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Topic: BL XR-16 |
James Quackenbush
From:
Pomona, New York, USA
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Posted 10 Nov 2006 1:29 pm |
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I have been thru a lot of pickups since having a Sierra pedal steel .... I am not really fond of too many humbuckers....I have played a lot with single coil pickups .... I'm noticing more and more that there are just too many places with flouresant lighting or just plain bad wiring ....I have not tried the BL XR-16 yet ....Here's what I have found with various humbuckers and what I think of them ....I will then ask the question on the XR-16 and see if it will suit my needs
1) BL 712 ...VERY powerful , brite, in your face , almost to the point of being sterile sounding ....Not a bad pickup for some guitars
2) BL 912....Just the opposite of the 712...Very dark and smooth ...Good for some guitars , but kinda dark and drab ...
3) George L 12-1....Very similar to the BL912 but a teensy bit briter ....
4) GeorgeL E-66.....Very brite , but not as good souding as the BL 712
OK , I could go on with more pickups , but this is my quest ....I'm looking for a pickup that is not quite as brite as the BL 712, and has the body of the bottom end similar to the George L 12-1...Does this pickup exist ???.....Does this sound like an XR-16 ???....I hope it does .... I'm having enough trouble likeing humbuckers , never mind finding the right one !!....  ....WIsh me luck, and please help me out if you can !!!..Thanks to all in advance ....Sincerely, Jim [This message was edited by James Quackenbush on 10 November 2006 at 01:31 PM.] |
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David Higginbotham
From:
Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA
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Posted 10 Nov 2006 3:53 pm
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Your analysis of the pickups mentioned is the same opinion I have of them with the exception of the 912 since I haven't had the oppurtunity to try one.
The XR-16 is just want you are expecting from your description. It is very clear, powerful, and has a very good range. Not muddy and not too brite sounding. My personal choice is the 10-1's because I prefer a somwhat darker tone. Otherwise, the XR-16 is my second choice.
Dave |
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James Quackenbush
From:
Pomona, New York, USA
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Posted 10 Nov 2006 4:33 pm
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Dave,
Thanks for the reply ....It's much appreciated ....I'm glad that I'm on the right track here !!!  ..Does the XR-16 have a similar bottom end as the 10-1 in your opinion ?...Thanks again..Sincerely, Jim[This message was edited by James Quackenbush on 10 November 2006 at 04:36 PM.] |
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David Higginbotham
From:
Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA
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Posted 10 Nov 2006 8:21 pm
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Jim, the XR-16 does indeed have the bottom end range of the 10-1. It has a "firmer" mid range than the 10-1. What I mean by that is that is isn't as as mellow in the mids. The highs are also clearer than the 10-1.
I have found the XR-16 to be very clear sounding across all strings in that neither the highs nor the lows overide each other. String seperation seems to be as clear as on the True Tones that I have used in the past.
As you well know, it is very difficult to describe the sounds we hear. But I have tried a number of pickups and the XR-16's rank very high in my opinion.
Enjoy your weekend!
Dave
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James Quackenbush
From:
Pomona, New York, USA
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Posted 11 Nov 2006 5:05 am
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Dave,
Thanks again ....It sounds like I may have found a winner !!.... It will be just one more pickup that I haven't tried yet ... ...Sincerely,Jim |
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Miguel e Smith
From:
Phoenix, AZ
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Posted 11 Nov 2006 10:27 am
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Over a year ago I finally gave in to trying the humbuckers and I went with the BL 710's. I loved the very low hum and noise levels. I also liked the edge they have as they really do "cut". However, I knew I was compromising the wonderful single coil sound for the low noise.
After asking a lot of questions to those who had used many different models (of humbuckers), I have tried the XR-16's. They are not as bright as the 710's and are actually a little duller sounding than the 710's. But, these sure seem a lot more liveable from lows to highs and I've warmed up to them very quickly. Tommy Detamore (after using many models) said they were the only humbuckers he was friendly with. I understand that now.
I still think there is something better needed before the humbuckers have that certain "something" the single coils have but it'll probably be worth your while to try the XR-16's. Of my limited personal experience so far, I enjoy these.
Mike |
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Dick Wood
From:
Springtown Texas, USA
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Posted 11 Nov 2006 12:22 pm
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I also agree with your findings James.
I have used numerous pups over the years where I finally settled on the XR-16's which seemed to give a big full sound without hum associated problems.I wanted them on my new Williams but delivery was way out there so Bill Rudolph talked me into trying 710's.
The 710's seem to be just slightly thinner than the XR-16's but that is all. I think they are very closely matched if you can't get the XR-16's.
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Cops aren't paid much so I steel at night. |
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James Quackenbush
From:
Pomona, New York, USA
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Posted 11 Nov 2006 2:32 pm
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Mike and Dick,
Thanks for the replies ....I am going to bite the bullet and buy the XR-16 and give it a go ... I have to try something , and so far the XR-16 looks the closest to what I want in a pickup ... Sincerely, Jim
PS...I had a guitar that I built and bought some Carvin humbucker pickups for it on a hunch.... I now use them for refrigerator magnets !!.... |
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 11 Nov 2006 2:46 pm
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The XR-16 on my Carter 12 string is what I've stuck with after going thru a GeorgeL TPP, a Jerry Wallace rewound TPP, a 912 and an E66. This wasn't about struggling to make the guitar sound good, just about fine-tuning and finding just what I was looking for.
On my Fessenden I have a Bob Hoffnar made....I'm not sure what he is going to call them---he is making the formerly-known-as Jim Pittman Tone-Aligner pickups. Double coil, adjustable pole pieces. Very lively. Jerry told me that he's never heard a humbucker equipped steel have such a good sounding bottom. I know that every humbucker pickup is described as "sounding just like a single coil" but this....um..sounds just like....
It really is a bright and live sounding pickup. |
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James Quackenbush
From:
Pomona, New York, USA
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Posted 11 Nov 2006 6:43 pm
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Jon,
Thanks for your reply ...I will contact Bob tomorrow about his pickup ....I'm going to be installing this pickup in my Excel Superb ... The single coil that's in there now is BRITE and very pronounced ... I'm looking for something with a little more bottom end, WITHOUT sounding muddy ...I also like a nice high end , WITHOUT souding pearcing ... If the XR-16 sounds like a single coil , with more bottom end, I'm in !!...How do you like Bobs Clap rendition?
Did you get the 2 wire or 3 wire ...I have the 3 wire Clap Trap pickup and use it in my Sierra ...GREAT pickup , and I can switch the various settings using my Sierra switches ... This is one of the ONLY humbuckers that I can live with ... THanks again ...Sincerely, Jim[This message was edited by James Quackenbush on 11 November 2006 at 06:45 PM.] |
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