TrueTone Pickups

Kirk P Dighton · Post by **Kirk P Dighton** » 16 Sep 2003 7:12 am

Anyone switched or have been using Truetone pickups? Am thinking of using them on my Carter to get rid of the shrill highs and muddy mids. Any thoughts? Will this help?
Thanks in advance.
Kirk

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 16 Sep 2003 8:53 am

I liked his rewinds of my SB Single coils IMMENSELY. The Price was right, and the service fast. I Bought a TT that I wish to have taken down a bit to really bite on my E9SB, and he said he'd do it for free.

I reccomend him and his company, and will use him from here on out.

EJL

John McGann · Post by **John McGann** » 16 Sep 2003 9:35 am

Try a search for TrueTones on the forum and you'll see many raves. My friend put one in his single neck Carter and loved it, so I put two in my D-10 Carter- and it is like a new instrument altogether, a HUGE improvement in tone on both necks...http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum11/HTML/004168.html

Jerry Roller · Post by **Jerry Roller** » 16 Sep 2003 9:39 am

Jerry's pickups are great. I believe he has a money back guarantee if you are not happy and I doubt if he has had any takers yet. I have bought 5 of them and highly recommend them.
Jerry

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 16 Sep 2003 9:39 am

If you prefer the single-coil sound, as do I, you will enjoy the TrueTone pickup. I have two in my wood cabinet Fessenden guitar and couldn't be happier with the sound.

It might even be considered sacrilegious or heresy, but I'm thinking of putting a pair into one of my Emmons guitars to see how they turn out there.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Alan Pagliere · Post by **Alan Pagliere** » 16 Sep 2003 10:23 am

I just bought an extra one for my new MSA Millennium. As you may know, the new MSAs allow you to hot swap a pickup. Just slide the old one out and the new one in. My 12 string Universal came with a George L E-66. I "borrowed" a Trutone (mounted properly for the MSA) at St. Louis. I was to check it out and either send it back or pay for it. I decided to just buy it and have two pickups. I like the sound of both, though I find it very hard to articulate the differences. At least now I can leisurely experiment with the best of both worlds.

But, to answer your question, I like it.

Bill Terry · Post by **Bill Terry** » 16 Sep 2003 11:41 am

Hey Herb, I put two TruTones in my Legrande, and couldn't be happier. It's Ricky D's old guitar if you remember, and it had the E66s. I didn't dislike the E66s, I just like the SCs better. It's moved the tone a lot closer to a P/P, particular the lower end. YMMV since you've already got SCs in your guitars and they ARE P/Ps...

The '67 P/P I got from MC still has the originals, which are wound much lighter than the stock TrueTones, about 14.5K I think, and they sound great. Has anybody tried one of Jerry's PUs wound to something in that range?

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 16 Sep 2003 12:25 pm

They sound great in Sho-Buds, too.

DZ

Dennis Detweiler · Post by **Dennis Detweiler** » 16 Sep 2003 2:12 pm

This past sunday evening, I finished refurbishing my 1976 MSA U-12, lacquer over birdseye. I installed a new TT pickup that Jerry wound to 19000. The guitar definitely doesn't sound like the traditional MSA. I haven't played it outside the house yet and I'm still fine tuning the pedal rods. For some reason, the pickup brings out more warmth when combined with the stereo tube amp I've been using. For the lack of a better description, it has that growling bite, but not thin. I would compare it toward a ShoBud tone. Compared to my Zum (with a GL 12-1), I have to tweek the lows up a little on the MSA.
Geesh Kirk! Now you're becoming a tone freak? The good thing and confusing part of it... today there is a big selection of pickups and tone controlling gear. Alot to choose from. Goettsch would have one of everything in his music room.[This message was edited by Dennis Detweiler on 16 September 2003 at 05:21 PM.]

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 16 Sep 2003 4:52 pm

Bill T.

I had my Sho Buds wound to 16 k, and it gives me the edge I was looking for. It's just a "tone" I like. People say you can't tell a K or so.

I know I sure can.

I got a TT pickup with the bigger magnets, at 17.5 I believe, and I think I'll have it knocked down to 16 too, and use it on my Prof when it gets rebuilt. One more to match if I find it perfect. .

EJL

Larry Behm · Post by **Larry Behm** » 16 Sep 2003 5:23 pm

I put two 16k TT in my 67 PP. They are cleaner than the 14k's I took out, the string separation is great.

I have also gone to a Mesa Boogie Studio Preamp, I run the both volumes and both masters on 3 so as not to overdrive the distortion path, it also cuts down on the noise. I run this into the front end of my Webb, so far so good.

