Tom Holmes Pickups

[Burst59]

Ok I heard these were the Holy Grail and when a used one became available
I bought it right away for the bridge position. Before that I had a Dr.V and before that a Burstbucker that I thought was outstanding. I don't know if it's me or the combination of my R9 Les Paul but the Holmes seems a bit to compressed to me and did not cut through live. I just bought a 62 SG Custom Shop and it came with BurstBuckers, once again they sound great live, fat and thick. So am I just crazy or what? I mean these pickups have been hyped as the second coming of God just like the Zen drive, and like the Zen drive I'm finding a bit of hype is part of it.

[shallbe]

I really like teh Burstbucker 2 & 3 pickups uncovered,adn the Burstbucker 1 & 2 pickups with covers. I'm not changing them.

[NativH]

Like anything else, it depends on what sound you are looking for. I like weak pickups, mounted really low in the rings, nickel strings, while playing classic rock like Thin Lizzy, Aerosmith, Cult, Zep, early Rush, etc through non-mastervolume Marshalls. Holmes 450/455 sets are perfect for that in LP's, SG, and V's in my experience. They may not be what you are looking for, but the good news is, you can probably turn it in a heartbeat!

[Burst59]

are yours potted or unpotted and what holmes do you have?

455 bridge and I don't know if they are potted or not. I didn't know to ask.

[Burst59]

Like anything else, it depends on what sound you are looking for. I like weak pickups, mounted really low in the rings, nickel strings, while playing classic rock like Thin Lizzy, Aerosmith, Cult, Zep, early Rush, etc through non-mastervolume Marshalls. Holmes 450/455 sets are perfect for that in LP's, SG, and V's in my experience. They may not be what you are looking for, but the good news is, you can probably turn it in a heartbeat!


My tone is in the Bonamassa range right now, and I'm getting that with my
BB loaded SG.

[Burst59]

What's better potted our unpotted?
Looks like I would have to open them up to find out.

[buchla300]

My fav pups by far.
But, if they don't work for you, just move on.

[rburkard]

Tom is potting all his pickups unless someone orders on special request unpotted.
Thankfully tastes do differ, but I have to say that Tom Holmes pickups sound closest of all the replacement pickups that I have tried to the some of the original PAF's I had in my guitars. All the PAFs were supposedly different and this is why there are so many different versions of PAF clones on the market. Alnico 2,3,4 and 5 as well as different magnet sizes and number of winds that all affect the tone. Go figure. The RS Fralins "True 60th" and "Psychobilly" PAF clones are also very nice and offer their own specific character each resembling close copies of two outstanding PAF versions. I found Gibson BBs to be inconsistent in a way and have seen BB 1 & 2s that had less or more output than others. I preferred the ones with lower output at 7.5 neck and 8.0 kohms for the bridge position and liked them very much too.
Rene

[Gary Ladd]

I personally dislike 99% of the Gibson BBs & Classic 57s I've tried...

The BBs aren't symetrical and aren't humbucker at all with any gain applied, while managing to be often harsh & muddy for no particular reason.

The Classic 57s can be great, but I haven't seen any that did it for me that were wound after 2001...

Favorite PAF pickups I've tried (no order specified, depends on the guitar & the music):

1. Timbucker Ed A. wind
2. Holmes PAFs
2. WCR Godwoods
3. Lollar Imperials
4. Fralin 8/9K PAF set (Unbuckers rule on low gain)
5. Peter Florance Voodoo PAFs

P.S. Would love to try Wolftones, Rolph Pretenders, etc. but haven't had the chance yet ;)