Ok, I finally Installed The Brobucker

[Jeff_H]

....and it doesn't suck.

[JumpMarine]

'Bought time bozo! No, it REALLY doesn't suck. What'd you put it in?

[Jeff_H]

Put it in the Les Paul first...because GJ kept calling me out on it. I actually liked the 59' in the bridge of that guitar better. Then I put it in the Dean Hardtail, replacing an overwound APH bridge (8.43k). The Brobucker has the same softness and non-harshness in the treble and upper mids, but has some tightness in the low mids and lows that the APH was missing in comparision. It also seems more "open" and defined, instead of just the smoothness of the APH.

My ONLY issue is that the cover was soldered on from the factory, and it's not potted. The pickup is, but not the cover. When I kick in my boost pedal, or don't stand more than 10 feet away from my amp, I get squeel. Once I switch to the neck pup, it goes away instantly. I'll have to pull it out and pot it at some point.

However, it really made the guitar come alive.

[JumpMarine]

That's odd, mine was fully potted. Lightly, but fully potted and I never had an issue with squeal. I'm one to talk, mine's sitting in a box right now.

[ErikH]

The squeal is from the air gaps between the cover and the pickup. The pickup itself *is* potted, but lightly. I took the cover off mine to reveal the double creams and it SCREAMS! in my frankenstrat.

It's about time, Jeff. Glad to hear you like it.

[75lespaul]

Good man! With my Vetta, I only have a slight feedback problem with the Brobucker in my SG knockoff. I like that pickup better for lotsa overdrive and pure distortion, whereas my Seth Lover in the bridge of my six in the Gibson doubleneck is the purest, most vintage sounding pickup and guitar combo (IMO) that I've ever heard. When doing an A/B test last night through my Bassman combo, the BB sounded good but the Seth was just THE sound for vintage, like mid career Led Zeppelin where Page was actually using less distortion. This is just straight into the amp. Nearly pegged the tone from Over The Hills and Far Away (the rock part). The Brobucker however does an awesome early Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest--basically anything with more distortion. The Seth still sounds great doing that as well, but the BB just has something about it. This was through a few other amps that are more geared for overdrive and distortion.

[Jeff_H]

I think the biggest mistake I've made over the past few years is expecting pickups like the APH or 59' or Seth to do EVERYTHING I wanted. Truth is they do some things VERY WELL, and others they don't. I like a lot of classic rock, but I alwo like some Priest, 80's Rock and Metal...among other things. While vintage pickups will do a lot of these sounds very well, there are slightly hotter pickups that nail the tones.

The brobucker is one of these pickups for more distored tones...it really shines. It's a nice slight step down from the C5...it sounds more complex and balanced. It really is a great pickup.

I'll just pot the cover lightly at some point and it will be perfect.

[TheArchitect]

My ONLY issue is that the cover was soldered on from the factory, and it's not potted. The pickup is, but not the cover. When I kick in my boost pedal, or don't stand more than 10 feet away from my amp, I get squeel. Once I switch to the neck pup, it goes away instantly. I'll have to pull it out and pot it at some point.

However, it really made the guitar come alive.

Mine is like that too. Its controllable and really adds a nice complexity to the tone so I kept it as is

[Jeff_H]

Mine is like that too. Its controllable and really adds a nice complexity to the tone so I kept it as is

I do like the tone a bunch. Potting it will kill some of the high end complexity I know. Perhaps I'll just adjust it a little and give it some time. Besides, it took me 6 months to install it, Lord knows how long it will take to get it out to pot!!!

[Gearjoneser]

Yeah, when I put mine in, I liked the tone a lot, but when I kicked into higher gain, it squealed a little, so I took it out and gave it a fast dunk in wax. It solved the problem, and may have warmed up the highs just slightly, which is fine with me.

[Stratcat]

How does the Brobucker compare to the CC?

[Jeff_H]

To me, the Brobucker is a CC with tighter lows and a more open feeling...like note seperation. The CC is smooth and warm, and it just sounds like each note rings out a little truer with the BB as apposes to the CC. Not implying that the BB is not smooth and warm.

Does that make any sense?

[JumpMarine]

I pulled out my old beater super strat(Ovation solid body from the mid 80's) and popped the BB back in, man I love that pickup and this is in a POS plywood bodied super strat.

[ErikH]

Welcome to the world of tonal goodness, gentlemen.

The Brobucker will only get replaced with another Brobucker in the frankenstrat. That's how much I love that pickup. That guitar has never sounded so good.

[jeremy]

glad you like it jeff!

once i popped mine in, that guitar has been my #1 so much so that i have to force myself to bring other guitars out since they feel neglected

[Fusion1]

I think it's unanimous. Has there been anyone who did NOT like the BroBucker? I'm assuming no.

Doesn't this validate the need for the Brobucker as a production pickup as was initially stated to fill the gap between vintage (59), and modern (Custom/C5/Custom Custom)? I apologize in advance if this is going to open a new can of worms...

[CenterStaqeSilver]

I think it's unanimous. Has there been anyone who did NOT like the BroBucker? I'm assuming no.

Doesn't this validate the need for the Brobucker as a production pickup as was initially stated to fill the gap between vintage (59), and modern (Custom/C5/Custom Custom)? I apologize in advance if this is going to open a new can of worms...

Yes it does and the customer is always right!

[TimmyPage]

Doesn't this validate the need for the Brobucker as a production pickup as was initially stated to fill the gap between vintage (59), and modern (Custom/C5/Custom Custom)? I apologize in advance if this is going to open a new can of worms...

I think that would destroy it's point. It's not something you brag about.. it's the forums (The SDUGF Bros) little tone secret.

[TheArchitect]

I think it's unanimous. Has there been anyone who did NOT like the BroBucker? I'm assuming no.

Doesn't this validate the need for the Brobucker as a production pickup as was initially stated to fill the gap between vintage (59), and modern (Custom/C5/Custom Custom)? I apologize in advance if this is going to open a new can of worms...

All it validates is that it sounds good. It says nothing about what the larger market may be. Let it go dude. Its done.

[Fusion1]

Actually I think IIRC the original guy that started this whole discussion was stating that this pickup would fill a void that so many guitarists are looking for in a pickup. What I am saying is this wouldn't be a niche pickup as it seems like it fits the needs of about every kind of player. I know the other side of the coin from Evans perspective that they cant drop everything to market a new pickup, but this thing is a HIT!!! I can't conceive why something like this would never make it as a production pickup...