Kent Armstrong HPAO-1 PAF

This is further to my previous review of this pickup. I have now taken the time to get to know this pickup, and I have found that I do actually like it. Alot.
Clean or dirty, I find that it can cover pretty much style I want, in conjuction with a tone control. Its a nice warm, but still has enough treble to play clean and clear.

I'll freely admit, I'm biased towards Kents, but I have no real reason to be. Why am I? Because they're ace.

Kent PAF HPAO-1 passive humbucker (I've yet to see an active PAF).
Mine is open, and zebra flavoured.

Model of guitar: Rally Les Paul
Position: Neck
Pickup being replaced: Stock
Other pickups on guitar: Kent Super distortion in bridge (see my review of this)
Artists using this pickup: Kent does need celebs
Reason for changing pickup: Thought it'd be a good partner for the Super Distortion, plus its zebra, so it matches :)

Output level: as you would expect, not too hot, but a little more than I anticipated. Certainly more than the stock pup.
Amps and effects being used: Laney VC-15
Tone: Quite bluesy, but it handles overdrive well. I tend to roll of the treble on the neck, and this is still a bit trebly when I do. Hmm...
Styles of music that you play: I use the neck for clean, and slightly driven blues. It works well for this.
Positions this pickup is (un)suitable for: I put it in the neck, but you could put it in the bridge too. Its not for the metalheads.

To be honest, I'm a bit disappointed with this pickup. Its louder than I thought it'd be. This won't put me off though, Kents have never let me down before, and I still think I didn't pay over the odds for it.

I'll work with it and see if it grows on me.

Pickup features: Passive Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: 8.9K Ohm

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez RG 370 DX
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Stock Ibanez Powersounds
Other pickups on guitar: A Duncan Staggered Quarterpunder RW/RP (Mid), and a Duncan SH-13 Dimebucker
Artists using this pickup: None that i know of, K.Armstrong does not invest in endorsements.
You musical style(s): Shred, Hard Rock and Metal with this guitar.
Reason for pickup change: Stock Powersounds are just crap!

Perceived output level: Slightly more than a Vintage PAF.
Tone: Oh so balanced and sweet, simply the best PAF-style pickup i ve heard yet, and believe me, i ve heard a lot!
Sonic evaluation: RG 370 DX through Randall RH 200 amp with Randall cabs, different brands of effectsprocessor, sounds ace! Tried it through a lot of other set-ups, allways with great result.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Very versatile pup, can be used for different applications (metal, blues, rock, ...)

Comments: The best PAF-style pup out there in my opinion, and as i mentioned before, i have tried a lot of pups (DiMarzio, Duncan, EMG, Rio, Fralin, Lawrence,...). Especially when taking the low price in account as well, these pickups are simply supreme. Ace sound, well potted and built, ... All Armstrong pickups are real good, AND a real bargain at the same time, but this HPAO-1 PAF remains one of my favourites.

Pickup features: Passive humbucker
Impedence or other specs: unknown, check WD Music website for details

Model of guitar or bass: 1983 Epiphone Riviera
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Standard Epiphone Humbucker
Other pickups on guitar: Kent Armstrong HPAO-PE (Patrick Eggle) passive humbucker at bridge.
Artists using this pickup: Don't know of any
You musical style(s): Rock, indie
Reason for pickup change: Stock pickups weren't as bad as everyone makes out, but i'm upgrading all components so they had to go.

Perceived output level: Medium to high, definitely got more 'go' than the stock Epi's.
Tone: Really balanced, gorgeous tone. Chiming high, chunky mids and trouser flapping bass. Perfect!
Sonic evaluation: I use my guitar through various Boss and Marshall pedals into a 1970's Selmer Treble n' Bass 100 S.V. all tube head, running out through two Celestion Vintage 30's. The sound from this pickup is truly awe-inspiring, much more so than you'd expect for ?30. So much clearer voicing than the stock pickups, clean tones shimmer and ring and the distortion now sounds much more direct rather than mushy and wide like before.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: My music ranges dynamically from quiet, shimmering finger-picked riffs to full on high gain neighbour-removing walls of sound, and this pickup handles both styles and all in between with ease.

Comments: From here on its Kent Armstrong all the way for me, as I really can't see the point in paying double or upwards for big name pickups which aren't as good and don't offer as great customer service as WD Music Products. I've found my sound and I can almost guarantee that if you play modern rock or indie music then this little humbucker will do you proud!

Pickup features: Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: Think its around 8 k

Model of guitar or bass: Antoria Jazstar, Wide body semi acoustic
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Ones that came with Guitar 12 years ago
Other pickups on guitar: Hmmmmmmmm
Artists using this pickup: Hmmmmmmm
You musical style(s): Various, Rockabilly, early Elvis, whatever i like really.
Reason for pickup change: Thought i'd improve my guitar by trying to get a more professional sound. My original pickups were ok, but a little scrappy.

Perceived output level: Didn't have a clue, I'm new to pickup planet, however, the output turned out to be similar to my previous pickups, moderate.
Tone: Warm, clear, balanced. In a word "Quality"
Sonic evaluation: I,m using a peavy transtube express 112 combo and an Antoria Jazstar Wide body Semi acoustic........So, .........I can't afford a Gretsch1620 & a messa Boogie:(

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Personally, i would NOT use 2 of these together.

