Callaham cryo (Fralin) pickups?

[Mr.Hanky]

Anyone try these out?

I'm having a tough time swallowing that whole cryo mumbojumbo on their webpage.

http://www.callahamguitars.com/cryo_pu.htm

[big mike]

Originally Posted by Mr.Hanky

Anyone try these out?

I'm having a tough time swallowing that whole cryo mumbojumbo on their webpage.

http://www.callahamguitars.com/cryo_pu.htm

Yeah, I have a problem with that too. Just doesn't make sense to me.

I'm calling BS.

[Soulgolem]

Well I got lucky, I saw a newspaper ad about Fralin tele pickups, I really wanted to get the Callaham treated ones but didn't have the budget. So I called up about the ad, turns out when I got there, the wires were covered in cloth, he then told me he had bought them from Callaham, I was a happy fellow, especially since I got to deal 20$ off the already low price.

Both of my guitar teachers have Fralin tele pickups, but mine are very different sounding, keep in mind my tele is basswood and theirs is ash, so this is probably where most of the difference comes from, though I was suprised at the output I got from them, especially since I took out hot Rio Grande pickups from my guitar, I thought the drop in output would be drastic but it wasn't.

I'm very happy with my tele, it's a combination of Fralin pickups, Callaham bridge and brass saddles, Basswood body, nitro finish, GHS strings and it gives me a killer sound with singing sustain rich in harmonic content even with a crappy crate taxi amp overdrive.

Francis.

[Soulgolem]

I just re-read the description of the treatement he gives to those pickups and while it could be due to a number of different factors, I did notice that the harmonics of notes seemed to be more "in tune" for some reason.


I can't beleive I thought about selling this guitar.

[kimock]

Originally Posted by big mike

Yeah, I have a problem with that too. Just doesn't make sense to me.

I'm calling BS.

Cryo's for real. It changes the metal. You can hear it.

Magic bullet? Nah, probably not.

Does have it's applications tho.....

[mainsale]

I took an Am. Std. Tele and ripped the guts out and installed Callaham pickups, control assembly and bridge. It transformed a nice sounding Tele into a spectacular sounding Tele. The pickups are custom wound for Callaham by Fralin and are 3% underwound. They are clear and articulate. It was definately a worth while upgrade.

[daddyo]

I have Callaham cryo pots in my TeleLikeObject. They work and sound great. Later on today I will eat a cryo lasagna for lunch.

[Jim Collins]

I have the Callaham pickups in one of my Strats, along with his bridge assembly. I don't know diddly about cryo-stuff, but of the pickups I've tried in that guitar, the Callaham cryos are the only ones I like.

[big mike]

Maybe I just can't fathom it...but it doesn't make sense to me. What the hell do I know though.

I love Lindy's pickups. I dunno if freezing them could make me dig em more....

but I'll of course defer to those that have and do use and appreciate that fact.

[mainsale]

The Cryo process is more than just freezing them. From my unreliable memory, they are taken down to -300 degrees, or so, and cold soaked for some time. It does effect the metals structure. I believe electrical transmission is increased by around 18%, or so. I do know for certain and from experience that his pickups sound very, very good! Some of that is Lindy Fralin, some is Bill Callaham and probably some is the cryo treatment.
:AOK

[TiEsQue]

Originally Posted by kimock

Cryo's for real. It changes the metal. You can hear it.

Absolutely! I was skeptical too, but you really can hear the diff.

For me, the super-clean under-wound bell-like Fralin tone isn't something I use that often so I sold my Callahams. But for what it was they were great and the cryo improved the tone.