Very Nice Bootstrap A2 Tele pup

Yes it is. I have just received and loaded my custom A2 from Ryan. It has 42AGW wound to a 7.1k. Out of the box I thought the build was excellent and the white string wrap looks so cool! First impression to my ears is that the bass end is delightfully (semi) spongy and compressed. Was not expecting this. The high end has the sweet A2 tone I keep reading about. Now I hear it.

I can only compare this to both my hot A5's so I am kind of driving blind. It does not have the mid range or bass of the A5's but it's not an A5. The bass end has what I think is a killer rockabilly tone, the high end is a SWEET semi sparkle. I need to play with my amp again to really find THE tone spot. I did get close today. I then pushed it with my compression and delay pedal which made it hotter. This brought out more sustain and depth on the high end which sounded good but not as good as plugged straight into my amp. Learned about that sweet A2 tone today. I'm thinking this pickup will be outstanding in a recording studio.

I had to admit to myself and I confessed to my brother that I do miss the balls of a hot A5 pup.

I think Ryan makes a real kick a$$ pickup, again, I am very, very impressed with his work!!!

Next up is Ryan's custom A3 he made for me with 42AGW also wound to 7.1K. I am wondering if this will give me a little of what I like in the A2 and the A5 combined. I will post the review when I am thru listening to this really good A2.

 

Spud, I used to think A3's were weaker than A2's until I read A3's are stronger in rod form but weaker in bar form. It seems to me there were way more A3 pups back in the day than A2's and every custom builder has A3's along with their A5's. I would think there is something there about that A3 magnet. I will find out soon.

Don, is there a real big difference between your Palo Duro and your Pretzel bridge pups?

 

I have been thinking about this new A2 since yesterday afternoon. What really stands out in my mind is that I have a GREAT tone at low volume. I have never,ever had this before. I think that is why I said it would be good in a recording studio.

I always have to push my A5's real loud to get my desired tone.This brings out the best of my amp & pup and always drives my wife...friggin...nuts!

 

Have to admit, a P90 in a tele looks pretty cool.

 

OK, I took my A2 out for another test drive tonight. I am kind of getting over the "culture shock" of playing hot A5's for 1 1/2 years to now trying to honestly evaluate this well made hot A2. I have to say first off, an A2 in the bridge will force you to become a cleaner player. My A5's made me a little lazy I see, and hid some of my slop that I never heard. This humbled me tonight.

I believe I found the sweet spot. Doubling the gain on my amp put me on third base. The guitar tone was just under 1/2 open. The low end is not semi spongy as I said. It is spongy...compressed... and it quacks. I mean this duck QUACKS! The high end is SWEET BELL LIKE TONE. It now rings since I adjusted my gain.

This is a great classic old school C&W and Rockabilly single coil Telecaster bridge pickup.

Bravo Ryan, Bravo Bootstrap!