Comments: I would replace it simply to avoid having to spend christ knows what,trying the HUGE amount of other brands and types around, I mean, how many different ways can a pickup be wound?
Iv'e been playing since i was 15 & im 40 now,......Christ! I should be playin like Brian Setzer by now.
These pickups are QUALITY, its a very clear, smooth, and QUALITY sound, however, after a few days of playing i decided i needed more Oompf (punch) from the treble position, as the overall sound was too "Compact", a bit like using a compressor, which i dont like, so i,m going to try a higher output pickup in the bridge position. Actually i did try the hotrodded version of this pickup,(HPAO+1) but there was no more punch to it, it was brighter on fingerpickin, but distorted on chords.
Many folk would be very pleased with the sound of 2 of these together, but i feel its best on neck position and i'll search for somethin more "in yer face" for Bridge position.
One things for sure, Kent Armstrong make QUALITY pickups at affordable price.
Keep Rockin!

Pickup features: Passive humbucker.
Impedence or other specs: About 9 ohms.

Model of guitar or bass: Epiphone les paul with very few remaining epiphone parts.
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Original epiphone.
Other pickups on guitar: Original epiphone.
Artists using this pickup: Don't know.
You musical style(s): Blues, jazz, funk.
Reason for pickup change: Old pickups were not as bad as some make out. They lasted me a couple of years but
as im upgrading my setup on the cheap i thought i should replace the pickups on my otherwise
fab guitar.

Perceived output level: Quite a lot more powerfull than my original epi pup.
Tone: Very crisp, surprisingly trebly but very very very clear (maybe its only trebly by comparrison to the epiphone quagmire)
Sonic evaluation: Im running my lp straight into a laney tf300. Being mostly a purist i havnt tried any effects with the setup but the sounds available to me are excelent (although maybe not versatile enough for some...)
This pickup really gives a very clear sound and the improvement is everything i could have hoped for.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play blues and jazz. I mainly play the amp clean and this pickup gives an excelent clear tone.

Comments: If this were stolen I would use my old pickup as a rudimentary projectile and maim the thief.
I havnt heard the semore duncan equivalent but frankly i now couldn't care less. If this pickup doesnt give you what you want then you are a spoilt rich-kid. I would reccomend that anyone looking for anything between swing and AC/DC buy this pickup (its half the price of the duncan).
There could feasibly be better pickups out there but this is such a ridiculously low price that anyone but a pro would be a fool to buy anything else.
Im off to the shop tomorow to order a second one for my bridge position.

Pickup features: Vintage PAF replacement (passive) with ALNICO magnets.
Impedence or other specs: Around 8-9 ohms, open coils

Model of guitar or bass: Epiphone Les Paul Standard
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: The standard Epiphone fitted junk which they insult their guitars with!
Other pickups on guitar: Another of these!
Artists using this pickup: Ummm....besides me I have no idea.
You musical style(s): Blues/rock in the style of Zeppelin, Free, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Allmans etc.
Reason for pickup change: The pickups which come fitted to these guitars (and the rest of the Epiphone range for that matter) are complete and utter junk. They make the guitars virtually unuseable, having a pathetic muddy mush of a sound. I have had this guitar for around 2-3 years and it has spent most of its time lying around doing nothing due to the electronics. I played my Gordon Smith GS-1 instead, which is far better value for money than the Epiphone anyway!!

Perceived output level: Compared to the standard factory pickups, they posses far more: clarity; treble; refined bass; and over-all punch.
Tone: Very good over-all balance, when you get the pickup heights set right the selecor switch actually serves some purpose.
Sonic evaluation: I use a Vox Pathfinder 15W amp at the moment, along with a Digitech RP100 for effects. Due to the Epiphone's original sound, I was using the Gordon Smith to get the sounds I wanted, as the Les Paul was useless. The most important thing about a guitars sound for me is that it sound immediately useable whatever the amp setting. This is now easilly achievable with the Epiphone LP, as well as the Gordon Smith - so I'm happy!!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: The performance of the pickups is ideal for me, and suits my style very well. The Gordon Smith may eventually become partly redundant.

Comments: These pickups produced by Kent Armstrong are brilliant value for money. They cost half the price of an equivalent from the other big manufacturers such as Seymour Duncan. To be honest I think these are direct competitors for similar Duncan models. I have played another Les Paul style guitar with a JB (bridge) and Jazz (neck), which were good, but not as versatile as these PAFs. I have instaled a treble bleed (cap + resistor) on both volume pots, which makes sound very varied when turned down. I feel that this eliminates the need for coil-taps, which to me soumd rather naff by comparison to a real single coil. If you like the humbucker/Les Paul combination you will find the treble bleed sufficient.

Pickup features: Humbucking Passive
Impedence or other specs: PAF HPAO-1 = 8 ohms Rocker HRO-1A 11/12 ohms

Model of guitar or bass: Epiphone, Les Paul Classic.
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Original Epi fitted as new. Crap!
Other pickups on guitar: None
Artists using this pickup: Me and who knows
You musical style(s): Blues, Rock and Country rock
Reason for pickup change: Tonal range zero on original Epi's. All three switch positions sounded the same from the neck to bridge pick-up positions

Perceived output level: Output same if not better than original Epi's.
Tone: Neck= PAF HPAO-1 Warm blues sound. Bridge= Rocker HRO-1A Warm Treble
Sonic evaluation: Epiphone Les Paul Classic guitar going through a Marshall Valve State 265 Chorus 4x12 inch Gold Back 100 series speakers.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Blues, Rock, Country Rock and Soul

Comments: I would replace with the same Kent Armstrong pick-ups if destroyed or stolen. I am more than happy with the fantastic tonal range that I am now getting from my Epi since fitting Kent Armstrong pick-ups. I nearly purchased Seymor Duncans at ?75 (UK) each, the KA's were ?35 (UK) each. The tonal range that I am now able to get is staggering. Get out there and buy these monsters now!