats.

Oh, I'm not sweating it at all. In fact, if they were off spec, I'd suggest Wolfe needs to consider winding the others to this spec

 

[WolfeMacleod]

Oh, I'm not sweating it at all. In fact, if they were off spec, I'd suggest Wolfe needs to consider winding the others to this spec

Heh. Nope, they're all wound to the same specs. Same number of turns, same wind pattern, and as close as possible to the same ohm-per-foot wire.
Assuming evening temperature was about 65, they're about as dead on as you can get. -.02k on that bridge is about ten turns of wire. lol. 7.55k is the official neck spec.
Hot summers and cold winters make for a hell of a time trying to keep everything in check.

 

[David Garner]

Heh. Nope, they're all wound to the same specs. Same number of turns, same wind pattern, and as close as possible to the same ohm-per-foot wire.
Assuming evening temperature was about 65, they're about as dead on as you can get. -.02k on that bridge is about ten turns of wire. lol. 7.55k is the official neck spec.
Hot summers and cold winters make for a hell of a time trying to keep everything in check.

All I know is they sound amazing. I read somewhere that you suggest setting the height on these at about 1/8" to start. They are almost dead on that measurement right now. I reset the polepieces to even and then tweaked a bit. They sound perfect.

I'll be sending you that order for the aged covers shortly.

 

[Mr. Satchmo]

dang dude if I knew you needed aged covers, I would have sent you some nice aged nickel silver covers.

On the bright side though, Wolfe makes some awesome aged covers, take a look at these Dr. Vintage that he aged for me? This is my favorite set. His secret to aging, is his own sweat hahaha just kidding

Tarnished pole pieces are a must

 

[David Garner]

dang dude if I knew you needed aged covers, I would have sent you some nice aged nickel silver covers.

On the bright side though, Wolfe makes some awesome aged covers, take a look at these Dr. Vintage that he aged for me? This is my favorite set. His secret to aging, is his own sweat hahaha just kidding

Tarnished pole pieces are a must

The funny thing is, I didn't know until you had already shipped them. Oddly enough, it was looking at the middle LP in your signature that convinced me to do it. My 93 is rough around the edges, but the bridge, pickups and tailpiece look brand new.

 

[WolfeMacleod]

All I know is they sound amazing. I read somewhere that you suggest setting the height on these at about 1/8" to start. They are almost dead on that measurement right now. I reset the polepieces to even and then tweaked a bit. They sound perfect.

I'll be sending you that order for the aged covers shortly.

Dave, I'll try to get those covers out today. I've been a little wrapped up lately, putting together some research and gaining support for a competitor of mine who's being sued by a much larger competitor. I can't go into too much detail right now though....

 

[Pop1655]

Congrats. I'm a big fan myself.

 

[David Garner]

Dave, I'll try to get those covers out today. I've been a little wrapped up lately, putting together some research and gaining support for a competitor of mine who's being sued by a much larger competitor. I can't go into too much detail right now though....

Not a problem at all Wolfe -- no worries. I was on the phone when you called, so sorry I missed you.

 

[David Garner]

Congrats. I'm a big fan myself.

Love the look! One day I'll get another 90s Standard in ebony. When I do, I'll be ordering a set of Marshallheads in double creme, uncovered.

I don't need another LP, but I like the option of having a "vintage" guitar and a "balls out hard rock" guitar.