PSA: Fender WRHBs with CuNiFe are back
- timtam
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Re: PSA: Fender WRHBs with CuNiFe are back
GITEC recently published the last in their multi-part engineering/listening comparison of original WRHB, Lollar and Creamery 'clones', and both Fender and Squier conventional HB 'reissues'. They used a special pickup-swapping custom-built tele with a single 500k volume pot (important control, since the originals usually had 1meg pots, the reissues usually have 250k, and the clones often have 500k) - see pic below. While only a small-scale study and not a fully blinded listening test , there were fewer sonic differences than expected. Sound files are included.
https://www.gitec-forum-eng.de/2020/07/ ... -examples/
Unfortunately it was completed before the release of the new Fender CuNiFe WRHBs. The original WRHB neck and bridge were nominally 'identical', albeit with winding tolerance of 9.8kOhm to 11.4k (according to Duchossoir). The new neck and bridge are deliberately wound differently .. DCR: "Bridge 11.2k - 11.8k, Neck 10.1K - 10.7K" Inductance: "Bridge 5.3H, Neck 4.2H".
https://shop.fender.com/en-US/parts...e ... 97001.html
For the earlier GITEC articles .. scroll down to 'Investigating the Fender “Wide Range” CuNiFe Humbucking Pickup, and some clones' and also 'Resonance and Q-Factor – the most important influence on the sound of a pickup … but no trivial matter!') ...
https://www.gitec-forum-eng.de/repository/
https://www.gitec-forum-eng.de/2020/07/ ... -examples/
Unfortunately it was completed before the release of the new Fender CuNiFe WRHBs. The original WRHB neck and bridge were nominally 'identical', albeit with winding tolerance of 9.8kOhm to 11.4k (according to Duchossoir). The new neck and bridge are deliberately wound differently .. DCR: "Bridge 11.2k - 11.8k, Neck 10.1K - 10.7K" Inductance: "Bridge 5.3H, Neck 4.2H".
https://shop.fender.com/en-US/parts...e ... 97001.html
For the earlier GITEC articles .. scroll down to 'Investigating the Fender “Wide Range” CuNiFe Humbucking Pickup, and some clones' and also 'Resonance and Q-Factor – the most important influence on the sound of a pickup … but no trivial matter!') ...
https://www.gitec-forum-eng.de/repository/
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- BoringPostcards
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Re: PSA: Fender WRHBs with CuNiFe are back
^I don't know whether to be impressed or afraid!
Det er mig der holder traeerne sammen.
- CaptainCrunch
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Re: PSA: Fender WRHBs with CuNiFe are back
If that was in the FS section here in the morning no way it wouldn't be gone before lunch.
- ThatGuyOverThere
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Re: PSA: Fender WRHBs with CuNiFe are back
If it's any help, Muzik-Produktiv in Germany has them significantly cheaper at €189 each. Ordered a pair, if all goes well they should arrive late next week. That price is significantly cheaper than the Lollar Regals, which are going for €239 each at Thomann.
https://www.musik-produktiv.com/be/fend ... -neck.html
https://www.musik-produktiv.com/be/fend ... ridge.html
https://www.musik-produktiv.com/be/fend ... -neck.html
https://www.musik-produktiv.com/be/fend ... ridge.html
- ThatGuyOverThere
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Re: PSA: Fender WRHBs with CuNiFe are back
That was a VERY interesting (and humbling) read. Thanks for sharing this.timtam wrote: ↑Tue Jul 28, 2020 7:34 pmGITEC recently published the last in their multi-part engineering/listening comparison of original WRHB, Lollar and Creamery 'clones', and both Fender and Squier conventional HB 'reissues'. They used a special pickup-swapping custom-built tele with a single 500k volume pot (important control, since the originals usually had 1meg pots, the reissues usually have 250k, and the clones often have 500k) - see pic below. While only a small-scale study and not a fully blinded listening test , there were fewer sonic differences than expected. Sound files are included.
