WCR Darkburst pickups

dirtydeeds22 · Post by **dirtydeeds22** » Mon Feb 07, 2005 2:15 pm

I'd been mulling around with changing my pickups since I got my LP in Sept. and finally ordered some WCR "Darkburst" hummers. My LP had a 490 and 498 that I found to be a little too hot sounding for me. The Darkburst is essentially the Crossroads model(PAF Clone) just wound to replicate Duanes humbuckers. I mulled over getting the Fillmore model, but decided that my 1959 Reissue with '69 board and Sozo's had enough gain and I wanted a little less output pickup. I researched on HC the LP Forum and even read about these pickups on Tonequest report. Everything kind of pointed me this way.
They showed up friday and I got them installed fri night. Beautiful Zebra bobbins with the solid nickel covers that come unsoldered. No wax potting and the workmanship is top notch. Jim has got his technique down so that he doesn't use wax, but there is no feedback unless you're right next to your raging amp. Comparing the workmanship between the stock Gibson Hummers and the Darkbursts was quite noticable. When I took off the covers on the Gibsons the tape or what ever they use to keep the winding in place wasn't even covering the winding. Now it might have come off when I took the cover off with all that wax, but it looked shotty. The Darkburst in comparrison is clean and tidy. I like that.

Now the the sound. I don't have any recording equipment, as I would do some clips, but nonetheless I'll try my best to describe the sound.
At first I was taken back by the difference in sound between the Gibson and the Darkburst. Less ouput, a little brighter with tons more individual note definition. Bridge Pickup with my bright channel on 8 and the normal channel on 4 (jumpered) It seems like the sweet spot is reached. Think full on Angus solo tone, rolling back the Volume you can get close to the ellusive Angus Clean/Dirty Raunch rhythm tone. Since that to me is the sickest rock tone ever, I was really happy. I did have to expirament with pickup height and amp settings, not to mention using different brand of strings that I normally use.
The neck pickup I haven't used extensively yet. I don't use the neck too often, but I could see using it for Jazzy/ funky things. It got a little muddy at the previously mentioned amp settings, but at lower settings it has real full warm tones and if really reacts well to changes in the volume controll.

If any of you are thinking about new pickups look into Jim's pickups. www.crcoils.com is his website. I emailed him about 10 times and never had to wait longer than about an hour for a reply. He's a cool guy and makes a good product. The only downside is the price. I chose the solid nickel cover as he sells chrome also. You can get them without the covers for about $50 bucks cheaper. I went the whole hog, but hopefully I wont have to buy any new pickups for that guitar again. I'm going to expirament with the covers off and see if I like the tone.
I'm digging these pickups, I played constantly all weekend and really never found bad tones.

Later
Jeff

Bluesbishop · Post by **Bluesbishop** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 11:19 pm

Thanks for the input...I've been considering ordering the Crossroads set for my Les Paul based upon the sound samples on his site. I've heard nothing but good things about his pickups from everyone who uses them. I current have Falins in my Paul and tele...and I'm very happy with the fralins..but the one sound file of those crossroads...to me is the ultimate tone: http://www.wcrclips.com/clips/EdA_CRB.mp3

Ken

tonejones · Post by **tonejones** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 11:38 pm

Check out the soundclips on the goodwood set by Anthony Steele.

I emailed and asked him about his tone on these clips and he told me he was using no boosters or pedals of any kind in between the guitar and the amp. The amp is

a 50w 74 Marshall head brought back to plexi specs by Don Butler www.tone-man.com using Mercury Magnetics Transformers etc. through a 1971 Marshall 4x12 straight cabinet

I could swear he had to be using at least a booster for these......

What do you guys think?????

http://www.wcrclips.com/clips/GW%20Bridge.mp3
http://www.wcrclips.com/clips/GW%20Bridge2.mp3
http://www.wcrclips.com/clips/GW%20Middle.mp3
http://www.wcrclips.com/clips/GW%20Neck.mp3
http://www.wcrclips.com/clips/GW%20Neck2.mp3

dirtydeeds22 · Post by **dirtydeeds22** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 9:49 am

I've been playing almost non-stop when I'm home from work. These pickups sound so good, so different from the stock pickups that were on it, I almost can't believe it. It literally took a day to get used to the change, but the balanced tone is awesome and the individual string definition is what I was looking for. The bridge is by far the best sounding pickup I have EVER used period.
If you go to the www.crcoils.com website and look at the links. There is the Axe-house forum on there and you can find all kinds of treads about these Darkburst pickups. Check it out.

