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>HOW difficult would it be for a pup maker-- copy a Barden to the T ???
it wouldn't. When Bardens stopped being available, he was making them for Japan and one site had a tour of his shop with him making pickups. Don't look like rocket science to me. Not to marginalize the product or the man of course. And he has a healthy dose of respect for Fender and the traditional pickups. Barden had a few people that worked for him before the "issue" he had (no idea how they are set up now) that obviously were trained to produce the product. The materials would not be hard to get. What I think the question really is: what is his share of the pickup market? Would it justify trying to compete (which means match the quality and consistency)and get a piece of it? I think it boils down to the fact that his share is small. And even if you do make something, the Gatton connection can't be taken away from him. You can't compete with that particular element from a marketing perspective. Also, I think like Haussel possibly experienced - they are not to everyones liking. His were not very hi-fi. I did see a new Rio Grande with blades, but I suspect they are doing more of the power bucker thing with theirs. When Bill Lawrence did the model for the Gatton tele, he remarked with some surprise about how they sounded. My point being, that while he can make a copy, he might not have the inclination to want that sound to come from a product of his.
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