Vintage Vibe Guitars HCC

Charlie Christian styled single coil blade pickup which fits a humbucker mount without any mods. Other specs as standard HCC, fitted with alnico 2 magnets and sets of alnico 3 and 5 magnets also included for a small charge.

This was installed in a Daniel Slaman handbuilt North Sea Special 16" jazz archtop. Originally fitted with a Gibson 57 humbucker at the neck only, a previous owner had routed the top to take a Lollar CC pickup, then removed it and made a larger than stock ebony humbucker mounting ring to cover the routing.The SD humbucker fitted sounded ok but I'm not a fan of the woolly 'jazz' tone. I prefer the clarity and definition of Johnny Smith and Chet Atkins. This pickup sounds clear, even, sweet, and not at all woolly. I like the alnico 2 sound, but plan to try the other magnets out of interest.

Output level is good, maybe not quite as loud as a humbucker, but I want quality tone first and foremost. Used with a Vibroking, SFDR, VVT Lindy Fralin and 5E3 deluxe - all used CLEAN, good sounds from all of them, less feedback than the SD and the bass end is controlled.Top end is sweet and overall sound is good. I use the guitar for 20s/30s/40s jazz standards, and it works well.
I do not play distorted stuff like every other guitarist in the world (it seems,) and it does what I want it to very well.

If damaged or lost, (unlikely, it seems well made,) I'd probably get another. I've been playing 55 years, have played and owned almost every guitar and most of the pickups, over the years. Main guitars are now vintage and reissue Gretschs, Gibson CG, Collings and other handmade acoustics, and the Slaman, which is better than any L5 I've played, and I've played lots.I think it'd be cool if the pickup could be reliced a little and have a cream edging, the white is a it bright against the yellowing binding on the guitar.Including shipping to the UK, and an extra set of magnets, ther cost was $100, and arrived within 7 days of shipping. 1st class service from Pete.

This is a single-coil blade pickup Made by Pete Biltoft, and designed to drop into a humbucker route, which it does. The Vintage Vibe HCC fit perfectly and slipped in without a problem. Paul Stroh of Seattle did a great job of installing it with a readily accessible mini-jack so I can swap it out easily. The VV-HCC pickups ship with two readily interchangeable sets of magnets! I had mine shipped with AlNiCo ll magnets installed (and an add'l set of AlNiCo Vs).

I had it installed in a single pickup Guild X150 Savoy, replacing the stock Guild humbucker. I actually liked the stock Guild humbucker that came with my single-pup Guild quite a bit. It was clear, clean and very quiet with a nice warm, jazzy tone, but I was interested in trying a single-coil Charlie Christian type sound. I didn't want to alter the guitar so a drop-in to a humbucker route was imperative. There are several on the market if you look for them, but after continually running across rave reviews for pickups made by Pete Biltoft of Vintage Vibe Guitars (now in Hood River, Ore.) I ordered the HCC blade pickup.

Tonally, the first word that springs to mind is FAT. This is a very thick, warm sounding pickup with lots of overtones and plenty of sustain. The bass to treble balance couldn't be better. It has a rich vintage tone similar in some ways to the old DeArmond Guitar Mikes and 1100s, but with better note separation and more clarity. As clean as a P90 but thicker and heavier. Dark and yet totally transparent.

With my Polytone (MBll) it is sophisticated jazz heaven in a black tie. Polytones color the sound and make everything sound a bit more generic to my ear, but the richness was there in spades and there was an elegance about the tone that made me want to keep playing.

Through my Fender (blackface'65 PR) at modest volumes it was crystal clear and just amazingly rich. When pushed enough to give it some bite the overtones were enough to make me drool. It is everything I'd hoped it would be.

If destroyed or stolen I would replace it in a heartbeat... it has the sound I want to hear since I got into jazz, boogie and jump blues. I've been playing for 45 years and I have all the guitars I'll ever need. I'm not into taking a vintage carved archtop to most gigs anymore and that's why I bought a Guild, the best made, most undervalued guitar on the market. With this pup I've got a quality instrument that has great playability and the sound I want without risking a 4k collectible.

To my ears, this pickup is perfect for the vintage jazz sound or classic blues. Charlie Christian, Oscar Moore, early Barney Kessel etc., and it's a great match for this guitar. I couldn't hear it before I bought so I thought I'd take a chance and I'm really glad I did. Pete was great to work with, his prices are very reasonable and he is fast.

Single coil matched set (bridge + neck). Neck 5.7K 6,800 turns fitted with alnico II. Bridge6.3K 7,500 turns fitted with alnico V. Each pup comes with spare magnets & a fact sheet signed by Pete Biltoft.

Installed pups in mahogany bodied guitar with West Australian sheoak cap , mahogany neck, rose wood fingerboard and tuneamatic bridge. Sounds more SG than Les Paul.

Medium output (P90ish). Neck has big warm round sound that doesn't get muddy.Bridge has a nice spank like a tele sound but doesn't get too bright.Pups sound great for chicken pickin, slide, & smooth jazz runs.I was surprised at how articulate they remain as the gain comes up. In the right hands would make great hard rock (Angus) or maybe even metal (Dimebag). Although being singles there is some noise.

I'm a guitar maker not a guitarist. But I use a couple of working guitarists to demo guitars for me. Both loved the pups and one wanted to buy the guitar from me. I've found the sound I wanted from this guitar. These are the best constructed pups I have ever seen. They come with spare magnets of your choice, were shipped promptly (1 week to Australia)and all my e-mails were replied to. I can highly recommend these these pups and this company. I'm going to build a guitar with VVG CCRiders.

The V V G HCC is a drop-in replacements for a standard size humbucking pickup. These pickups have an unslotted nickel plated mild steel blade polepiece, twin bar magnets I chose AlNiCo-II and Pete put a set of AlNiCo-III. These pickups ship with two complete sets of magnets and the directions for changing them.

I installed this in A big box D'angelico replacing the original humbucker. I did not like the sound or balance of the original. It just didn't have a good punch.

The pickup is incredible. A hundred bucks and the guitar sounds like it should. It is powerful and balanced. It went from a so, so sound to absolutely astounding.

I have been playing for decades, searching for a great jazz sound. This is it. Amazing quality and fast shipping. This guy knows his stuff.

these are a Charlie Christain syle blade pickup come with choice of two magnets i picked alinico for the vintage sound. the drop in humbucker cavity. I had this wound to 5ohm for a small extra fee of five bucks. You cam choose square ir charlie christain shaped top in black or shell.

I put this on a gretsch silver jet I am awiting a D'angelico that I will install this pickup on. I have wanted a fifties late forties sound for years like Oscar Moore Tal Farlow and Barney Kessell. Ginson guitars with a Charlie Christain are well into the thousands and most of them play awlful. the pickuo is 75.00

this is played thru a polytone amp like
like most jazz players use but also sounds great through Fender or ampeg amps. The sound is Fat the Charlie Christain is the fattest sounding pickup for jazz next fattest P-90 followed by the Dearmond floaters. This is the great sound of these masters Barney Kessell Tal farlow Jimmy Rainey. Not only good for jazz great for classic rock jump blues

This is my first pickup from Vintage Vibe and will not be my last. I have been playing forty plus years have many nice guitars. I play piano and guitar for a living in New Orleans.