Larry Behm

Lefty Schrage · Post by **Lefty Schrage** » 16 Sep 2003 8:29 pm

Herb, a couple of months ago I put two TT's in my LeGrande II and am elated with the tone and string separation. My guitar now has that 'growl' I like and the tone remains great whether playing through an Evans, a N'ville 400, or whatever. Enjoyed visiting w/ you over lunch downstairs at the ISGC. ...lefty

Larry Harlan · Post by **Larry Harlan** » 17 Sep 2003 9:20 am

Has anyone put a pr. of these in an old Sho~Bud--i.e. Permanent, Fingertip, or the Professional? If so, what were the results? My old FT has the double-wound pu's with the extra switches on the side. I'm wondering if a pr. of these and a set of Jag stainless steel strings might be some good therapy for it for better highs, less mud and twang and better separation?

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 17 Sep 2003 10:39 am

Hi, Kirk, I did the exact guitar surgery you're contemplating. Here's my original post: http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum5/HTML/005329.html
Call Jerry and get 'em. You'll be thrilled.

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C'mon by and visit!- www.markvanallen.com
My Bands: Sugarland Kate and the Retreads Kecia Garland Band Shane Bridges Band Dell Conner Blues Band

Tore Blestrud · Post by **Tore Blestrud** » 17 Sep 2003 10:50 am

I changed the BL710 to the TT-10 in my ShoBud SuperPro. Glad I did, as I like the singlecoil sound better. Great pickup.

Kirk P Dighton · Post by **Kirk P Dighton** » 17 Sep 2003 1:05 pm

OK Guys. That does it. My next 2 jobs will go towards TT pickups. Jerry- expect the check in the mail around Oct 1. Thanks for all of you guys' help. Dennis- Yes I am afraid I have now progressed to that stage. I'll bet Goettsch is just laughing his a%$ off........God I love this instrument!

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 17 Sep 2003 2:05 pm

Alright. I think it's quite obvious that we should all vote for Jerry Wallace in the next presidential election!

Nothing but praise for the man and his pups!

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Lee, from South Texas
Down On The Rio Grande

Dennis Detweiler · Post by **Dennis Detweiler** » 17 Sep 2003 5:36 pm

Does anyone have one on their U-12 Zum? Wound to what ohm?
Dennis[This message was edited by Dennis Detweiler on 17 September 2003 at 10:14 PM.]

Jim Peter · Post by **Jim Peter** » 22 Sep 2003 8:06 am

Dennis,

I just put one in my '98 Zum U-12, which sounds very good, and I believe Jerry wound it to 19,000. I originally had one of Bruce's single coil pickups in it and I am still trying to determine if there is that much difference between the two. When I talked to Jerry he said that I might not hear that much difference but I wanted to see if I could back off the highs a little and he was more than willing to work with me. Said if I didn't like it to send it back in 30 days for a refund. I will definetely be keeping it. The pickup workmanship is excellent and installed very nicely. It is a pleasure doing business with Jerry.

Jim Peter

jerry wallace · Post by **jerry wallace** » 22 Sep 2003 6:37 pm

My fellow Americans and Steel Pickers, if you all should decide on a recall election, I would consider running..{for the outhouse}

I want to thank everyone for all of your feedback and compliments both pro and con..
I build every pickup as if I were building it for myself.

I figured out way back I will never be a LLoyd Green or Buddy Emmons so I hope to contribute to the steel guitar through my pickups..

Kirk, I will set aside some wire and magnets for you..

Thanks for all of the support and business..

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Jerry Wallace-2001 Zum: D-10,8+6, "98 Zum: D-10,8+8,Nashville 1000,Session 500 ,Session 400 head only amp,Tubefex,ProfexII, Artesia, New Mexico
http://www.jerrywallacemusic.com

[This message was edited by jerry wallace on 22 September 2003 at 07:40 PM.]

Cory Dolinsky · Post by **Cory Dolinsky** » 28 Sep 2003 3:33 pm

wow those things
sound great,, now i get it
thank you Jerry

Ray Frady · Post by **Ray Frady** » 4 Oct 2003 2:56 am

I agree whole heartedly!!!!!!!!!!

I replaced the stock pickups on my GFI, with the True Tone's. I can't believe the difference in the sound. The True Tone's are the best IMHO!!!

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Ray Frady

Frank Harris · Post by **Frank Harris** » 11 Oct 2003 8:48 pm

i put a TT pick up in my emmonds on the e9th it sounds great and really made my steel sound great on highs and lows it makes the emmonds sound like a emmonds should and brought my steel which is about 8 years old back to life i have ordered a second pick up up from jerry with week for my c6th neck can not wait till i get it please hurrry jerry a great guy to do bussiness with keep up your good work frank king of the strings san diego

Joe A. Camacho · Post by **Joe A. Camacho** » 11 Oct 2003 9:01 pm

I totally agree with you about Jerry, but... do you really have an Emmonds and I never knew the San Diego had a King of the Strings....?

Ronald Moore · Post by **Ronald Moore** » 19 Oct 2003 6:14 am

I just installed a TT-12 in my Universal 12 Zumsteel and it sounds great! I had a Lawrence 912 in it before and now it seems cleaner, especially on the low strings. The price is right too. Ron