Wilkinson pickups -Are they any good
- Thread starter Ed.D.R
- Start date
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I have the WVCNCR / WVCBCR set in an ES335 copy from Westone:
You can check them being demoed here:
My oppinion:
I like 'em. Very much. Sometimes I want to change them, but not because they are no good, but because I spend at least half of my day fantasizeing about pickup changes.
You can check them being demoed here:
My oppinion:
I like 'em. Very much. Sometimes I want to change them, but not because they are no good, but because I spend at least half of my day fantasizeing about pickup changes.
garymaddox
Tele-Afflicted
Wilkenson pickups are not all equal. Some have alnico magnets and some have ceramic. You need to find out which you are getting. The cheaper pups tend to have the ceramic magnets.
they sound killerhow much were they?
Don't know, they came stock on the guitar, wich was approx. the equivalent of 200USD.
It's a matter of preference, but ceramics have a bad reputation, since the lower class instruments usually come with cheap microphonic, ceramic pu's.
But the world's most popular aftermarket pickup, the EMG 81 is ceramic too.
I have a steinberger, with EMG 85's wich have alnico magnets and they sound smoother, and less trebly as the EMG 81 in my other stein copy made exactly out of the same wood. But the 81 is way clearer if you use a lot of distortion, individual notes are still separated even with pletora of gain, hence its popularity amongst the cookie-monster music providing crowd.
I have a basswood tele with EMG T-set, wich is alnico, the ceramic set was way too trebly for me, but on my strat copy I use EMG S ceramic set, wich I prefer over the alnico SA set that can be found on the David Gilmour prewired pickguard.
Use your ear, listen as many samples as you can, determine the application, how you are going to use it ie. gain levels, musical styles, other instruments you are going to play it with, especially if there is other guitars in the band etc.
To provide a non-EMG example, Dimarzios two heavy bridge pickup beasts are the ToneZone (alnico) and the Super Distortion (ceramic) sound a world appart. Check Bumblefoot's solos for the TZ, and Ace Frehley for the SD to get a taste. Both have great sound but differ quite a bit.
But judgeing from your original post this is going to be a budget-concious project, so take that into consideration too. I for one, can get carried away easily, so to overcome spending way too much on pu's, tend to buy cheap guitars with electronics I wan to give a go.
When you listen to samples try and use a good set of headphones because you just hear more that way, and remember the tone will be colored by the amp and environment it was recorded in. Nothing new here just want to bring it up.
I had some wilkinsons that came in an SG copy. They sounded very musical and nice, but seemed to lack the fuller frequency response of Seymour duncans in another of my guitars - a lot less bottom end and less detail in the high end.
I was sort of loathe to change them because they were fun and pleasing, but the whole point of getting the guitar was to have a downtuned EMG guitar, so out the came.
I was sort of loathe to change them because they were fun and pleasing, but the whole point of getting the guitar was to have a downtuned EMG guitar, so out the came.
Yeah i have listend to a few videos and review on youtube of wilkinsons and they do lack some sotra sparkle and clarity.
But as mention budget is a major factor in my project so if anyone else has any ideas for cheap pickups which are good let me know.
But as mention budget is a major factor in my project so if anyone else has any ideas for cheap pickups which are good let me know.
Heathcliff
TDPRI Member
I've heard the cheap Wilko ceramics are quite poor compared to the alnico type, which have a very good reputation. That's just what I've heard from others - not personal experience.
There's nothing to stop a set of cheap pickups sounding great though, depends on your guitar, amp, playing... personal preference... lots of stuff.
There's nothing to stop a set of cheap pickups sounding great though, depends on your guitar, amp, playing... personal preference... lots of stuff.
I have used a couple of sets of Wilkinson tele classics - and they are value for money - the rule of "get what you pay for applies" though - I pay £25 for a set of Wilkinsons, and £70 for a set of Toneriders or Keystones- and both of those are "worth" the extra in my view
I was dreading to hear thoughs words its like on cheap guys worst nightmare, Putting it simple i need smoething that goes agaist the rule and for the value is very good.
Check the sellers feedback, no reason not to buy second hand especially on a budget. Only the higher end models generally have alnico magnets.
Put a Wilkinson on my crappy Epiphone black beauty.
Bridge pick-up, really brought out my lead tone. Also had new pots.
However, it was still crappy guitar and the tone still wasn't great.
So my opinion: probably better than your stock pick-ups, but not like the most incredible thing ever.
Bridge pick-up, really brought out my lead tone. Also had new pots.
However, it was still crappy guitar and the tone still wasn't great.
So my opinion: probably better than your stock pick-ups, but not like the most incredible thing ever.
