Wolfetone Tele Werewolf

Pickup features: Passive single coil with adjustable ceramic pole pieces
Impedence or other specs: 12.16

Model of guitar or bass: '78 Telecaster
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Wolfetone Bitch/Rabid Bitch hybrid
Other pickups on guitar: Wolfetone Strat cub
Artists using this pickup: myself and Michael Nocera
You musical style(s): abrasive art rock
Reason for pickup change: The Bitch/Rabid Bitch hybrid sounded great, just not what I was
was looking for. I kept it though, for use in another guitar.

Perceived output level: Louder than a Tele pup, but not too much. Doesn't sound overwound. I'm guessing not much louder than a vintage P-90
Tone: Beautiful. Delicious. Bass is super tight, treble cuts but isn't shrill, mids round everything out nicely, and add nice presence.
Sonic evaluation: Well, this pup is IT. It's EXACTLY what I've been looking for for this guitar. The cutting power of a Tele pup, but garlier, more aggro. Gives snare and cymbals a run for their money. After the previous two rewind experiences, Wolfe said, "I think the Werewolf will satisfy. It sounds like a P-90." Truer words were never spoken. The WW interacts perfectly with this particular Telecaster, attenuating the brightness of the hard ash body, but not by making mud. I don't have a lot of experience with P-90s, except for trying them on LP Jrs. in guitar shops, but I'm now a convert. Each note sits in a yummy harmonic stew. There's an almost breathy quality to the sound. You get the fast attack of a single coil, but thicker and juicier. Raunchier than a humbucker. False harmonics require barely a touch. Also, because my guitar is so bright, by backing off the volume, I can get a convincing traditional Tele sound. As with all Wolfetone products, the Werewolf's tone changes with pick attack and volume and tone adjustments. It's amazing the range of tones I can get by messing around with these two knobs. Vol. up, tone down a bit, you can do a decent humbucker imitation. Though I'd have to say I love this pup because it's tone falls between humbucker and single coil.
There were some minor problems at first: I had the pole pieces cranked up a little too high, so that they weren't making full contact with the magnet, resulting in lower output. But once I talked to Wolfe about this problem, it was resolved. Also, one of the lead wires broke off, but I was able to solder it back on, though Wolfe of course offered to do the repair for free. This is the second Werewolf ever made, so the design is barely out of the prototype stage, and Wolfe admitted to it needing some structural improvements. Sonically, however, I think it's all there. The only thing you might want to change is the wind, depending on your guitar and amp setup.
oh yeah, my rig: tele>boss digital reverb (for subterannean noises)>real tube (for feedback)>Soldano Hot Rod 50>Hiwatt cab with 65 watt Celestions.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: noisy music: birthday party, early sonic youth, gang of four, the fall. this is THE match. The Werewolf is available only for the bridge, but I imagine would sound great in a neck config.

Comments: If this thing were destroyed or stolen, I'd cry, because Wolfe says getting parts for it is hard. However, I've found THAT sound. Love everything about it. The search is over (unless I want some radically different sound). Never thought I'd say that.
Been playing 22 years. A bunch of other gear: Hiwatt 100, Travis Bean, Music Man Saber, Hagstrom III, homemade "Wonder Axe," Hiwatt 4x12 with
Fanes, Tascam porta studio, Jazz Bass, GK 800RB, Dietz 1x15 cab, Guild bass, Guild classical guitar and on and on...
I guess Harmonic Design makes a pup like this, and Fralin too, but after talking to Wolfetone and HD, I felt like Wolfe MacLeod would "customize" more. Now, friends, you need to expect 4-6 weeks delivery on Wolfe's stuff, but it's well worth the wait. You can gab with him about the niggling details of your tonal needs, and he'll come through. He's also an excellent listener, and really works with you. Remember, he's got a labor force of exactly one: himself. No employess to inhale the solder smoke for him, so be patient. You're getting a hand-made piece, which comes with a 100% guarantee: you don't like it, Wolfe rewinds it til you do. Took three tries for me, and now my sound is perfect. Also, you learn an awful lot about pup design by talking to him, so you'll be better able to describe what you want in the future. All in all, a pleasurable experience.

Pickup features: passive single coil
Impedence or other specs: 10.43K ohms, ceramic magnets, adjustable screw polepieces

Model of guitar or bass: custom Tele
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Fralin rewind
Other pickups on guitar: 2 Wolfetone Strat Cubs, Fishman Powerbridge (piezo)
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): blues, folk rock, the occasional corporate jingle :>
Reason for pickup change: I wanted a less edgy, thicker sound better suited to blues. The Fralin rewind was classic Tele, I just realized that's not the sound for me.

Perceived output level: noticeably more than a stock Tele
Tone: thick midrange (high and low), bright but not piercing
Sonic evaluation: I'm using a Tele I built into a '71 Fender Twin. This pickup sounds more like a P-90 than a vintage Tele pickup - It has chunky bottom, thick mids with great presence (upper mids), and sizzling highs while still retaining some Tele twang. It's great for slightly overdriven leads and riffs. It stays cleaner with the volume rolled down. The neck/bridge middle/bridge combos sound very rich. The thin, shrillness one might associate with a vintage Tele are thankfully absent.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Great for blues/rock overdriven or high gain playing. Not a country pickup.

Comments: I would definitely replace this pickup if consumed by fire, stolen by bandits, etc. "That picups got some balls!" was the first response I got when I played it for some people. It is a great alternative to a full size bridge humbucker or P-90 with Fender style single coils. It's plenty loud for a volume boost for solos, but it doesn't overpower my neck and middle pickups. It gives me a not harsh twangsome, full bodied Tele bridge pickup, just what I wanted for this guitar.