Stuart Blackguard Review

OK, I just wrote a SUPER LONG DETAILED reveiw of this, but then the stupidass thing made me log on again and I lost the whole thing I'm too pissed to re write it so here is a brief summary. ARGHH!@@#^#&#&^%

I swapped out a flatpole antiquity in an esquire for a 7.22K blackguard. (super quick shipping, btw)

Long story short the BG is head and shoulders above the Duncan in term of dynamics, touch-sensitivity, warmth, depth, "3D-ness", sparkle, yadda yadda.

It is very similar to the Fralin A3 (stock stagger) in my 52RI, but a little bit more zingy and dynamic. The Fralin is a little warmer and middier, but it could be the guitar too. They are REMARKABLY similar, but the Fralin has much better string-to-string balance because of the raised D&G poles. The BG is pretty weak on the middle strings and real hot on the E's. I wish he'd make the pickup with staggered poles, then it might be the ultimate for me.

SO... to all the people that are curious about these incredibly expensive pickups ($128!), they really are fantastic, and something special, but the Fralin gets mightly close and you have a lot more options (mags/wire/winding/staggers) and lower prices.

However for those that want an authentic early 50s sound and look, the Stuart may be the best out there. I stil haven't tried Hamels or the other Alnico 3 winders out there. Frankly I won't even try any other magnets in a tele ever again...

OK, I just wrote a SUPER LONG DETAILED reveiw of this, but then the stupidass thing made me log on again and I lost the whole thing I'm too pissed to re write it so here is a brief summary. ARGHH!@@#^#&#&^%

The BG is pretty weak on the middle strings and real hot on the E's. I wish he'd make the pickup with staggered poles, then it might be the ultimate for me.

:x :twisted: :lol: The same thing has happened to me before, and I put a lot into it.... I just said "forget it," and went on. I guessed that I wasn't meant to be heard that night.

That's the nature of the Blackguard Pickups and part of their sound. You can still adjust it a bit better if needed by tweaking. But you know TY, if the pickup was made any different, staggered and whatnot, it wouldn't be a "Blackguard Pickup." That's why the addition of a raised D & G slug made it's way in '55.

That's the nature of the Blackguard Pickups and part of their sound. You can still adjust it a bit better if needed by tweaking. But you know TY, if the pickup was made any different, staggered and whatnot, it wouldn't be a "Blackguard Pickup." That's why the addition of a raised D & G slug made it's way in '55.

I just find it interesting that this (somewhat variable) tendency of flatpole pickups is a real sought-after feature. I like even output from each string. Am I the only one? My theory is that along with the improvement to staggered poles in '55 the pickups were made thinner sounding, perhaps because of the switch to alnico5, or maybe the pickups were underwound?

Anyway, people crave the "flatpole" tone (i.e. early 50s) because it is A3, a little meatier, and they just accept the balance drawbacks. To me, the best solution is the combo- A3, but with the stagger. I really can't say enough good things about the Fralin in my 52ri. I'd love to have a pickup like the BG, with its added ZIP, but with a nice even response. Oh well...

I wonder if a pickup maker has tried charging each polepiece differently, to make a flatpole pickup but with a stronger response from the D, or the D and G? Flatpole looks with staggerpole performance?

That's the nature of the Blackguard Pickups and part of their sound. You can still adjust it a bit better if needed by tweaking. But you know TY, if the pickup was made any different, staggered and whatnot, it wouldn't be a "Blackguard Pickup." That's why the addition of a raised D & G slug made it's way in '55.

Anyway, people crave the "flatpole" tone (i.e. early 50s) because it is A3, a little meatier, and they just accept the balance drawbacks. To me, the best solution is the combo- A3, but with the stagger. I really can't say enough good things about the Fralin in my 52ri. I'd love to have a pickup like the BG, with its added ZIP, but with a nice even response. Oh well...
Sounds like you want these (http://www.songsofjonathanwilson.com/GVCGLollarAL3.htm).

Sounds like you want these (http://www.songsofjonathanwilson.com/GVCGLollarAL3.htm).

Those look cool, but are very pricey and I'd rather not pay for the "aging" if you know what I mean.

