Reflex Reds

S - S - S

Fender Stratocaster

All

Stock

n/a

?

Hum

Without metering, same as standard Strats.

Fender Stage 185 & too many pedals

Full

Classic/Hard/Prog rock

none

If stolen, I'd replace them, but i think they'd be hard to find.

Playing for 28 yrs, I know what I like ( Hmmm, good title for a song)

Love the silence, hate battery changes.

Tried pups against EMG's & Duncan QP's, more "range" with the Reflex.

solar power!

very happy with the sound.

I've had these pups on my main guitar for 20 years, I love 'em!

Pickup features: Active Set of 2 SCs 1 HB
Impedence or other specs: active

Model of guitar or bass: Jackson Dinky
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Jackson Stock
Other pickups on guitar: Reds
Artists using this pickup: me & the others here
You musical style(s): Rock
Reason for pickup change: Noise & Feedback - wanted some EMG sound - more compressed sweeter midrange and topend. the stocks were pretty harsh

Perceived output level: HB about same like EMGs - SCs slightly less
Tone: Very balanced and harmonic. Bridge HB warmer than EMG 81 - great!
Sonic evaluation: Jackson Dinky - Marshall 900 - some stomps (booster - Rat - chorus - delay)
Excellent combination. I own a Les Paul with EMGs - awesome but the Reds just have it. Nice feature is the midrange pot. great to dial between rythm and lead.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play mainly rock music - these PUs are the perfect match for this style

Comments: GET 'EM!!!!! when you get the chance. I spent 250 bucks on EMGs - these went for 50 on ebay. excellent value - great tone. I'll try to get another set of reds. they seem to be rock solid - no failure by now. battery lasts ages (my EMGs eat about 1 per month - with these it is now the third month without any drops and screetches).
I wanna try the Blue, too.

Pickup features: Active, one Humbucker has 2 Pickups (Single coil & Humbucker), the other one is a high gain Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: k.a

Model of guitar or bass: Yamaha Pacifica 120S Fat Telecaster
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Orininal Yamaha Pickups
Other pickups on guitar: -
Artists using this pickup: Don't know.
You musical style(s): Metal, Rock,
Reason for pickup change: The Yamaha Pickups sounded too muddy and weak.

Perceived output level: These Pickups are so hot, that you can blow your shitty EMG's away. EMG sucks.
Tone: Very bassy but when you turn the active MID EQ up very middy. I would say that they are very balanced.
Sonic evaluation: Yamaha Pacifica 120S with Reflex Pickups - Marshall DSL 401.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play Metal, Rock and much clean and it's a good match. The split Humbucker is good for the Neck position and the High Gain for the Bridge.

Comments: If the Pickups were stole I would buy them again. I like the MID EQ on these Pickups. You can have a great clean sound and an agressive Heavy Sound. I compared them to the EMG 81 / 89. The EMG's have the same features like the Reflex, but they have no MID EQ Pot. And I heard from People who using EMG's that the clean-sound is crap. Not with the reflex Pickups: You can dial the MID EQ Pot down and you can have a nice clean sound.

Pickup features: Active S-S-H set
Impedence or other specs: dunno

Model of guitar or bass: Claim Starstair (strat type)
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Claim Blend PU-Set (made by Schaller, I think)
Other pickups on guitar: -
Artists using this pickup: No Idea
You musical style(s): mainly Prog; Hardrock
Reason for pickup change: Original PU's had no real punch and sounded to thin; lack of versatility

Perceived output level: quite high output (mainly due active circuitry)
Tone: Very balanced; no noise at all; similar to EMG's but much warmer tone
Sonic evaluation: Guitar > Marshall JMP-1 > Digitech TSR12 > Hughes & Kettner CF100 feeding Carvin 12" Speaker ; these p'ups are made for players who need a wide range of different sounds; SC's sound very stratty especially in Position 2 and 4 (Humbucker is split in Pos.4); active tone control allows to adjust treble and mid/bass plus blendable mid boost through one of the tone controls. All clean and crunchy sounds are very nice and warm; Position 5 is also very nice and balanced when used on leads with slight distortion, with a warm and singing sustain. But be aware of the mid boost - it can change the sound drastically. The saturation in the tone is increased radically; it's not that harsh on the SC positions, but the humbucker gets fat, fatter, fattest without being muddy at the same time. In combination with a good tube/valve preamp you'll get sounds a la Steve Lukather or Dan Huff easily, those huge singing leads with good definition of the tone. At maximum boost level the humbucker produces a growling sound that you'd find in the nu metal genre.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: If you need a lot of different sounds like I do, you'll be very happy with this. Good for all kinds of Rock and Pop, maybe too HiFi for Blues or Jazz, but who knows, maybe some Jazz-Hunk would love it as well.

Comments: If it was stolen....hmmm, guess I won't be able to get it again, as Reflex does not exist anymore (I guess), so I'd have to hunt some down on EBAY or similar. The Reds were a valid alternative to EMG sets in the beginning of the 90's, and in my opinion they were much better due to the warmth in sound. I had the chance for a direct comparision in those days, and I always found the EMG's too sterile. The Reflex Reds are living, they got soul, and I got all the sounds I needed in my main guitar. Of course you have to think of the battery change from time to time (as with every active unit); a failure of your axe while gigging can be very annoying. Battery consumption is average, if you don't forget to unplugg when putting the guitar in the stand. All in all a great PU set.