Ron Ellis 50/60: The perfect Strat pickup

[d.rhoads]

After many months on the waiting list for Ron's pickups, I finally replaced my Texas Specials with the Ron Ellis 50/60s. Best decision I have made in a while. They are flawless. They punch, they are clear as day, they ring, they sustain, the low end is tight and not muddy AT ALL. It's everything you want from a Strat pickup.

I've been to his house a few times to play some of his guitars and amps (btw his tele pickups are second to none) and I was really impressed with the Strat pickups just playing in his garage. But it wasn't until I actually played with a band that I realized how awesome these things are. The one word that just kept coming to my mind was "perfection."

Now, the Texas Specials are very different pickups, so I knew I was going to hear a big change. But even considering that, the Ellis's just murder the Texas Specials, as well as any other Strat pickup I've played. (Although I do have to admit, I've never played a handwound set prior to these.)

If you are willing to put up with the wait time (I think it's about six to eight months at this point. ICK, I know!) and are willing to pay just a bit more than you would for Lollars or Fralins, I think it's definitely worth your while.

[Cream]

I never understood the "50s/60s" moniker. Are they 50s? Or are they 60s? That's a big difference to some Strat players -- like myself.

[d.rhoads]

Well, Ron makes three main sets, although he does do custom winds. The three ones he makes are the "Late-50s" set, "50/60s,' and "Mid-60s." But his 50/60s are the most popular. Haven't played the '50s ones, but the '60s ones sounded fantastic too.

I don't really understand the technical side to the pickups. Ron said something like the three top strings, the bass ones, are more like the 60s vibe, and the bottom ones are more the 50s vibe. But I'm sure I have it all wrong. He started getting all technical, and it went way over my head. That's just kind of how I understood it. To me, they just sound like a great pickups.

This guy is using the 50/60s. Listen to the jam session after the amp demo. Really showcases the beautiful tone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qG384hhBqY&feature=relmfu

[pokey]

I never understood why you need to get on a waiting list for pickups? I recall getting on a list for Hamels from Ron and was passed over. No big deal- ended up getting Fralin's instead. Fantastic pickups, and more importantly- IN STOCK. Here's a thought... just make the pickups and when you have some in stock sell 'em. List...LOL

[d.rhoads]

I never understood why you need to get on a waiting list for pickups? I recall getting on a list for Hamels from Ron and was passed over. No big deal- ended up getting Fralin's instead. Fantastic pickups, and more importantly- IN STOCK. Here's a thought... just make the pickups and when you have some in stock sell 'em. List...LOL

I don't know about the Hamels, but Ron won't pass you over. He'll make sure you get your pups. I think Hamel went out of business because he lost interest or something. I don't really understand what happened with those.

Why do you have a problem with waiting lists? Sure. It sucks to wait. But he doesn't have a website, doesn't sell his pickups in stores, doesn't advertise, nothing. He just gets people calling him over and over wanting him to make them pickups. So he does it. If somebody doesn't want to wait, they don't have to. The guy just happens to make terrific pickups. He makes as many sets as he can. He has a full-time job and winds the pickups after work or on weekends. Believe me, he wishes he could get everybody their pickups the day they order them. But it's just not that simple.

I would understand him not having a waiting list if he had some sort of website or e-mail newsletters to let people know when he has pickups in stock. But he just isn't that type of business. He winds them in his garage.

I'm glad you like your Fralins. I hear they are terrific.

[pokey]

I dont have a problem w/ lists per se, just not to buy pickups. And Ron did pass me over, but to his credit was apologetic and offered to move me to next in line, but by then I had bought the Fralin's. The Timbucker list where you could pay a premium and receive your pickups right away or get in line at the regular price is another example why I think waiting on pickups is ridiculous. I'm sure the pickups are great but IMO a lot of it is hype. It's the unobtanium factor. There are a bunch of great pickups you can buy w/o waiting.

Lately it seems like you cant swing a cat without hitting a pickup winder.:D

[Ciroxin]

I am waiting for my 50/60 set and I am happy with that.

[d.rhoads]

I am waiting for my 50/60 set and I am happy with that.

I promise, you won't be disappointed. I'm so happy with mine. How much longer of a wait do you have?

