This is a great choice for players looking for a nice twist on a classic
design. Named the Big Boy for its bigger, stronger tone, this is a slightly taller magnet Tele neck pickup. It uses Alnico V, .187 magnet slugs, and is handwound with 42 gauge Heavy Formvar to around 5.6K. It also uses a pure nickel/silver cover which is more “transparent” sounding than traditional brass/chrome covers.
The tone of this pickup isn’t necessarily hot, although it certainly has a warmer midrange, woodier high end, and loses any anemic lipstick and muffled properties Tele neck pickups can sometimes have.
Overall, the tone is clear, direct, and even – somewhat Strat’ty, somewhat Gretsch’y (especially in the middle position) and very Tele’ish. This is a great pickup for neck soloing and smooth rhythm chord work.
Redd Volkaert uses this neck pickup along with the Plankster bridge pickup.
Blake Miller –
Hey, I just wanted to say thank you for making such a quality pickup. I recently received a guitar from Mark Wright at Wright Mind Musical Instruments and he recommended I use your pickups. I am so glad I listened! These are incredible. I am using the “Plankster” and “Big Boy”. The way they are voiced is so inspiring to play. Hands down my favorite pickups I have played in a long time! Thank you!