The Alumitone Pickups have landed!!!

John Roche · Post by **John Roche** » 5 Jun 2009 12:21 pm

Are they available for a 12 string Sierra session?

Michael Brewer · Post by **Michael Brewer** » 5 Jun 2009 12:56 pm

I have been using the pickup on my Excel S-12, Bflat6 since shortly after the Dallas show. I first tried setting it about 1/8 inch below the strings. That is too close. For me, 1/4 inch clearance appears to be the best for the sound I like. This is truly the best pickup available today and I have tried them all.

John Fabian · Post by **John Fabian** » 5 Jun 2009 12:59 pm

I am not aware of any of the "quick-change"-type pickup mounts that accommodate the Alumitones.

Check out the mounting options here.
http://www.steelguitar.com/resource/pic ... itone.html

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 5 Jun 2009 1:24 pm

I just got mine the other day for my S-10 Push/Pull. I purchased it as the stock 4" Bass Bar. I had to build a mounting plate from a scrap of bakelite and with 4-40 stainless stand-off screws/nuts to mount it. Went in just fine. Cool look. Mine is the dull, natural aluminum that matches the top of my Emmons neck. But that chrome polished finish sure looks nice.

Sonically, these things are truly revolutionary, seriously. I wouldn't use that word lightly. Very natural and pure single coil sound, but without the hum or the harsh treble peak that we often tend to struggle with. Very clear and extended top, easy to coax plenty of Hugheyland energy from the strings, full and balanced sound throughout. I can imagine that it would bring out the natural character of any guitar, so a bad sounding guitar may not be helped by it.

I'm quite stunned here. Quieter than my humbuckers too. The fact that the aluminum frame itself IS the coil around the magnet just blows my mind. They just take that signal from the aluminum frame (coil) and transform it up thru a super tiny little transformer, and that's it. Hook it up like any old pickup.Very simple, and it totally delivers the goods.

So far I'm adapting to the new sound and feel and I'm enjoying every second of it.

Brad

Ivan Posa · Post by **Ivan Posa** » 5 Jun 2009 5:41 pm

Brad, I have one in my Zum Hybrid and it sounds great through the Tonic and Split cab. A great combination that I wont be changing at all. Incidently the Tonic sounds even better than it used to with a much clearer reverb. Thanks.

Marc Jenkins · Post by **Marc Jenkins** » 6 Jun 2009 2:57 pm

John, I'm assuming that the narrow-mount version will fit a Sho-Bud cavity, yes? Of course, a couple of extra screw holes would be necessary.

John Fabian · Post by **John Fabian** » 6 Jun 2009 2:59 pm

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 6 Jun 2009 4:34 pm

John Fabian wrote:I am not aware of any of the "quick-change"-type pickup mounts that accommodate the Alumitones.

Can either the Sierra or the MSA mounts be made to accommodate them?

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 6 Jun 2009 8:51 pm

Mike, if they are a standard mounting configuration, you can probably send them to MSA and they will put their interchangeable mount on them like they will with any other pickup. I doubt anyone else will make an MSA mount.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 6 Jun 2009 9:02 pm

David, I'm sure you're right.

But aside from the cost of the pickup itself, there is also the cost of the mounting block, and the labor to have it mounted, and I'm hesitant to go through all that expense without hearing how it sounds on my Millennium first.

I'm bugging Jim Palenscar to get one for himself so I can try it out on my guitar at next years L.A. steel Jam.

Ulric Utsi-Åhlin · Post by **Ulric Utsi-Åhlin** » 7 Jun 2009 12:22 am

What are the physical dimensions of the Alumitones,
preferably in metric..?..McUtsi

Per Berner · Post by **Per Berner** » 7 Jun 2009 3:47 am

Here are the measurements. You'll have to do the maths yourself, though!

http://www.steelguitar.com/resource/pic ... _specs.pdf

I compared all the soundclips on Carter's website (very nicely played by Billy Phelps), and the differences between all the pickups are really infinitesimal. But to my ears, the Alumitone and the Truetone come out on top. Gotta try one!

John Fabian · Post by **John Fabian** » 7 Jun 2009 3:49 am

Mike Perlowin wrote:Can either the Sierra or the MSA mounts be made to accommodate them?

Don't you think that asking MSA and/or Sierra directly would get you the answer you are looking for?

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 7 Jun 2009 5:15 am

Per Berner wrote: the differences between all the pickups are really infinitesimal.

I agree here, Per.

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 7 Jun 2009 6:44 am

differences between all the pickups are really infinitesimal

I thought so too, but that's coming through Verizon's little wires, into my soundcard, out through my same headphones and/or speakers... the people who have heard them live are reputable tonehounds. I've ordered one, because I love flat wide sound - I have an inkling that 500 watts outta the dual Black Widows ought to, ahem, "amplify" the differences.

Brad Malone · Post by **Brad Malone** » 7 Jun 2009 7:28 am

If anyone here installs the Alumitones on a pre RP D-10 Mullen, please let me know the results..I've been thinking of a PUP change..this may be it....TIA

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 13 Jun 2009 6:24 am

The Alumitone Pickups have landed!!!

right smack dab in the cavity of my Fessenden SD-12.

So---how many of you opened the package and said "oh snap!!, they only sent the top half!!"
It's quite extraordinary how little material is involved. You would have a hard time showing this to anyone and convincing them to try it.
Just installed one in my Fess. Too early to really open it up in my apt. but it sounds so clear and open.

Question:

---what sort of height recommendations/observations?
Without a mounting plate, using the provided screws and springs, it sits very low. 4 1/2, nearly 5 quarters

from the strings. And sounds good! I can't raise it closer without it getting wobbly unless I change the screws (and maybe springs). It certainly puts out a strong and loud signal as is but I don't want to limit my options if higher settings can further optimize the sweet spot.

btw--specific to my Fessenden 12 string----there is some hardware inside the cavity that is very close to the screw location (but not interfering). It would make the fitting of a mounting plate much more complicated than if it weren't there.

Ulf Edlund · Post by **Ulf Edlund** » 13 Jun 2009 7:20 am

Per Berner wrote: the differences between all the pickups are really infinitesimal.

I agree to that. I once did a test like this myself and came to the same conclusion then.
There is a difference in how different pickups feel i think.
They may sound very much alike, but they respond differently to what and how you play.

Bill R. Baker · Post by **Bill R. Baker** » 13 Jun 2009 11:59 am

when will the sound samples be available and how can we hear them? thanks

Bill Miller · Post by **Bill Miller** » 13 Jun 2009 12:05 pm

Bill, the sound samples are already available on the Carter website and John Fabian posted a link to them earlier in this thread.

Bill R. Baker · Post by **Bill R. Baker** » 13 Jun 2009 12:21 pm

Bill, I cannot seem to locate the link. Can you help me. Thanks

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 13 Jun 2009 12:27 pm

Here is the link to the sound files:

Click Here

Lee

Danny Bates · Post by **Danny Bates** » 13 Jun 2009 12:27 pm

http://www.steelguitar.com/resource/pic ... sounds.htm

richard burton · Post by **richard burton** » 13 Jun 2009 12:30 pm

Click Here for pickup comparison sound files

Whoops

it seems I was too slow on the trigger

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 13 Jun 2009 12:47 pm

Now, if we could just teach Danny how to post links properly.....

The Steel Guitar Forum

The Alumitone Pickups have landed!!!

Alumitone pickup

Alumitones on a Pre RP Mullen?

sound samples

link