June 2009 \ Features \ Builder Profile \ 5 Single-Coil Pickup Builders You Should Know

5 Single-Coil Pickup Builders You Should Know

Adam Moore

We talk with five pickup builders specializing in single coils: Pete Biltoft and Vintage Vibe Guitars, J.D. Prince of Van Zandt Pickups, Owen Duffy of O.C. Duff Pickups, Chris Kinman of Kinman Guitar Electrix, and Jerry Amalfitano of Amalfitano Pickups
Premier Guitar June 2009
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If the electric guitar takes the prize for most influential participant in the development of modern music, then the humble single-coil pickup should win an award for its supporting role. It is not hyperbole to say that single-coil pickups helped launch rock ‘n’ roll—from Buddy Holly to Eric Clapton to Jeff Beck, these versatile pickups provided the foundation for countless influential riffs and defined the “electric sound” for an entire generation.

What is perhaps so remarkable about passive single-coil pickups is that, for all intents and purposes, they remain a straightforward idea, built upon basic scientific concepts of magnetism and electricity. This has made single-coil pickups one of the most democratic of all guitar components to build—find yourself a little wire, a few magnets, and you’re in business (it may not sound like an original Fender pickup, but you’re in business nonetheless). Their very simplicity lends itself to experimentation and exploration, and it’s for this same reason that many modern pickup builders got their start, by repairing dead single coils.

That’s not to say that these pickups have remained static in their half century of existence. On the contrary, they’ve kept pace with players as they’ve demanded more power and less noise. They are as relevant today as they were when Jimi Hendrix strapped on his Strat at Monterey. A new generation of pickup builders has delivered an incredible level of specialization and complexity to demanding gearheads, providing us with spot-on vintage recreations, high-output powerhouses and everything imaginable in-between.

This month, we’ll speak with five pickup builders who have been working hard to keep the single-coil pickup moving forward: Pete Biltoft and Vintage Vibe Guitars, J.D. Prince of Van Zandt Pickups, Owen Duffy of O.C. Duff Pickups, Chris Kinman of Kinman Guitar Electrix, and Jerry Amalfitano of Amalfitano Pickups. These builders demonstrate that there’s something for everyone in today’s boutique pickup market, and that single-coil devotees are limited only by their imagination.

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Comments

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Phil
on 12/02/2011 		I bought a set of Kinman pickups in 1998 for my '62 reissue Strat (it had texas specials on it and it hummed like crazy). Chris showed me the '62 and I think it was '59 middle and neck. A music shop managed the delivery. 13 years on and they still sound awesome. Best sounding (and playing) guitar I've ever had...
glen massey
on 06/01/2011 		i purchased a set of sp's from jerry a few months ago.installed them in a tex- mex strat with a humbucker in the bridge the sound was AMAZING the guys in my band thought the same thing .and it just gets better every time i play .i want install a set in my tele... cant wait.....thanks jerry. ps. sorry i missed the show
Randy Sandmann
on 10/07/2010 		I have two custom built Strats with Different Kinmans in them, (woodstock plus set, and a mixed 62, 59 and SCn set) and for me, nothing compares. they are dead quiet, have magnificent tone, and plenty of punch. Just so you know from whence i speak, I have tried Texas specials, Fralins, Dimarzios, EMG's Duncans, Etc. and all I can tell you is that the Kinmans are by far the answer for me, it is not even a contest. More players have asked me about my tone with the kinmans and are blown away by it. I can't wait to try his P-90's!!!
Chuk
on 07/03/2010 		I have two Strats with Kinman AVn Blues pickups installed.
I recently bought a Fender Ltd Ed. Custom Shop Stratocaster and desperately wanted to play it at the biggest gig of the year but,due to bad noise problems at the gig, had to abandon it.
I picked up my trusty Kinman-loaded Strat and voila...not a sound! Phew!!
I'll be stripping the Fender pups out of the Custom Shop Strat & loading it Kinman Woodstocks.
Robb
on 05/24/2010 		Pete's pickups are of the finest quality. He makes everything involved in the pickup and the tone is crisp yet clean with some chime. The notes are detailed and clean and when driven hard to distortion the sound is milkshake thick with swirl and bite that is so musical you almost have to stop and congratulate yourself on choosing such a superior product. I have played guitars with Kinman's and Fralin's pickups and they are fantastic, but Pete Biltoft's pickups are in both my guitars now. Thanks Pete for the attention to detail. Plus the customer service is the best as well. He is totally interested in making you happy and responds to all E-mails quickly. The best the USA has to offer in my opinion.
Christian
on 05/12/2010 		Hello,
We are having the Fourth Annual Portland Guitar Show & Swapmeet June 6 2010. We have advertising opportunities if you would like. We have weblink banners,full color spots on our posters and handbills. We also have a table set up each year that we would put your promotional material on for free. The patrons do like the different materials along with the show it's self. We have free drawings through out the day. So if you would like to send us some small items that we could use in our free give aways we would be glad to accept them. We provide the majority of prizes though. We also are willing to post a hanging banner for you for a small charge, and could return that banner to you if you pay the postage.
Our website is www.threeguitars.com and it has all of the information on the show and the prices too.
Thank you for your consideration.
Christian Winfield P.G.S.S. 2010
Captain Har
on 04/27/2010 		I have had the AVN blues Kinman set in my American strat for 7 years, and love the great tone I get. I own several guitars, and this one is my favorite.I play through a Peavey 30 Watt amp with an EV12l speaker. Chris and Leo together have made the perfect guitar.
Dean
on 03/30/2010 		I just bought woodstock plus set from Kinman. The sound is trully amazing. They sound just like true single coils. I Have dimazio FS-1 in another guitar and seymour cool rails and I've tried many, many pickups in the last 20 years, but trully nothing surpases the Kinmans sound and considering that they're noiseless, they're way ahead of any thing that Emg to Seymour has to offer. The one thing that I've found to be so special about the kinmans besides the no hum and the true Single coil sound is that : they are so dynamic, the softer you play the softer and sweeter they sound and when pushed hard they compress in the most musical magical way and if you want aggression it's all there too. These are the most balanced pickups I have played!! I'm gonna stop before I sound like a commercial but read all the reviews and everyone will tell you the same thing, only thing you have to choose the correct set tha suites your style.
Kinman: Thank you for preserving the strat sound without the annoying hum.
Mike
on 03/01/2010 		I have a 92 American tele and I have owned the Kinman Broadcaster pups for about a year now. All I can say is WOW, the neck pup is something special. I have a 4-way switch and that has increased my sonic options.

I am planning on adding one of Kinman's P90-hx to this setup in the very near future.
elmer
on 02/21/2010 		I have a friend here in philippines.He is a luthier... He invented pick-ups with no hum... oops, a single coil (no hum) not dimarzio single coil hum cancelling style, i know the design of dimarzio like cruiser, area 58... He used 2components only...no poles, very flat like EMG style... You kmow what very glassy sound, chime, chunky in dirt sound, no more hums when it comes in metal tones. grounded is useless.more interesting... He has a patent also here in Philippines. And I know Mr. Kinman will amazed after he read this. a very cheap price. and I know He is the first inventor who invented single coil with Zero hum in a less material used.



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