Manlius Guitar Pickups Fat Diane Humbucker

The "Fat Diane" is Humbucker medium output pickup (7 - 8k range). Vintage PAF style.

I installed this p/u in a Carvin Carved Top (CT3M) in the neck position. I also installed a Manlius Custom-wound (10 - 11k) in the neck position. These pickups replaced the Carvin Alan Holdsworth set that came in the guitar. I play mostly blues and jazz and was looking for a warmer, and a little darker tonal variation in the neck p/u.

This is a medium output p/u similar in tone to the vintage PAF from a 60's model 335. I'm playing through a Mesa Boogie 5:50 Express (2x12), TC Electronic G-Major in the effects loop, and a Fulltone Clyde Standard Wah, Karl Martin Hot Drive 'n Boost (for a clean +15db boost), Jetter Gain Stage Red OD, and a Fulltone GT-500 OD/Distortion in chain. The clean settings are transparent, and very well balanced - amazingly clean on the bottom end - No mud! Very articulate and respond well to various picking styles and attack. These pickups really shine when you crank some drive to the tubes. The Manlius pickups are probably the most musical pickups I've ever played, from the rich, warm cleans in the neck, to the lyrical, singing lead tones in the bridge. Great harmonics come easily. This p/u is a great match for blues rock, and for wide tonal variations of different jazz/fusion styles. Probably not high enough output if you're looking for a metal, shredding tone.

Prior to getting the Fat Diane, I tried out a set of Dimarzios (Air Norton in the neck, and an F-spaced Breed in the bridge). The Manlius pickups sounded cleaner with better tonal variation, and were much more reasonably priced. Mick is amazing to deal with. Very patient in answering any questions, and can offer valuable recommendations. You can tell him the tone you are looking for and what kind of gear you play and he'll wind the exact pickup you're looking for. He even offers a "30-day tone guarantee". If you aren't happy, return them, and he'll build you another set. Try to get that offer from amy other manufacturer. If these pickups were lost or stolen, I would be on the phone re-ordering them as soon as the fit of rage passed! This is my second set of Manlius pickups. Mick also made a set for my Telecaster (which replaced a set of Seymour Duncans). I think that Manlius pickups are the best-kept secret in the guitar world. I've been playing for 20 years and haven't found anything that fits my style better at any price. Give a set of these a try -- you won't be disappointed.

Humbucking PAF style.

I bought these for my '01 R8,which is a bright guitar, after trying 5 or 6 different pickups to try to tone down the top end bite.The guitar came to me with '57 classics,which were ok but a bit bright and brittle on the top end.I tried Burstbucker 1's,Duncan'59's,Lollar Imperials,Peter Florance Voodoo'59's and Dimarzio Virtual PAF's.Only the Duncan'59's sounded decent but didn't have that transparentcy a good PAF should.

The output is low-medium PAF with plenty of clarity,balance and note seperation without any "mud" associated with some warmer sounding units.I use mostly old Fender amps with only an Analogman KOT IV overdrive.These pickups are perfect for classic rock,blues,jazz and fusion.These pickups remind me of Mick Taylor's tone on "Exile on Main St" and work very well to warm up a bright guitar without any sacrifice in the tone department.

I'm so impressed with these I may try a set of Micks Landmarks for my Heritage 140;which has'57 classics and is a warmer sounding guitar and needs something brighter and more transparent.Micks pickups are not only fantastic,the price is very fair.

Humbucker's in the traditonal PAF style.

I installed these pickups into a Gibson Flying V, why ? I am not big on ceramic magnet pickups, and thats what the guitar came with. After researching the net for different winders, and there are a lot ! I decided to give Mick's pickups a try, I like the way he discribed his pickups, it was a way I could relate to.

This are nice fat sounding PAF type pickups, I have a trebly attack when I play and the pickups help give me a nice fat sound.
I have a ton of amps, but have been running either a Budda Twinmaster or a Hoffman AC30 that I built, set clean. I use a G2D Custom Overdrive for my crunch and lead sounds.
The pickups work great with these set ups. Clean, nice and chimey, with nice note bloom. In the overdrive and lead boost, they still have deffinition, the note bloom and sustain give you an almost "violin" sound.
For the few songs we do that I use a Fuzz Face, the notes don't get muddy, ring nice and clear.

I play in a Classic Rock band, as well as in the host band for a local Blues Jam, and the Manlius work well in both situations.

These would be replaced in a heart beat if they were stolen. I am very happy I took a chance with Mick and his pickups (Harmony Central Reviewers helped). I have been playing guitar for over 30 years, and have been chasing the Kossoff and Duane Allman sound, and here we have it.

Having worked in a Music Store, and been wheeling and dealing for years, I have built up a collection of equipment. Yes I have other guitars with other winders pickups, and I am happy with their product as well. But, for different rooms, different pickups seem to work better than others, so it nice to have a selection to work with. Work with Mick is a pleasure, good communication, and the pickups are sent within the time frame he gives you.

Manlius Pickups are not the cheapest, nor are they the most expensive. So if you want a great pickup at a reasonalbe price, give Mick try.

Humbucker Passive

Put into a Paker p-42.Neck and Bridge.Replace Seymour Duncan Hot Rod humbucker set,Jazz and JB.I wanted more warmth and PAF sound.

Sound output level is moderate.Hotter than the Duncan's.Thay have a nice smooth PAF sound.Strong tight Bass.Rich mids and bright highs.Good for blues and rock.Not so good for distortion lovers.

I give these a 10.They are alot like Gibson 57 classic's but better because the highs and mids are less muddy.The bass is strong but tight with a nice pop.These are one of the finest PAF pickups around.Mick is good to deal with .Satisfaction guaranted.You will not be disapointed with these pickups.I step up from the norm.

Hand, scatter wound, humbucker pickups with nickel silver covers. These were modeled after a set of old PAF's that Mick took out of a 1960 ES-335. He uses magnets with the appropriate rating to mimic the weaker output of the old pickups.

I installed these into my Epiphone Elitist Les Paul. The Elitist is a rock solid guitar but over all, I didn't like the stock Gibson pickups, specifically the bridge pickup. These are generally believed to be Gibson 498T & 490R pickups relabeled for the Elitists but of course this is not confirmed by Gibson. The bridge was too hot to be vintage and not defined enough to do modern stuff nearly as well as the pickups in guitars I already own. I could have just replaced the bridge pickup and kept the neck but decided that if I was going to the trouble of replacing one, I'd replace both and have a matched set.

I wanted to go a "vintage" PAF route so that I'd have a guitar that did something my other guitars couldn't do.

Output level is consistent with a vintage style PAF but the tone isn't wimpy or sterile. That's one problem I tend to have with vintage style pickups. Lower output is fine. But wimpy or sterile tone is not.

These pickups have a very nice, warm clean tone with a nice chime and resonance. Mids are very present without sacrificing the openness of the over all tone. My sustain actually improved slightly with these pickups.

Where these pickups really start to shine is when there is a small amount of overdrive used. Think TS-9 type of overdrive and suddenly these things really start to growl. The midrange frequencies slam off of each other and create a warm gritty tone that is both musical and expressive. Even though the output is relatively low, they react to overdrive as though it were some kind of secret ingredient that makes the result much more than the sum of it's parts.

Styles that fit these pickups are easily Jazz, Blues and Classic Rock. If you're inclined to use an LP for Country, I don't think there would be anything about these pickups that would change your mind. Ironically enough, they are actually much more versatile than the stock pickups I replaced them with. They handle a wider range of gain much more competently with definition and articulation than did the stock Gibson pickups.

I can't recommend these pickups enough. They perform exactly the way I wanted them to and have exceeded my expectations in that they're actually more versatile than I imagined they could be. And as a set, they work well together. My favorite position for many applications is the middle position: warm, full and articulate.

There is no "one and only" vintage PAF tone but I can say that these really do fit the bill and of course, your tastes may vary. They really love to put out a thick, luxurious, musical and even nasty overdrive tone yet they don't sacrifice a vintage clean vibe at all. And Mick is a very easy guy to work with. He really does want to provide his customers with a product they will be happy with, not a product he says they should be happy with.