Help picking Don Mare pickup

ghosttour · June 19th, 2008, 03:07 PM

I'm looking at a Don Mare pickup to replace the GFS pickup in my homebrewed Esquire. I called Don the other day to discuss which would be best for my style - I play through a Super Reverb - no effects, just some natural gain from the amp. I like a little bite - not really distorted, just some natural overdrive. My style is modern rock with a nod to classic rock - Neil Young, the Kinks, the Who. Lots of chording, ringing notes - not a lot of soloing. He suggested the Hay Ride, Buchanan, or the Yardboy... but I'm still not sure. Anyone have experience with these? I'd appreciate some input/guidance. Thanks gents!

woodman · June 19th, 2008, 03:17 PM

i've got a version of the 2324 (Buchanan) on both my working axes and consider it the best bridge pickup i've ever played. chime, sustain, harmonics, dynamics, touch sensitivity, the whole package. no experience with the other two.

Old Cane · June 19th, 2008, 04:24 PM

Well, the standard reply here is to call Don. I guess that's out since you already did. I guess you'll have to buy one of each and report back here. Seriously, if you could do that I'll bet you'd get full price for the 2 you sell since there would be no waiting for him to make them. I bet you'd be happy with any of them.

surfoverb · June 19th, 2008, 09:53 PM

weird he told me the 2324 alone would be too thin for an esquire I think its 5.9K or something but so is the JB...Go figure. I 've got a super sport bridge (7.4K) I'm gonna put in an Esquire one of these days.

blackguard1135 · June 19th, 2008, 09:56 PM

I'm with Old Cane; since you've talked to Don that's the way to go.
If you've told Don what you're looking for he'll tell you exactly what to get.

I'm surprised he suggested three different pickups. Ask him to narrow it down.

Actually, he's the one to tell you about his pickups. When someone on the TDPRI describes something, it can be very subjective while Don's perfectly objective.

I play through a Bruno Cowtipper, a BFDR or a 30 Watt Bad Cat with very little distortion.
On two different Teles Don made me one 0038 set (bridge is around 10K) and on the other guitar, a custom set (bridge 7.2K). The 7.2 is very complex, smooth and very chimey and plenty of push with a boost pedal like a Tim or an Xotic RC Boost. The 10K on the 0038 set needs no boost: it's very strong but still chimey with a bit of crunch. I love all Don's pickups.

The key is to tell him what you want and he'll make them—and they'll be exactly what you're looking for. He has a sixth sense! Nothing harsh ever comes out of his pickups.

blackguard1135 · June 19th, 2008, 10:03 PM

addend:

I have to echo Surf O Verb.

The 2324 bridge is definitely colored for a Roy Buchanan tone: I had one and sent it back to be rewound into the 7.2K. The 2324 is purposely thin sounding—and it certainly screams when picked hard, but it does have a nasal sound as well that some may not like. It was Roy's (and many others on this site) style that coaxed that scream out of the 2324 PU.

But for a Kinks kind of crunch I'd go with a stronger wind at least 7.2K and turn the gain down. You'll get full and crunchy.

gmann · June 22nd, 2008, 02:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by surfoverb

weird he told me the 2324 alone would be too thin for an esquire I think its 5.9K or something but so is the JB...Go figure. I 've got a super sport bridge (7.4K) I'm gonna put in an Esquire one of these days.

This is exactly what he told me also. I asked about the Super Sport bridge, he recommended it and I bought it. It sounds amazing, best Tele style pup I've ever owned. Highly recommended. When I sell this particular guitar, and I'm will soon as I have 3 other Esquires, I'm keeping this pup.

ghosttour · June 22nd, 2008, 09:20 AM

Thanks everyone for your suggestions and thoughts - I appreciate it. I'll probably give Don a call again to firm up a recommendation from him as y'all suggested. As others on the TDPRI have noted, I was really pleasantly surprised at how much time he took to help me and how personable he was. Thanks again for your thoughts, guys!

JamonHamon · June 24th, 2008, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghosttour

Thanks everyone for your suggestions and thoughts - I appreciate it. I'll probably give Don a call again to firm up a recommendation from him as y'all suggested. As others on the TDPRI have noted, I was really pleasantly surprised at how much time he took to help me and how personable he was. Thanks again for your thoughts, guys!