And I do understand about the whole hype factor. I really do understand that. But I honestly didn't think they would make that huge of a difference. That's why I was willing to wait as long as I did. I wasn't in a huge rush to get them. I wanted to try out some pups with a great reputation just to see what I was supposedly missing out on. I was really surprised how much my guitar improved, particularly with how they give me a tight and punchy low end, while not being the least bit muddy. Really nice sparkle on the high notes too.

[Ciroxin]

I think I have three or four months more to wait. I am not sure how much time exactly since I try not to think about it.

In the mean time, I have received my new, handmade Strat copy, made by local luthier. The guy is unbelievable, he winds his own pickups. According to him, he does it completely by HAND. He manually carves the wood with a small tool he once showed me. Bridge is Callaham and the pots are CTS. And let me tell you, the thing rings and sings. I can hardly wait for Ron Ellis to compare them...

[d.rhoads]

I think I have three or four months more to wait. I am not sure how much time exactly since I try not to think about it.

In the mean time, I have received my new, handmade Strat copy, made by local luthier. The guy is unbelievable, he winds his own pickups. According to him, he does it completely by HAND. He manually carves the wood with a small tool he once showed me. Bridge is Callaham and the pots are CTS. And let me tell you, the thing rings and sings. I can hardly wait for Ron Ellis to compare them...

I bet it sounds great. There are many great pickups out there. That's for sure. Definitely very cool that you are going to be able to compare them.

[macmeda]

I've played all Ron's sets of singles and decided on the 50/60 with special wound bridge. I have played and owned several sets of Fralins as well.
The way I see it , the step up from most mass produced pickups to Fralins in tone articulation and string definition exists equally if not greater from Fralins to Ellis'. There is something "alive" about the Ellis'.

[buddyboy]

I never understood the "50s/60s" moniker. Are they 50s? Or are they 60s? That's a big difference to some Strat players -- like myself.


Agree 100%. A mid-50's Strat (I owned 2) sounds very different to me than a mid-60's Strat (I owned a 64).

[throbert]

I've played all Ron's sets of singles and decided on the 50/60 with special wound bridge. I have played and owned several sets of Fralins as well.
The way I see it , the step up from most mass produced pickups to Fralins in tone articulation and string definition exists equally if not greater from Fralins to Ellis'. There is something "alive" about the Ellis'.

I believe that is the set that I have on B/O. How is that overwound bridge pickup working out? Is it any more useful by itself and does it greatly affect the combination middle and bridge sound?

[d.rhoads]

I believe that is the set that I have on B/O. How is that overwound bridge pickup working out? Is it any more useful by itself and does it greatly affect the combination middle and bridge sound?

The hot bridge is a must, in my opinion. I think most people get the hot bridge through Ron's suggestion. I played guitars side by side, one with the regular bridge and one with the hot, and the hot bridge was way way more useful. I just hate going from big, fat sounds with strat middle and neck pups to the typical thin and wimpy bridge. The cool thing about the hot bridge is it still maintains great bridge single coil character, but it still is big sounding like the other two.

One thing Ron showed me was you can dial the tone back just a tad and get humbucker-esque sounds with it. You roll the tone back up, and it turns back into that great single coil.

[d.rhoads]

I've played all Ron's sets of singles and decided on the 50/60 with special wound bridge. I have played and owned several sets of Fralins as well.
The way I see it , the step up from most mass produced pickups to Fralins in tone articulation and string definition exists equally if not greater from Fralins to Ellis'. There is something "alive" about the Ellis'.

Wow! Are you serious? I'm glad I skipped the Fralins and went straight to the Ellis pickups. I'm sure Fralins are great. But I can't imagine a more perfect sounding strat pup than my 50/60s.

Ellis's mid-60's pups are terrific too. I'll have to get a set one of these days. I'm looking forward to trying his late '50s one day. Still haven't yet.

[d.rhoads]

Agree 100%. A mid-50's Strat (I owned 2) sounds very different to me than a mid-60's Strat (I owned a 64).

As I posted up earlier, I don't really understand the technical side of all this. But I can say there is a very noticeable difference between his mid-60s and his 50/60s. There are a few similar qualities, I guess. But if I were to take a guess, his intention was to deliver pickups that had some good qualities from both eras.

