OC Duff Custom Strat

Pickup features: Single coil
Impedence or other specs: 5.6k - 5.8k - 6.3k

Model of guitar or bass: 2002 Mexican Strat
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: American series delta tone set
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Blues and rock mainly
Reason for pickup change: First came the change from ceramics to Amseries pickups. A good exchange in my opinion. Then I wasnt completely satisfied with the amse's - I couldnt really put my finger on it, but they just werent all there... I became very intrigued by Owen's money back/exchange garuntee that he could get the tone you were after so I took the plunge.

Perceived output level: Overall output was less than Am. series - noticably so in the bridge which is 1.1k less in DC resistance. This is a good thing for me.
Tone: Very balanced throughout the set and clear
Sonic evaluation: I play these pickups through a fender deluxe reverb reissue, and guitarport. They are great sounding pickups, easy to dial in - respond well to height adjustment, and dont get too extreme either way up high or low.

Very Balanced throughout. The neck pickup is very clear and responds well anywhere on the fretboard.
The middle is a very tasteful balance between the glassy clear, fulfilling neck pickup, and the bridge, making it able to stand all on its own. The bridge being very satisfying, not overpowering with mids and ice pick, but a very good tone I would describe as modest, yet authoritative - It has all the highs there, the mids arent overbearing, and the lows are clear yet not thin - it has such clear tones you think you are about to get the breaking glass, but its smoothed over right at the edge to still provide that smooth tone...
As for the in betweens, they retain all the glass and clarity of the main 3 positions, and bring some quack, but not the kind that would make me call them a particularly "quacky" but they have enough there to manipulate a good range of tones that are satisfying. Pick toward the bridge in position 2 and get sweet home alabama, or finger pick over the middle for knopfler sounds
for position 4, think a little more along the lines of SRV's Lenny - glassy and clear, not as pinched sounding as Jimi Hendrix's Little Wing intro(not pinched in a bad way) Quack is there, but so is alot of glass, making a less extreme difference in sound from the 1-3-5 positions. Middle pickup height may change this but I have not found evidence enough to say that it changes the sound significantly(i.e - going from lenny to little wing with one turn of the screw)
Great set---The craftsmanship is unequalled - every detail of this set shows true artisan skills with technical ability. They dont have a bunch of stuff written all over them or anything. Just clean great looking pickups.
I play music, its hard for me to say exactly what kind, but I do play some blues and rock style, and its not found a style it hasnt risen to the challenge for yet...Its not high output, so thrashers or 'bucker fans might not find all of what they are looking for here, but they might discover something they love otherwise...

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Blues - rock, finds a home with any style to me.

Comments: I would cry if they were stolen because they were custom wound for me, and though they adhere to a certain amount of turns or impedance, they are still unique and special being handwound... Id let Owen know of my loss, and after some grieving I would ask him to kindly send more more more!
I've been playing guitar for maybe 10 years, only with serious-ness for 4.
I love everything about these pickups, the service is amazing. I might get a NON-RWRP middle though, because I am sort of in favor of that type of set...
Ive had fralins, fender amse's, and I just thought how could you go wrong with a chef who knows all his ingredients and how to use them to the customers 100% satisfaction, garunteed?
Its got all I need in there
As for the tone search, it at least has taken a stop at the satisfaction Inn. Will it change and continue one day? Could be, but I have to say, the tone is just what I want, so much so that I dont even notice the pickups being in there. Then I remember from time to time that I have duffs in there. A feeling of money well spent, and relief!
Owen Is awesome, he has put up with my every question under the sun, in the most professional manner.
In all honesty I will share a bit of the story that hasent been brought to light yet in my review.
I recieved my set and measured the resistance right before they went in and the bridge was ~6.23 - which for handwinding is as close as it gets, and if anyone can hear the difference of less than 1k I would think that person or persons would be in the looney bin now, from being driven insane from their ears.
I thought thats as close as it got, but the middle pickup measured 5.8 almost on the dot. I was amazed at that accuracy.
As stated on his site, climate and other conditions affect the final product you recieve - so dont freak out if its .07k off.
The neck however, was a little hot, in fact it measured 6.3k
That was enough to say something about, so I told Owen, and the guy was apologetic to the point I felt as though I had beaten the kindness out of him. He took it back and had it back to me in about 2 or 3 days, fixed right down to 5.6k and didnt charge me a thing.
It just doesnt get any better folks.
Great guy, great pickups, great service! DONE!

Pickup features: Single coil set, custom wound to my specs
Impedence or other specs: N: 6.1K; M: 6.2K; B: 6.8K, Alnico V magnets, scatterwound by hand

Model of guitar or bass: Fender Jimmie Vaughan Strat
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Tex-Mex
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s):
Reason for pickup change: I found the Tex Mex pups to be abrasive, with exagerated mids.

Perceived output level: Unbelievalby clear and articulate - inspiring!
Tone: Wide range, does it all - glassy highs, real tight bass
Sonic evaluation: JV Strat, blackface Fender amps, lots-o-pedals

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Everything

Comments: Well, the TexMex pups in my JV finally got on my nerves recently when I took out my ?79 Strat with Fat 50?s and inadvertently did an a/b comparison between the two. Just at that time I became aware of O.C. Duff pickups from the tdpri forum. Members there glow about these pups and place them at or above the Lollar/Fralin level.
If you haven?t heard of O.C. Duff pups, it?s a small shop owned by Owen Duffy in NJ. Owen will custom build pups to your specs. You choose the magnets, wire type, resistance values and he builds them with extraordinary skill.
Here's a typical review:
http://www.allthingsguitar.com/2004reviews/OCDuff/ocduffpickups.htm
I also talked with the author of this article via email and he indicated that Duffs easily compare with the very best from Fralin and Lollar and in fact can surpass them.
For more info, do a search on ?Duff? over at the tdpri.com forum.
I had Owen make a mostly ?vintage? set for my Strat: 6.1/6.2/6.8, so it?s got a bit of kick in the bridge. Alnico V?s throughout. Scatter-wound, by hand.
This is where Owen is unique: he is extremely knowledgeable and will guide you to what you want. My emails were often answered within hours. And he really delivers exactly what you want.
When I received them earlier this week (2-3 week build) I checked them over and they are a thing of beauty. Fender does not make anything with this build quality ? Custom Shop included!
I installed them last night in my JV, with all new electrical components/wiring (with blender pot) and the JV is incredible. It has so many voices now, all of them extraordinary. The neck is warm with a tight bass, the middle is just how I like it: funky mids, good for chords and solos, and the bridge is the most usable Strat bridge ever: it?s bright but not brittle; the bass is strong and tight with balanced mids. I use the bridge with the tone on 10 and it works perfectly. Plus the entire set is perfectly balanced/calibrated.
This JV is now elevated above my vintage Strat regarding it?s playability (Thanks Fender!) and Owen?s pups. Just amazing.
Price? Less than Fralin or Lollar. Check eBay ? you can have Owen custom build a set at a special low price. These pups are worth it at any price!!
These pups are magic!