Bill Hullet's A&F Review

Ok, now we can all start saving for these :shock:

http://www.fenderforum.com/forum.html?db=&topic_number=330574&lastpost=2003-04-0913:43:57

Heres Bill's A&F review from the FDP:

Hi all....
Well for those that don't know me, let me preface this post by telling you that I owned an original "nocaster" for 26 years....I did sell it about a year ago but thats another story for later.....anyhoo....the one elusive thing about really early Blackguard era Teles is the back pup...I've tries every imaginable make of PUP and while most sound very nice and usable none ever hit the nail on the head tone wise so to speak.....UNTIL THIS WEEKEND! I tried a new A&F pickup!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't tell you how spooky it was....this pup is EXACTLY the same tone that was tatooed in my mind for 26 years!!! I mean EXACT!!!!! for lack of a better discription...old blackguard teles have this smokey sound that features the lower mids and not the high end....While this pick up is not gonna be everyones cup of tea I can assure you that if you don't care for this pup...then you more than likely don't care for the blackguard tele nuances....Yes its pricey ($150 or $285 for a set of tele pups) let me ask this??? If you currentley have 2 or more pups at home in your guitar drawer, then that might say that you've spent the price already, but have yet to recieve "the tone" Me.....I'm as happy as a clam...THIS IS "THE TELE PUP"!
Bill Hullett

I am still trying to find the web site for the pickups. Do you know what it is?

For anything that can leave an impact on someone as experienced as Bill, must be worth investigating.

I figure my birthday is around the corner. "Honey, it's this or a boat" should get me an order.

Guitarjonz... Thanks for moving that A&F pup review over here...it saved me some typing! to all the TDP I must say once again...THIS pup IS EVERYTHING A REAL BLACKGUARD TELE IS!!!!!! it is killer!
Bill Hullett

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Bill,
Question on the pickup. I have an early eighties 52 RI that I absolutely love the tone of. I havent come across a tele or pickup that sounds as good as my main tele (to my ears anyway). This particular tele has what I consider a pretty low output pickup, that almost naturally sounds compressed. In fact, when I got the guitar, I pretty much did away with my compressor. It has a very smooth sound, and kind of sounds like the middle position- just with alot more "spank" & "bite". Its not all bright & thin sounding like alot of the teles & pickups that I have tried. I guess what I am asking is, is this similiar to the sound you are talking about in this particular pickup? I noticed you used "smokey" & that made me think that maybe we are talkin about the same tone. Thanks

I've had my A&F pickups for a few months now and like them a lot. I've never played or seen an original Nocaster, so it's nice to have Bill tell me what I'm hearing. Thanks, Bill, you da man. I'm thinking that I'd love an old Nocaster, if this is the signature tone.

The most noticeable thing about the back pickup to my uncultured ears is that I don't need to roll off the tone. It took me years to learn to roll the tone control to the "sweet spot" to tame the bright cringe or ice pick. But this bridge pickup, as Bill said, is strong in the lower mids, not as bright as I've previously played. I'm generally playing with no roll off at all. I'm cutting through the mix (yea Tele's), but not overly bright, in fact, not even close.

I've seen that the A&F website is down. Their telephone number, if you're interested to contact them, is 909-222-2282. Alan Hamel is a great guy. No affiliation, etc., etc. Just a happy customer.

I hear exactly what Bill is saying about "smokie" on this track on his C.D. It really does give that smokie type of sound. Listen to it and you will hear none of the shrill ice pick effects found on most tele pickups just an earthy "as it should" sound.
I really wish I could afford one right now... I will get one a.s.a.p. I have made myself that promise !!