Kent Armstrong Floating Single Coil (Handmade)

I replaced the original Asian floating mini-humbucker on my '97 Washburn J-10 Orleans with this. I'm very happy with it - the KA SC is much stronger, firmer, clearer, more articulate and liquid sounding. It makes the J-10 sound like a whole new (and much more expensive) instrument. I especially like the tapped 7k setting, which to me really captures the early Burrell single coil sounds, which I just couldn't access with the mini-humbucker. The hotter 11k untapped setting also sounds great, though darker and louder -- more like a full size humbucker, but still with that great single coil clarity and focus. Worth getting the switch (it has a flat body that can be glued to underside of pickguard). Hum is extremely modest and not a problem, though slightly more noticeable than the complete lack of it with the mini-humbucker.

Submitted by: Stevec on 05/22/2018 08:46:39 AM

Pros: great sound

Cons: a little pricey

I got this for a 1978 Guild Artist Award, guild's high end jazzbox. The guitar originally had a dearmond single coil pickup. By the time I got the guitar, it had been replaced with a Gibson "Johnny Smith" minibucker. I've always wanted the more direct, focused sound you get with single coils, in place of the lush sound of humbuckers. The Dearmonds are all way to expensive, So I decided to try this. It sounds great. very focused, very direct, middy without being muddy, lots more articulation in the highs. I also bought the mini switch, but have been using the lower resistance setting most of the time. It's brighter and again more focused. My only criticism is it's a little pricey for a single coil pickup. PIckups like this are the cutting edge technology of 1930. I'm not sure what "handmade" means in the context of a pickup. But it sounds great. It arrived in a padded mailing envelope, literally wrapped in paper towels. Their was a wiring diagram which had been hand drawn on a piece of 8x11 paper in ballpoiint, then folded up and stuck in the envelope. Nice! It was easy to wire up and easy to instal--I drilled the hole and then tapped it for a 4mm metric machine screw. Anyway, great sounding pickup--old school single coil jazz, Like Rene Thomas with Chet Baker

Submitted by: djangobass on 02/22/2013 03:31:35 PM