Anyway, their claim is bogus. Fralin has been making that combination (alnico 3 with stagger) for years, and doing it well. I am curious though how that lollar would differ, if much at all, from the fralin.

Anyone ever tried that one?

Just put a set in my 50s tele last night. Had a rehearsal with them that night and this afternoon. Tomorrow will use them for a show. So far they seem pretty nice and will post a review in a day or two.

To any other BG owners out there-

Are your polepieces flush with the top of the bobbin? The top of my pickup is warped (concave), so much so that the poles, especially the outer poles, are recessed beneath the level of the bobbin. Also, the bobbin is kinda bowed upward around the perimeter of each polepiece, as though the poles were to big to go through the holes and the holes are being stretched out. I've never seen anything like it. It looks pretty crappy, there's even a bunch of gooey black greasy junk down in the holes on top of the poles. To be honest I expected better contruction out of such a pricey pickups, but I guess tone wins out over cosmetics.

I've had Fred's pups in my Tele since last summer and I still think they are great. I also think they blow away the SD Antiquity for all the reasons you said. The sound is very natural and acoustic like in it's response. As with the best vintage gear, there's a distinct absence of B.S. frequencies, and a simplicity that seems perfect and musical.

As for my bridge pup, all the polepieces are basically flush with the top, except for the high E which is slightly depressed. There is maybe a slight roll to the top of the pup.

TY,

You're describing the nature of vintage correct pickups and fiberboard in general. It warps slightly due to temp, fenders will do it old and new: Originals, ri OV MIA, MIJ, etc..., Seymour Duncans, Stuarts, Hamels, Lollars, Frailins, etc. If not yet sometime later.

The way the slugs push up into it and raise the area around it is very characteristic to the appearance of old vintage handwound pickups (No not all, but the majority). Some people may make them this way to aesthetically resemble what they're trying to mimic, other people may leave it out, or make larger holes. It's natural. It's also possible to have a slug slightly below another like you are describing.

TY,

You're describing the nature of vintage correct pickups and fiberboard in general. It warps slightly due to temp, fenders will do it old and new: Originals, ri OV MIA, MIJ, etc..., Seymour Duncans, Stuarts, Hamels, Lollars, Frailins, etc. If not yet sometime later.

The way the slugs push up into it and raise the area around it is very characteristic to the appearance of old vintage handwound pickups (No not all, but the majority). Some people may make them this way to aesthetically resemble what they're trying to mimic, other people may leave it out, or make larger holes. It's natural. It's also possible to have a slug slightly below another like you are describing.

Interesting. My old 52RI pickup was indeed warped on top, but the BG is significantly moreso. The main thing is that the poles were recessed, which is not the case at all with the 52RI. Here is a pic of the BG. I have some other super closups if anyone is interested (doubtful) I can email them.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-12/80754/Stuart-BG.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-12/80754/Stuar--BG-2.jpg

Interestingly enough, my Fralin Stock Replacement pickups are very balanced from string to string and they are not staggered but flat. This might be due to the Strings or Amp I use, I'm not really sure. But, they are definitely balanced.

Sounds like you want these (http://www.songsofjonathanwilson.com/GVCGLollarAL3.htm).

Those look cool, but are very pricey and I'd rather not pay for the "aging" if you know what I mean.

Anyway, their claim is bogus. Fralin has been making that combination (alnico 3 with stagger) for years, and doing it well. I am curious though how that lollar would differ, if much at all, from the fralin.

Anyone ever tried that one?

They do look cool, but I wouldn't pull the trigger either.

Another unsolicated option. I recently bought some Strat pickups from OC Duff. Not only are they great, he took off some windings for me and offered to do so again to find the sweet spot I was after. He's top notch all the way around.

To my ears, his winds -- at least on a Strat pup -- are better than Fralins. How could I make such a stupid claim? I bought a set of Fralins with a dead neck pup and had him rewind them to the same specs. To my ear, they outclassed the Fralins -- and clearly so. :shock:

I'd put money on his Strat pups in a "taste test." I've had no experience with his Tele winds. But he's such a class act, I'd have no problem working with him on a set.

Can you get OC Duffs in A3?

I'm almost positive. I believe he'll do whatever you ask. Drop him a note.

OC will make any pickup with any magnet that fits. In other words he is a total custom pickup winder who will do anything you want.