Yea Don is the best
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June 19th, 2008, 03:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
ghosttour Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Atlanta, GA Age: 35 Posts: 414 6 Photos	Help picking Don Mare pickup I'm looking at a Don Mare pickup to replace the GFS pickup in my homebrewed Esquire. I called Don the other day to discuss which would be best for my style - I play through a Super Reverb - no effects, just some natural gain from the amp. I like a little bite - not really distorted, just some natural overdrive. My style is modern rock with a nod to classic rock - Neil Young, the Kinks, the Who. Lots of chording, ringing notes - not a lot of soloing. He suggested the Hay Ride, Buchanan, or the Yardboy... but I'm still not sure. Anyone have experience with these? I'd appreciate some input/guidance. Thanks gents! __________________ www.myspace.com/brasssaddles

June 19th, 2008, 03:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
woodman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mint Hill, NC Age: 62 Posts: 5,670	i've got a version of the 2324 (Buchanan) on both my working axes and consider it the best bridge pickup i've ever played. chime, sustain, harmonics, dynamics, touch sensitivity, the whole package. no experience with the other two. __________________ Truth is stranger than fact ... www.myspace.com/woodymitchellmusic BAND PAGES: www.myspace.com/stragglerswing (Stragglers - Western Swing) www.myspace.com/loafersgloryband (Loafers Glory - '70s country-rock)

June 19th, 2008, 04:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
Old Cane Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Murfreesboro, TN Age: 46 Posts: 678	Well, the standard reply here is to call Don. I guess that's out since you already did. I guess you'll have to buy one of each and report back here. Seriously, if you could do that I'll bet you'd get full price for the 2 you sell since there would be no waiting for him to make them. I bet you'd be happy with any of them. __________________ http://www.myspace.com/otiskeithwatkins http://www.soundclick.com/bands/defa...&content=music

June 19th, 2008, 09:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
surfoverb Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,761	weird he told me the 2324 alone would be too thin for an esquire I think its 5.9K or something but so is the JB...Go figure. I 've got a super sport bridge (7.4K) I'm gonna put in an Esquire one of these days. __________________ "You released the ****** fury!"* Last edited by surfoverb : June 19th, 2008 at 10:42 PM.

June 19th, 2008, 09:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
blackguard1135 TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 69	I'm with Old Cane; since you've talked to Don that's the way to go. If you've told Don what you're looking for he'll tell you exactly what to get. I'm surprised he suggested three different pickups. Ask him to narrow it down. Actually, he's the one to tell you about his pickups. When someone on the TDPRI describes something, it can be very subjective while Don's perfectly objective. I play through a Bruno Cowtipper, a BFDR or a 30 Watt Bad Cat with very little distortion. On two different Teles Don made me one 0038 set (bridge is around 10K) and on the other guitar, a custom set (bridge 7.2K). The 7.2 is very complex, smooth and very chimey and plenty of push with a boost pedal like a Tim or an Xotic RC Boost. The 10K on the 0038 set needs no boost: it's very strong but still chimey with a bit of crunch. I love all Don's pickups. The key is to tell him what you want and he'll make them—and they'll be exactly what you're looking for. He has a sixth sense! Nothing harsh ever comes out of his pickups. __________________ Blackguard1135

June 19th, 2008, 10:03 PM	#6 (permalink)
blackguard1135 TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 69	addend: I have to echo Surf O Verb. The 2324 bridge is definitely colored for a Roy Buchanan tone: I had one and sent it back to be rewound into the 7.2K. The 2324 is purposely thin sounding—and it certainly screams when picked hard, but it does have a nasal sound as well that some may not like. It was Roy's (and many others on this site) style that coaxed that scream out of the 2324 PU. But for a Kinks kind of crunch I'd go with a stronger wind at least 7.2K and turn the gain down. You'll get full and crunchy. __________________ Blackguard1135

June 22nd, 2008, 09:20 AM	#8 (permalink)
ghosttour Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Atlanta, GA Age: 35 Posts: 414 6 Photos	Thanks everyone for your suggestions and thoughts - I appreciate it. I'll probably give Don a call again to firm up a recommendation from him as y'all suggested. As others on the TDPRI have noted, I was really pleasantly surprised at how much time he took to help me and how personable he was. Thanks again for your thoughts, guys! __________________ www.myspace.com/brasssaddles