Artec Hot Rail Humbucker

In preparing to do this review, I almost forgot I had an Artec and not a GFS because I bought a GFS right before I bought this one. They seem EXACTLY the same. I was actually on the submission page getting ready to call this pickup a GFS Crunchy Rails before I caught my mistake. OK, it's a passive humbucker with two rails that are so thick it almost makes you think they're kidding. My meter's over in the studio and it's raining, so I'll just say that the stated 15 or 16 Ohms does not seem unreasonable.

I installed it in a DeArmond LP copy at the bridge replacing the stock pickup to get a more powerful sound (don't taze me bro. I already have a 70's Ibanez LP that I use for classic tones - and besides it's my axe, I can do what I want... so there. In fact, the stock ones are going on ebay next week. Rescue them if that's your thing). I also installed a GFS Dream 90 at the neck. I know, I know, that's odd - we can discuss it later.

Of course it's hot. It's kind of obvious when you look at the pickup that that was the point. I think the only thing that I have that's hotter is a Lace Red/Red. I wouldn't call the EQ balanced. It's strong in the high mids (which makes it's identical twin sister the GFS CRUNCHY Rails more aptly named). However, this pickup can also produce rich lows and crisp sparkle. I turned on the subs and tuned the low E string down to B and then down to G just for kicks, and the pickup seems like it would do fine on a bass. Now for the sparkle - in spite of what I've read, I really wasn't expecting this pickup to have sparkle. With inexpensive pickups, I'm used to looking for the highs with the EQ, not finding them, and then doing the best I can with high mids. Not so here. This pickup does not sound cheap. I usually listen to a pickup for the first time in the studio, completely unaltered through a Matica 500 and Alesis Monitor II's. With Sonar 8 and Waves at my disposal, I can make a pickup do just about anything, except play sounds it can't hear. Usually, when I use a bridge pickup I keep the highs toned down a bit and in a delicate balance with the highs that come from tube saturation so that a blend of both the highs from the string and from pushing the amp can be heard. Because of this I usually am not looking for very much sparkle from the bridge pickup. But, if you need it, this pickup can hear those frequencies (unlike a cheap pickup), so if you want that, just dial it in (noted, it's easier to get crinkle than sparkle, but the sparkle is there if your EQ is extreme with narrow q's). Style - this pickup seems to be intended for punchy agressive music, but you can EQ many different sounds because they are there if you go looking. It's most suitable for the bridge position - the magnet's pretty strong (I wouldn't have been so impressed with this if it hadn't yanked a loose screw right off the stock pickup) and might pull you off pitch at the neck if you put it too close to the strings. Oh, also, I have the guitar strapped on right now as I sit in front of a CRT monitor - there's not even a hint of 60 cycle buzz. I didn't explore coil tapping. As you might guess it sounds strange to turn on both the Dream 90 and the Hot Rail. As soon as I say it's unuseable someone will have a smash hit with it, so I'll just say that together they're odd - picture a Hell's Angel and a Ballerina having a great time line dancing.

I would have no hesitation putting this pickup on any guitar that I intended to use for a loud, crunchy, agressive sound. I will probably buy more. I've been playing for a few decades (with earplugs when loud - I've taken my share of guff for that over the years, but I had my hearing tested recently and I check out fine so the rest of ya'll can just say "what?"), I'm also a mastering engineer with FM spins - so don't get hoity toity with me, child! ;) I've owned, played, repaired, traded, and recorded many different classic and new guitars. I'd say that the aftermarket mass-produced high-powered pickup manufacturers (except for Lace, possibly) had better take notice. This pickup is like the humble mild-mannered kid that shocked everyone by putting the lunch-money-robbing school bully in the hospital. Diagnosis: third degree burns to the eardrums.

The Artec Hot rail humbucker (ceramic) measures approximately 15.5K, seems to come in solid black color only.....With coil split capability.....

I used this pickup in the bridge position.....I installed it in a homemade kit guitar and my model 1 Charvel....I replaced stock pickup and GFS Fat Pat...Reason for changing pickups was I needed more power and better tone....

The output of this pickup is better than my beloved X2N....This pickup used with the Voodoo Marshall 2205 and my handwired Davis 106 baby plexi.....Ok fellow guitarist got your ears on? In my 37 years of guitar knowledge this includes building guitars from kits and modification of quality tube amplifiers....I have yet to see a pickup out perform this.....It's quiet, powerful, extraordinarily beautiful clean and heavy....Basically a bridge pickup, and the ultimate at that......

I have bought several of these and I am not searching for any better sound from the pickup....Like I said look no further you will not be disappointed.....Why are they selling these for $19 on ebay???? I have had pretty much all the great stuff over the years, and can't be more impressed.....I do not in anyway work for any company selling this stuff....I am very thankful for honest Harmony Central reviews to guide me in making good decisions concerning gear, thats all.....Play well my friends....