No other pickup winder will work with you like OC does.

I got a Tele set from him 2 years ago raved about it here and everyone that got stuff from OC was very happy.

Do a search for OC Duff and see.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-12/80754/Stuart-BG.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-12/80754/Stuar--BG-2.jpg

The one I had also had recessed poles. More black goo (which is wax, by the way). Potted in black wax, just like old ones.

The one I had also had recessed poles. More black goo (which is wax, by the way). Potted in black wax, just like old ones.

I figured it was wax, but it was pretty greasy stuff. There was a bunch more in the holes, but I cleaned most of it out.

I like even output from each string. Am I the only one?

I find staggered pole pups to be too loud on the D and G strings.

The whole concept of staggering is retro thinking gone mad, they were originally designed to compensate for a wound G and a heavy gauge B string.
The wound G would be a lot quieter than the B, hence the stagger.

These days with light strings and plain G's the need for a stagger has disappeared, yet pups are still made this way.

I like even output from each string. Am I the only one?

I find staggered pole pups to be too loud on the D and G strings.

The whole concept of staggering is retro thinking gone mad, they were originally designed to compensate for a wound G and a heavy gauge B string.
The wound G would be a lot quieter than the B, hence the stagger.

These days with light strings and plain G's the need for a stagger has disappeared, yet pups are still made this way.

Have you tried Fralin's Hybrid stagger? Slightly raised D-pole, the rest are flat. The neck pickup has the D-pole extended below the bottom bobbin. Works great.

http://pic7.picturetrail.com/VOL208/996154/8804017/128506277.jpg
Yeah, my Hamel Broadcaster pickup also has that slight convex thing, where there is a bit of a hump in the top bobbin, near the poles. Done on purpose for authenticity, or just an accident??

Done on purpose for authenticity, or just an accident??

GuitarJonz, you're miss reading me. The fiberboard warping is not what I'm refering to, nor the convex shape from holding the flatwork in your hand while pushing the magnet slugs through the underside. What I was talking about previously to TY was the diameter of the slugs being ever-so-slightly larger than the holes punched out in the fiberboard for them. It causes the humps, or ridges shown here on your Hamel Broadcaster pickup, and the similar example from TY's Stuart Blackguard p-up where it seems to 'flange' upward around and above the poles. That's the authentic looking aspect, or similar technique as the originals. The slug size is key to that and inturn part of the sound.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/13579SunburstIsland/HamelBridgePickup.jpg

OK, I thought I'd add an update, as I got a chance to play the esquire at rehearsal (4 piece twangy rock-stonesy/pettyish/steveearleish/ACDC)

I decided to try an exercise in minimalism (goes along with the 1-pickup thing) and plug straight into my D120F-loaded '69 princeton reverb. I usually play through a big pedalboard and an AC30.

Everybody RAVED about the tone, and I was very happy as well. I rolled the tone off about 25% so I could go from a smooth meaty twang to all-out ferocious twang. The Stuart did not dissapoint. Very touch sensitive, dynamic, great balanced tone. The string-to-string balance issue did not bother me much as the amp was compressing very hard (volume set to "8"). I could contol my tone very well with touch and volume on my guitar.

Oh yeah, I had no issues with feedback/microphony. Although, I didn't use any dirt pedals, I doubt I will have any issues with the BG; I don't think it is any more microphonic than my Fralin. If anything, it is a hair LESS so.

Twang on!

The Stuart's are first class all the way. I often find myself running straight into the amp, even without reverb. I've never been happy doing that before.

I like even output from each string. Am I the only one?

I find staggered pole pups to be too loud on the D and G strings.

The whole concept of staggering is retro thinking gone mad, they were originally designed to compensate for a wound G and a heavy gauge B string.
The wound G would be a lot quieter than the B, hence the stagger.

These days with light strings and plain G's the need for a stagger has disappeared, yet pups are still made this way. I agree! I use a Warmoth Compound maple Tele neck and put a used Kinman Tele Bridge Staggered pup in as much as I loved the Kinman, Being a lefty player with a righty pickup it was a bummer, :oops: I had to sell it went with a SD Alnico pro 2 flat top and now there is no issue and also love the creamy twang this SD has as well. :wink: