Klein '57 Strat pickups now part of the Epic series !

GAS !!! :shock: $240 for the set... I'm really thinking about it...
http://www.kleinpickups.com/p-311-1957-epic-series-stratocaster-pickups.aspx

BUMP ! Nobody else is pshyched about this ? :shock: :mrgreen:

I wonder if the Epic line was created to more easily allow for higher prices.

Nice pickups though....gotta be a price limit though. Some of this is just getting outrageous.

I wonder if the Epic line was created to more easily allow for higher prices.

Nice pickups though....gotta be a price limit though. Some of this is just getting outrageous.

$240 for three boutique Strat pickups is outrageous ? :confused:

$240 for three boutique Strat pickups is outrageous ? :confused:

Couple bucks of wire, 5 to 10 dollars for magnets and a few bucks for the bobbins. Sure. Outrageous. People equate higher cost to better quality or some kinda mojo.

I'm sure that Klein's pups are fine, but go with D Allen pickups. His pups don't cost an arm and a leg and they are just as "authentic."

Go buy his TruVintage 54's.

http://www.dallenpickups.com/DAllenPickups_TruVintage54_Single_Coil_Pickups_p/vp%20trv54.htm

Here's a vid of both the Tru Vintage 54's and the Hot Vintage 54's.

PD6YDEgxKak

Just what is the 'epic series' anyway, and what makes it special?

I don't think the price on the Kleins are outrageous. Those Allen pups sound nice too...

Just what is the 'epic series' anyway, and what makes it special?

Click on the link in my OP and you'll know all about it. :razz:

Couple bucks of wire, 5 to 10 dollars for magnets and a few bucks for the bobbins. Sure. Outrageous. People equate higher cost to better quality or some kinda mojo.



With that rationale, everything is pretty much "overpriced". :roll:

Click on the link in my OP and you'll know all about it. :razz:

Still don't get what separates the epic series from his other pickups. I'm guessing vintage accurate, and the magnets...

If you have the scratch I would go for it. Chris is great guy to deal with and makes some awesome sounding pups. They may be a tad pricey but they are top notch quality. I've been wanting a broadcaster set but can't justify them to myself at the moment.

Still don't get what separates the epic series from his other pickups. I'm guessing vintage accurate, and the magnets...

From the website : "Magnets, Our Epic Series 1957 Pickups use Original Fender Alloy Alnico 5 Magnets From 1957. We sent Original magnets from a 1957 pickup to an Independent Laboratory for Metallurgical Chemical Analysis Testing. We then contracted direct with our magnet manufacturer to get the Alnico 5 magnets Specially Poured to the exact composition of the Originals. We are the only manufacturer who offers this. Pure, Sweet, and Authentic Tone. "

Epic? Is that like EPIC MEAL TIME? (http://www.youtube.com/user/EpicMealTime)

From the website : "Magnets, Our Epic Series 1957 Pickups use Original Fender Alloy Alnico 5 Magnets From 1957. We sent Original magnets from a 1957 pickup to an Independent Laboratory for Metallurgical Chemical Analysis Testing. We then contracted direct with our magnet manufacturer to get the Alnico 5 magnets Specially Poured to the exact composition of the Originals. We are the only manufacturer who offers this. Pure, Sweet, and Authentic Tone. "

Right there, the site is misleading. He doesn't use original magnets from 1957. It's a selling point to charge more. That's all. Below that, it says that he has them made.

The hype is usually just hype. Everyone needs a selling point.

You can twist it to say what you want but most reasonably intelligent would read the whole paragraph not just one sentence and what he is doing is fully disclosed.

You can twist it to say what you want but most reasonably intelligent would read the whole paragraph not just one sentence and what he is doing is fully disclosed.

I didn't twist anything. It says it.

I didn't twist anything. It says it.

:roll:

I didn't twist anything. It says it.

Sorry, but no. He says he uses the same alloy, but that he has it manufactured. Unless you just read the first sentence and think he's finished talking, you won't think he's using 50s magnets.

I heard the samples online...sounds good...likin' the bridge

Sorry, but no. He says he uses the same alloy, but that he has it manufactured. Unless you just read the first sentence and think he's finished talking, you won't think he's using 50s magnets.

That's what I saw, too. Never entered my mind he was using 50s magnets. Seems reasonable and interesting to me...

The 57 set was on sale in December for $180 and I bought a set. Really sweet pickups with just enough edge so it didn't ice pick. This set and a set of Don Mare 50s Formvar are the best traditional Strat pickups I have played! I also love the Zexcoil Sig set with dual " silent split" using a push-push volume, master tone and blend knob.

I have two pine Tele bodies to build up and I am looking at the Klein Epic Broadcaster, Nocaster and '52 Tele for pickups as all three are on sale this month. The tough part is I do not know what the guitars, or the pickups, sound like!

The 57 set was on sale in December for $180 and I bought a set. Really sweet pickups with just enough edge so it didn't ice pick. This set and a set of Don Mare 50s Formvar are the best traditional Strat pickups I have played! I also love the Zexcoil Sig set with dual " silent split" using a push-push volume, master tone and blend knob.

I have two pine Tele bodies to build up and I am looking at the Klein Epic Broadcaster, Nocaster and '52 Tele for pickups as all three are on sale this month. The tough part is I do not know what the guitars, or the pickups, sound like!

I had the same dilemma (see the thread I started). In the end I got the 52 set. Hope it arrives soon!

I will be selling a few pedals and hope to get 2 of the 3 (Broadcaster, Nocaster or '52).

I have a rather light pine body, 3.4 pounds, that I think would do well with the '52.

I also have a medium weight pine body, 4.2 pounds, and I cant decide if I should go Broadcaster or Nocaster? My main amp is a 20 Watt Swart AST Pro, so I do not need a huge output, but I did write Mr Klein earlier this year and he recommended the Nocaster for a modern Stones sound. Both the 52 and the Broadcaster have lots of different sound clips though the same can not be said for the Nocaster which has only 2 clips which do not give me a feel for what it can do.

The big difference seems to be that the broadcaster uses thinner 43 gauge wire. Purely judging by specs, it would seem the nocaster at 8.2k would have higher output that his broadcaster with 8.6k. For comparison, Don Mare winds a 43wire pickup between 8 and 11.5k, and David Allan makes one measuring 7.6k.

I am using the Rumpelstiltskin 1950 Black Rope set in my home build Telemaster and that is wound 7.29k Ohms neck and 10.87k Ohms for the bridge. At the moment I only have the bridge pickup in and have noticed the pickups with 43 gauge wire in the bridge are really sensitive to height adjustment.

I think a lot of the people making Alnico 3 overwind so much to cover up the slightly harsh top end. In general I am not a big fan of overwound pickups and my favorite T pickups are the ones in my LsL, but the 1950 black ropes sound really nice, so I am still looking at Klein's Broadcaster due to his description of the low end compression and the more mellow sound of proper A3.

The store I worked at in the early - mid 80s had a Broadcaster from mid November of 1950! I got to take it home to work on it a bit as I was getting it ready to sell to Eric Clapton or Albert Lee. The sale didnt go through, but it was just nice to play something other than my The Strat and I remember it being really light. Also the bridge pickup was in the mid 7k Ohms which surprised me as the only information I could find about Broadcasters said they had really hot pickups.

$240 for three boutique Strat pickups is outrageous ? :confused:

yeah, when you factor in the pup materials, the business operating costs, the labor and the marketing, $240/strat set is a lotta loot for pups that started out costing the commerical builder maybe $15 for all three at the most. yeah, ymmv. but it shouldn't once ya know the facts. :twisted: