Kent Armstrong M-214 Distortion

Pickup features: Humbucking passive
Impedence or other specs: 13

Model of guitar or bass: hand-made custom
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: N/a
Other pickups on guitar: None
Artists using this pickup: NONE!
You musical style(s): heavy metal, rock
Reason for pickup change: I wanted something loud and of good quality for my second hand-made guitar. Instead, I got this.

Perceived output level: Not as hot as my Gibson ceramics or a schaller.... not that hot.
Tone: CRAPPY? It could be good, but it feeds back like a mother fucker!
Sonic evaluation: I plug into some vintage DOD effects, into my Laney Pro-tube. Great pedals, great amp. All my other guitars (and the last one I made) sound great through it. This pickup, however, picks up the sound of my finger rubbing on the guitar. You know, like those crappy Gibson mini-humbuckers. Like a microphone. SQUEALS! Worst humbucker I have ever come across, and I am NOT picky like some people are! If I opened it up, I bet there wouldn't be any wax inside. I rewired all my electronics and shielded the cavity, only to get more squealing! It's the cheap ass pickup! Fuck this, for 15 dollars you can buy a great pickup used! Don't buy this garbage!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: It sucks for anything with some gain.

Comments: Absolute shit.

Pickup features: passive humbucker
Impedence or other specs: 13k+

Model of guitar or bass: homemade 2 humbucker tele style neck through
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: first( and last) set for this axe
Other pickups on guitar: same
Artists using this pickup: Me
You musical style(s): whatever my mood is at the time....50's thru 90's rock and country
Reason for pickup change: as a builder, Im always kooking for a deal on all kinds of parts

Perceived output level: well. lets see......my super starts clipping on 4 with my stock paul, 3 with these
Tone: great balance of lows and mids, because of the p/u position in relation to the bridge, i back off some amp treble
Sonic evaluation: Homemade two hum Tele going to a modded crybaby, ts808, rp300, and finally an ns2 gate going to a pair of Supers with a combo of 8 10's 2 15's

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: all styles this p/u shines on hard rock/metal stuff.

Comments: I have looked for more an the auctions, but no luck. but for the new costeven, they are simply the best dam p/u around. Ive been at it for over 40 years now, and have had too many p/ups to remember. you could spend twice the money for a super distortion and still not get the sound of these

Pickup features: Passive humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Les Paul
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Gibson PAF
Other pickups on guitar: PAF
Artists using this pickup: ?
You musical style(s): rock, metal
Reason for pickup change: Wanted a "PAF on steroids" sound

Perceived output level: Hot
Tone: Very balanced, the bass sound has great tone. Balls to spare.
Sonic evaluation: This pickup + Marshall amp = kick ass. Very full sound, hotter than PAF. A+

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: It would make a nice bridge or neck pickup.

Comments: This pickup, for the money, can't be beat. Less than 50 bucks for this thing, brand new? Forget about it. This has got to be the best bang-for-the-buck pickup ever. I am know there are pickups just as nice as this one, but not for the money. No way.

Pickup features: Economy high output disortion humbucker
Impedence or other specs: 13.7K

Model of guitar or bass: MCI Itertek
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: stock humbucker unknown
Other pickups on guitar: 2 unidentified single coil ceramics
Artists using this pickup: No clue
You musical style(s): Metal, speed metal
Reason for pickup change: I am a schmuck and broke the stock pickup. Curiosity killed the cat, whoever wrote that was working on a guitar pickup. The stock as walso an excellent vintage sounding pickup, it drove a decent distortion, really more of a soft sound though.

Perceived output level: INSANE hot
Tone: Thsi pickup must be a mistake. I potted it the second it came through the door so I can't say for sure how it sounded unpotted. It has a superbly well rounded bass, mid and trebble. It's absolutely amazing. For 25 dollars at kentarmstrong.com, buying this pickup would be like finding a winning lottery ticket on the ground. For metal and dark- sounding music this pickup reigns supreme, the distortion it drives is wicked sick! Not only that it's well rounded and pronounced, not muddy or anything. Kent Armstrong is going to raise the prices bigtime when he figures out what he has. Buy them for 25 while you can!
Sonic evaluation: I'm using a microcasette distortion device, it's hard to explain, but it's the equivelant to the BOSS MT-2 but with a ton more hum hehe. because it has a nice volume control pot I just plug it into my ONKYO 500 watt amp W/ 8 8" pyle driver speakers in an excellent box. I don't know what it is, but a comparison with some of the newer Sepultura it just sounds crunchier heaver, and just better. For poor metal musicians, this is your only option. I am only buying Kent Armstrong pickups from this day forward!!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I do honestly believe it drives distortion too easily. It's what it's made for! What an excellent find!!

Comments: I would buy it again in a heartbeat. IF they vanished from the planet I would roam the streets with an AK47 until I found another one. I've been playing on and off for 5 years, mostly on. I compared it with a cheap unkown chrome covered humbucker out of a god knows what. There a major pronunciation difference, this pickup just blows it away. Maybe adjustable pole pieces, but I think the newer humbuckers have them, even on the economy. I am completely satisfied with it. completely. It's a sick value, and I coudl easily see myself spending over a grand (1000$) buying FX pedals, guitars, and home brew projects to duplicate this sound in the least. If you're a metalhead or want a very hot pickup this is the one. The overall rating only goes up to 10. I give it a 42.

Pickup features: Passive Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: 9 k

Model of guitar or bass: Encore E-49 H Les Paul Copy
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Stock humbucker
Other pickups on guitar: Kent Armstrong M-215 Mega Distortion in Bridge
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Metal Blues Psychedelic
Reason for pickup change: I dont like pickups with chrome covers

Perceived output level: More Than a Gibson PAF
Tone: midrange
Sonic evaluation: Encore Les Paul Copy Marshall Master Lead 30 Solid state amp and a DOD FX 86 B DEATH METAL PEDAL.Nice sound when using neck pickup. nice sound for playing blues or classic rock .this pickup sounds nice when playing without a distortion pedal.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: this pickup is good for any style of music

Comments: this pickup sounds good for the neck position.i think this pickup would be great for any Les Paul or SG..I really like this pickup.and it cost much less than GIBSON or SEYMOUR DUNCAN.