Brent Mason's pickups

[TheGoodTexan]

This is probably a worn out topic, so maybe someone who really knows what they are talking about could give the answer, and we can all get on with our lives... :D

What are the specific pups in Brent Mason's primer grey Tele? I know there's a mini-hum in the neck - what brand/model is it? Then a Duncan Hot Stack for Strat in the middle, right?...but does it have individual pole pieces, or one wide rail across the entire top? And I have no idea exactly what pup is in the bridge.

I know about the switching and extra volume knob for the middle pup, etc.

By the way, I'm not trying to copy Brent's stuff myself (I couldn't be more please with what I'm currently using). This is for the other guitar player in my band. He wants Brent's exact set up, so I told him I could find out from someone here and wire it up for him.

oh... yeah... Maybe if someone has a link with all of this on it, that would be great too.

Thanks guys.

[Darrell]

He uses an old SD Hot Strat stack (ceramic) in the middle, with it's own blender pot. At the time of the video he was using the "original" 5/2 in the bridge as we know it today. Some say he has reverted to the classic stack in the bridge.

Personnally, with a lot of experience you can get pretty close to his sound with most pu's out there (below) and a lot of compression and scooping. (52ri, Broad, Vint 54, SD pro, Lindy and many others)

The big challenge is not neccessarily getting that sound, it is getting those licks down and that wonderful right hand attack.

[Jef]

The minihumbucker is a Gibson, and he mounted it with the cream plastic mounting ring.
The switching is the traditional 3-way wiring and as Darrell pointed out, the mid pickup is just blended in and out with the added volume pot.

[Butch Snyder]

His bridge pickup of choice, now-a-days, is a Duncan Vintage Stack. It's basically an improved Classic Stack. In fact, That's what's in his Valley Arts signature guitar.



Also: http://www.valleyartsguitar.com/VABMMPCH.html

One thing to consider though, his true workhorse guitar is alder and this new one (which I doubt he really uses) is swamp ash.

Cheers,

[Darrell]

I always said the classic stack in the middle is much more "Brent Mason-y" than the hot stack. It looks like this company feels the same way.

[Baard]

I really love to hear his playing. He´s a true inventive player. A big part of the new country sound, is down to his great chops. The other day I was listening to Alan Jackson greatest hits. I suddenly realized that I would not like that sound If I had it myself. The playing sure ! But that sound is not anything special. The intro lick on chattahoochie sure sounds pretty squashed, and weird. But it fits the rest of the sound, which is also pretty machinery like. What I´m saying is it´s all in the context. Everything fits nicely in that production. It´s not just the guitar, but everything else that goes with it.

Not an attemt to say don´t try to copy his sound, but just talking about it. I can perfectly understand why someone would try to "get his sound" by using the same PUP´s. It´s also great that somebody could answer what you asked about I guess I have asked that answer myself some years ago. ! Good luck to your co-gutarist !




Baard

[TheGoodTexan]

My "co-guitarist" was over at the house Saturday. This is the guy that had me make that original post, regarding Brent's pups. He's actually got a bigger bag of country licks than I do.

His Tele is a mid-90s, with a Blue Lace Strat pup in the neck and a Lace dually in the bridge. It's just a hard-tail, not a real Tele bridge. No pickguard either. But it is a Fender.

Anyway, he's a "guitar-cord-amp" kind of player. I had him plug my pedal board into his amp and he was blow away. His search has turned from pickups, to pedals! I think the Dyna Comp is what did it for him.

By the way Baard, I couldn't agree with you more. Brent's technique and context are much more impressive than his tone.

[JohnK24]

If you listen to any of the first five Brooks and Dunn albums, you'll hear a different side of Mason's tone...cutting, overdriving and more balls out honky tonk tones...

I'm digging all those albums these days...love Kix and Ronnie.

JK

[Baard]

Shania twain you´ll hear another side again He can do everything.