[Kmaz]

What are the names of the Strat and Tele sets that Ron Ellis offers?

[zerocharisma]

I emailed him last year some time about wanting to order a set of 50/60 pickups but he never got back to me. Also emailed him again this morning but I'll see if he responds.

[d.rhoads]

What are the names of the Strat and Tele sets that Ron Ellis offers?

I'm not sure about his Tele pups. But his strat pickups are called "late 50's," "mid-60s," and "50/60s." The 50/60s are his most popular.

[d.rhoads]

I emailed him last year some time about wanting to order a set of 50/60 pickups but he never got back to me. Also emailed him again this morning but I'll see if he responds.

He gets swamped, so you just have to catch him at the right time. He will probably get back to you, though. When I contacted him, he e-mailed me right back the next day and gave me his number.

[throbert]

The hot bridge is a must, in my opinion. I think most people get the hot bridge through Ron's suggestion. I played guitars side by side, one with the regular bridge and one with the hot, and the hot bridge was way way more useful. I just hate going from big, fat sounds with strat middle and neck pups to the typical thin and wimpy bridge. The cool thing about the hot bridge is it still maintains great bridge single coil character, but it still is big sounding like the other two.

One thing Ron showed me was you can dial the tone back just a tad and get humbucker-esque sounds with it. You roll the tone back up, and it turns back into that great single coil.

Thanks! I still have a few months to go but I'm glad I'm the wait list. He was very through and personable and answered all of my questions and addressed all of my concerns and then some. Most important, he has been accessible when I've emailed him.

[tnmccammon]

Anyone take delivery on Ron Ellis pickups of late? I'm at 6 months now and just trying to gauge the wait time. Thx.

Tony

[Jimetti]

Give credit where credit is due!

Ron Ellis pickups are the most complex, while being perfectly balanced (frequency wise, from string to string) single coils I have ever played in my Strat.

These pickups have solved a life long problem between me and my Strat and Strat style guitars.

The low notes are tight and spank if you get up under the string with your finger but have the right mix of low frequencies to produce bass but in the right proportion, without being "heavy". The volume balance from string to string is amazing...don't know how he's done this but notes ring out in such an amazingly musical way and there is no drop-out at any fret, on any string that I can detect, which is related to the pickup and not caused by the fret or the neck.

The upper notes are strong and present on the bridge pickup and lack that "thin" small tone, while not being to "in your face" so they get honky...like other over powered bridge pickups can be.

Nice quack, chime and balance in all 5 positions...all amazingly musical.

As you can tell...I like these pickups alot!

Still waiting for my Tele set...been a long time!

[Britishampfan]

I caught the clip last night and the one with the 4 kt 88 amp I gotta say that those strat pickups sound really really good.

I`m in the market and was thinking Bareknuckles cause i`m happy with my humbuckers the clips made me rethink that and maybe I should do some more research.

[d.rhoads]

Give credit where credit is due!

Ron Ellis pickups are the most complex, while being perfectly balanced (frequency wise, from string to string) single coils I have ever played in my Strat.

These pickups have solved a life long problem between me and my Strat and Strat style guitars.

The low notes are tight and spank if you get up under the string with your finger but have the right mix of low frequencies to produce bass but in the right proportion, without being "heavy". The volume balance from string to string is amazing...don't know how he's done this but notes ring out in such an amazingly musical way and there is no drop-out at any fret, on any string that I can detect, which is related to the pickup and not caused by the fret or the neck.

The upper notes are strong and present on the bridge pickup and lack that "thin" small tone, while not being to "in your face" so they get honky...like other over powered bridge pickups can be.

Nice quack, chime and balance in all 5 positions...all amazingly musical.

As you can tell...I like these pickups alot!

Still waiting for my Tele set...been a long time!

I agree with everything you just said. I will most likely never play any other single coil pickup other than the Ron Ellis. I honestly never knew a Strat could sound so full while still not losing it's single-coil characteristics and Strat character. I've had mine for about a month now, and I'm still just as in love with them as I was when I first put them in.

Now I need to buy a couple more Strats and try a couple of his other sets. And I need a Tele, as well. I freakin love the sound of his Tele pups.

[WahmBoomAh]

ordered mine 1 month ago ....