Another thing is that the Darkburst is not on the site. You have to order the Crossroads and then ask for the Darkburst wind.

Later
Jeff

daniel · Post by **daniel** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 2:30 pm

never heard of these pickups, I'll have to check them out. I have a set of seymour duncan seth lovers that I am very happy with.

rjgtr · Post by **rjgtr** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 5:32 pm

I have a set of Fillmores in my Les Paul and love them. Real quality work.

Billy Batz · Post by **Billy Batz** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 12:14 am

I have to say Ive been on a good true PAF clone search for a long time. Good low output and that sweet detailed raw high end just like the vintage 335s Ive played. Some Duncan custom shop stuff is OK and the Fralins are decent as well but this sounds like something I need to try.

What is the difference in the CR and the DB models?

white room · Post by **white room** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 10:46 am

Hmmm, this sounds like it may be just what I'm looking for

I been trying to find a good PAFish sounding pickup too but have not yet found what I want. I tried the DiMarzio PAF and it sounded to muffled or something in my LP but it worked great in my Charvel strat.

I'm currently using a SD 59 in the bridge and it sounds good but I'm still looking.

rjgtr · Post by **rjgtr** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 11:49 am

Go to the WCR site http://www.crcoils.com and check out the clips. The pickups actually do sound like those clips (if you're in the same model guitar).

Billy Batz · Post by **Billy Batz** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 1:26 pm

I dont do well with clips. Especially for pickups. I agree a good PAF should translate well throughout your sound but since Ive never played these and therefore have no way to recognize and distinguish them, and because theres so many variables from amp, settings, cab, speakers, room, micing, mic, mixer, recorder, A/D converters, effects, etc....... I think Id have to try them. Im actually not particularly fond of those clips but for the reasons I just said Id never form a judgement because of that. Id rather listen to owners descriptions and their opinions.

dirtydeeds22 · Post by **dirtydeeds22** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 1:43 pm

email Jim and ask him about the difference. He'll get back to you quick. From what I learned is that the DB is a tad bit overwound, but essentially a CR just darker. I've never played the CR's but those threads over at Axe House really go into details about the output and differences in tone of the two. Some of those guys have guitars with every humbucker Jim makes installed. That's where I went to get more info, because I had never heard of them, I had just seen the ads in Vintage Guitar. That forum and gearpage.com also. I just lurked over there, but there are some threads also. I'd contact Jim, he can give you all the info you need.

Jeff

dirtydeeds22 · Post by **dirtydeeds22** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 7:40 pm

Just a quick update.
I installed Hovland's and the mud went away on the neck pickup. The tone just sounds clearer anyway you play. Clean, or raging. Good upgrade.

Jeff

spork · Post by **spork** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 2:49 pm

Well I have Crossroads in my 78 Yamaha SGB200. Wicked wicked tone. I will never ever use another brand of Humbuckers.

Another note that really needs to be said. That tone you hear on the EDa clip on the Crossroads clip. As an owner of a twin reverb with JBL D120Fs I'll have to give about 30% of that tone to the JBLs. When I put those speakers in my amp it was like I had just bought a whole totally different amp. I was floored at just how much a difference in sound it made. I mean there are other speakers from the 60s that are sim. in sound to Greenbacks, I'm thinking some other UK brands and some Jensen stuff that all are in the same ball park, but man the D120F is in a class all by itself.

Back on track though, WCR pickups really are the shet!
I like his philosophy on Jims vintage pups making. Told me he doesn't try to copy or clone a PAF; he tries to copy and clone the tone of a PAF. Now really that is what we all really want now isn't it. Well the man has done it.

xjunjix · Post by **xjunjix** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 11:24 pm

The WCR's sound really nice but they are pricey

What do you guys think of the HighOrder Pickups? How are they different from the WCR's?

Flames1950 · Post by **Flames1950** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 12:22 am

I've never had the cash to try WCR's, but my HighOrder 8.3K A2's in the bridge slots of my two Gibsons absolutely KILL -- nice and bright like a PAF but not grating, just slightly hot, shoo-wee mama!! I just ordered two 7.6K A3's for the neck slots of those two guitars from Jeff.

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WCR Darkburst pickups

WCR Darkburst pickups

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