https://www.gitec-forum-eng.de/2020/07/ ... -examples/
Unfortunately it was completed before the release of the new Fender CuNiFe WRHBs. The original WRHB neck and bridge were nominally 'identical', albeit with winding tolerance of 9.8kOhm to 11.4k (according to Duchossoir). The new neck and bridge are deliberately wound differently .. DCR: "Bridge 11.2k - 11.8k, Neck 10.1K - 10.7K" Inductance: "Bridge 5.3H, Neck 4.2H".
https://shop.fender.com/en-US/parts...e ... 97001.html
For the earlier GITEC articles .. scroll down to 'Investigating the Fender “Wide Range” CuNiFe Humbucking Pickup, and some clones' and also 'Resonance and Q-Factor – the most important influence on the sound of a pickup … but no trivial matter!') ...
https://www.gitec-forum-eng.de/repository/
- Gavanti
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Re: PSA: Fender WRHBs with CuNiFe are back
That's fascinating—quite a project! It was interesting to read that they thought the Lollars and original pickups sounded very close. I had a Zaftig awhile back with Regals and picked up some vintage WRHB's to compare. My impression was that the Regals had a slightly more clarity, punch, and bite, while the originals were a little sweeter sounding. The Lollars could be a little harsh at the bridge, I thought, so my favorite pairing at the time was a Lollar in the neck and a vintage in the bridge. However, I use my guitar controls more regularly and effectively now than I did then, so it wouldn't surprise me if I preferred the Lollar bridge now. I would be interested to play the Cunife reissues at some point.
- Maggieo
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Re: PSA: Fender WRHBs with CuNiFe are back
I'll be! The bridge pickup on my old Zaftig was horrid sounding to me, too. It even messed with the both PUPs on position. It was like having a one-pickup guitar.Gavanti wrote: ↑Thu Jul 30, 2020 5:24 amThat's fascinating—quite a project! It was interesting to read that they thought the Lollars and original pickups sounded very close. I had a Zaftig awhile back with Regals and picked up some vintage WRHB's to compare. My impression was that the Regals had a slightly more clarity, punch, and bite, while the originals were a little sweeter sounding. The Lollars could be a little harsh at the bridge, I thought, so my favorite pairing at the time was a Lollar in the neck and a vintage in the bridge. However, I use my guitar controls more regularly and effectively now than I did then, so it wouldn't surprise me if I preferred the Lollar bridge now. I would be interested to play the Cunife reissues at some point.
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- simonhpieman
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Re: PSA: Fender WRHBs with CuNiFe are back
Interesting that you say that: my MIJ Tele Thinline can be difficult to distinguish between neck and middle positions sometimes... Big fan of the bridge pickup on that one. No idea how Wide Range thr MIJ pickups are, I assume similar to the Mexican ones.Maggieo wrote: ↑Thu Jul 30, 2020 9:31 amI'll be! The bridge pickup on my old Zaftig was horrid sounding to me, too. It even messed with the both PUPs on position. It was like having a one-pickup guitar.Gavanti wrote: ↑Thu Jul 30, 2020 5:24 amThat's fascinating—quite a project! It was interesting to read that they thought the Lollars and original pickups sounded very close. I had a Zaftig awhile back with Regals and picked up some vintage WRHB's to compare. My impression was that the Regals had a slightly more clarity, punch, and bite, while the originals were a little sweeter sounding. The Lollars could be a little harsh at the bridge, I thought, so my favorite pairing at the time was a Lollar in the neck and a vintage in the bridge. However, I use my guitar controls more regularly and effectively now than I did then, so it wouldn't surprise me if I preferred the Lollar bridge now. I would be interested to play the Cunife reissues at some point.
Not that I care, I've had a Mexican Thinline as well as the MIJ one and they both sound terrific.
- sookwinder
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Re: PSA: Fender WRHBs with CuNiFe are back
I was disappointed that the German comparison didn't include the Telenator WRHBs with Cu.
While I have not heard that many vintage WRHBs, the original Telenator WRHBs were damn close to that sound.
