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Post new topic Derby owners: What pickups do you use?
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Author Topic:  Derby owners: What pickups do you use?
Butch Pytko

 

From:
Orlando, Florida, USA
Post  Posted 30 Apr 2010 2:24 pm    
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I have a Derby D-10 with George L E66 on E9 neck & George L 10-1 on C6 neck. When I bought the guitar new in 2005, it had E66 on both necks. After a while I thought the E66 was too high for the C6, so I put a 10-1 on & like that lower range a lot better. Now, I'm starting to feel that the E66 on E9 is a little too high. I'd like it to be a little lower than it is, but not too low--I'm not looking for a real mellow type sound on E9. I talked to Ron Elliot at a recent St. Louis Convention & he highly recommended the 10-1's for both necks.

I'm just wondering what pickups you Derby players out there prefer, & would you please describe the output performance--such as highs, mids, & lows.
Thanks
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John Bechtel


From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 30 Apr 2010 2:46 pm     Derby P/U Preferrence
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I don't care for the E-66 P/U, too bright and like Ron Elliot, I use the Geo. L. 10-1 p/u on both necks. The Derby standard p/u is E-66, but; I ordered my Derby new with the 10-1 on both necks. It serves my tastes quite well! The E-66 was not designed specifically for the Derby. It was designed to work well with EMCI guitars. Using the E-66 in the Derby guitars was a matter of choice by the builder.
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Butch Pytko

 

From:
Orlando, Florida, USA
Post  Posted 30 Apr 2010 3:27 pm    
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Just got off the George L web site. I noticed among their list of pickups, they have 2 pickups--the PF-1 & the TW that are wound at 18.6 Ohms. Anybody have either one of these?

Since the E-66 is 17.5 Ohms & the 10-1 is 19.5 Ohms, I'm wondering for someone like me that tends to lean toward a bright sound--if it would be safe to split the difference & go with the 18.6 Ohms pickups?
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John Bechtel


From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 30 Apr 2010 5:19 pm    
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Well, I guess if you want to experiment, it's worth a try! I have an Emmons Lashley Legrande II and the P/U's measure E9 = 18.3 and C6 = 18.4 and I really like them, however; they are Large-Magnet Single~Coil configuration! The Geo. L. p/u is a Humbucker and I don't know if that makes any difference or not!
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David Higginbotham

 

From:
Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA
Post  Posted 30 Apr 2010 6:07 pm    
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Butch, although I don't have a Derby, I have experiemnted with many pickups. If you are looking for an in between pickup, try a George L SS-10. It has all of the tone range of the 10-1 but with a crisp clear tone. It is the same as the 10-1 but made with stainless steel blades like the E-66.

I don't care for the E-66 as it's too bright. Used the 10-1 for a long time, but wanted more clarity or "bite" on my sound. Tried the TW, but it's closer to the E-66 sound. I have a set of SS-10's on my GFI and it's the best tone I can get!
Dave
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Ray McCarthy

 

From:
New Hampshire, USA
Post  Posted 1 May 2010 2:40 am    
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I switched out he E-66 in my SD-10 for a TruTone and I've been very happy with it. The tone is bold, clear and bell-like. There's a little hum if you mash the pedal, but neither I nor anyone else has ever heard it at a gig or in the recordings I make.

Derby SD-10 (#316), NV-112
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David Nugent

 

From:
Gum Spring, Va.
Post  Posted 1 May 2010 3:10 am    
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My early Carter guitar (before Carter began offering their many pickup options) came factory equipped with the "E-66" on the E-9 neck and the "10-1" on the C6. A popular conversion at that time was to merely swap the pickups around (E-66 0n C6, 10-1 0n E-9). A vast improvement in tone on both necks IMO with no additional expenditure.
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Greg Wisecup


From:
Troy, Ohio
Post  Posted 1 May 2010 5:33 am    
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My last Derby had an E66 and I liked it fine. The Derby that I have now has a 10-1 I think I like it better. I think the lows are lower than the E66.
Last week while out playing another steeler came in and I got a chance to her my guitar in action. He mentioned the deep lows that it was emitting through my NV 112. I sang a few and stood on the stage about 6 feet from the amp. When he grabbed a 6-8-10 at the third fret the stage vibrated beneath my feet. 10-1 and a NV 112 sound great together.
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Roger Rettig


From:
Naples, FL
Post  Posted 1 May 2010 6:25 am    
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I'm on my second Derby now - the first, an SD-10 that I should have KEPT!!!! - had an E-66 and I must say that, as much as I liked the guitar, I thought it a bit on the bright side.

Now I have a D-10 (it also has E-66s), but I've yet to spend any time playing it. Bryan Adams is currently switching it from 'Emmons' to 'Day' for me (along with some other changes I want) so I still don't know if it'll have that same characteristic as my earlier one. I wouldn't be surprised, though.

I recall John Widgren suggesting that I switched the E-66 for a stock Emmons s/c - he found it worked fine, and I may try that.

I do like these Derby steels - they make an Emmons fan like me feel at home.....
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Butch Pytko

 

From:
Orlando, Florida, USA
Post  Posted 1 May 2010 4:53 pm    
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Hey guys thanks a lot for the great comments--is the Steel Guitar Forum GREAT or what?

David H.,
You may be on to something about the SS-10! If it's a little brighter than the regular 10-1, it may be just what I want! Also, your comment on the TW makes sense. After I noticed the TW was at 18.6 Ohms, between the E-66 & 10-1, I also was wondering if it would be too close to the E-66 sound. Your test of the TW is all I wanted to hear! Thanks for your help!
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Pat Comeau


From:
New Brunswick, Canada
Post  Posted 1 May 2010 10:06 pm    
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The GL eon is suppose to be close to the E-66 but with a different blade adding warmth and lows. Smile
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Larry Moore


From:
Hampton, Ga. USA
Post  Posted 4 May 2010 3:42 pm    
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Here is my Derby with a Emmons Single coil P/U ( it is about 19.5 ohms)
I made a adapter plate because the holes are not the same mount. I like it.
Larry
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