Baard

[Twanger]

Originally Posted by Darrell

He uses an old SD Hot Strat stack (ceramic) in the middle, with it's own blender pot. At the time of the video he was using the "original" 5/2 in the bridge as we know it today. Some say he has reverted to the classic stack in the bridge.

Personnally, with a lot of experience you can get pretty close to his sound with most pu's out there (below) and a lot of compression and scooping. (52ri, Broad, Vint 54, SD pro, Lindy and many others)

The big challenge is not neccessarily getting that sound, it is getting those licks down and that wonderful right hand attack.

I think Brent's sound is mostly in his hands, like all great players. FWIW I heard that Brent switched from the 5/2 in the bridge to the Vintage Stack because the 5/2 was just to noisy for the studio, and the Vintage Stack provides vintage type tone with hum-cancelling.

[11 Gauge]

...from some folks who frequent this board, there sure are alot of monster players out there (a few of which are Tele players) who use the SD stuff...

i still think that the 5-2 is one of the best Tele pups i have ever heard, and a very ingenious twist on a very simple design. subtle, but it works IMO.

even if Mr. Mason's tone is perceived as fairly standard (or perhaps easily replicated is a better way of putting it), i am still thankful for any of the motivation behind it's design that he contributed.

the best thing i like about almost all of the Duncans i've owned over the years is that they are good enough to have withstood the test of time - when i put one in a guitar they tend to stay in there. i wish i could say this about other brands i've owned, especially the ones that have cost me a bit more and i actually had to wait to get my hands on them, only to end up yanking them out a while later.

[TheGoodTexan]

I know that the Broadcaster is probably in the top 2 or 3 of most Tele player's choice of bridge pup (even around here), but I do see quite a bit of negativity toward Duncan in general around here, and I'm not sure why that is.

I'm not sure that I would call it slamming, but maybe just indifferent. I consider putting Duncan's in a Tele, like dropping a 350 in Camaro. Not the most high tech, fancy or even the most powerful choice, but with the right transmission (your fingers) it'll hook up like nobody's business.

There are several other brands that I really enjoy as well (Lindy Fralin, Rio Grande, Joe Barden) but I don't consider them better than Duncans, just a different choice.

[DblStop]

I've been playin' Duncan pups for well over twenty years now.The very first pup I owned from Duncan was the Quarter Pound Tele bridge pup and I was hooked from the start.I also have an early 90's Amer.Standard Tele with the Duncan 5/2 in it,It's one of the best Tele pups i've ran across in years to have the well balanced tone across the board without the icepick tone.I've got about a half dozen or so of my guitar playin' buddies here in D.C. using those pickups and the LOVE THEM!!!I also have a Jerry Donahue Tele with Duncan pickups , so you can plainly see what pups i'm drawn to.Just wanted to put my vote in for Duncan he's the man in my book.DblStop soon to be Nashville bound Heeee Hawwww!!!!!!!!!

[TheGoodTexan]

Originally Posted by DblStop

DblStop soon to be Nashville bound Heeee Hawwww!!!!!!!!!

Are you moving here or just visiting?

[Butch Snyder]

Originally Posted by TheGoodTexan

but I do see quite a bit of negativity toward Duncan in general around here, and I'm not sure why that is.

I have never seen any negativity towards a pickup manufacturer; particularly Seymour Duncan...

[11 Gauge]

i've seen slams against the Antiquities, deviations from certain pup building protocols, problems with the way SD p.r.'s some stuff (they're a big company - i think it's to be expected).

i've read where many folks here just refer to them as a good 'starting point' but not on par with Fralins, Bardens, HD's, Velvet Hammers, on and on. they make them sound like a good first step for beginners replacing stock pups. maybe not a direct slam, but kinda still reeking of making them sound like less than they are...

