Kent Armstrong HPAN

This is a passive humbucker, 8.9k ohm impedance with an Alnico magnet. The coils are wax potted in a nickel case. It comes with 4-conductor wiring as standard. It is modelled on the Gibson PAF, so tone should be its strength, not sheer grunt.

It comes with springs and screws and a black mounting ring. It is well packaged and the revised, colour-printed wiring diagram is a VAST improvement on the rather tatty version that accomapied KA PUs in the past. An excellenet move and much appreciated.

The Armstrong PAF id fitted to the neck position of a Chinese-made 2006 Hamer SATF Sunburst. It replaces the original Hamer PU which was rather flat and lifeless. That said, the bridge PU sounded worse and it too made way for a Kent Armstrong 'Rocker' humbucker.

Both PUs are wired to a push/pull DPDT tone pot so they can be put into single coil mode to broaden the tonal options available.

The reason for opting for a PAF in the neck position was get that sweet singing tone from a predominantly mahogany guitar. The bridge Armstrong measures 15k ohm and has a ceramic magnet making for a louder, crisper, brighter output.

By compasison the PAF has a slightly lower output but a far sweeter sound. Both PUs together work really well although I am considering changing the phase of one to get that 'Peter Green' sound.

In single coil mode the PAF loses a bit of output but adds clarity and notes are clearly articulated. Humbucking mode is rich and creamy but without muddiness. Roll off the tone control and you're into Woman Tone territory.

I would use the PAF exclusively for the neck position, prefering a beefed-up PAF [c. 15 kohm but with Alnico] a la Seymour Duncan Jeff Beck in the bridge. I am a sucker for coil splits to add extra tonal dimensions.

You have to remember this Armstrong PAF only cost ??42. Budget in price terms, but certainly not sonically.

I use a number of Kent Armstrong pickups:- this PAF and its 'Rocker' partner; two Texas Vintage and a 15k Alnico humbucker on my Strat; a Firebird mini-humbucker on a Les Paul; a PAF on another Les Paul. I think this suggests quite strongly I am a bit of a Kent Armstrong fan.

Other pickups by Bare Knuckle and Seymour Duncan are used.

I cannot praise the guys ar WD Music Products UK - where I buy my Armstrongs - too highly. They are very friendly and efficient. When they say it will be with you tomorrow, it is. The combination of great service and pickups that deliver what they promise at incredible prices is impossible to beat.

The fact that KA humbuckers come with 4-conductor wiring as standard is a real boon to an inveterate alternative wiring anorak. It is hard to fault them regardless of price. When hard-earned enters the equation there is nothing to say but "Full marks".

Pickup features: passive humbucker
Impedence or other specs: not known

Model of guitar or bass: Epiphone Les Paul Standard
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Epiphone stock humbucker
Other pickups on guitar: Seymour Duncan '59 (neck position)
Artists using this pickup: I don't know of any
You musical style(s): Jazz, Blues, Rock, Reggae
Reason for pickup change: The stock pickups lacked range so that the various pickup
selections from the selector switch, and blending tones
with the switch in the middle position all sounded the same.

Perceived output level: The out put is not super hot but it is hotter than a seymour duncan '59
Tone: nice middle tones with a touch more treble then the Seymour Duncan '59
Sonic evaluation: The guitar is an Epiphone Les Paul Standard, usually played through a Korg Pandora III or a Roland Cube 30. No pedals.
I was not particularly impressed with the stock pickups and decided that they should be changed to something that woudl give me a wider
variety of tones. I decided that the Seymour Duncan was an ideal neck pick up but was too mellow to cut it in the bridge position. The Kent Armstrong was a bit of a shot in the dark for me as I bought it on the specifications alone without actually hearing one. I am very impressed...it has all the smoothness that a PAF humbucker should have but has a bit more cut and bite than the '59, but it
balances beautifully with the '59 (much more so than a JB would do). given that the price of this pick up was half of what I paid for the Seymour Duncan I'd say that the Kent Arstrong offers fantastic value for money.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: probably suit any position, and any style as long as you don't need megahot

Comments: if this were stolen or destroyed I would certainly get another. As I have already said it compares well with Seymour Duncan products and is a lot less expensive. I am very satisfied with this product. The Kent Armstrong brand deserves to be better known.

Pickup features: PAF style Humbucker with Chrome top
Impedence or other specs: 8.9

Model of guitar or bass: Custom Built Tele Thinline
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: N/A
Other pickups on guitar: Seymour Duncan Little 59
Artists using this pickup: ?
You musical style(s): Rock/Blues/Rhythm
Reason for pickup change: I've built 2 Teles before and I wanted this one to sound like a cross between a Gibson 335 and a Tele Thinline

Perceived output level: Comparable output to a Gibson PAF but slightly fatter tone at full output
Tone: Similar to Gibson PAF but a little fatter in tone. The guitar also has a coil split switch so the pickup can be used as a single coil. This gives a good 'Fender' style single coil sound with fairly low output.
Sonic evaluation: Tried with a VOX AC30, Marshall JTM45 and a WEM combo. It sounds very good with all 3. Very comparable with the old Gibson PAFs I have on an SG but fatter and less defined.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: A very good choice for blues and most rock styles apart from 'Very' Metal

Comments: I will use Kent Armstrong pickups again. This one is better than the Seymour Duncan Liitle 59 on the same guitar. It would be an excellent choice for upgrading an Epiphone 335, Sheraton or SG.