What's the best Iommi pickup?

[bigbadmutha]

I've been wondering this for a while. I know the Gibson Iommi pup seems to be the common weapon of choice. I've been considering JayDee's Iommi p-up or a John Birch p-up considering Iommi used to play them. I'm not sure which JB p-up Iommi used though. I'm thinking Hyperflux. I heard they're 24k ohms. Could somebody please suplly a few answers to my dilema. I have a feeling Brucewayne131 has the answers.

 

[skidshark]

i'm certain he does...and BTW, welcome to the forums.

 

[Rendus]

[quote author=bigbadmutha link=topic=10050.msg131440#msg131440 date=1157328237]
  I'm thinking Hyperflux. I heard they're 24k ohms. [/quote]

Hyperflux Pickups
The traditional "seventies" standard sound is possibly the best way to describe the JB Hyperflux

Humbucker 10K ohms 30Hz - 16 KHz

Magnum 2 Pickups
The double output pickup as used on the John Birch SG Special to create it's unique sound.
If you like a lot of mid range and power then this has to be the choice.

20K ohms 30Hz - 8KHz

 

[bigbadmutha]

[quote author=Rendus link=topic=10050.msg131469#msg131469 date=1157337998]


Hyperflux Pickups
The traditional "seventies" standard sound is possibly the best way to describe the JB Hyperflux

Humbucker 10K ohms 30Hz - 16 KHz

Magnum 2 Pickups
The double output pickup as used on the John Birch SG Special to create it's unique sound.
If you like a lot of mid range and power then this has to be the choice.

20K ohms 30Hz - 8KHz

[/quote]

Ohh. so it was the magnum I was thinking of. Thanx! :)

 

[irockguitar82]

What's an ohms??

 

[Zeppelin Rules]

An Ohm is a unit of electrical resistance. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohm

 

[irockguitar82]

Thanks! O0

 

[guitarweasel]

[quote author=Zeppelin Rules link=topic=10050.msg131493#msg131493 date=1157342185]
An Ohm is a unit of electrical resistance.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohm
[/quote]

There goes Mr. Google again ! ;D

 

[SG Lou]

A Hyperflux was used in the neck position while a Magnum was in the bridge position. This was the setup on the Monkey SG and the first John Birch SG that Jonh Diggins built for Tony, ( which Iommi still uses to this day. It's named "Old Boy" ) Later on Diggins made his own pickups and installed a bridge pickup that was slightly smaller than the Birch version with bars as opposed screw pole pieces. That pickup was wound to 24k ohms.

Its very hard to find original John Birch pickups although they do turn up once in a while. I have an original Hyperflux in the hands of John Diggins over at JayDee Guitars in Birmingham England. Its being rewound to 24k ohms. This will be going into the bridge position of my Monkey SG copy.

Here is a copy of an original JB catalogue on his pickups.
Oh, and BTW, The pups Birch offers today are full size humbuckers. The original ones were about the size of a P-90

Gibson Humbucker on the left, JB Hyperflux on the right

These are JayDee's version of the Birch pickup. I already have a set on order
The neck pup is 7.5k ohms and the bridge is 24k ohms as were Iommi's  originals

 

[bigbadmutha]

Thank god you're on the board.

 

[Zeppelin Rules]

And here are those pickups in action.

 

[Stareater]

There goes Mr. Google again !

Is that like a Mr. Bungle? :?

 

[guitarweasel]

[quote author=Stareater link=topic=10050.msg132045#msg132045 date=1157491781]

There goes Mr. Google again !

Is that like a Mr. Bungle? :?
[/quote]

Worse ! ;D

 

[Lamf77]

Very, very late to the party. I found the:
John Birch Guitars UK Magnum 4 + Hyperflux 5 pickup set.
On Reverb....will run about $200 shipped to US. Are these the real deal or a less expensive knock off?
Thanks!

 

[tony1852]

I'm also very interested in getting the Iommi sound from the Dio-era Black Sabbath/Heaven and Hell records. The John Birch pickups above (Magnum 4 + Hyperflux 5). The person that runs the site, John Carling, says the resistance of the pickups are 12/15K ohms and use Alnico 5 CEM magnets. Pics attached. Any of the experts think these are as good, or better, than either the Jay Dee or Gibson Iommi pickups? The Gibson Iommi's measure about 15.6k ohms. Thanks for any input!

 

[papagayo]

11 x 2 pole pieces per pickup, unusual.

 

[tony1852]

Not sure what the Jay Dee pups are (Alnico V, II, ceramic, etc.), but 24k ohms is quite a bit higher than 15-16k ohms that the Birch pickups are currently are rated (Alnico V) and the Gibson Iommi (Alnico II/ceramic combo). Thoughts?

 

[Kirk Dahnke]

I suppose it depends on which era. I had the first edition of the Gibson Iommis. They were good but nothing mind-blowing. Personally, I get all the way there with some hot P90s and a treble booster. At least for the Iommi I want.

 

[MaxBrothman]

I use P90s.

However, I will say this. The Catalinbread Sabbra Cadabra pedal sounds better than a Laney + treble booster, lol.

I use a Marshall Plexi and Catalinbread Naga Vyper but that Sabbra Cadabra is maybe one of the best pedals ever at trying to mimic a signature player's tone. It nails it.

 

[Kirk Dahnke]

I use P90s.

However, I will say this. The Catalinbread Sabbra Cadabra pedal sounds better than a Laney + treble booster, lol.

I use a Marshall Plexi and Catalinbread Naga Vyper but that Sabbra Cadabra is maybe one of the best pedals ever at trying to mimic a signature player's tone. It nails it.

Yeah, I had that pedal. It nails it. Don't know why but I just never used it. I also have their RAH pedal I never use either. Lol