While I have not heard that many vintage WRHBs, the original Telenator WRHBs were damn close to that sound.
relaxing alternative to doing actual work ...
- BoringPostcards
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Re: PSA: Fender WRHBs with CuNiFe are back
Has anybody had the chance to try the new Am Original Tele Custom with cunife WRHB yet?
Det er mig der holder traeerne sammen.
- ThatGuyOverThere
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Re: PSA: Fender WRHBs with CuNiFe are back
I tried one about a month ago, it’s a phenomenal guitar. Bridge pickup might be a touch too bright for me, but that’s why the tone control exists... neck and middle positions are rich and characterful.BoringPostcards wrote: ↑Wed Aug 26, 2020 5:08 amHas anybody had the chance to try the new Am Original Tele Custom with cunife WRHB yet?
So I installed a pair of CuNiFe WRHBs in my AVRI 72 Tele Thinline. What an incredible difference they made! My first impressions: they’re not warm pickups, but certainly not sterile. They have a Stratty kind of attack to them. Plus they sound like they permanently have a boost pedal after them, they drive really easily. Super dynamic. Harmonics leap off these things.
The original AVRI pickups are great in their own right, but they’re not authentic. They’re real humbucker impostors. I now hear the “doubled single coil” effect people often attribute to these.
- BoringPostcards
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Re: PSA: Fender WRHBs with CuNiFe are back
Good to hear. I really want to pick one up, before they end up discontinued and on Reverb for 150% more than current sale price.ThatGuyOverThere wrote: ↑Wed Oct 28, 2020 10:41 pmI tried one about a month ago, it’s a phenomenal guitar. Bridge pickup might be a touch too bright for me, but that’s why the tone control exists... neck and middle positions are rich and characterful.BoringPostcards wrote: ↑Wed Aug 26, 2020 5:08 amHas anybody had the chance to try the new Am Original Tele Custom with cunife WRHB yet?
So I installed a pair of CuNiFe WRHBs in my AVRI 72 Tele Thinline. What an incredible difference they made! My first impressions: they’re not warm pickups, but certainly not sterile. They have a Stratty kind of attack to them. Plus they sound like they permanently have a boost pedal after them, they drive really easily. Super dynamic. Harmonics leap off these things.
The original AVRI pickups are great in their own right, but they’re not authentic. They’re real humbucker impostors. I now hear the “doubled single coil” effect people often attribute to these.
Det er mig der holder traeerne sammen.
- ThatGuyOverThere
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Re: PSA: Fender WRHBs with CuNiFe are back
I forgot to update further after playing with the pickup heights. What an incredible difference these have made! My first impressions: they’re not warm pickups, but certainly not sterile. They have a Stratty kind of attack to them. Plus they sound like they permanently have a boost pedal after them, they drive really easily. Super dynamic. Harmonics leap off these things.
The original AVRI pickups were great in their own right, but they’re not authentic. They’re really just conventional humbuckers. I now totally hear the “doubled single coil” effect people often attribute to these.
The original AVRI pickups were great in their own right, but they’re not authentic. They’re really just conventional humbuckers. I now totally hear the “doubled single coil” effect people often attribute to these.
- garyptaszek
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Re: PSA: Fender WRHBs with CuNiFe are back
I feel like 90% of the time it’s the look people want... myself included
- Ceylon
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Re: PSA: Fender WRHBs with CuNiFe are back
This is a concern of mine. I don't have a project to put a pair of these into right now, and I should hold off on making any more gear purchases for a while...BoringPostcards wrote: ↑Sun Nov 01, 2020 5:58 amGood to hear. I really want to pick one up, before they end up discontinued and on Reverb for 150% more than current sale price.
...but there's a pretty real risk these won't stay in production very long, right? Who knows where Fender is getting their CuNiFe but if no one used it for more than 40 years because it was tough to get a hold of, who knows how long the supply will last this time around.
So I guess I should buy a pair. Right?
Science Friction burns my fingers
Electricity still lingers
Electricity still lingers