SD has really pushed the envelope with so many replacements or tinkering of ideas. the 5-2's, JB juniors, duckbuckers, Alnico II's, hot rails, cool rails, a veritable plethora of stack designs. the Antiquities, that were such a big deal and quite controversial for a time. quite impressive to me what all they've done, even if many of these designs are not my cup of tea. and maybe someone else came up with it first, or has made it 3% better, but SD has a great track record, it seems, with the pups they produce.

i even emailed them once requesting a modified Tele stack bridge pup that would get close to Buch. Tele tones. they outright told me it couldn't be done. whether or not that's the case, i appreciate how up front they were with me.

i really dig the Hellecasters and Los Straitjackets. I really like the tones of the SD Jazzmaster pups that Will Ray and Danny Amos have gotten... kinda makes me want to build something and drop a pair in them!

[Butch Snyder]

Originally Posted by 11 Gauge

i've read where many folks here just refer to them as a good 'starting point' but not on par with Fralins, Bardens, HD's, Velvet Hammers, on and on. they make them sound like a good first step for beginners replacing stock pups. maybe not a direct slam, but kinda still reeking of making them sound like less than they are...

Kinda does sound like a slam doesn't it? I wouldn't consider them a starting point at all. After all, I do believe that there are more pros using Duncans and DiMarzios than the boutique pickups.

[11 Gauge]

...to find out that there were more pros using boutique stuff than SD's, and yes DiMarzio as well. it seems like more and more pros are on the Barden thing, which is cool, but they probably aren't even a drop in the bucket in comparison.

...which brings me to DiMarzio. they have certainly taken their lumps but have been great contributors as well. i thought their HS series Strat pups were really great for the time. even Eric Johnson chose an HS over everything else, even Bardens! Their Fast Track stuff was also great as well - I still have a Fast Track T that i won't part with. then came the Twang Kings, which are still coveted to this day as awesome bang for the buck. also alot of people swear by their Virtual Vintage stuff. the number of sheer choices of Strat and PAF type pups they offer is staggering. alot not my cup of tea, but no doubt someone's! and i really applaud that they've come up with some great Tele pup designs, when they could have just as easily stuck only with signature pups for Vai, Satriani, Malmsteen, etc.

the only thing i don't like about DiMarzio is how they muscled in on Kinman. but once again, that's business, BIG business. if you're gonna be a little fish in a big pond, you might just get eaten up. after all, the majority of folks here are no doubt interfacing away thru Microsoft stuff: probably the biggest corporate juggernaut in the US! i use a Mac but i'm browsing with Internet Explorer!

i think it's simply amazing that it's possible to make big business out of a product that's some magnets, wire windings, a bobbin or two, etc... but i'm glad it is - big business keeps the cost of the products down, offers way more choices, and gives us access to lots of great pups that we don't have to wait weeks or months for someone to assemble...

[DblStop]

Hey Good Texan the Mrs. and I are relocatin' to Nashville within the next 6 months or so,I'm origionally from East Tenn. I've been a transplant here in D.C. also known as Danny Gatton country since 1974 and i'm READY to get back to my roots, all of my family are in East Tenn. which is the Tri-Cities area Kinsport, Bristol, Johnson City area.I have some buddys in Nashville playin' road gigs and they play a lot around townalso when they're not on the road.Maybe we can hook up when I get to town,I'm hopin' to get an artist gig and do some travelin' and do some gigs around town also.Take care and you can e-mail me at DblStop@aol.com aka Mark Moree take care and hope to hear from you.

[DblStop]

Hey Good Texan the Mrs. and I are relocatin' to Nashville within the next 6 months or so,I'm origionally from East Tenn. I've been a transplant here in D.C. also known as Danny Gatton country since 1974 and i'm READY to get back to my roots, all of my family are in East Tenn. which is the Tri-Cities area Kinsport, Bristol, Johnson City area.I have some buddys in Nashville playin' road gigs and they play a lot around townalso when they're not on the road.Maybe we can hook up when I get to town,I'm hopin' to get an artist gig and do some travelin' and do some gigs around town also.Take care and you can e-mail me at DblStop@aol.com aka Mark Moree take care and hope to hear from you.