neutria49 Posted October 1, 2016 Posted October 1, 2016 Is it that no one has any money? Is it that they are touted as the best but you don't believe it? Tell my why.
PunkKitty Posted October 1, 2016 Posted October 1, 2016 I thought they were discontinued earlier than 2012. As far as I know, they were never sold for aftermarket use. They are expensive and people want them. I've come across a few sets. They are fantastic. But I sold them for the money.
Gtwibs Posted October 1, 2016 Posted October 1, 2016 Speaking of, I don't know what they usually go for, but here's a set on CL: https://annarbor.craigslist.org/msg/5796745080.html
AP515 Posted October 1, 2016 Posted October 1, 2016 I had a set in my GT 150. They were good, no question. But for my mediocre skills, others like the stock 59's do about the same thing. I put them up with Seth's in rank. Maybe with a little more power IIRC.
Kuz Posted October 1, 2016 Posted October 1, 2016 No they are not the best, no where near it (for me).
bolero Posted October 1, 2016 Posted October 1, 2016 I had a set & didn't care for them a whole lot...sold them before all the hubbub, for what must be chump change, nowadays oh well
JeffB Posted October 1, 2016 Posted October 1, 2016 I dont like that pick up. Its not what I want in a pick up. Its not the first hyped pick up I havnt liked.
neutria49 Posted October 1, 2016 Author Posted October 1, 2016 lol, that pretty well sums it up. I had a set for sale and have seen others for sale on here and no one jumps. Just wondered why.
Steiner Posted October 1, 2016 Posted October 1, 2016 I love mine in a semi and full hollow body. Then again, they do sound particularly nice in the 150... Perhaps I should route the 137 and give them a try.
Millennium Maestro Posted October 1, 2016 Posted October 1, 2016 I love HRWs , they are a great pickup... Jazz guys love them, as far as for my own needs(I have a few too many guitars) I like consistency with my guitars which means that I need to know the exact specs of a pickup, I spent decades with High output pickups and have since converted all my guitars to vintage A2 pickup after experimenting with all types. It seems money may be a big factor that has kept them in your possession, you give them away and someone will buy them... Most likely to resell them. I have seen many guitars scalped for their HRWs. I have seen Throbak increase in popularity and they are expensive... I see a bunch of guitars that should be moving at much higher prices... Economy?
Gitfiddler Posted October 1, 2016 Posted October 1, 2016 HRW's are an acquired taste. They sound great in some guitars, not so great in others. I find lowering them away from the strings helps bring out the best tones. Based on the reviews of users (on the old Heritage website), many jazzers loved them in their archtops. Heritage endorsee,Henry Johnson has been using HRW's for years and his tone is amazing.
tbonesullivan Posted October 2, 2016 Posted October 2, 2016 I prefer wax potted pickups. Aren't they potted? I know I can see wax on the side of the polepiece screws on mine.
HANGAR18 Posted October 2, 2016 Posted October 2, 2016 Aren't they potted? I know I can see wax on the side of the polepiece screws on mine. Only by special order. Not standard.
davesultra Posted October 2, 2016 Posted October 2, 2016 I had a set in an '02 Ultra. They were "meh" to me. Not worth going out of my way for.
DetroitBlues Posted October 2, 2016 Posted October 2, 2016 They are expensive on the used market and not everyone's cup of tea. With so many other options out, especially the nearby Throbak company, HRWs are thought by some as just a reworked Schaller in terms of value now. Yes, some love them, but their used value is highly overinflated.
RhoadsScholar Posted October 2, 2016 Posted October 2, 2016 I am a fan of HRW pickups. I have them in a 575, a 170 and a Millie. I have found that I need to find the right tone control settings on the amp to dial in the HRWs but once I do, tonal nirvana is not far behind
yoslate Posted October 2, 2016 Posted October 2, 2016 I think their character is that they have no discernable character. I don't mean that as a criticism. They are a very clear and present microphone, and, as several have stated, they seem to be a terrific jazz pickup in the right guitar, with a little attention to adjusting them relative to the strings. Not for me, either, though. I like a little sand in the oyster.
golferwave Posted October 2, 2016 Posted October 2, 2016 I'm more a fan of the ThroBak, RS Guitar Works, Bare Knuckle pickups and not so much the HRW's. The point I try to make is if it sounds good to your ears then go for it. Your ears are the ones that really matter.
Kuz Posted October 3, 2016 Posted October 3, 2016 HRWs are VERY clear and HiFi sounding. I have one in my GE and it sounds just fine for uber clean tones. You need to understand that Ren Wall, the creator of them is a country player. It would be a very good country pickup because it is so clear, bright, and snappy. It is not a creamy, warm, round sounding pickup. I don't do the high-gain thing, but because of it's clarity it may not fart out at higher gain settings. So for uber clean jazzers, spanky bright country players, or possibly high-gain metal .... they might be good pickup. For blues, classic rock, American-roots rock, or collegish alternative .... not a good pickup. To me they sound like sterile A5 magnets, and I hate A5s for the above description. To me, with A5s and HRWs, you hear the pickup but not the wood or character of your guitar. YMMV
High Flying Bird Posted October 3, 2016 Posted October 3, 2016 I thought that the HRWs had no soul. I traded mine out for a set of Phat Cats and I am glad that I did. I play old school psychedelic blues and the cats do this better. The Lollar Imperials also give me a great tone in my new, 2010, 137.
Gitfiddler Posted October 3, 2016 Posted October 3, 2016 Sidebar question: Has anyone changed the magnets or otherwise modified their HRW's?
PunkKitty Posted October 3, 2016 Posted October 3, 2016 Sidebar question: Has anyone changed the magnets or otherwise modified their HRW's? I once took apart a Schaller pickup. They use custom sized magnets. I think the HRW's were made by Schaller to Ren's specs. Either that, or Ren modified Schallers to make HRW's.
ElNumero Posted October 3, 2016 Posted October 3, 2016 Admittedly, I do not have the set of ears that many of you have on this forum. I have a 555 with HRW's and this is the way I look at it. A humbucker is a humbucker. Some are more treble sounding, some are more bassy sounding, some have more of a midrange boost and some have more scooped midrange. I have never A-B tested my HRW equipped 555 against my 535 with Seth Lovers, but now my curiousity is piqued to do that. When I retire and have time. Then I will report the results.
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