Anyone compared A Godwood Bridge and Rio BBQ Bucker?

[jamison162]

I keep hearing good things about the Rio Grande's. Never really pay'd attention. But now that I'm curious about the Godwood (after digging these Darkbursts), I'm also looking into the BBQ Buckers? Anyone got any info to share?

[Martin Horne]

I have Goodwoods in my McNaught Double Cut and Rio Grandes in my McNaught Phoenix. The goodwoods have a fat, warm, PAF tone with to my ears more prescence than a Gibson. The BBQ is to my ears, a more modern, aggressive sounding pickup. It's very clear with nice high end bite. The Rios also tap well and I get some nice funk tones in positions 2 and 4 on my 5 way. I wish I could tell you I really like one over the other but both pickups sound great to me.

[jcground]

Aside from the obvious - Goodwoods are a lot more money than the Rios - I think they're both good pickups, but they sound very different.

I have Goodwoods in one of my Thorns, and I love them. They get a fatter sound, but they have a lot of snap and no mud at all in this particular guitar. They also split well, though I use their 4-lead wiring to get series and parallel tones instead of turning one set of coils on and off.

[lp144]

Had Rio Texas/BBQ and Goodwoods in a Tokai Love Rock.

Rio BBQ has softer highs, more bass, a bit more drive and can do easier (not better) pinch harmonics than the Goodwood.

The Goodwood bridge has more presence, cleans up better, has a more "alive" feeling and more cut without harshness.

The Goodwoods have the tone I was searching for...so they're currently in residence with the Tokai.

[big mike]

I've had both.

The BBQ = INSTANT MUD

The GW = Voice like an angel. balanced in all the right ways.

[wire 247]

I agree with big mike bbq= mud.....

[Buckeyedog]

Wow, I love the BBQ in my 97 Standard. No mud at all. But it is a bright guitar by nature so maybe that has something to do with it. Can't comment on the Goodwood since I haven't played one. The BBQ is pretty hot though.

[Shark21]

That would be Rio Grande mud. I love 'em. Dark and powerful. Great pic harmonics and squawk. As a previous member stated, they tap really nicely as well.

[Festus]

I have played both pickups, and prefer the Godwood over the Rio BBQ. The Godwood is around 9.5K, while the BBQ is around 12.5k. The BBQ is a lot hotter than the Godwood. A better comparison would be the Rio Texas, which is around 9k. I haven't A/B'd the Godwood with a Texas, though...not yet, anyway.

The Godwood bridge is a great pickup, really love mine. You can't go wrong with it.