Haeussel Perl

Underwound German humbucker. Mine has a nickel-silver cover.

Installed in a special edition Gibson Les Paul, all mahogany with an ultra-thin (almost not there) nitro finish. This - and another Haeussel - pickup replaced the stock Burstbucker Pros, which sounded slightly thin and undefined.

This pickup is actually in the bridge position (I'm told many use it in the neck position).

The output is low for a humbucker - and by that I mean less than a vintage '59-type pickup, much less the common "hot" humbuckers you see around these days.

I use this pickup with my Marshall JCM 800 2203 and my Mesa/Boogie Lonestar Special combo. I play rock-oriented music, covering a wide spectrum of tones from clean, to light crunch, to classic "metal".

When I first popped this pickup in I was struck by the clarity and low output. In many ways the pickup exhibits some of the character of a single coil (though, it is still definitely a humbucker). Once I'd lowered the neck pickup to balance the volumes though, you don't really notice the lower output, and with a slight boost to your volume you're back where you were before, but clearer than you've ever known with a humbucker.

Overall the pickup didn't strike me as heavily biased towards any part of the spectrum. The sound is exceptionally clear, but still powerful enough when called upon. I think it would be useable for anyone playing a wide range of styles (though, not heavier styles of metal except in the neck position).

If somehow the pickup (but not the guitar) went missing, I'd probably replace it with the same thing. While I'd recommend to anyone looking to also check out the "Vintage" series (AKA '59) models Haeussul makes, I have another Les Paul with slightly hot pickups, so the Perl complements well.
I've had excellent experience with Haeussel pickups all-round, so I'm confident in recommening them. I will admit, however, that I believe they can be expensive if you're buying from America (1.6:1 exchange is a killer).

Pickup features: Low-output, Alnico-II humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Generic Korean archtop
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Generic Korean junk
Other pickups on guitar: Haeussel Vintage bridge
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Something like jazz
Reason for pickup change: cheap stock pickups were muddy, boomy, awful

Perceived output level: Low output
Tone: Balanced tone
Sonic evaluation: I've been using this pickup for about 2 years now on a korean archtop. I waited to write this review to make sure I was out of the honeymoon, but I still think this is a great pickup. Gone were the muddy lows, the lifeless highs. Open chords are transparent and rich, every note discernible; combined with the strings and pick I'm using, I'm getting the nice percussive attack I like. I'm playing through the clean channel of a Hot Rod Deville (with 5751 preamp and TAD power tubes). There's just enough output so that if I have the amp up to 4 or so, if I hit it hard, I get a little distortion. I like my tone a little bright (probably from playing a Tele for 25 years) but if I roll down the tone, there's that classic dark jazz tone. I'd put one on my Tele if I could do it without routing.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: jazz, blues, "classic" rock would all work fine

Comments: I'd buy this again. When I sell the Korean guitar, I'm keeping the pickups.
I've been playing for 30+ years. Nothing I hate about the pickup. I wish it would fit in the neck hole of a Tele. I'm getting exactly the sound I want, and with relatively inexpensive equipment.I'll give it a 9, just because I don't like giving anything a 10.