Ibanez Super 70 clone pickup/Cast AlNiCo 8/Review added

harddriver · Post by **harddriver** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 9:40 pm

Hey guys,

If you have been intrigued as I have with Strat 78's clips or just the lore of Ed using the Ibanez destroyer with Super 70 pickups then you might be interested in Kevin's new pickup. He had been waiting for the magnets to be delivered and they have now arrived.

Kevin has found a supplier for the Cast ALNICO 8 magnet like the original, not sintered magnet construction.

I contacted Kevin Smits awhile ago and we conversed about Ed's use of the Ibanez and both of us really like the tones he was getting from this pickup. Ed has admitted to using the Detroyer on alot of the rythym tracks of VH1 and who knows what else.

Anyway with Strat78's and Leadguys help we compiled pics and specifications about these pickups, enough for Kevin to feel confident to put together a replica pickup with exacting specs similar to the Super 70. Note we both feel the super 70 was unpotted but you can get these potted from Kevin if desired.

Here are specs and options:
alnico 8 bar
> 7.5-8.2k ohms dc. res.
> unpotted
> symetric coils
> 1-15/16ths spacing
> 42 awg wire
>
> options would be -
> bobbin color
> 2 conductor or 4 conductor lead
> long or short leg baseplate

Here is some of the attributes he is trying to capture in this pickup in his own words:
I was watching this
> old video of VH (I am sure you have seen it) from mid 70's where they are in a
> club and Ed is playing that b+w destroyer and the tone was way different than i
> have heard. It was like a freight train with a razorblade cow catcher.....huge.

Having two of his PAF designs and a single 62 single coil strat set I can say Kevin makes great pickups. If you're curious like I am you'll want to add this rare pickup to your collection.

If you want to contact Kevin about this pickup of any of his great PAF designs here is his e-mail.

smitsparts@comcast.net

Kevin Smith
> Smit's Handwound Guitar Pickups
> www.smitsparts.com

bmf5150 · Post by **bmf5150** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 9:44 pm

i would just go with highorder pickups,he has one of his own that he could copy for you..

bmf5150 · Post by **bmf5150** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 9:45 pm

i was comparing my pickups the other day,the super 70 sounds very close to my voodoo 59 which i found interesting...

bmf5150 · Post by **bmf5150** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:21 pm

bmf5150 wrote:i would just go with highorder pickups,he has one of his own that he could copy for you..

i mean do dissrespect to kevin,but why get close when you can get an exact copy from highorder (aka winder on the metro forum )since he has one to copy plus you cant beat highorders price..

harddriver · Post by **harddriver** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:37 pm

Stan,
I'm just putting this out there for anyone who is interested. I happen to really like Kevin's pickups and I think his version will be as exact as anyone else's that builds a great pickup.

Mine is built and on the way. Kevin was as interested in this pickup as much as anyone else so I'm sure he is paying attention to the specs and all the information he has acquired on the Super 70.

bmf5150 · Post by **bmf5150** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 12:06 am

harddriver wrote:Stan,
I'm just putting this out there for anyone who is interested. I happen to really like Kevin's pickups and I think his version will be as exact as anyone else's that builds a great pickup.

Mine is built and on the way. Kevin was as interested in this pickup as much as anyone else so I'm sure he is paying attention to the specs and all the information he has acquired on the Super 70.

if i would have known you wanted a copy i could have sent you mine to copy from.

harddriver · Post by **harddriver** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 7:20 pm

Review in Classified section for Ultra 7T pickup.

Seabean · Post by **Seabean** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 7:33 pm

Here's the direct link:

http://forum.metroamp.com/viewtopic.php?t=20196

IloveMyMarshall · Post by **IloveMyMarshall** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 10:28 pm

highorder yea but whats the turn around man 6+ weeks???

Also Kevs Ebs2 is a freekin monster ask anyone whom owns one!!

bmf5150 · Post by **bmf5150** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 12:37 pm

yeah highorder has a wait,but what he charges for a pickup is well worth the wait.why pay double?

Roe · Post by **Roe** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 2:02 pm

is the a8 magnet degaussed or fully charged?

Post by **Smit** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 4:47 pm

Roe wrote:is the a8 magnet degaussed or fully charged?

fully charged.....

JamesHealey · Post by **JamesHealey** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 5:07 am

Bulldog Pickups made me a Custom pickup recently similar spec to the Super 70 Alnico 8 Model but 9.2k and Asymetrically wound.

first person to have this exact spec, it's similar to the VH2 that the guy on here has swapped out for the alnico 8 pickup, but Bulldog I believe uses different materials for the poles and the insulation on the wire, giving a warmer tone.

Post by **Smit** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 10:48 am

JamesHealey wrote:Bulldog Pickups made me a Custom pickup recently similar spec to the Super 70 Alnico 8 Model but 9.2k and Asymetrically wound.

first person to have this exact spec, it's similar to the VH2 that the guy on here has swapped out for the alnico 8 pickup, but Bulldog I believe uses different materials for the poles and the insulation on the wire, giving a warmer tone.

yeah, that's one of the cool things about varying winds, it can really change the pickups character.

StuntDouble · Post by **StuntDouble** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 8:33 pm

Kevin,

What are the tonal differences b/w the cast and sintered alnico 8 mags? I watched your youtube clip, and they sound pretty smokin; what I'm getting has the high-end bite but is more bass-heavy. I like the tone I'm getting overall with an A8 sintered mag, but I'm getting a flood of low-end, and as a result, I have to cut 125, 62 and 31hz way down on my EQ to compensate. Will a cast mag yield better results? My pup is assymetrically wound 8.7k.

-Ben